The SIMPLE SECRET to Linear Drumming

→ Conquer one-handed hihat 16ths at 80bpm in 5 simple steps. Download my FREE “Secret to Hihat 16ths” guide! the-non-glamorous-drummer.myk...
Linear drumming is all the rage, and it really has been for many years. So I guess it’s about time I made a video on it. However, this will not be your typical “linear drumming” video. I’m not going to teach you how to play a specific linear lick, where you’d watch me play it a dozen times gradually upping the tempo. What I’d rather do is show you 3 basic ingredients from which you can create whatever kind of linear riff or fill you’d like. I know that this video is one of MANY about linear drumming. And I know that I’m really only scratching the surface. There are endless possibilities of ways you can construct linear grooves and fills, from simple to extremely complex. However, today we’re talking about what I started with and what I believe to be a great foundation for linear study. I also find these combinations to be very practical, and I can use things like this in a lot of what I play. I hope you’ll be able to as well. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
If you like what you’ve seen here on the NonGlamorousDrummer, I hope you’ll SUBSCRIBE! This channel is all about giving you the tips and skills you REALLY need to help YOU become a better drummer.
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[@sccdrum93]

Conquer one-handed hihat 16ths at 80bpm in 5 simple lessons! Download my FREE guide, “The Secret to Hihat 16ths." the-non-glamorous-drummer-llc.ck.page/b2413eee87

[@raymondkorbin3867]

i guess Im asking randomly but does any of you know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid forgot my account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!

[@brycentristan7359]

@Raymond Korbin Instablaster :)

[@claystaggs8908]

Great video. Really like your style and how you explain things. Thanks for posting.

[@JudiceAdems]

I’ve been working a lot with linear rhythms recently, so it’s good to see another person’s ideas about it and examples to go along with it. Love the videos. Keep it up.

[@pkstaytrue]

I used to play drums (all on myself without a single lesson, never had the money for it) when I was in my teens for about 3 years. after 7 years of not playing at all, I picked it up again to participate in a band with a bunch of friends. I'm watching alot of drum lessons on youtube lately, and yours seem to be the most useful. thanks for doing this stuff man!

[@NahTrust]

I love your clean and technical playing style! Thanks for the vid and nice new setup in the house

[@WhiteWarWizard]

I love the simplicity of your videos! Thank you! Def cover the essentials everyone needs to know 🥁

[@JoshLaneDrummer]

This is great Stephen! Thanks for the free lesson. I love that everything in your lessons are always explained super clearly. Cheers from one drum teacher to another. You rock!

[@str8shooter52]

Wow! Thank you. Something for me to definitely practice and work into my repertoire.

[@juansaucedo5568]

Love this man. Just started drumming and you really help alot so thank you.

[@marcoleal3972]

Bro me as a drummer and starting a band your vidz really help out and you do a great job explaining as well

[@littlebear2477]

Thanks for your approach I’ve only just subscribed ..but am already getting a lot out of the little I’ve seen so much appreciated man thankyou

[@markielinhart]

Thanks for the definition Stephen and the demos. For a near beginner this is a concept I can get my head around❗️✌️🌻

[@gustavoborchert]

As always, very instructive. Thanks!...

[@bidexawesome3606]

love this You are the best teacher i've meet so far

[@gmoney1592]

Great video. I work linear grooves and fills into my playing everyday. This is some good stuff you showed us. A lot of new and useful stuff to work in. Thx. For lesson!!!

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Gary!

[@guillebizz6213]

Very very good video Stephen. TY

[@rovanbrakel2305]

Thanks men, very good explanation & helpfull, very cool!

[@HANZmoto152]

You’re videos are great. You explain everything in detail and makes it easy to apply. Thank you for what you do!

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Ben. Glad to help!

[@chasecrawford-herold3937]

Hey man you have taught me a lot... I was born without my left hand so, coming into drumming was very intimidating. The way you break things down makes it really accessible and easy to learn harder stuff. thanks alot

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Chase! Really glad I can be of service. 👍

[@jacobmacbride9727]

Your videos are great man! I’m glad to see you posting again

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Jacob!

