My 3 Favorite Drum Grooves - Drum Lesson

I can't even begin to tell you the breakthroughs I made in my drumming due to these 3 grooves! I truly hope that these drum grooves (groove environments) take you all on a journey that will allow you to discover and create your own grooves! - Mike J
►Check out all my courses and live streams at - www.mikeslessons.com
►Basic Gadson Groove: gscribe.com/share/FoeaVxKLyri...
►My Variation: gscribe.com/share/BM3RbpMWapX...
►Basic 2/3 Songo: gscribe.com/share/wy5XAsE3Aqh...
►My Variation: gscribe.com/share/hi2s1oP9bKZ...
►Basic 6/8 Afro Cuban: gscribe.com/share/DUMv25jWpRA...
►My Variation is just orchestration so I would encourage you to explore and create your own :)
►Metronome App: apple.co/2xyz1mr
►Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30hKcPb
►Listen to the Podcast on Spotify: spoti.fi/2HxpOmv
►Visit mikeslessons.com bit.ly/onlinedrumlessons
Follow me here
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►Facebook: / drumteacher76
►Twitter: / mikeslessons
Endorsements
• Gretsch Drums
• Meinl Cymbals
• Aquarian Drum Heads
• Vic Firth Sticks
• DW Hardware
• Audio Technica Microphones
• 64 Audio In Ears
• Aiya Matcha

[@mikeslessons]

Name a song that has one of these three grooves in it :) - Mike J

[@MrSteve8927]

Rush- Tom Sawyer.

[@mikeslessons]

@@MrSteve8927 THERE WE GO! Killer Gadson groove that you eventually get to play in 7!

[@MrSteve8927]

@@mikeslessons yes sir!! I play the other two grooves to songs, but for the life of me can’t think of one that actually has them in it, without cheating and googling it lol.

[@DennisBergDrums]

#1 comes close to funky drummer

[@rockytoprecordingreviews4167]

Deftones - Around the Fur FIrst song that came to mind with the Gadson Groove.

[@milpertitchalot6432]

That last 6/8 Afro Cuban were pretty amazing. 🤯

[@kaydencilla3634]

The way this man explains drumming absolutely changed me, the next time I drum I'm going to set an environment to grove

[@cucumbers405]

Mike, I’ve been doing your lessons for almost a year after finally deciding to buy an electronic drum kit (that I’ve since upgraded to a much nicer model) after wanting to play drums my entire life. I don’t know if I would have stuck with it so closely if it wasn’t for your lessons. Seeing you play grooves in your videos that I am not quite capable of yet just provides additional inspiration

[@user-fo7pi3vl9r]

I am a Chinese drum student; I very like your drum lesson. using this method to create a groove that only belongs to me is very Instructive, thank you!

[@thefunkybeautiful]

That groove featuring the cow bell was very Gadd-like. Gorgeous.

[@whoisfish]

Groove environments. Exactly. The same groove can be found in thousands of songs! Once you understand the different "environments" and how to build them, you can feel confident playing in most musical situations. Well done Mike.

[@billhunting7776]

I woke up this morning looking for a Gadson groove tutorial from you. I needed it at last week's drum camp. Working on it now. Thanks

[@JayStiqs]

I remember the gospel chops video soooo well. That was where I was introduced to your content! Its been a journey!

[@JosephFerrantelli]

Great stuff right here! My drumming has drastically improved and transformed for the better since becoming a member of Mikeslessons site. So inspiring 👊👍

[@lindacostello77]

The Gadson groove was definitely a dream, want to play, groove for me. I never would have been able to learn that if I hadn’t started taking lessons at Mike’s Lessons. Thanks so much!! You really open doors for people

[@farshimelt]

Your the first drummer I've seen on youtube whose talked about making it your own. There are hundreds of videos of drummers playing someone else's groove and thinking it's the be all and end all. After you've learned someone else's groove, do something with it, otherwise, what's the point? I follow the poet Ezra Pound's advice to T.S. Elliot, "Make it new."

[@borisp42]

huge thank you Mike i feel 2nd and 3rd grooves intersect with that old famous and insane "3-over-4 polyrythm" now (over the years.. ) finally i got them all ... =)) thank you so much!!!)

[@SimonRileyDrums]

I really loved how all three of these grooves were so different and allowed me to relate to my wide range of influences. But even beyond that, your explanation of the original and how you took that and made it your own was so clear and well done. Wish I could smash that like button twice!

