3 Sick Polyrhythmic Grooves Every Drummer Should Know

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A polyrhythmic groove is simply a groove that makes use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously. Not only does it make for some cool sounding beats, but it also helps your overall limb independence tremendously. If you've never dabbled in polyrhythms before, this is an awesome place to start!

[@TruthSurge]

wow! I had no idea Vaas from Far Cry 3 played drums.

[@stevebruh5019]

Lol. Nice shout out!

[@TruthSurge]

+Steven A. :) If he had been drumming in this vid and stopped after example 2 or something and looked dead at the camera and said "you know what the definition of insanity is? Playing the same drum beat over and over and expecting to get a different rhythm!" oh man...... that would have been quite surreal.

[@accordingtohonda4308]

You BEAT me to it!

[@ninorandazzo844]

There would have been live humans screaming cause when he hit the drum their head would be sticking out

[@gavrielxd157]

ohh god

[@LukeZuniga]

Thanks for the lesson, Vaas

[@PianofanSUI]

+Luke Zuniga LOL! Exactly what I thought! High Five :D

[@fran991213]

doing the exact same thing over and over again.

[@zarbis]

+fran991213 learning the drums 101

[@GabrielTrogolo]

+fran991213 and each good drummer should be able to do it :D we are all insane!

[@melefono4273]

It would've been so funny if he had vaas's accent

[@TheMetatron333]

I’m not a drummer but I know that’s gotta feel so good to play. It feels good in my brain to understand how the 2 rhythms work together.

[@josuepojila2223]

This teacher is tempting me into the free 30-day trial and even more: paying for total access. Aaron is not only sick-skilled but pretty good at teaching.

[@michelebastianini3986]

I love the fact that every Aaron Edgar lesson are "super" in different ways

[@danielcropp8553]

this is awesome! super clear and easy to understand. i'm not even a drummer (cello and piano) and I was able to follow along with everything. good job.

[@AaronLevyDrums]

Sick! Aaron Edgar is a beast!

[@Andynazgul]

Aaron thank you so much for these grooves. Already starting to practice them and feeling my world open up. I'm so sorry to see so many comments from so many negative people who don't appreciate what you guys are doing. From a fairly beginner drummer here: thanks a lot for the help!

[@BasicInfo7715]

Dude all your lessons are saved in my favourites. Keep em coming, they are really enjoyable and thank you.

[@KingsInCages]

Thank you for this great lesson Aaron, very inspiring!

[@j1shin]

Sick second and third groove, love it.

[@larrytate1657]

Drumeo has the best teachers. Teachers that will actually put in real work, like breaking down hard songs note for note. Not teachers that just continuously recycle the same lessons with the accent in a different spot year after year. If you need advanced lessons to take u to the next level, It's def the best resource imo.

[@brianmcguire5175]

Great lesson, great illustration. How such a complex rhymic pattern can be explained and demonstrated so easily gives me the confidence that I'll learn it eventually too. Great teacher, amazing lesson and concept

[@GGDrummer]

Very interesting these grooves. Congrats Aaron

[@FasterToTheEnd]

These aren't polyrhythms... These are polymeter rhythms.

[@CromCruachTheElderK]

Whats the difference?

[@FasterToTheEnd]

CromCruachTheElderK polymeters are when limbs are playing in different time signatures, polyrhythms are when they're pulsing with a consistent note in different time signatures.

[@CromCruachTheElderK]

Jason Cox Thank you. So this lacks the consistent note?

[@fuckthisc1ty]

Jason Cox ahhhhh I see so you can play a regular 4-4 beat but if all your limb are playing in different time signature then it's a polymeter

[@fuckthisc1ty]

Jason Cox isn't that the same though like your just sayin the same shit with different words

[@kgdrummerboy]

Awesome, I love it!! More polyrythms, Aaron!! I agree with a statement below..I enjoy Aaron's lessons the most! Keep 'em coming!

[@ViolindEva]

Very high energy levels, I LOVE it!

[@drummerferro5165]

Thanks for the lesson it's fantastic!!!