[@observerstation]

I like your teaching technique..simple but effective..thank you

[@willlame5597]

I have been playing for 13 years and I love this channel. I’ve adopted my own style and the bad habits that come along with being self-taught and these videos show me practical and simple ways to break those habits and take my playing to the next level, as well as introducing concepts on how to play more musically (which is all I really care about).

[@willlame5597]

In a nutshell, I’m saying it’s never too late to get back to basics and make your fundamentals solid.

[@bacobill]

Well that settles it.. I have apparently been a linear drummer for 54 years.. Not only but primarily.. Great video thank you Stephen :)

[@boobizzy4173]

You’re awesome Drummy!!!! Thanks!!!!!

[@drumrolz3155]

Cool video...great info!

[@foulfish]

Great tips

[@SaucySkater]

Man, you always seem to inspire me to practice!

[@Vanolo999]

This chanel is amazing!

[@kiiiedxplorer]

this is so useful for me ❤️

[@spcsh1936]

I love how bored and casual you look while explaining your stuff :) keep it that way, man :)

[@richier2762]

Very useful, Thanks

[@dashuerli]

killer groove at 4:42!! That was worth my first youtube-comment EVER!

[@gregorydaggett7444]

Great video! I really wish that you had either posted the music with the video as you played the groves, or added an attachment for us to download and practice with. Its such good content, I want to be able to practice right along with it!

[@eddypalogrande6090]

Sounds like what I play every day, thanks for the enlightenment! Awesome new place too

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Eddy!

[@ericcooley38]

I've been drumming over 10 years and this practical approach is even helping me now... keep it simple right?

[@billbigler1366]

Yep a very useful lesson. I do think speed is overrated, especially for "singer-songwriter" tunes. Keep up the great work.

[@brunoszortyka1]

Wow... Verrryyy Nice ... Thank you Very much ... And lets practice 👊👊

[@SlyHikari03]

5:02 reminds me alot of a beat from the song "Battle Lines" by The Helio Sequence.

[@guillebizz6213]

You re the beast, you re the best

[@paulvoivodich7457]

Very good tips to practice with and work on, thanks, and that's what it takes, hours of application.

[@fatdrunkbaby24]

"That's good stuff", couldn't have said it better myself. Accessible and informative as usual. Thank you for all these videos. I've been playing for about seven months and I feel that your channel has really helped advance my progress.

[@BeardedDrums]

Great vid! Simple and a nice foundation 👊💯

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks! 👍 Great channel name, btw. You even have the beard to back it up! 😉

[@BeardedDrums]

Stephen Clark lol thanks man, really appreciate it 👊💯 keep ‘em coming, love watching ur vids.

[@BruteForce902]

First and this video was awesome! Love the new setup

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Aaron!

[@dilshanjayathilake4647]

Super... nice

[@stuartthompson3837]

That helped me

[@laszlozoltan5021]

excellent

[@Lw1337]

When you did the kick and flam in alternation, can you flam two different parts (e.g. cymbal and snare) it sounded like some "blast beats" are using that

[@catmonster1361]

thx a lot

[@benferris1591]

New place. Nice!

[@sccdrum93]

Thanks, Ben! 😃

[@michaelpostell4053]

Some good, basic stuff. And I like how, near the end, you emphasize speed is not the most important thing. Work on the different rhythms and patterns. To new drummers I say, do that, and you will be a better drummer.

[@zumo3834]

Can you make a tutorial on how to do around the drum tutorial

[@nedgrant7718]

I first heard the term “linear” applied to Baroque composition, as in Bach’s pieces, in which there are, say, 4 lines of melody in counterpoint to each other, and the “chords” happen wherever the notes line up that way... as opposed to “vertical” pieces consisting of melody and (stacked, or vertical) chordal accompaniment - so it seems natural that “linear funk” is conceived as the drummer’s 4 limbs playing contrapuntally along a “line”, as opposed to “vertical” “BOOM-WHACK” of bass drum and snare. Sounds reasonable that that’s where the term comes from?

