How to Play Thrash and Blast Beats (Tips & Tricks Episode #67)

[@OpusTheFox]

Average people be like: "Shit all sounds the same to me."

[@khsathsovairyobhekizitha5879]

it kind of does

[@OpusTheFox]

Khsathsovairyo bhekizitha I mean, not really...

[@khsathsovairyobhekizitha5879]

Don't get me wrong i love blast beats but it depends what kind they are applying to the guitar riffs... i love cyclone blastbeats it has a much powerful sound to it..

[@OpusTheFox]

Khsathsovairyo bhekizitha Well, yeah. I see what you mean.

[@MorbidVizions]

Very solid video brother! Simple, easy to follow, and straight to it. Excellent way to learn how to slow down and make your beats more timed and dynamic! Keep it up bro! And if I had to pick a song from George, it would probably be cast down the heretic, just do fast and intricate. Thanks for the invite to this video man!

[@AJNystrom]

+Jelly Kid- Thanks for watching. I assume you missed the fact that this is an instructional video rather than a "show off" video. I state in the beginning that I will go through them slowly and let you work the speed up on your own.

[@DaviRoutner]

Great drummer and lesson!

[@lateralus8123]

Probably the most helpful blast beat video I've ever seen! Thanks!

[@tricky92x]

I like the cyclone blast better with a single bass... it allows you to be real colorful on the hi-hat.There's enough rest time in there as well where the beat can be accomplished with a heel-toe technique. Cool video.

[@thebandgaruda]

"Parental Advisory : loud drummer" 😂!

[@Petegrin1]

2:12 .. That's called D-beat. but usually you only use one foot. Mostly used in crustpunkbands like Skitsystem, Doom and Ursut

[@Nighthawk391]

Not exactly, the D-beat has a slightly different bass pattern.

[@paccie9689]

D beat uses the crash

[@SeverinoSE]

Easy to understand and without any time-wasting... well done! The Skank beat can also be used as a sort of inverse or reverse Skank beat for some riffs. As an example... Cannibal Corpse's album "Butchered at Birth" is loaded with them, like the beat used for the first riff on "Meat hook sodomy".

[@mattbowden1981]

Did he say ride sauce?

[@mattbowden1981]

Very informative video, though! Thanks, man.

[@TheRadrussian1]

ok so im not the only one that heard that.....

[@JamesJones-bl3fo]

Matt Bowden he did say ride sauce 😂

[@anthonyeugene4258]

he said "ride salts"... kinda like bath salts

[@AJNystrom]

Sebastian, thanks for your comments. In my episode about single stroke fluidity I talk about loosening my grip so basically only the thumb and middle finger are holding it and the other fingers are just along for the ride. Also, I mention "stealing" a stroke- one on the way down, and one on the way up. As far as "attaching" the stick to the rim during rim shots, I like to get my stick off the head/rim as fast as possible so I don't choke the drum and it lessens the impact on my wrist as well.

[@MauricioIha]

Best drums video tutorial!!! Exactly what i am looking for Thank you so much bud

[@Tenshin66]

very good video

[@argentinarule]

Keep that going man. Is there any technique that you recommend for the Blast beats? I'm trying with finger technique with a bit of wrist. Can't wait for the next lesson :) Try to include why some drummers keep the stick "attached" to the snare drum when they are doing rim shots

[@jamesscarselletta3446]

I love the thrash beats and driving bass drum w/cymbal beats. When I do heavy metal I try to incorporate slow, moderate, and fast beats. I think this is a way to not be stuck playing things fast all the time. I enjoy the variety and methods of doing different beats. Many times a drummer is doing 1, 2 all through a song. Variety is the word here.

[@AJNystrom]

James, thanks for your thoughtful- and thought provoking- comment. Neil Peart often talked about “tension and release” in songs and solos. I like the idea of mixing up phrasing and presentation of patterns to keep the listener engaged and move the song in interesting directions. It should be fun to play and fun to listen to. Keep drumming and keep creating. -AJN

[@jamesscarselletta3446]

@@AJNystrom Thanks for writing.