[@carlosaltamirano762]

Killer grooves. Thanks for the video

[@blackl1steddrums]

His natural Bad-umph on the bass drum is super complimentary!

[@lewy_g_official]

The second grove is really fun to play and to mess around with. Great lesson!

[@GTAVBM]

Nice. Love it.

[@JorgeDiaz-nf1vr]

Amazing! you make it look easy...

[@ShalevtheDrummer]

great lesson!

[@irenashiloh8808]

Very inspiring video. Thank you.

[@JohannesGeworkianHellman]

Please more! Love it!!!

[@dynamitekid8967]

Thanks for the drum lessons!

[@fredprovoost2961]

Just great!

[@foredrums]

Thank You! I learned something new!

[@AdmiralRuffles]

If you switch the his right hand with his right foot in that first beat, that's the foundation for Bleed by Meshuggah

[@youtubeaccount-gl5go]

Cool, cool, but has he told us the definition of insanity yet?

[@MladenDragovicMusic]

Hahahaha! Awesome!! XD

[@MladenDragovicMusic]

I was scratching my head the entire video... Thank you! :D

[@stormshadow2k]

+Marcell Jurisits Bwaaahaha! Nice one mate!

[@babyjesuslovesme1219]

Very nice lesson

[@Gingerbearded]

this guy is so cool, i love watching him

[@mr.wigster8326]

I now what kind of drumming I'd like to focus more now! Thanks!

[@anastasiusalex9963]

Finally, the lesson that i've been waiting for

[@jakekeller9742]

Thanks for this !!!

[@simonhc3]

Love the Stereo Mix!!

[@TrinidadQG]

Great Lesson

[@Krueger041294]

Thank you!

[@thomasnichol4138]

Cool grooves.

[@eilampniel2962]

This guy is such a good teacher !

[@schwenndo]

Gotta love polyrhythms!!

[@ricklang_drummer]

Technically these are rather applications of odd groupings played in 4/4. The "official definition" of polyrhythm would be: "The simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter". This thread already knows that. However, the accents in this example, i.e. any beginning note of an odd grouping related to the quarter pulse could be perceived as polyrhythmic if you strip away everything else.

[@nunnayuhbitness6708]

Good lesson.

[@richardaaron4454]

Man I love Sonor drums... first good kit I ever bought was Sonor Maple kit.

[@waqqodonkey]

a few more years, this guy will be good!

[@eli7j]

I agree. He just needs to keep applying himself. He's gonna get there!

[@DDrums-Uroki-Po-Skype]

This is a cool idea

[@sharrythedave4758]

That Guy ! Killer play ! He would crack those cymbals !

[@pieter-jannijessen8312]

This is polymeter. For polyrhythm you need (at least) two limbs playing DIFFERENT SUBDIVISIONS (e.g. one with 8th notes, the other with 8th note triplets) NOTE: arguably, in the case of 8th notes and 8th note triplets, you can actually point to a common subdivison, namely 16th triplets. But as long as you don't play and therefore don't make the listener aware of this common subdivision, it's polyrhythm. In this video you are aware of this common subdivision (16th notes), therefore a polymeter.

[@eli7j]

The Polyce have arrived

[@wlanman99]

That was groovy!

[@jasperfarren2997]

That spring retention on the bass peddle when doing 100bpm really threw me off, couldn't unhear it... fantastic tutorial but that ghosted "baboom" really ticked me off :D

[@TorkildKahrs]

I'm pretty sure these are polymeters and not polyrhythms.

[@mmanning8657]

I'm glad someone else noticed, I wondered why I wasn't understanding whats going on. I could be wrong but I think this dude isn't quite sure what he's talking about. You're absolutely right, because he isn't playing for example an odd division eg triplets against an even division such as 8ths/quavers. Instead he has a repeated drum part where effectively the time signature has changed and so the bar lines have to also be moved so that the music notation is corrected.

