Thomas Lang "odd groupings in fills" PART 1 mini-lesson for Modern Drummer 1

Dare to go odd! In this mini-lesson for Modern Drummer Magazine, Thomas Lang is showing some simple ways to snap out of the standard 2/4/6/8-type of even groupings in drum fills. Thomas is giving you some pointers to play more odd groupings in fills to help you sound not like everyone else!

[@ludvigwitschel7801]

Always listen, when the greatest have something to say.

[@LimpBizkit999]

Agreed 👂🏼

[@ArgenisAlbaD]

The sound of those toms is now forever in my mind! 🤯

[@JaimeMoralesDrums]

audix mics! love them

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

Top notch clinician A born gift Thomas is I know he disagrees with having a gift but it’s most definitely true Some people are just extra ordinary in the world

[@jabbassoapbox4533]

I always love starting my day off with a headache - thanks Thomas, LOL. Watching this also reminds me that I need to try more footwork with heel down instead of heel up all the time.

[@craigg8314]

If only my tuning could sound like that. Beautiful kit, even more incredible playing. The rest of us have to think about "4s, 5s, 6s... 9s" for quite a while. Thomas for you it just comes so naturally, you are truly a genius.

[@nathanielkintner3053]

"Natural" (ie not thinking about it) comes from a good amount of hours of dedication and focus. My beginner students usually grasp 4 (1e+a) farily quickly. Then when triplets are thrown in, the confusion starts. I've seen kids both fail and suceed after a few lessons; I know who practices. The concept of 5, 7, 9, etc. WILL come naturally, it just takes practice. I remember when 5s didn't come naturally then one day it "clicked", but did so after some time of frustration. DON'T GIVE UP! Get bored with 5s, try 7s! Thomas is in his late 40s and has probably 3+ decades under his belt.

[@jonballard4453]

I remember when I was unable to play doubles with the hands with any real speed or proficiency. In high school I carried my sticks and my realfeel practice pad with me everyday and would practice various rudiments and endurance speed runs of singles while my friend Brian would watch the time for me(thanks for all your help Rattail.yes that was his nickname)my last class for the day one year(or semester) was band class. It was 90 minutes split into 2 45 min classes. 1st 45 was concert band and 2nd 45 was jazz. So the 1st half I sat in the practice room with either myself or rattail and Ryan and would practice doubles. Starting slow and deliberate maintaining even strokes and focusing on moving through each stroke so I could begin to map out the path with my arms and wrists ,and fingers. This was forming my muscle memory.i dont remember how long this daily regimen spanned but I would guess more than a quarter and less than a half of the school year. Then one day It all just clicked. I was able to play doubles at various speeds dynamically and could control the rebound and bounce rather than have to physically strike 2 separate times. It become one fluid movement and was a total breakthrough moment that completely changed my playing for the better. PARADIGM SHIFT. I've been working on this same thing but with my feet and let's just say it's much more involved and has taken a long time indeed. I would have accomplished this already had I dedicated myself to it 100 % but with age comes new struggles. I still love playing drums. Thanks Thomas I still use the pair of signature sticks you gave to me at one of your clinics in Daytona beach Florida at total entertainment. I only use these sticks to play on my steering wheel while driving or on my electric kit. They are practically in the exact condition now as when you gave them to me. Thanks for your inspiration for nearly 2 decades almost and more than anything, your humility and down to earth approachability. I appreciate that as much as your playing.

[@scottalan6590]

@@nathanielkintner3053 2 years ago Thomas was 52ish and had been playing since he was 5. As a drummer , he’s a true freak of nature.

[@waltervillalba1000]

The first machine with emotions, i love u master 👍🏽

[@johnstie3331]

Odd is good! Thank you Thomas.

[@einarabelc5]

The most under-rated musician that's a drummer.

[@alanramirogarcia2886]

You can like or not how he plays or sounds BUT you have to admitt he is THE MOST TECHNICAL DRUMER IN THE WORLD KNOW TO MEN. His independence is out of this world. He inspires me everyday to keep practicing....and quit

[@cam2ss1le14]

Lang is a monster on the kit. He makes everything look easy and effortless. Odd signatures are tough especially landing back into a sweet groove. Now I'm going to have to practice until my hands bleed. Thanks for the good stiff Thomas.

[@babaloop]

Fantastic Thomas! This is the "Goods" for sure! And I love that Quarter note pulse on the hi-hat. Really makes everything "Pop"!!! Nice work my friend!!!

