Helpful Jazz Exercises for Drummers!

[@Taleb1160]

I have gained more from this Video than anything else I have worked on for the last 10 years and I have been playing constantly for 45 years. I have said before, Steve is a Great educator, I have changed my mind.. he is the best and most inspiring educator! Thank you

[@donaldborduas382]

I agree 100%❤

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Almost 9000 views in three days - looks like this is topic folks are interested in! Got me thinking about what to put in Part 2!

[@Horizen3872]

Thank you for all the inspiration.

[@tomelizalde7838]

9000 views I told you Man !! Gimme few months to get this then part 2 Great stuff Steve !

[@forza-e-honore]

This is an excellent video Steve. A Part 2 would definitely be most welcome! Thank you!

[@jaumepp1975]

It is not "only" the video, it's how well you play. Brilliant!

[@phoenix11994466]

*_This is, without doubt, the most helpful and useful information on jazz drumming techniques I have ever seen, period!_* 👀

[@ryancox5097]

I find myself thinking of this video a lot during Steve Holmes live streams. Viewers often ask questions about traditional grip, or about a particular groove, or some other small-picture thing. But I feel like what many of those guys really need is a clinic on HOW TO PLAY JAZZ DRUMS. They just don't know it. This video offers some practical, concrete tips, but it also teaches us to think about how the drums relate to other instruments in a jazz context. For me, any intermediate or advanced drummer who watches Steve's streams on Sundays would do well to earmark this video and circle back to it from time to time. So much mileage here.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

I appreciate your thoughts Ryan.

[@geoffreysmith4618]

Hi Steve - I have been playing drums for about 48 years. I play all styles and have played in numerous rock, jazz bands, and at church. I now play mostly at home. I went to Interlochen for two summers and played in the Jazz band. I even played Buddy Rich’s drums shortly before his concert when given 2 minutes by his drum tech in 1979. No lie. I then went to NTSU for music but quickly realized I was out of my league. I have the chapan book and others. I’ve seen a lot of great jazz drummers. Today this video came across my YT feed. My friend, you are the sound in my head! I’m not kidding. This was so helpful on so many levels. I have the so called “legit” job. In 17 min you have re-ignited my desire to study and get better. Now an enthused follower. Thank you!!!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you Geoffry! I hope you stick with it and enjoy. Good luck!

[@ryancox5097]

I took one lesson with Steve in L.A. and was dead-set on taking regular lessons with him. I found him to be focused less on drum-nerd, technique-type things, and more focused on musician's-wisdom types of things. He talked about viewing my playing like a producer would view it, "editing" myself as I played, etc. The guy knows his stuff. If you're in Southern California, definitely try to get some private instruction with him.

[@drumtwo4seven]

5 star 👍

[@joealessandro8325]

Hi Ryan, I have Steve's first instructional drum video, love it. I live in L.A would like to take some lessons from him. How did you go about contacting Steve for lessons?

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

@@joealessandro8325 steveholmes at gmail dot com sir.

[@melvinondrums7034]

This guy is the real deal ! He teaches the “ How” based on the “Why”. Excellent live performance with his group at The Baked Potato too.

[@cremebrulee6667]

I remember watching this video when it first came out, it is genuinely the best drumming advice I have heard

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you

[@Rk-zp4yr]

I've been trying to get my jazz chops up for awhile now. this is the first video I've seen that has really opened my eyes

[@paullevinsky5256]

Steve, you are about the best drum instructor I've encountered on the internet. I find that almost everything is for beginners. For some reason everything is intro to this or intro to that. Even well known drummers always have a "let's get back to basics" type of approach. All very important. But thank heaven there is someone out there (you) who is speaking to advanced players with some very practical ways to swing harder and sound hipper. Please keep it up!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thanks Paul!

[@stevenreich8623]

Whoa! This video is just fantastic! Out of every drum video I've watched, this is probably the video has said the most with the fewest words.

[@jeffrittenour8202]

this is one of the realest drum lesson videos i’ve ever seen. been drumming 20 years but never any jazz until now. thank you for sharing.

[@lojenn367]

Great advice. Played professionally 28 years. Have since moved on at almost 70 yo. As a young person I was full of piss and vinegar, always looking for that "solo" moment. My jazz drumming instructor drilled it in to my head, COMPLIMENT, and wait for your opportunity. It kept me working many more years, when focused on longevity, rudiments and reading music and COMPLIMENTING what's in front of you.

[@aakkoin]

"full of piss and vinegar" :D nice one, mister

[@EdniDevay]

I'm a Brazilian musician (drummer) and it helped me a lot to study jazz... Thanks Mr. Steve. The exercise in the 11:30th minute, very reminiscent of a Brazilian rhythm (Baião)

[@musicalala]

Great lesson! Even for working jazz drummers like me there is a lot to gain from watching this. There are ideas that hadn't occurred to me. Thank you.