[@TheSickening4111]

Keep rockin brutherr!! #swag #baller

[@olegeech]

thanks for the explanation!

[@AJNystrom]

Strictly speaking about grip (and not the lacquer on the sticks making them slippery when sweaty) I would start right at the point where you still feel confident in your grip. Focus on keeping all fingers on the sticks using proper grip. As you speed up your grip will loosen to allow the stick to move freely (that's where you get the speed from). Also, I tend to "choke up" on the stick (meaning move my hand up the shaft a bit) so I have more control over it. Hope that helps.

[@alexandriasilva1970]

sweet video! very informative. these are definitely beats i will use

[@thesuperboscar]

Thank you for the advice

[@TheHeroDood]

Nice video man! I'd have to say my favorite song by George would be either those whom the gods detest, burnout (youtube video) or aeons of burning galaxies

[@ironlotus4484]

nice vid man. gotta do a part 2 with the hoglan and gravity blasts. best george k tracks are aeons of burning galaxies, shall rise shall be dead, the essential salts and those who the gods detest. keep rockin brotha

[@Visuvh]

Yes, that's solid drumming. Care to delve deeper into experimental blast beats, like one foot blast and off beat hit hat with the other foot (derek roddy - i monarch for reference)? Really like that kind of approach.

[@METALLiCMETALLEr]

Man!, you're the Master. Peace! \ n// stay metal

[@ozlikingPL]

perfect. tnx to you i know how to tuca tuca properly greetings from poland

[@shredsixsixsix9218]

Right to the point

[@spidermanfreak100]

the only problem i have with thrash and blast beats are keeping a consistent beat and I still have not mastered the blast beat on my left hand.

[@hawk6111]

that 2nd thrash beat is classic

[@JamesCarian]

Hey AJ, cool video, and thanks for helping spread the knowledge on extreme beats and extreme drumming! Two pieces of feedback for you. Now I'm sure that part of it is that some people call certain beats by different names. From my understanding, bomb blasts utilize the reverse hand combination from what you described. So rather than being like a regular blast beat, the snare is actually hit on the beat, with the ride/hi-hat hit off the beat. I've also seen the bomb blast played with both hands hitting on the beat as well. And then the freehand blast consists of double bass 16ths with a gravity blast on the snare in 16ths also, rather than 8ths. With this one I've also seen the snare played in between the bass drums off the beat too. So lots of variations out there! Here are a couple videos that show what I'm talking about: George Kollias Blast Beat Drum Lesson Freehand Hyperblast by Tim Waterson As for my personal favorites, so many to name...I might have to go with George Kollias Laying Fire upon apep from George, and Roddy is another master so I think one of the most amazing performances I've seen from him is Derek Roddy - Powers That Be. I'd recommend the instructional videos from both of these guys for any extreme drummer out there. Blast Beats Evolved from Roddy, and Intense Metal Drumming 1 & 2 from Kollias. Cheers AJ, keep the channel going!

[@RyanofWinter]

This video really helped everything click. Thanks a ton!

[@ALjbebe1]

I lyke thiz...I have fallin back on material for my freestyle...and I have cut my play short BECAUSE of it...basic knowledge that I WILL expand on developing my new flo... Thankz

[@gonecoyote]

cool shit man.

[@angrytroll27]

at least now i can create my guitar pro drum tracks properly now. thanks mate!

[@LunBec]

Excelente!!! Saludos desde Perú!!!

[@Metalhead_Coaster_Fan]

Leonardo Luna Do you expect him to know Spanish?

[@lean17]

well play man.

[@hawk6111]

What you called the 'cyclone beat' is what I call the Gallup or triplets beat.

[@AJNystrom]

Totally agree. It's been a while since I released this but if I recall correctly I used the names that other drummers/ bands, etc used for the particular beats/ patterns. Thanks for watching and happy drumming!