[@mikeslessons]

Simon... thank you so so much my friend!

[@grandolddrummer]

I learned that songo 13 years ago. Still one of my all-time favorites.

[@monidelvalle11]

Loved it. I've always loved this concept coming from you. Thanks, Bro!

[@CalebCromb]

I remember that songo from 13 years ago! That was one of my first lessons I learned from you and the way you taught it, and still teach, makes so much sense and is so easy to follow....making hard grooves easy to understand! Much Love Mike!

[@mikeslessons]

That means the world to me!!!

[@a13xbeyond]

it's freaking amazing! Thanks a lot, Mike!! Hard to express how inspirating and helpful your lessons are... Just... just thank you very, very much! from Russia with huge love

[@jringo45acp]

I love seeing all these Meinl cymbals

[@drummermomcjs]

Wonderfully musical versions of well-known grooves. I love the idea that you taught here about taking a groove you hear and playing with it, tweaking it, and making it your own. Such a great way to approach drumming and inspire creativity on the drums. I love this video, thank you for posting this.

[@mikeslessons]

Thanks so much old friend. I think that should be the approach to any artform. It's silly to pretend that we don't stand on the shoulders of giants, but it's equally disrespectful to not evolve what they have given us.

[@danielfrancese2585]

Wow... Snare sound was killed it

[@EJPlays_.]

This is so amazing! Thank you Mike!

[@BrandonRaehl]

Awesome lesson, bro! You're world grooves pack from back in the day changed my drumming SOOOOOOOO much, and I remember these grooves being on there. I still play them and mess around with variations. Still can't do "splash close" though. lol I need to work on that. Thanks for the lessons!

[@Tsachras]

Amazing!! Perfect work as always!!! Thank you

[@mybiggrin]

Beautiful

[@yusufsupriyadi9406]

I really really like the way you play drums & your style of drumming . . It's really really amazing . .

[@luism7824]

Wow Mike, you are opening up my mind! Thank you Man!

[@evankerr3723]

I appreciate your style of video. Straight to the point, helpful and no bs. Subscribed!

[@Snook_]

Love it

[@jkrohmer60]

Mike, you are my drum teacher now. I saw a video you did in front of an audience. It just made sense. I actually practice some of the exercises you demonstrate. I'll never be a pro, I do it for fun. It's more fun when you sound good! Keep it up!

[@HongFeiHo]

Awesome! Thanks for the ideas!

[@felipeleon6631]

amazing teacher, it is noticable the hard work

[@dostmusician]

love your work,i played drums for 6 years at school,left them,went to other instruments,but one day saw one of your drum videos and remembered how much i missed playing the drums and here i am back to the covid quarantine and your videos,back to drumming,you inspire people around the world :D

[@mikeslessons]

YES!!! That's so AMAZING to hear!

[@dostmusician]

@@mikeslessons My best wishes for your good health 😊

[@korneeldecae2322]

Three veeery tasty grooves! Amazing work 👍

[@thomas7726]

i really love the Gadson groove... because it speeds up slow songs, with well-marked accents, and creates an atmosphere of something that can grow anytime. And until today I didn't even know there was a name for that groove my secound favorite groove (as brazilian) is the basic bossa nova...

[@samstagolfaren]

You are one of the most inspirational drum dudes on YT

[@MrOngor]

Ahh my favourite Mike! I love playing Linear Songo!

[@jedfriedland1520]

Tremendous. Thank you.

[@HelenaMikovic]

You are a great teacher. Thank you very much.👍🌺

[@StreetBeatsStudio]

Awesome as usual

[@drumyogi9281]

I just discovered you and Eddie's Podcast. You guys are hilarious lol thanks for the fun discussions!

[@geralddrums]

Very cool grooves😀👍

[@traviswoodall6547]

Mike, at 1:45 you mention that with the 2-handed version you miss the hi-hat on 2 and 4....I noticed a Steve Gadd video, and subsequent explanation from Gadd himself, that when he plays this pattern he always doubles(technically it’s a triple, no?) up the left hand so that the left and right come down together on 2 and 4 for that VERY reason. It also creates a cool texture. It’s amazing how the little things we play or choose not to play make such a difference in a person’s style and sound. BTW, I’m back in the family so I am stoked to catch up where I left off!!

[@Scottjazz55]

Very nice......helpful.....

