Jazz Coordination Part 1: The Basics

Here is the first of a series of videos on Jazz Coordination. This has been one of the most requested topics that I have received emails and comments about. It's a huge subject and it will take several videos to present it properly. In this chapter I talk about the ride cymbal pattern, feathering the bass drum, rhythmic interpretation and we begin exercises with the left hand and bass drum. The cymbals are all 1950's K Zildjian with a Paiste 22" swish.The drums are Gretsch Centennial series: 18"x14" bass,10",12",14" toms and a 14"x7" snare. There are calf heads on the snare drum and bass drum.
The exercises demonstrated in the lesson are from pages 7-8 of my book Advanced Coordination for Drum Set and Hand Percussion. You can order that from me at [e-mail]

[@martinkent_]

Love your lessons, Rick. You’re one of those gems on KZbin for drummers!

[@pauldrumwell4922]

I love everything about your channel. Your attention to detail in every task, your communication is concise and simple, your standard of play inspiring as well as aspirational. Thank you for your generosity.

[@rickdior]

Thank You Paul. That's very flattering.

[@matthewgonano636]

I second that

[@lujuanhurtado8664]

the things that were indicated within the first set of comments are basically how I feel about it so I third it .....🙂

[@edgenovese]

Wonderful command of this instrument I played for 40 and always was in love. It shows in your dance...Bravo

[@tomelizalde7838]

Absolutely lovely !!

[@timgawertdrums]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing Rick

[@andrebanini]

Great Rick, also a video on your foot technique would be nice: Bass drum: heel up, heel down, feathering, playing into the head, letting beater bounce off head, sound, tuning, head choice, dynamics, various techniques etc Also everything dealing with the hi-hat foot and hi-hat cymbals, sound, technique, various foot motion etc

[@philipmcevoy7206]

I love this Rick

[@jamesconnors5653]

That is some juicy stuff. Thank you much.

[@shaharbenyatahmusic]

Hope you will post in the future more of your content. your channel is one of my favorites!

[@IsaacVallentin]

Thank you very much for all of your lessons Rick. They're a massively helpful resource for an aspiring drummer.

[@nectasskiff]

Man, you are a great teacher! Thanks!

[@paulstuartsmith2224]

What a musical gift you have my man and your so generous with it. Thank you so very much!

[@rickdior]

Hi Paul Thanks for watching

[@davidtorras5556]

Lovely, thank you Master

[@JMcNultyDrums]

0:34 love this little five stroke roll between the crashes. So simple but so tastefully done. Great video!

[@Javi7Tron]

The content and knowledgement that you are sharing this last weeks is unvaluable, thank you very much !

[@themole2024]

invaluable

[@michaeldollinter8413]

Thank You for your God given talent !!!

[@danlc95]

Excellent job, sir. You bring back great memories of Metro Detroit guys I grew up seeing in the early 90's, when I was a kid. Joe Chila, Miguel Guiterrez, Billy Cairo (rip), Tony Iopollo, and so many others. It was a great time to be a young drummer.

[@jaydeebishop2345]

So here... all the good licks u can play on one page lined up and divided by chronological evolution, Awesome! I'm just starting on that grip tho. I'll be around a ling time I feel. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm running with it.

[@bubuotis]

best teacher ever hands down, chapeau... I'll have to get your book! :)

[@enginjass]

you are an amazing musician amazing composer. waow

[@brodmitkase]

Rick this is my first time hearing you play drum set, you are crazy

[@scottdonofrio6734]

Rick, I watch a lot of drumming videos from several different drummers. I can easily say that your videos are by far some of the best out there. I get more from watching any of your videos than I do from 90% anywhere else. You don’t need any catchy video titles, you’re humble and clearly know your stuff, as opposed to so many others with millions of views. You’re definitely one of the best drummers I’ve watched and I’m astounded that you’re relatively unknown. Keep up the good work. Lastly, if you could improve the sound levels so that I’m not having to crank my volume to hear you speak, that would be very helpful. Thank you for these videos.

[@rickdior]

Hi Scott Thanks for the kind words. I would recommend using headphones for these videos as I do not use any compression on the drums or my voice.

[@lujuanhurtado8664]

excellent comments .....excellent demonstrational relational consice clear teaching .....very cool

[@wladimirfighera1999]

My friend! I feel like going to study with you to become a better drummer! big hug from a brazilian drummer your fan! 🙏👏👏👏🥁

[@enginjass]

you are genious

[@sameerv3085]

you make it look so easy lol

[@thomasmedeiros7337]

Hello rick! do you've got any video that speaks about jazz 3/4 waltz? i'd love to found one. found ur channel last week and i'm lovin it! thank u for the content

[@rickdior]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKDKc5-kiNN7Z6c And do a search on my channel under playing in 3/4 and more will come up.