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Getting as good as Lang is easy...All you have to do is practice 47 hours a day 11 days a week 567 days a year. But nobody wants to.

[@valentin_boes]

and that's the point ^^

[@Tekkerue]

Ling Ling ain't got nothing on Lang Lang! 😂

[@danm2084]

sounds like thatll leave me just enough time for 4 hours of video games a day... if my math is correct, which it most certainly is.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

all that's left for him to do is rename his channel "THOMAS LANG THE DRUMINATOR"

[@SuperDrumsforever]

X's multiple lifetimes of reincarnation.

[@BokuPower]

Damn dude. Nice break down! You explained that in a way that absorbed right into my brain! Thanks!

[@Leddrums]

One of the best drummers in the world! Gr8 Sir Thomas

[@adli2351]

He s a phenomenon!!!

[@SuperDrumsforever]

Thomas Lang helps me to appreciate the science and art form of rhythm. Scary good and inspirational!

[@robmurray2310]

Just lovely

[@susunaga7]

As always I Just have to say « God!!! Thank you for Thomas»

[@freespiritwalter8844]

Gooooood stuff Thommy

[@satyajeetraval5795]

Thomas is my fav.

[@parcoforer3335]

Always inspiring, thanks Mr Lang !!

[@johngeorges1510]

Great lesson!

[@antcall6779]

Invaluable info from the Druminator! 🤘

[@Danfromoverthere]

You can make a whole note rest awesome for gods sake!!! You’re incredible!!

[@Xformat01]

No, we're not stupid. Lang just sees music differently than most of us. To him, drumming is clearly a language; he may even equate beats and sequences as more than patterns, but as shapes.

[@TheVermifuge]

Well said.

[@MaintainMundane]

There's definitely a type of feeling you can get when you play 3ds as opposed to 7ths no? I feel as if there isn't as much a language rather than a familiarity to play groupings.

[@Xformat01]

@@MaintainMundane I''m referring to that which is beyond groupings . . . it isn't easy to explain.

[@AnKlMa]

@@TheVermifuge Nice profile pic ;)

[@billbigler1366]

Thanks Thomas. Always fascinating and so musical. Off to the kit!

[@angelcanobeats]

man, that kit's sound!

[@thesadnesspath8371]

This lesson is well appreciated!

[@karstenbursak8083]

Still remember the lessons I had with you in London 1997/98

[@thepauker]

It is very convincing!

[@spridgetmidget9238]

Thanks Thomas, nice to see you still teaching and learning 🤗. Stay safe Sir, i'm still rocking Progpop 😁

[@sebavitali]

That Extension and Reduction approach is awesome. Reminded me of Indian Rhythmic "Korvai"s where they increase and decrease The amount of notes yo reach The One after longer cycles. Always raising The Bar, Thomas! Thank you. Sharing this in your FB group now!

Congratulations on you journey !!🙏☀️☀️

[@NedsPlay]

Good lesson, thank you and also very nice drum tuning!

[@indiedrumkid]

So cool! Thank you u sir!! Love the puma's!

[@timothytussing2098]

Really appreciate this!!!! THANK YOU

[@loumonte658]

One of those times in life where odd isn't a bad thing.

[@warrenoids]

Odd is never a bad thing.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

@@warrenoids WHo wants to be exactly like everyone else ?

[@loumonte658]

@@warrenoids indeed🍻

[@warrenoids]

@@DavidOakesMusic I'll drink to that.

[@davidaustin9638]

Very cool thanks Thomas. Also you are accenting the one which is nice and means we can accent anywhere in the sequence to make it interseting

[@jimhardiman3836]

Those right hand triplets sound better when you have a deep sounding high Tom. Mark Craney showed those exact linear 5 and 7 note phrases. RLRLRKK = 7; 7+7+7+7+4 = 2 bars of 16ths in 4/4. Then orchestrate the fills around the kit while playing time. I always incorporated the LF hi-hat on quarters and dynamics for a deeper challenge.

[@arturofernandez6088]

Awesome!

