Gene Krupa's Stick Shots and Rim Shots

Here's a video showing a few ways that the great Gene Krupa would play stick shots and rim shots in his solos. He was an absolute master of this and it was an important part of his style.
You can hear Gene Krupa use these techniques throughout his career. "Gene's Solo Flight" and "Gene's Blues" are both good examples, as are any of his versions of "Drum Boogie" with Jazz at the Philharmonic.
I apologize for the technical glitch in the middle of the video; the image freezes for a few seconds while the audio continues. At that point in the video, I'm demonstrating the different sounds that are possible depending on what part of the stick and head you are playing on. Hopefully it's still clear. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much to everyone who has subscribed!!! I really appreciate it and there's a lot more to come!
www.kevindorn.com
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[@vincentnicosia5374]

Big thank you Kevin for keeping all the older techniques alive. I'm a firm believer that these techniques can and should be used in today's music. Nothing bothers me more than seeing a young drummer waste his talent hammering nails behind a band.

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Vincent!

[@romanpower7068]

0:26 WOOOOOOOW THAT SOUND SOO GOOD

[@kevindorn]

Thanks!

[@graciemiller9596]

Wow Kevin, I really appreciate the education.

[@mauricioruizpalacios3714]

Great deal, thanks for sharing this, love it!!

[@dretety1]

One can hear Mr. Krupa play these patterns to grand effect in 1963 with Louis Bellson on the record "The mighty two alone together"

[@mpista7182]

Good stuff thank you for sharing your techniques !!

[@dibach70]

That's so great, it swings so hard! I'm going to have to learn these!

[@Dylan-sq1wc]

The most beautiful sound is a Gene Krupa rim shot! You said it Kevin. I love playing these. Great video.

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Dylan! It's great to know that other drummers feel the same way about Gene Krupa!

[@EricDupontDrums]

Wow, thanks for these lessons Kevin! You've inspired me to delve more into this era of playing

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Eric! That's great to hear!

[@brunocazaban-mazerolles5504]

Hi, I'm french... Thank you so much for your wonderful work !!! Please, don't stop, so helpfull for young drummers who want to play jazz drumming... I'm old now and in my young days we just had vinyls, so listenning Gêne Krupa, or Jo Jones, Louis Bellson and others, given you the feeling that they had 8 hands and 4 feet... Too bad you tube didn't exist and people like you wasn't there in those days... I would have been better drummer than I was... C'est la vie !!! .

[@kevindorn]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Bruno!

[@michael13085]

Your tell all and show all on rim shots and stick shots are something i never really knew much about. Now i will add some to my bag of tricks. Also the 4/4 hi-hat beat i never did, nice. My drum teachers back in the 1960's never even talked about any of the technics your channel has to offer. You're like a master magician teaching us the secrets of stage illusions to make us a better drummer. Kevin Thanks again. Michael Hoffman.

[@kevindorn]

Thank you, Michael! That's very kind of you.

[@ronroyer9479]

Mr Dorn, thank you so much for your videos! I really appreciate your attention to detail and examples of techniques. The drumming you pay homage to on your channel is so important in the history of music and the drummers that invented these techniques are American treasures. Please keep it going!

[@kevindorn]

Thanks so much, Ron!

[@bluesbylefty1984]

Thanks for posting this! Crystal clear demonstration. Also, "There you go, I am a professional..." I love that bit so much. Rimshots ain't easy, but that little moment keeps me focused whenever I muck it up. Yes, so much yes.

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, that's very much appreciated!

[@vipermad358]

Another great video, Kevin!

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Mike!

[@chewgumer]

Great stuff, thank you!

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Colin!

Great lesson, wonderful example for my advanced Students, thanks for sharing !!

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Marcello!

[@elijah4609]

Thank you so much . This is awesome 😍

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Elijah!

[@daveytough8112]

Kevin thanks for another superb educational video. Krupa’s cross sticking was a technique that he employed more than any other drummer. His 1930’s Victor recordings with Benny Goodman are loaded with examples of stick shots that are so perfectly placed both melodically and rhythmically. As you aptly demonstrated, they are quite different from rim shots and have a wider range of utility. I just finished listening to “Together Again” the RCA Victor LP by the original BG Quartet members from the 1960s and that’s the finest recording of GK’s stick shots one can ever hear (IMHO).

[@kevindorn]

Yes, I love that recording! Definitely some great examples on there!

[@onalyd]

Thanks for the great videos. This is really valuable information that I haven’t seen anyone else teaching

[@kevindorn]

Thanks so much! I'm very happy to hear that people are getting something from them.

[@paulegron7561]

Yeah, I've got to echo this comment. It's SO good to see this kind of thing broken down. There's a lot of mileage to be had out of combining those licks. Hands down, this is the best (and most USEFUL) drum video I've seen since the pandemic. And I've seen a few!... Thanks again, Kevin!! More of these instructional "break-down" videos, please! Oh, and just to be controversial: For my money, the George Wettling rim shot is right up there with GK's as one of the most beautiful sounds ever obtained from a pile of wood, metal and leather (/mylar). :)

[@kevindorn]

@@paulegron7561 Thank you, Paul! I certainly won't argue about Wettling's beautiful sound---you simply can't go wrong with Wettling or Krupa. Absolute masters. I have more videos planned about both of them, so I'll try to get to those soon. Thanks for your continued support!

[@markusler4628]

Great stuff Kevin 🎶

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Mark!

[@hectordesosa777]

Waooo very very good técnic My friend.

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Hector!

[@swingyoucats]

Professor Dorn is one of the finest instructors you'll ever see. And hear. He gets my top rating on RATE MY (PERCUSSION) PROFESSOR.

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Michael!

[@hectordesosa777]

Thanks for your tips.

[@kevindorn]

Glad you like the videos!

[@martinlarre2899]

You can listen to Krupa's rimshots in kzbin.info/www/bejne/op6Tcq2bjcyHaZI&ab_channel=GeoffHegarty @ 26:48, one of his lasts known recordings (EddiCondon & Friends: Jazz at the New School, 1973)

[@martinlarre2899]

@ Kiein Dorn BTW, nice tutorial. You seem to know a lot about Krupa, Wettling and "those guys"....!!!!

[@kevindorn]

Thank you! They're my favorites!

[@paulstuartsmith2224]

Hey folks, check this cat out, some brilliant playing whilst conveying some priceless Krupa gems!

[@kevindorn]

Thanks, Paul!