[@samdavies1752]

+Michael Manning I don't fully understand polyrhythyms I just watch these things to help my understand rhythm (I play bass) but this seemed wrong because I would have thought a poly rhythm in its simplest form would be one note in one time signature constantly going and another in a different one constantly going occasionally lining, but these sounded at the same pace ish lining up consistently, but either way it was useful to me to try and find when I should try and jam to it and come in on beat

[@joelcoool]

the one with the groups of 5 was polyrhythmic if you listen to the bass drum against the ride bell. since it is quarter notes against groups of 5, it makes a 4:5 polyrhythm. however this is coincidental and you are right about them not being polyrhythms. if you're interested, Kascade by Animals as Leaders features a sick 4:5 polyrhythmic groove at the start, with a little modification

[@Stickmasterrr]

Thanks for that @ThunderHawk606

[@Imudaine]

And also that they are spaced equally, polymetric can be achieved with a single meter and just dividing beats into smaller subdivisions. For it to be polyrrhythm the beats has to be dragged out or compressed, in the case of a 5|4 polyrhythm, 5 beats are compressed to fit 4 beats in the given tempo. Temporary cases of this is usually achieved by having different form of tuplets, quintuplets and the like

[@marcelocastanon2019]

Muy buena explicación saludos desde Argentina.

[@tdrum21]

Very cool. Reminds me of the Vinnie clinic where he overrides the stick pattern(RH on the rims of the drum) in 7/8 over the top of the beat in the 4.

[@ClassicTv5]

next time you do a video like this use the stack please I love that pocket sound it gives! :) btw. awesome!

[@chrislatimer3417]

Great video but I have to ask - why does the bass drum keep going from quarter notes to eighth notes when tempo goes from 70 to 100bpm?

[@johnmarniez3326]

Love that sonor kit

[@jonathonbattiest4522]

he made it clear in the end that these are ride patterns to place over other beats,not necessarily 4/4.these are still great to practice.

[@Jasonmakesvideo]

This is my third day since I got my first kit and I don’t have any business watching this video but you better believe I’m gonna try it anyway

[@phillagettie]

I’m right there with you mate haha. I can hardly the snare from the kick drum and here I am watching how to do polyrhythm videos haha. You like what you like.😂

[@tinfoilhatter]

right, right! like a disco beat! outstanding! haha!

[@hmzirqhazard1950]

Even beatboxers can learn some patterns here and practice. I know it's not polyrythms but these videos still help.

[@notgayryan7027]

This helps me understand Danny Carey's style a little more visually, thank you

[@Beantypechannel]

I wish we saw more lessons from him. he's definitely my favorite

[@augustburnsred3541]

love your lessons man you are an inspiration

[@maxpoelmann1711]

Love the video, helped me master my first polyrythms! However for third groove, during the demonstration at 70bpm I noticed Aaron doesn't hit the second ride at the end of the third bar. Is this on purpose? Is it a mistake? It's driving me a lil nuts

[@jeroenpeters9328]

perfect video, you made sure to bring the rhythm into context.

[@kristiantorres1080]

Those cymbals sound like heaven

[@Loudjazz]

thanks

[@alistairhatesmusic]

Awesome lesson! Anyone know what kind of Sonor kit that is?

[@vodzdrums]

wow, that china is AWESOME, i want to PUNISH it like you do on the intro hshhaha

[@andrewcastellanos8150]

#Drumeo I am having trouble having trouble understanding the rhythm of the ride pattern and I feel like I can't get the last groove due to my misunderstanding. Can someone please help?

[@1000eyes55]

Aaron Edgar you got chops!! great feel I'm a guitarist and I really appreciate your pocket nice n phat Keep doing what you're doing all you drummers need to lock n and soak it up and practice proper technique.....

[@drewnealpercussion]

Isn't this poly-meter and not poly-rhythm? He's not doing a constant pulse on his right hand is why I ask.

[@maegnificant]

Can you Explain further?

[@drewnealpercussion]

***** Well a poly rhythm is defined as being two or more separate constant pulses, such as triplets over eighth notes. But this is taking a groove in a meter like 5/8 and displacing it in 4/4, which is a poly meter.

[@maegnificant]

So a polymeter is stuffing everything together in one groove and a polyrhythm is multiple rhythms played constantly, which create "one rhythm"? Is that right?