[@AjithKumar-tb3uy]

Amazing

[@RustyKnorr]

Oh lord, those hihats...my heart overflows! 😍

[@mikeslessons]

Those 15" Meinl Foundry reserve Hats are an absolute dream. Talking them to my grave, lol

[@megatruthoverlord1807]

@@mikeslessons Just splurged on a pair.

[@kshepthedrummer]

I found that gospel chops video of you doing the songo back in like 2011 and its been my favorite groove ever since. To this day, I still find myself tapping it on my legs when I zone out lol

[@mikeslessons]

That's awesome to hear my friend. Thanks for the continued support!

[@gameplayti2909]

God bless you man. Time to practice.

[@JimsMusicLegacy]

Groovy man, as always.

[@SleepyMusicOfficial]

Thanks for the video man! I aspire to be as good as you one day

[@searching4answers79]

Nice!

[@NavarreAnthony]

This is insane

[@weschilton]

Will Kennedy plays a killer afro-cuban outro beat on the Yellowjackets tune "Helix" off of the "Politics" album. Man both Vinnie and Dave Weckl absolutely KILL Songo grooves... check out Vinnie on John Patitucci's "Baja Bajo" on his first solo album. For a nice Gadson groove check out Steve Gadd on Al Jarreau's "I Will Be Here For You" Oh! Let's not forget the great Jeff Porcaro on "Gerogie Porgie" from Toto's first album!

[@ralfbloemers5716]

This one's gonna keep me busy for a while! Thanks Mike. Keep it up! Greetings from the Netherlands 👍🏻

[@mikeslessons]

Awesome to hear my friend! Enjoy the heck out of these environments :) Mike J

[@ivanroman9894]

Thanks Mike ,your cool man!

[@DRUMAWAYEMAN]

So good. Damn!

[@johnbolongo9978]

Great groove....

[@TurgutAlpBekoglu]

Thanks for sharing..

[@ejames6431]

Very good beats.

[@rubenlealzotano161]

Mike, Thank you....

[@stevenraparelli3396]

Great Lesson. You make independence look effortless and anyone who plays knows it isn't. Beat 3 is sick, and I am lifting it.✌

[@mikeslessons]

LOL, thanks a ton. It's all yours Steven!

[@Alaska_MD]

This is very good. I just got my but kicked at a restaurtant gig last night. The leader [jazz faculty] called a 6/8 AFC, and It had been almost a year since I played it, and I just couldn't remember it well, so I faked a straight ahead 6/8 groove and tried to spice it up a little. He was not fooled. I got a talking to...

[@mikeslessons]

LOL! we have all been there before old friend :)

[@MrSteve8927]

Love the songo!!! Miss the family.

[@mikeslessons]

They will always be there when you are ready my friend!

[@JoaoFORP]

Beautiful!

[@mikeslessons]

Much appreciated my friend! - Mike J

[@vtamdu-drumcover3871]

Cool 😎👍

[@johnrobinson8323]

Gonna have hang out in environment number 2 and 3 for awhile !😀🥁❤

[@LagMaster55]

god the lighting and colour is so gooood.... the drums are nice too

[@mikeslessons]

You just made my day! Thank you 🙏🍵🙏🍵

[@drumanddrummer2959]

NIIIIIZE!!!

[@douraldrums8811]

Anthoney Hamilton best of me. For the first groove. Second one I want to say Shaun Martin madiba. Great video by the way definitely can take alot from this. Great explanations very clear.

[@teacherfromthejungles6671]

6:39 yeah, I learned something. that I have to practice A LOT to get here

[@loganlamons5373]

Love this video! Would actually love to see you address your love for watches in a future video! I know I may be in the minority for this but would love to see it none the less. Thanks for all you do, Mike!

[@sonnydayz5447]

the matcha cha cha cha

[@campbellread1918]

The Gadson is cooking nicely thanks, but the fill you did while demonstrating this is what I have been looking for, please please do a groove scribe for this!!! Perhaps i missed something

[@mikeslessons]

I hate to give away the sauce but it's just RLRLKK. Right on the hat, left ghosted on the snare :)

[@0xbrokedude]

Hey Mike, absolute fantastic lessons every single time. How can i set my goals? What is to much or less? Im really stuck at this...

