Desi Jones - Master Class on the straight & swing feel in Roots-Rock-Reggae drumming

Master Drummer, Desi Jones takes some time to explain the importance of understanding the application of the straight and swing feels to the playing of Jamaican music drum patterns.
This video was inspired by a masterclass conducted by Desi to the Avant Academy of Music, Music Performance, and Scholarship program. He was brought in to help the scholarship drumming students understand how to effectively play the Hi-Hat pattern in the Bob Marley song, "Three Little Birds".
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Featured :
Desi Jones: Master Drummer
Seretse Small: Founder/Managing Director
David Brown: MP3 Scholarship student (drums)
Video: Courtney Panton & Dawn Martin
About Avant Academy of Music:
At Jamaica’s most innovative school for the study of music, students can experience being patiently guided to discover the world of music and their own personal gifts through a curriculum that is of a global standard and personalized to their goals.
The MP3 Scholarship Program targets unattached youth, those that are not working or enrolled in school and have some musical ability to gain certification and workforce development through music education.
The ultimate aim of the program is to reduce crime by empowering unattached youth through music.
This program is funded through donations.
Learn more at avantacademyofmusic.com.
Call or email Avant Academy of Music today for more information:
1-876-631-4216
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[e-mail]

[@aaliyahvdvelden3289]

RIP desi❤️💛💚🙏

[@jimbeaux4988]

Imagine the pressure for the student doing that in front of Desi. I thought he did well!

[@beetlejews]

That’s the best sounding Pearl export I’ve ever heard!

[@youngd3niro824]

Who me?

[@jas_bataille]

I've been playing for 17 years and, of course, this distinction was learned a long time ago. For me, it was the blue. My teacher said however, than in the blues, the square feel is harder to groove with, because it doesn't have the natural flowing movement of the swing feel (also called "shuffle" in blues). Since then I was always obsessed by the swing feel. After awhile you start to be able to play with more or less swing, and in between straight and swing, you will find certain feels : New-Orleans, for instance, and many kind of funk music, have a feel between straight and swing. In hip-hop, the feel can even change. Drummers like Mark Guiliana or Chris "daddy" Dave, or Quest Love from the Roots, can really play and "stretch", "push" and "pull" the time. Wonderful example, wonderful playing and the production quality is spot on!

[@mickyrhythmvendor]

Yes Desi! Master drummer! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Each one, teach one.. please let there be a next lesson!

[@SmallAxeMP]

I have never met another down to earth and kind drummer like Desi. I remember he and I had a long chat after we jammed in Music Mart around 17 years ago. The man is just so kool to hang with.

[@RaphaelLandauer1]

Very nice !! A must see for every Reggae drummer. Bless up Desi ! Thanks for sharing Seretse !

[@avantacademyofmusic5608]

Thanks Raphael. Sorry we could not do a more detailed and nuanced presentation...he was awesome in the master class. We also had Glen Browne with him so it was a double treat.

[@silvabakx6396]

I saw Desi backing Lloyd Brown about a decade ago in Long Beach. I had backed him the previous year at a show. Midway through the set, he switched & played the rest of the set righthanded crossover style 😳 Yea! He actually did that right in front of my eyeballs!!! 🤯 Beast mode!!!!! I immediately went & bought one of his CDs. Desi is the truth. I had never seen anyone play reggae left handed style, with a right or lefthanded drum set up before him. Only seen one other lefty since him. It makes perfect sense, but it's way easier said than done... Heartbeat🖤 Nyahbinghi🔯 RASTAFAR👁 🎶🥁🇯🇲🔥🇪🇹🦁🇪🇹🔥🇯🇲🥁🎶

[@239AMG]

“Open handed”

[@GlassesKingdom]

Very well done, great master class from a true legend of the music 🎶, love how the Audi was clean as well , big up Seretsi ( Avant Academy)

[@warrenhenderson2717]

Nicely tuned drums, and great lesson, too. Thanks for sharing 🎼🎵🎶🥁🎤

[@yarpyarp85]

Yo that straight feel swings so hard though omg. Amazing.

[@DMKahn]

It’s because of the difference in dynamics from the quiet strokes and the louder strokes on the upbeat. Creates a feeling of swing when it’s not even there really

[@reggaeschoolmadrid7879]

Is lovely to find such great masters teaching with passion roots reggae, feeling we are not lonely in this commitment, Big up!!

[@gswizzle3714]

Thank you for such an amazing lesson with this knowledgeable teacher! The swung and straight feel is reminiscent of that used in jazz drumming.

[@maricasanova3855]

drummer of chalice,yea man¡¡

[@tommiekrausedrums3550]

This is uplifting. Love the feel and the reverb! Simply beautiful

[@Philtoid]

As soon as the shuffle pattern dropped it stopped being a beat and became a song on its own. Fantastic.