[@drewnealpercussion]

+Jonathan Graber Yes that's exactly right

[@bizmcquiz]

+Jonathan Graber That's not actually quite right; a polymeter is two independent rhythms being played simultaneously at the same tempo, that eventually, over time, match up again on the '1'. That's what this video shows; e.g. 4/4 and 5/4 syncing up again after 5 bars of the 4/4, which is the same as 4 bars of the 5/4. A polyrhythm is two independent rhythms being played simultaneously at *different tempos*, so that they match up again on the '1' after just one bar (or phrase/instance) of each. E.g. Playing 3 notes in the same length of time it takes to play 2 notes creates a 3:2 polyrhythm. This is probably the most basic polyrhythm; e.g. triplet quavers over 2 regular quavers, sounds like "dun du-di-dun". It gets more complex with 4:3, 5:4, 5:3, 7:3, etc. but they're all actually pretty easy to do once you work out the 'pattern' of the hits. +Drew Neal You are right in a way, but you're using the wrong words to explain =]

[@michaelturnerrr]

Sabian produce the best sounding cymbals. Awesome video

[@sokp9751]

Can anyone tell me what ride cymbal he is using?Thanks!

[@pontofacultativobr]

Nice

[@timmydodd1978]

Hey @drumeo. Aaron, are you not with Hammerrax anymore?

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

First groove, Michael Brecker - Escher Sketch (A Tale Of Two Rhythms).

[@nicodrumfun]

Well done, good rhythms and well explained and played. Keep it up!

[@shantanudhiman8194]

That was a really sexy lesson mann....!!!!! I so damn neede that...!!!! :) thank you so much

[@carrie7225]

adding a third 32nd in the shuffle would make it a swing right?

[@BlastBe4st]

which ride he plays in this video?.. Sounds pretty nice to me:)

[@jackieenx7085]

can someone send me a link to the song that this would be used in?

[@bobloblaw8660]

Is that Paiste PST a PSTX 14” swish flanger stack?

[@zabbadaa]

Oh great lesson, these are fun to practice - I'd just like to point out there is a little mistake at 6:12 (Bar 3), there is a ride hit that's notated but not played on the 'a' of beat 4. Not trying to be a bitch, just it was throwing me off when playing along and I thought I'd best point it out.

[@MJROCKS4eva100]

I have trouble orchestrating my kicks over such grooves.. What should I do? :(

[@waranghira]

Wow #2 and #3

[@andyg7485]

Sick Drummer! And please make a lesson with Simon Philips

[@colsonrizzuto7973]

Kevin Parker on drumeo please

[@magohipnosis]

this!

[@MrABE1410]

Tame Impala Kevin Parker?

[@sundancemusicuk3745]

+ColRizz99 This should be a thing!

[@davidtejada3892]

wich model of sonor is ?

[@Drumaier]

Sorry for some negativity, but these are neither sick or polyrhythmic. This is just the ride grouped in 3, 5, and 7, and they resolve when they resolve.

[@walpurgisnacht9234]

Why even bother opening your dumbfuck mouth then?

[@teacherfromthejungles6671]

Walpurgisnacht9 , because these rythms are not polyrythms. Read the comment section.

[@ledgy69]

Walpurgisnacht9 please fuck up. This video is misinforming. He's right.

[@artemkompaneets4945]

It looks soooooooo challenging

[@vibes_gmk5178]

감사합니다.

[@CameronGuarino]

Anyone know what China that is?? It's amazing

[@ivegotaname5400]

Good stuff. Can you do like 13:5 and 11:4?

[@evanbarnidge7179]

Hey I was wondering if you had any cymbal reccomendations for,playing hard rock/metal.

[@airwann]

the sabian paragon 22" ride is a perfect ride. the paiste swiss PSTX 14" hi-hats are pretty damn sick hats. But there are many many cymbals out there :)

[@flowbjection]

Very interesting ! But could we have all the partitions please ? Thank's a lot

[@superkevastv2436]

whats chinese cymbal that ??? sounds goodddd

[@Avliv_Satan]

Nice, I play around with polyrythms like all the time though :P

[@bobisadrummer]

What size are those Paiste PSTX Swiss auxiliary hats?

[@airwann]

14"