[@LH-zv2zq]

A terrific lesson! Yah, not triplets, but groupings of 3s. Start with 16ths, then go into 32nds. BTW, were you keeping time using left foot on the HH?

[@JuXuS1]

nice

[@Drumaier]

Dude, Bro, great video! i'm practicing this kind of stuff lately, and i think that for a drummer (not for an snare drummer), this stuff is a lot more useful than learning the 40 rudiments. I think the 40 rudiments are SO OVERRATED i can't even believe it. This few linear patterns consisting of singles and doubles between hands and foot that you mention, plus some more (and also adding the hi hat foot in the mix), are A LOT more worthy to spend time on, since it gives you a more grounded and interesting, cohesive sound.

[@elbolegoya]

Drumaier J singles and doubles...which are still rudiments which ever you hit them. I remember in a drumeo Thomas Lang vid, he applies the rudiments practice to anything or mix of it, toms, kicks, hats and also between hand and foot.

[@Drumaier]

elbolegoya yes for that matter anything actually is a rudiment. This is why i made a point about the 40 rudiments and how they are NOT more important or useful than this approach.... Which is Just 3 or 4 of the most basic rudiments but adding the foot. If Thomas lang showed what you said then great, he was actually saying what this video is teaching.

[@SwordCymbal79]

I have never heard the term “linear” drumming before this video. How funny and ironic that this is actually how I learned to play, being 100% self taught, and for a while I didn’t realize this was not normal. Great video Stephen!

[@Extreme1059]

Are using a double bass pedal for those doubles?

[@kenfaulkner2695]

Hey man. Your drums look sweet. What kit do you use?

[@sccdrum93]

It's nothing too fancy. It's a pretty basic Ludwig kit I bought in 2009. I later ripped the wrap off of it to make it look a little more "sophisticated." 😉

[@meatbird_]

I was a linear drummer way before I even knew it was an actual thing

[@trumlund]

Good video, but you forget to mention dynamics/accents that is fundamental to get the grooves to sound like you play them here. But as a beginner these stickings are some key elements to start with. Thanks! :) /another drum teacher

[@PeartDisicple481]

Like it

[@mpk6664]

4:26 Flying Whales vibe

[@eduardoboccolini5073]

Hi Stephen! A big hello from Brazil!!! I'm a certified subscribed fan of the Stephen Clark VIrtual Association....Sorry to Hijack the video subject, but it's actually a curiosity and a favour. I'm part of the suffering ones that live in apartment (and worst, room mate not a musician, so extra care required, non-musicians are way less tolerant...) All this "introduction" just to ask you this. I'm away from my drums and will still be for quite a long time, and I'm always thinking of a way of practicing quieter, and yet, the closest to "actual playing feeling". I thought of putting a piece of cloth covering all the snare drum between the drum skin and the bearing edges (could even add an EVA/soft rubber between the cloth and the drum skin if helped), so it would be stretched along with the drum skin, tight together. As "tunning" is not an issue, no problems if not tuned right, practicing is the important thing here... (I'd use this method to substitute my snare drum with Remo Silent Stroke and tape...to have a bit more of sound and get a bit closer to the "actual playing") I know it's not a "great idea", but I'd like your thoughts on that... Thanks in advance, great great channel , and it's due mostly to you than the content itself by its own.

[@sccdrum93]

That's an interesting idea, Eduardo! I honestly can't say I have an opinion, because I've never tried that. Seems like you'd have to get that piece of cloth the perfect size/shape in order to still be able to stretch it tightly without it getting wrinkled in spots. The concept makes sense, though. Hit me up via my email (in the "about" section here on the channel) and let me know how that works out if you try it! I'm curious :)

[@xyzct]

Would sprinkling in flams still be considered linear? Or did I just invent _pseudo-linear_ as a term?

[@galihakbar480]

4:41... drum part of take cover from mr.big

[@michaldaboosh6913]

I want you to be my teacher😭💖

[@johnnystaccata]

2:57 I had thought flams would not be allowed.

