Zach Hill - City Folk Sitting, Sitting (:50)

 Above are the three measures performed at the :50 mark of City Folk Sitting, Sitting by Zach Hill.

 Here is the first measure.  I really dig the syncopated interplay between the snare and hi-hat, this gives it more of a David Garibaldi vibe.

The second measure implements a nice diddle on the "e" of  beat 2.   This is most easily performed with two left hand strokes.  The lazy feeling of the hi-hat closing on the "a" of beat 3 is tricky but sounds really cool.

The third measure is very similar to the first.  No diddle on the "e" of beat 2.  

He does not play this beat long, but as someone trying to learn the "essence" of  Zach Hill this pattern is very accessible and easier to play than others I have tried.  

Enjoy!

Chris Pennie Hollywood Squares (1:15)

 This was always a "what is going on" moment of the song to me... but it's an example of Chris' creativity and agility. 

The right hand sneaks over and plays the ghost notes during the 4/4 measures which gives the beat a nice dense vibe.  He also develops the motive from the 3/4 measure by cutting a beat. That keeps the listener on edge and is what I enjoy most about Chris' playing.  Shifty and smooth.  Rules

Enjoy!

Chris Pennie Hollywood Squares (:02)

Chris uses this R L L R L sticking to create a blazing fast polyrhythm.  I humbly perform this transcription above a little slower.  

Although...he begins the song in the middle of the phrase creating pickup notes as the extra 2 1/2 beats are added to the end.  He really messes with the listener by doing this, that's what I love about his playing. 

Below is the beginning of the song with a bar line to indicate where the phrase begins again. 

For much more like this please buy Chris' book Polyrhythmic Potential.

http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Pennie-Polyrhythmic-Potential-Vocabulary/dp/0825865883

Zach Hill - Toll Road - (1:22)

This beat is more straight-forward than other Zach Hill beats...just impossible to play up to tempo!

This is good practice for developing your bass drum foot while developing a bit of the Zach Hill drumming vocabulary at the same time. 

Enjoy!

Minimalist Approach to Odd Meters

These are some of my favorite odd meter grooves that use a less is more attitude. When creating an odd meter groove it can be quite daunting...try and take a more commonly thought of patterns and add an extra notes, rests, even if you fill up all the space an odd meter groove is organically created. 

Cheer-Accident

Thymme Jones

Sun Dies - Fear Draws Misfortune

(:16)

Here an extra quarter note is added to a funky 3 beat groove with a poly-rhythmic feel.  This simple device turns a flowing common rhythm into an eerily disorienting groove that compliments the song incredibly well.  

Happy Family

Keiichi Nagasse

Overdrive Locomotive - Toscco

(:22)

Here the first measure utilizes an eighth note rest to turn a 4:3 poly-rhythm into a broken, jerky measure of 9/8. 

Koenji Hyakkei

Yoshida Tatsuya

Rattims Friezz - Angherr Shisspa

(4:31)

This one adds a quarter note to a somewhat commonly played rhythm in 4/4 time.  The additional beat is nicely set up with the open hi-hat on the & of beat 3.

Enjoy!

Ghost Chorus Playthroughs

Here I am performing two songs on our latest album Ghost Chorus Among Old Ruins.  Thanks to Gear Gods for the post!

http://geargods.net/playthrough/baring-teeth-exclusive-jason-roe-drum-playthroughs/

Mountain

Ghost Chorus

Zach Hill - Been A Long Time Cousin (:22)

Again...Zach Hill rules.  His style is lyrical and a flowing stream of consciousness yet completely abstract and at times inaccessible.  I want to understand.  Transcription, Practice, Share!

This 4 measure phrase begins at roughly :22 seconds and does not repeat.

Here is measure one.  

Notice that the two halves of this phrase are mirror images of one another.  Doing this shifts the emphasis from the downbeat (beats 1&2) to the upbeat (beats 3&4) and creates an unsettling sensation which I find aesthetically desirable. 

Here is measure two.  

Quite difficult with the bass drum.  No surprise. 

Here is measure 3.

Great use of space after a flurry of notes in the first two measures.

Here is measure 4.

Super difficult to keep the hi-hat going, but this might be my favorite lick of all four. 

Enjoy!

Zach Hill - Biblical Violence (:01)

This is one of my favorite Zach Hill parts.  My first transcription consisted of 16th notes on beats 3 & 4... but did not feel quite right when performing.  It's actually a nonuplet played over beats 3 & 4.  A nonuplet is a group of nine music notes to be performed in the time of eight.

This is the first measure isolated.  

This is the second measure.  It is a bit trickier trying to keep the bass drum even on the & of beat 2. 

Enjoy!

Zach Hill - Cafeteria Bananas (:44)

This is a transcription of four measures of Cafeteria Bananas on Hold Your Horse Is.  For a pdf click here 

Here is a demonstration of all four measures. 

Each section is isolated and repeated in the links below.

Here are measures 1 & 2 isolated.

Here is measure 3 isolated.

Here is measure 4 isolated.

Enjoy!