[@FitAndSaxy1]

Brilliant! 😆

[@outtayardstudio]

Masterful drummie🙏💯

[@kitwanawilliams7855]

RIP to a legend

[@ReggaeBeatsPROD]

Wow this is so wonderful, thank you very much!

[@antoniogreen5995]

This is drum lessons at its best, not all d long talk d others does bring n when dem done ya na better off, keep it coming bro

[@benmatheny9493]

What a great thing the internet can give us the best musicians to learn from

[@KingsleyMusicLessons]

Excellent one of my favorite drummer.🇯🇲🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

[@DZNTZ]

Wow, great vid! First, it’s always a gift to get some wisdom straight from the original heads, it’s a blessing. Then at the end, I loved seeing the young drummer really nailing the feel and impressing the master! What a feeling, he’ll carry that with him forever and who can say how it will influence his path in life? Wonderful stuff.

[@Richielion2]

Swing or straight on the hi hat and all instruments follow that groove. To me Jamaican Reggae holds more treasures than this. Sometimes these grooves were mixed, like you can hear in some old dubs. Like there is a swingpitch button on drumcomputers, the groove could be anywhere in between swing or straight, even variying between different instruments in the same song. This was already heard in very old studio 1 recordings. My guess was always, it was'nt done on purpose, but its all feel. For exception "Love Fire" by Aswad ( drum=straight/bass=shuffle), is an extreme difference, but i also heard it in way more subtile ways. Sometimes could not even hear if it was closer to shuffle or closer to straight. Still when I take my Bass i use it to play with the groove a bit, there is so much in between shuffle and straight. Respect to Desi, saw this man play powefull things in the old days and i love Chalice! Jah Bless

[@lionzcamp]

Learning never stops, I'm still in school. Bless Uncle! Give thanks for these lessons

[@lesueurjeanmichel3591]

WELOVEYOU DESI& bigupbigupbigup JAMAICA

[@mason4689]

Desi Jones - Level 55 - Five Star Master Drummer

[@dubmaster01]

Student a one teacher soon come. Respect to Drums inna Jamaica.

[@Drummasterjay]

Amazing information. I’ve been playing drums since I was two and professionally for some time and I’m still sitting down taking notes!

[@spimusicinc]

play on Legend Desi 💌🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@YARDMANMX]

Yes Desi these youngster really need to know the art of the music

[@leeherdarchibald9556]

It’s good to hear one of our maters explained reggae drums patterns respect ,

[@michaelfarquharson2546]

Excellent drummers.

[@chinmeysway]

Is all about the reverb as well.

[@FreshMindTheBand]

Love it!

[@Zoeeyable]

Yeah thank you ❤❤

[@yarpyarp85]

This is fantastic, thank you!

[@aijiang]

Been looking for this for a while

[@bolodrumz5819]

Nice monn longing for this mon bless up keep dem coming 🇯🇲🥁🔥

[@CharlesMiller-nz3bx]

A Master Drummer.

[@shaynekewana]

Give thanks Desi for sharing this important lesson!

[@jeraldcuccurullo2497]

Very precise!!! Great lesson...JAH!!! One Love Maestro!!

[@dubroomdread]

This is the first time I see someone playing Reggae drums the same way I do it. Being left handed playing on a right handed drum kit. That's the only comparance, by the way, he plays 1000 times better than I ever could.

[@gidsamerosido6074]

Same. Can play with both to compensate depending on the location of thr timbale.

[@hiliakoiaheto8013]

Thank you Desi...is good...chur

[@user-xw7uf5cu4i]

He is serious man when it comes to drums

[@maxkamper7451]

Love it

[@user-xw7uf5cu4i]

I love this man

[@philiplauzon1743]

Sick drumming skills and profound knowledge 😎 Amazing man!

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

This is incredibly good.

[@smoovegittar]

Bless Up Riddim Man! Such a sweet pulse.

[@DocBolus]

Superb, a very valuable lesson in how the high hat keeps it all together and dictates the feel. Love it.

[@DMKahn]

Lovely video thank you 🙏 maximum respect

[@QUANTUMMUSIC101]

EPIC! ❤️🌞🥁

[@imrojoosten3277]

Yes I Great masterclass! I also have the book, the art of reggae drumming. One love

[@glikglikin8227]

Master !!!!!!!!

[@dubbadan1]

Love that open handed style

[@YaoEspirito]

Nice class! Of the classic reggae drummers, the one who always had the best overstanding of the hi-hat was Willie Stewart from Third World.

[@Sisdeesisdee]

J'adore ❤❤❤

[@Joethedrummer]

Great. Thanks for this. I enjoyed every minute :-D

[@avantacademyofmusic5608]

You are welcome. Desi is awesome.

[@boobizzy863]

Talented 🫡🫡🫡🫡

[@skarudeclub]

R.I.P Master :(

[@lxxwj]

ive never seen anyone hold the stick like that! desi jones is awesome

[@stevecarter8810]

Is he left handed

[@ArnelleX-us9yo]

Left Handed Drummer like myself...👍

[@rafaeudumdum3032]

🔥🔥🔥

[@jamesrobert469]

Rest In Peace, Legend

[@sjondeeg7158]

good!