[@claesblomquist3510]

I recently watched your channel and subscribed immediately. You are a really great teacher and drummer. Where can I get your book? I'm from Sweden and I want to follow this course. Thank you for doing this.

[@rickdior]

Hi Claes Email me at [e-mail] and I will let you know how you can get the book. Thanks Rick

[@tortillasarenotbiceps7622]

Rock drummer: Makes easy stuff look hard. Jazz drummer: Makes hard stuff look easy.

[@nickrepice4360]

Hey Rick, love the lessons, this one in particular. I’m a rock drummer turning jazz drummer. I notice the bop kit set up typically has an 18 or 20 inch bass drum. In your opinion would a 22 or 24 not sound right in a jazz combo? Would the feathering be too muddy?

[@rickdior]

Hi Nick You could use a 22 but a 24 would be too large for a combo setting. Traditional small group jazz drummers will use either a 16,18 or 20'" Bass drum. The goal is to think of the bass drum as another melodic voice in the drum kit as well as a subtle timekeeping instrument.

[@nickrepice4360]

rickdior thanks Rick! I really appreciate your thoughts.

[@robertpierre-louis4578]

I really like the sound of your Gretsh drum set. How do you tune it up? By ears or by notes? I need some clues to get this sound.

[@rickdior]

Hi Robert If you search "drum tuning" on my page you will find several videos about this topic. Thanks

[@mambomux]

How are the 4 16th notes of a beat distributed on the triplet?

[@themole2024]

I see the snare drum notes but how do you know where they fit in with the ride pattern? How do you count without the ride showing you the one two three four? Am I making sense?

[@alexfr811]

Aesome drumming Rick... Can i ask, how much did u use to practice during your busiest practice years and what did you practice?... How did/do you organize your practice routine?... thx so much

[@rickdior]

All through college I would practice about 4-6 hours a day during the school year and in the summers I did 8-12 hours a day. Keep in mind that this was not just drum set but many different percussion instruments including timpani, vibes, marimba, orchestra percussion audition rep and hand drums (congas, bongos, djembe etc.). On drum set I would practice coordination, reading, transcribing, and playing along with music in all styles. After I graduated college I went on the road immediately so practicing was tough in that situation. I did do a lot of transcribing during that period. The most important thing is to set goals for yourself and stick to them. This determines your practice time in each area and how long you spend on each instrument. I still stick to that these days.

[@alexfr811]

@@rickdior alright... By coordination you mean exercises like the ones presented in this video?... I'm interested in your book but haven't been able to find a link on your website to do the purchase... Or how does it work?

[@rickdior]

You can contact me at rickdior@gmailcom if you want to buy the book.

[@alexfr811]

@@rickdior done, I've just sent you an email. Thx

[@Anton_Nikolaus_Mangweth]

Rick I dont really check how you interprate 16 into triplets! Could you plead explain it???

[@Anton_Nikolaus_Mangweth]

8th are quasi quarters and e‘s are quasi +s?? Am I Right???

[@sisco3404]

Hey Rick. When you are playing the uptempo ride it sounds like 1e an 2 e an 3 e an 4 e an but then when you slow it down it sounds like a traditional jazz pattern...am I missing something? Thanks

[@rickdior]

When the ride pattern is played that fast it straightens out and sounds like straight 8ths. Thats what you are hearing.

[@sisco3404]

@@rickdior Cool. Thank You.

[@redpebbles]

What stick are you using there, Rick? It looks like one of the Vic Firth SD series

[@rickdior]

Hi The drum set sticks I use are made by Vic Firth. They are a personal design and not available commercially. Thet are a cross between an SD9 and an SD 2 with some modifications to the length and width.

[@dennisstgermain442]

Great stuff as usual.............so now how do I purchase your book ?? . Hmmmmmm

[@rickdior]

Hi Dennis You can buy it directly from me. Just email me at [e-mail] Thanks

[@dennisstgermain442]

@@rickdior will do .............thank YOU

[@davidkral118]

Wish I could study with you.

[@rickdior]

You can I teach online lessons [e-mail]

[@musiciensbaleine8851]

hello rick you double the measure, so metronome is more in the and than in two and four, isn't it? or i don't overstand anithing of this?

[@TheDirtyblackRiverDouglasGByeH]

Hey Rick, can I buy your drumsticks online?

[@rickdior]

Not online but you can contact me at [e-mail]

[@hannahstansfield4034]

Did you know that you were a squirrel in the previous life ? No wander squirrels are into jazz , some of the best drummers are squirrel reincarnations too . Max Roach , Buddy Rich , Pappa Joe Jones ,Simon Phillips

[@rickdior]

Thanks for the info Hannah It's a good thing you never said that to Buddy Rich. It may have ended badly. Take Care