[@GearHeadz101]

This guy is gold for any drummer

[@gualbertovega3218]

Excellent, one of the best tutorials on Jazz drummin. The best I've seen. Not for beginners. If you already have total independence check this guy out !! Congrats on an excellent Jazz tutorial !!!

[@mr.freedom396]

Why did 80 people dislike this video? I found it to be one of the best jazz drumming instructional videos out there. So useful to me in fact, that I feel a little guilty for not paying the dude. anyway, haters gonna hate. What can you do.

[@HuGrooveScience]

This is one of the best instructional drum videos in the history of KZbin! Wow thank you! New subscriber!!!

[@NatalyaSperanzza]

Hubert Payne you’re right!!!

[@Innisfailman]

I can't say enough about this video!!!! Revisiting now. Steve is one of the GREATS and this jazz lesson is perhaps the GREATEST!

[@joshlawrence8091]

I'm an (amateur) jazz pianist, but I play drums at home for fun and to help with my sense of rhythm. I have ALWAYS - ALWAYS - wanted to know how these particular sounds have been created, and this finally revealed it to me. Thank you so much! While I will never be able to play these like you (or, maybe at all!), it's awesome to have a challenge to enjoy working on. Thank you!!!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

That’s amazing to hear - thank you and good luck! 👍

[@maeu59]

What a lesson, and free to boot. You really show your skills here.

[@markfish9783]

Without a doubt the best educator on KZbin - A lot of guys do more talking than instructing but Steve shows how to do the good stuff as opposed to just teaching licks - With him, you can actually work on your vocabulary thanks Steve

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you Mark.

[@yoni2406]

Your movement around the kit is perfect! love it

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thanks Yoni.

[@davemik12]

very tasteful playing during intro

[@musicaleducationwithmr.dan5076]

I wachted tones and tones of drum lessons. This is absolutely one of the best!!!

[@dylangatenby9928]

You sir, are an awesome jazz player! Not to mention a great teacher at that.

[@mattyouyou2590]

One of the greatest drummer and instructor nowadays, thank you so much Steve for your invaluable contribution to our art! Love from France

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you!

[@MrDavidFitzgerald]

This is the best jazz drumming tutorial I've seen for a long time

[@Glinggl72Freestyle]

Kind of blew my mind seeing every influential jazz recording pop in succession also being among my favourites too. The conceptual playing and the depth of knowledge, plus the beautifully balanced phrasing... You are a very intelligent and committed musician. I get alot from your videos. Thank you very much.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you.

[@jaygee8566]

Best Jazz drumming lesson ever, right here.

[@JulianFernandez]

From the first 4 lessons on hod, I´ve been learning tons from the stuff you post. Thanks so much!

[@peterlibby466]

Steve, Your videos are consistently informative, well stated and useful. I find them to be a great resource. Thanks.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Glad you like them!

[@stamostz]

As a jazz drummer I've been revisiting this video, one of the most useful to me by far!!

[@quadrant2012]

Alan Dawson, The Drummers Complete Vocabulary , is the book that the triplet exercises come from at the the begining , and Dawson ( or his student who wrote the book ) takes them to levels .

[@DrumTrainerbyJunghoKang79]

When you talked about your beacon albums, I thought, "I love those albums!" but then, "what are my beacon albums?" Pursurance by Kenny Garrett with Brian Blade (I fell in love with jazz beacuse of this one and ended up studying music in New Orleans) John Coltrane at Village Vanguard with Elvin and Tales from Hudson with Jack!! That's to me the jazz drumming! This lesson helped me listen to my own voice Thanks Steve.

[@dirk-lorenz.matthiesen]

I love this guy's hands! Great video.

[@adamwilson1691]

Yes, this is the best video I’ve seen so far on advanced swing technique.

[@woodsnob68]

Inspiring lesson Steve. Thx for pointing out the hi hat and kick placement against dropped buzz rolls. The content is always enlightening!

[@mikeshouse2000]

Thanks Steve...!!! you never disappoint with your content.

[@ritabrooks9059]

What a great drum sound. Steve has wonderful technique.

[@MM-wi4dt]

Of all the videos I've watched on here, this is by far the most useful for me to break into jazz drumming. Thank you for posting this!

[@anderskarlstrom9655]

I have been looking all over for something like this for months, fantastic exercises… great videos thanks Steve from Sweden 🇸🇪 🙏

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Glad you like them!

[@stefan8161]

Exactly what I needed at my point in progress! thanks, I dig it!

[@joethompson4816]

This won’t get a million views,but it should, thank you so much for posting great content

[@mikestevens5512]

Best jazz drummer education on youtube!!