[@1.O.G.G.]

R.I.P. uncle Desi 🫶🏾😪🔥

[@kenrickwilson9845]

Rest in peace Desi.

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

PULLL UPPPP

[@jhonygoodman5505]

CHALICE ❤😊

[@drjodyannjones]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@t.echieecho3480]

@7:40 its the reggea version of mitch mitchels manic depression riddim ... but in 4/4

[@davewedderburn4841]

👌👏👍😄

[@mauti8550]

✌

[@o.c.b.9744]

Wich Hihat Cymbals did he use ? Great Sound! Nice Video, Thanks!

[@davidbrownmusic8511]

'S' series Zildjian cymbals

[@o.c.b.9744]

@@davidbrownmusic8511 Thanks ;)

[@goob5568]

Can someone give me the exact sticking for the fill at 10:13

[@michaelfarquharson2546]

I would really want learn some of these beats who can i get in touch with

[@avantacademyofmusic5608]

You can contact us by WhatsApp at [phone] or email us at [e-mail]

[@JacksonAxe]

I wish my left hand could do that.

[@johnniesmith721]

Man I thought this was Richard Pryor on the druns!

[@RGE_Music]

This is awesome. I wish there was a 1 2 3 4 beat counter because I do not understand how the beats should land. I feel the swing and I understand why that works but how its counted makes little sense to me

[@stevecarter8810]

I'm fascinated. He counts in each time. Are you unable to keep that count going as he plays? Does the playing put you off the count?

[@RGE_Music]

​This was over 2 years ago and so I better understand it now. I think my curiosity back in that time was related specifically to where in the bar/ measure the hi hats are landing and if the one drop was played on the 3 or the 2 depending on how you counted the tempo​@@stevecarter8810

[@stevecarter8810]

@@RGE_Music oh cool thanks for the explanation. I just got here from another one drop video where the guy was saying there are multiple ways to count it. And on there people are also saying he counted wrong. I can't help feeling that if we're arguing about how to count it, we're missing the point though:)

[@RGE_Music]

@@stevecarter8810 I totally agree. I still marvel at the way the hi hats land. That to me is something I'm still trying to learn and figure out.

[@djgromivanov6674]

🐱‍👤🐱‍🏍🐬

[@aymentfifha5699]

I play with left hand like him😊... m'y only problème I live with houkch peaple Who undrerstand nothing about music especialy this kind of music. .. I want leave and play write music

[@gidsamerosido6074]

Same with me

[@vacuumelite2065]

Ooooh....very tasty. 😊♥️😊♥️😊♥️

[@gustavosandessp]

Jazzy reggae! Missing that reggae classic snare sound , also that kind a sound of reggae toms that we all hear on classic albums. The source imports too, i mean great advises for the play and feel but maybe start with the right reggae drum choice helps too. 🥁🎧📻🎛💡

[@mp7137]

I don't think you understand. This is clearly just a raw recording with little post processing which is perfectly fine for a drum lesson. Also, there are many different drum sounds and tuning in reggae. The feel and technique is what is most important and that's what is being presented here. This is a great lesson for anyone looking to improve their reggae drumming. Thanks for the video Desi and Avant!

[@gustavosandessp]

@@mp7137 yeah i dont😂!!! Hahaha u are right about the feel, thats what i told and really apreciate his advises! But next time the prod please put him inna nice drum reggae, we all know thats the basics...He deserves it, he is a legend!

[@Richielion2]

Nothing wrong with that snare nore the toms. It just is'nt mixed yet, just a tiny reverb.

[@willmurray222]

Reverb everywhere in music. To much for me.

[@melodkeyelash]

Carlton Barrett the ONLY Master, truth.

[@2cbig]

Richard Pryor reincarnated as a reggae drummer

[@zacharyharris438]

Booth bath???? Huh??? What is he talking about "booth bathe?" Huh.....??? Lol.....

[@avantacademyofmusic5608]

It is boof baff. It is a description of the relationship between the kick and snare. This is often the way Jamaican drummers describe drum patterns. For example the mento pattern is described using the phrase, "Down a gully". The syllables in the phrase represent the rhythm of the pattern, the relative pitches and the implied technique. This approach to teaching drumming in an afro-jamaican way was advanced by drummer, ethnomusicologist and jazz pianist Marjorie Whylie in the 1970's. It is now part of the foundation of how drumming is taught in Jamaica.

[@YaoEspirito]

@@avantacademyofmusic5608 Thank you! Just like there is a hi-hat/snare exchange described as "kiss the cat" or "kiss kiss the cat cat".

[@Ash_Hudson]

Those fart sounding toms are Reggae all day.

[@BREADHED92]

🔥🔥🔥