[@GibsonLesPaul2000]

Thanks for the video man. I've been practicing blast beats for awhile ... The method in which you synchronize kick ride and snare together and was wondering why it sounded so different it songs. They traditionally play it in the basic way you first taught with ride and kick then snare.

[@untitled.death_]

Whats the name of the beat at 2:12 ?

[@badman104]

skank beat

[@DethronerX]

D-Beat (punk)

[@KokoRicky]

I almost always have to do the "polka blast" (the first one demonstrated) with both feet alternating, even after years of practice. Can you recommend a way to build up speed in the individual foot?

[@Altair4000]

A.J. do you have any tips for helping with the grip? Whenever I try to do a blast beat the stick basically has its own mind and I can't seem to keep it still

[@robertredford4332]

perfect

[@Deadbeatdad666]

why so much double bass? I play all these beats with single bass

[@AJNystrom]

+Nate Merrill Thanks so much for checking out my video and sharing your comment. Double vs single pedal is all about preference and comfort in my opinion. Regardless if a drummer uses one, two, or sixteen pedals to play anything we're all still drummers and we're all still playing music so it's all good. I don't view music- especially metal- as a competition, but rather as a community. Keep playing and keep kicking ass. Horns up \m/

[@poppinlochnesshopster3249]

+Nate Merrill Why not use one stick? You can probably play some beats with 1 stick. Since we're talking about arbitrarily taking tools away from ourselves to feel like a better drummer, instead of actually, you know, _being_ a better drummer.

[@natemerrill7637]

+A.J. Nystrom Well said

[@natemerrill7637]

+Poppin' Loch Ness Hopster It is actually a great exercise to play a blast beat with only the feet and your left hand. It takes away your dependence on your right hand for keeping time

[@khsathsovairyobhekizitha5879]

i love double bass it gives it bazooka sound

[@Morpheus.theDreamlord]

As for me - hammer-blast is the easyest blast ) Just play rigth hand using Moeller technique and left hand using traditional for blast beats finger tehnique and flams will do not bother you )

[@OfficialDreamTheater]

I... love... METAL. :)

[@naturewoodfb]

What the accents here?

[@ottawadrummer]

the bomb blast wasn't correct. It's a 16th note on the kicks, and 8th on the snare. And why are you putting so much effort into the hammers and euro blasts using just a single kick, use the double kick bro, more efficient.

[@luismontano2091]

I like to know more some songs about trash metal tanks

[@BeBLACKBADBOY]

So what are the tips and tricks? None in this video I guess

[@RemussiP]

THRASH TILL DEATH YEAH!!!

[@AJNystrom]

Thanks for the kind words. Please check out the instructional videos by Derek Roddy and George Kolias before we cast ballots for the "most helpful" video. I appreciate your views, likes, and comments.

[@Kira0tori]

Nice video dude, very interesting and technically really proper. I'll show it to my drummer. Check out our amateur Thrash Band with you want at dyssomnia.net (PS: Aeons of Burning Galaxies is my favorite song of George Kolias ;)

[@mrhyde2250]

I despise blast beats. They don’t fit well in thrash in my opinion.

[@xisotopex]

something is resonating. very distracting. otherwise, thank you for the video.

[@disnoise]

Is this for real? not very well played... good for starters, I guess

[@DespairShadows]

at slow parts you are not good, but nice video

[@kanebuckley6483]

no offence but you should probably get better at blasts before trying to teach them

[@sinnaever]

Real men use a single bass kick pedal.

[@fkT666]

You have no capability to teach someone

[@Abbeth4mImurtal]

One drum bass? LOLOLOLOL THIS isn't thrash metal!!

[@felixnilbog4517]

So what? Hes got another pedal for it anyways.

[@nelsunerdison2539]

John Marco it's called a double bass drum pedal lol

[@joshuaesparza2984]

There's many thrash bands that only use one bass drum

[@econgblues626]

+Abbeth 4rm Imurtal you don't know shit about metal obviously.

[@matheusibanez]

he likes black metal, he can't be true