[@tomelizalde7838]

I'm the one who asked about the flam roll video !! So privalidged to get a response !! Thank you for taking the mystery out of playing swing long over due Great playing Great tone and thanks for the slow motion Thanks again Steve !

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Yeah Tom - hope this helps.

[@claudiocruzat7667]

Beautiful playing. Caressing the kit

[@oldmanbackonthedrums7663]

Inspirational once again, and a great use of the Ted Reed book,..... once again Thank you

[@Tonyclaret1]

This is a Master Class, thank you Mr. Steve.

[@toltekrecords]

This video is EXTREMELY helpful. I've been playing for a good minute. I melded a lot of styles as a gigging drummer, and consequently developed some bad habits over the years. I've fallen back in love with, and started completely over, w the Jazz. Out of all the videos I've seen of late, this one is by far the best. I appreciate you!!!

[@Craigo-xg5mc]

Totally agree. You need to be a reasonably advanced player to grasp and apply this material, but if that's you, this is pretty incredible information.

[@josephcarbone3252]

one of my favorite drummers---along with Dave W. Vin C. etc-----you are a top drummer

[@Craigo-xg5mc]

Revisiting this after 10 months... I worked off and on at playing that Ted Reed Syncopation figure with the hi hat as you demonstrated. Just that one figure. It took me a while but eventually it totally unleashed my left foot. Thank you! Now I can watch the rest of the video. : )

[@mtavarez4561]

All hail... to the King of Jazz drumming.... Steve, wow... you are truly amazing...... I also love your video on 32 notes... wow.... AMAZING--

[@johndiraimo1444]

Really nice video Steve .... awesome nuggets and great playing as usual !!

[@fivebyfivesound]

Extremely practical and clear presentation of knowledge. And I really appreciate you prioritizing demonstration at various tempos. It helps to see/hear both the concept and your technical approach to the instrument. Great lesson. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@CrochetNewsNetwork]

Yep, please keep teaching more jazz. I was a pop drummer session plater 30 years ago . Pulling out drums and wanting to learn jazz . You are such a great teacher breaking down phrases that I would never be able to figure out. You mind and talent are amazing

[@7777drummer]

Thanks for the jazz album recommendations. I will check them out.

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Excellent! Thank you for showing some ways to play these things musically.

[@riddmkidd]

8:09 I call it the bounce point instead of the balance point. it's the sweet spot to place the fulcrum on the stick. there's just a bit more weight in front of the hand. the stick feels the most alive and "springy" there. if you're trying to find the balance point then the stick won't want to come back down from the rebound. source: 40yr player, 16yr teacher. and thank you for such a helpful video!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Whoa 100k views - was not expecting that!

[@garymutch6655]

Is it any wonder? You have mastered your craft. Yes, you have the chops...but your playing sounds musical. Love your videos, mate.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

@@garymutch6655 Thanks a lot!

[@garymutch6655]

@@SteveHolmesDrums my pleasure.

[@fabiobuono8454]

Keep up the good work man! It's refreshing to find on youtube someone who can really play and not someone who does youtube because he can't do "other" if you get what I mean... And I mean it!!

[@CrochetNewsNetwork]

Do you have a beginners lesson to force independence to prime the pump for harder Parler s as in this video?

[@IsmaDataAI]

I have been studying Chapin's book for modern jazz drummer but you took my jazz concepts far beyond that. Wow. I'll have a great time studying thia amazing video.

[@dethronedb]

Really excellent - the title says it all - super valuable ideas - thanks, sir!

[@steveboltonPG]

By far the best explanation/demo of this I've seen in all my 58 years. Thanks!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Wow, thanks!

[@gdpugs]

Nice approach, Steve! Well said.

[@ritabrooks9059]

Steve just always sounds so good! Just feels great.

[@Jiu-JitsuDisciple-id1ok]

Top notch so glad I came across this thanks

[@ScottBurkholder]

YOU DIDNT SAY "WHAT'S UP GUYS"! 😁 Great stuff as always, man. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

WWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhatsupguyz

[@scottmoyer1357]

Thanks for the great lessons. I appreciate your approach to teaching and love the style you bring to the art and craft of drumming.

[@drummike08]

superb! especially loving your jazz drumming; the flam roll vid part 1 always gets me hyped :D

[@robertbreton3049]

Excellent, informative, & musical -very nice feel Steve!

[@Wiebe80]

This is really helpfull. Thank you! I find it really helpfull to play paradiddles (in swing) between the hand and feet. Definitly gonna try all of these exercises

[@freebird3190]

Hey Steve , I have been Playing Many Years Graduated P I T in 89 .. Just wanted to say Your Excellent.. Great Lessons and you have Great Feel Thanks for the Awesome Videos .. Peace .