[@zumo3834]

johnnystaccata its a delay

[@kennyheimbuch8686]

I think Bonham got the triplets from Bernard Purdie.

[@mbernier59]

!!!!!!!

[@danusiabeatz]

you have an instagram?

[@aiferapple1246]

Sorry to be thick but why limit yourself to not hitting more than one drum at a time? I can't see the point! Can anyone explain?

[@zacharywilliams2]

When are you renaming the channel "the non-glamorous drummer"?

[@sccdrum93]

Great question! 🤔 I'll have get back to you on that one!

[@bonhzeppelin9882]

+Stephen Clark Since when has drumming ever been glamorous? LOL! That dude is a maroon!

[@Pun_Solo]

As a time traveler, I have come back in time from the year 2022 to inform you that the channel name does not get changed.

[@PhinAI]

That settles it: I'm not a drummer, and never have been.

[@jacobjones3916]

He's just doing rudiments with his whole kit

[@BananaManPL]

Pretty much. What's more important, he makes them sound good and gives some ideas how to make them work in songs.

[@lubo3934]

What actually is linear drumming?

[@Snake_Bite_666]

Did you buy a house?

[@sccdrum93]

I did! 😃

[@fightingsheep1640]

I just started playing drums...I thought a drummer’s purpose was to be the “timekeeper?” I’ve always heard this. If true, isn’t it better & more practical to just play a “Standard” beat without all the difficult complexities? I am wondering if drummers, at some point, wanted to be in the spotlight instead of just keeping strict time and being “invisible.” Thank you for your video, I subscribed, but I’m just wondering why drummers do all the complex stuff when they are really timekeepers and nothing more? If it’s bc of boredom, maybe become a guitar or piano player I guess. But I have been told forever that drummers are only “timekeepers.” Why be anything more than that?

[@RockyStonester1]

whoever has been telling you that drummers are just "timekeepers" is likely a complete idiot and has no qualification to be discussing music (not that you even need one, just that an opinion like that is so laughable that i'd question their validity). Drumming has developed pasted that mindset significantly; if you need a timekeeper, why not just bring a metronome upstage with you? then you don't need to pay a silly drummer.

[@gregorydaggett7444]

I do agree that the drummer is a core part of the rhythm section that is core to keeping the time and tempo of the band. In addition to that though, a drummer also is a musician that adds to the music and dictates a lot of the style. I've watched funny videos of a metal drummer playing over happy kids music- it totally changes the feel of the song! By changing HOW the drums are played, the drummer changes the music. Try it yourself! Listen to a chord progression from a guitarist, and try a rock beat, a disco beat, a funk beat, etc., and see how you can change the music. A good drummer not only plays the correct tempo, but also plays a complimentary style to the music. Just like in cooking, sometimes sweet and sour go together best, but other times sweet and zesty go better. Like adding different ingredients to make a new dish, playing new and different groves help to change and personalize every song- no matter the instrument!

[@sheiji312]

Pewdiepie plays drums?

[@dasenase]

linear drumming sounds wrong. Like someone learned to play the wrong way.

[@jonsilence]

Well articulated and easy to follow. BUT, "linear drumming"? Human robotism, zero dynamics, no nuance or subtlety. Do you want to play like a machine or a pogo stick? No thanks. Check out Mitch Mitchell with Hendrix, Keith Moon with The Who, the Tony Williams Lifetime "Believe It" album, and just about ANY Buddy Rich video here on KZbin for some very musical NON-LINEAR & HUMAN sounding drumming in styles that are UNIQUE to each of these players. To get really clued in, you have to do some homework and listen to things from the era when there was a much higher degree of originality and differentiation among drummers than there is today when so many guys play alike and have little character of their own.

[@g4greed502]

That outlook isn't very encouraging. Check out Nathan from the band Chon, he'll change your mind I'm sure

[@thomasnappo6309]

Lame

[@gailopitz7564]

01:26 04:09 07:47