[@bromessenger4111]

Like your kicks sound

[@wayneclark3020]

I think it would be helpful to call these things Artificial Groupings. This is the term used by a great drummer and Manhattan School of Music graduate that I was so lucky to play with back in 1979 named John Sampson. He explained that if you play 16th notes usually grouped in 4s in groups of 3, 5 or whatever you are creating an artificial grouping that can resolve in one measure (5 3s plus 1) or play it over the barline 10 3s plus 2 etc. This term also is consistent in describing 6 vs 4 like the beat during the bridge in Dig by Mudvayne. Todays gospel drummers really have expanded and refined the vocabulary for these licks but some notable earlier examples are Tony Williams and Terry Bozzio with Frank and UK. You don't have to play these on double bass or play all the notes in whatever grouping. You can pick partials out that you want to accent like the 1st and 3rd partials out of a group of 5. And you start out with what sounds like DagaDagada DagaDagada can end up as Da. Da. Da. Da or 1. 3. 1. 3 Artificial Groupings are the basis for all the polyrhythmic beats you hear today. Explore these and you will learn to hear the melodic colors they create and as a bonus you will hear ideas that cross the barline and you will never lose place during fills because it soon becomes obvious where 1 is. Btw What a beautiful sounding kit!! Those tom toms!!

[@matteominghetti2256]

I see you quite tired Thomas.. I'm a long time fan of you and I was just wondering if everything is all right with you and family during this period of Corona virus..hope is all the best. Thanks a lot as always for your great inspiration in my life as a musician, drummer, and person most of all

[@matteominghetti2256]

😉

[@beardeddrummerdude3483]

Goat. B a A A a a H . . . So freaking talented

[@justfelipe7542]

I really wanted to have Thomas as a teacher

[@Plydrms]

Gary Chaffee!..has a great book with odd groupings. I notice that Thomas pretty much buries the beater. I have been trying not to do that, but most of the great players seem to do it,, most of the time. I like how he plays a lot of his bass drum doubles heel down.

[@franciscopalaciosp]

Saludos desde México 🤘🤘😎

[@nathanyazzie9044]

Cool!!!! 🤘😁🤘

[@jacobchris9353]

Your drumming is insane and interesting Thomas!🤟🤟🤟 is that kit from when you played with Virgil donati?

[@JulianFernandez]

thanks!

[@kdkdk6292]

You're a monster on drums.

[@ivarivanovich]

He can’t help himself but to play as he explains... that’s what I would do.

[@artemi-music]

cool

[@soul68ou1]

Easy as that!!. 😁🙄. Unbelievable.

[@wahyudiwidodo1238]

Mantap.... 👍,dari medan..indonesia.

[@JohanesJordan]

Mantap juga... dari Jakarta, Indonesia.

[@ScienceAppliedForGood]

What's going on? I was blown away here.

[@martinhrusovsky1733]

And now the 37 stroke rolls wich is ending in next room 🤣🤟🖤

[@ssuarezra24]

Thomas is it the same bpm to compas?

[@andrealani]

What’s the point of disliking a video like this? What’s wrong with those seven guys?

[@doc2earth]

Crisp

[@Komapik]

Так так так

[@StupidEarthlings]

Im still working on "pat boone debbie Boone" ;)

[@Cell1969]

Still struggling with 4 4 :/ :D

[@ramm8196]

I would have explained it and demonstrated it pretty much the same way... 😜

[@juampimlb1745]

The 3 dislikes are from guitar players.

[@martydibergi5228]

I'm a guitarist and I assure you we are bright enough to give this thumbs up all day long. Must be the bassists?

[@einarabelc5]

Nah, Jordan Ruddess fans. Because he can't tolerate improvisation.

[@Khunvyel]

As a guitar player myself, the only way to get better at composing for drums, is learning about how drummers use their stickings and their methodology in context. Might as well learn from the best then ;)

[@hugolafhugolaf]

I'm at 0;45 and my head is already spinning.

[@DerekSoDrumming]

how dare you!

[@hillarimatthews4289]

This is exactly why I couldn't ever be a professional drummer lol

[@KONAMAN100]

Ridiculous. Like a CNC machine running code with some AI thrown in. So accurate.

[@Temilotzin805]

Man wtf Thomas Lang doing in my area! I knew I was playing better recently

[@krissss41]

Is that Dave Weckl 🤔????

[@danm2084]

you mean exclusive lesson for anyone with access to youtube? lol like what you mean exclusive lesson for readers of the magazine. anyone can watch this. opposite of exclusive.

[@antisocialite927]

He seems annoyed with the rllk

[@JD-eq4dp]

There it is again. His bass drum sounds awful. Is he using one of those terrible plastic beaters.