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Dean! Thanks a lot - glad you'e still into drumming! It's a blessing and curse isn't it?

[@freebird3190]

yes

[@geoffreysmith4618]

Old video and super, super, helpful!! Wow. I have my homework.

[@JS45678]

I’m only a beginner drummer and finally learned my first jazz beat. This lesson is light years ahead of my lousy abilities but love watching anything jazz these days. 🚬😎

[@xbeast666]

John Smith hey don't give up. I've been playing Rock and Metal for nearly 30 years. Jazz will fuck with your brain. But trust me when U feel the swing feel U are in a whole new world. It's mentally tough on it mind and your pysicallity. But patience and focused discipline is what's its all about

[@littlemoronvideos]

Very nicely outlined lesson - definitely going back to Ted Reed’s book with a new perspective. Very nice playing too, feels and sounds very natural - good work, sir!

[@sfuertes1]

This is one of the best jazz tip videos I've seen in a long time. I have been for years, telling drummers of all styles to use syncopation and Steve really made it easy to understand and easy to follow. Well done.

[@johnabernethy9524]

It's how you use it though, I never would have thought to fill in all the gaps in the triplet with the left hand and play the with my feet. My teacher only instructed me to play the figures with my left hand, which is boring and uninteresting.

[@hansleonhardt7653]

amazing... great musicality.....

[@timothycroke5307]

First time I’ve run across Steve on KZbin. Many great ideas just in this one video. Can’t wait to try these things and check out his other videos. Thank you Steve.

[@billbrandt1106]

This an EXTREMELY HELPFUL lesson! There is enough practicing to do based on this 19 minute lesson to last me full time for months.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Good luck Bill.

[@billbrandt1106]

Thanks Steve - PLEASE make many more videos like this. I watch very "drum lesson" video I can find & you are the BEST instructor I have come across. I like the way you show the sticking many times at different tempos. And I was able to immediately apply many things. There is so much great stuff being covered that I had to pause the video a bunch of times & run to my kit to try it. PLEASE MAKE MORE VIDEOS. Thanks@@SteveHolmesDrums

[@Tonyclaret1]

Great lesson Steve , thank you !!!

[@loopmasters2]

thank you! great video,, i hope to start being able to do the most elementary parts of this in about a year, great tips, great drummer!

[@alonzovillarreal4666]

Awesome as always Steve, thank you!

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

Beautiful job mate !!

[@JimmyDrs]

Thanks for sharing Steve!

[@yarpyarp85]

Dude, went to school for jazz. I'm aware of all the stuff u talked about but something about the execution and demos shed new light for me. Please keep releasing videos, I've subscribed and will continue to watch. Thank you.

[@yarpyarp85]

U know a video is good when u go straight to the drums after...... so here I am lol.

[@karlfagerstrom]

Same! And I also had the immediate urge to practice after this video but unfortunately it's 2:30am here so I can't right meow womp wommmppp

[@admoney2]

love your lessons ! and playing , very clear ,right to the point,and extremely heipfull, Best on the internet in my opinion.

[@orpheusthedrummer]

I couldn't agree more! Elvin on Speak No Evil is absolutely unreal!! All those ghost notes and embellishments during Witch Hunt (comping) blew me right away when I first heard it.. Crazy record! One of the main records that got my ears perked up to whats going on during comping. You discover new things each time you listen to it! Great video, amazing playing, great tips, can't wait to finish watching. 😃

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you!!

[@mickgentry8128]

Very Sage advice, thank you glad I found you, awesome.

[@juanexpo]

Awesome Mega-lesson Steve !! From minute 00 to the end it´s fantastic. The time index is great. Thanks !!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thank you Juan.

[@samslaby4882]

Really a beautiful lesson. Your humanity and compassion really come through. Thank you!

[@flipphone326]

Excellent teaching method, thank you

[@gregmcdermott3285]

Exquisite feel with your applications, plus articulate explanations...very nice..😎

[@ronnie4747]

i always enjoy yr lessons

[@christianwagenseil9621]

great. thanks for showing me new things to get out of the Ted Reed book

[@limpindrummer]

Another great lesson from Steve Holmes! He is a rare example of an outstanding drummer who is also a natural teacher. One of the best. I wonder if Ted Reed knew how versatile and enduring his work would be?

[@MikiDrummer]

The dislikes in that video proves that even the best content on the internet can get hate, this channel is gold! I'm so glad i've found it :)

[@toddfritz4412]

I just watched this for the second time. Great stuff here!

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Thanks so much.

[@bobbechstein4835]

Nice work !!

[@vilmosdobi7771]

Great lesson! Thank you!