[@krazyjey]

Impressive, I like your style and thinking, high 5

[@martijndevries4164]

2:12 he pulled a Pretty Purdie... Singing while playing

[@ismailtrpan8442]

I thought same thing

[@ozoz2931]

Great stuff as usual Mike! I'm curious what heads are you using? Thanks

[@whataburger8319]

Foundry reserves are sick

[@Gnomosfortheoffice]

Polar Explorer II: great choice

[@bernardoguzman1197]

Nice Songo version Mike, I’ll try it later! Greetings from Peru!

[@mikeslessons]

Much appreciated Bernardo! 🙏🍵🙏🍵

[@webber977]

Mike that was awesome man and that kit sounds amazing

[@mikeslessons]

So happy you enjoyed it Mikey! 56 years old and still sounds like a champ :)

[@RustyKnorr]

@@mikeslessons I’m 56, I wish I played like a champ! Your medium spicy exercise is just destroying me, Mike. I’m ready to throw my drums away. Or chop my left foot off. RLF is dialed, bring in the hihat and I’m a waiter with a giant platter of dishes falling down the stairs. Yup, it’s ugly. 😩

[@Triggagnomic]

Lovely video. Classics all! It's weird you mention orchestrating the 6/8 though, because my first introduction to Songo was as a huge orchestration, just like your 6/8! I much prefer grooving the backbeat in 6/8, it's kinda funky...

[@ryanfinney7181]

Can you do a variation on a 6/8 clave?

[@GeloAlcantara]

That 2:46 - 2:49, sounds like Ash Soan's hat fill/trick 😁

[@mikeslessons]

Gelo, it's RLRLKK. Now it's your hi hat trick :)

[@GeloAlcantara]

@@mikeslessons 😁👌 matchaaaaaaa

[@fadyrayes]

Great framing by calling it a groove environment.

[@ChrisSheridan295]

My god those hats are so crispy. Do you sear both sides before playing?

[@mikeslessons]

Seared, then dipped in tempura batter and deep fried! LOL :)

[@jameslyons1661]

❤️

[@weichihchen2475]

6:18 世界無敵難！！！（super god damn hard, in Mandarin) Wish I could master this

[@user-nf6jl9cg1t]

2:46 cool lick! I slowed it down and I think it's r l R l K K

[@mikeslessons]

That's it. Nice and simple :)

[@CrochetNewsNetwork]

Ok, ok, ok, you and I watch too much of the same comedy. Regarding your quote " do you have the PDF” in the voice of Billy Crystal impersonating SAMMY DAVID JR. Well played sir. Well played.

[@Tekkerue]

6:15 *"All right here we go"* Oh yeah, Mike's about to open a huge can of....... paprika! 😅

[@rodrigochaves8169]

how many and which microphones do you use to capture the drum kit?

[@re-groove]

Does anyone know what that Screen-based metronome is that Mike is using?? Some sort of metronome app running on a laptop?

[@stevedriscoll2539]

Whoa, those last two were amazing. Wasn't Songo the name of a song or a groove (environment) that David Garibaldi did? That last groove is my favorite. My buddy Pepé plays stuff like that on the congos. He's world class; played with Arturo Sandoval

[@33semajthegreat]

Mike, you always have great energy. Do you ever just flip out and just loose it? Is there a darkside to you?

[@mikeslessons]

Bro... ALL THE TIME! But it stays in my head, then I process why I'm feeling that way, go for a float (sensory deprivation chamber) and realize that I was being childish. Then the cycle repeats, LOL!

[@allan1064]

Now I see my problem. I always needed a pdf to play drums

[@jonasstone1520]

Great vid again. Thanks! A few weeks ago I came up with a latin kinda rhythm in 7/8. Feel free to check it out!

[@Withcare111]

Nice . Thank you . What’s the lick you do at the end of the first groove ? Is it kkrrlll looped with a accent on the second hi hat ?

[@mikeslessons]

Just RLRLKK. Accenting the second right. Hope that helps.

[@Withcare111]

@@mikeslessons it does indeed thanks . I like the way you take time to reply to people’s messages .it’s very genuine . Any plans for a trip to grouse lodge next summer when all this covid shit lifts ? Dublin here . Think it’s time I try 21 drums if it ever comes back to Ireland . Take care

[@jameslyons1661]

😊

[@TomPompei]

Hey Mike, can I get the name of the metronome your using? Jk! Glad to have something to work on this weekend. Thanks!

[@mikeslessons]

The app is officially called "Check The Description" LOL! Thanks a ton Tom, have fun with them my friend :)

[@mordzielikplim1328]

In Mike's voice: "The link to my metronome is in the description below" 😅😅