Obviously, these are not hard and fast rules, but they are applied more often than not.Īnother aspect to consider when getting the proper ride cymbal phrasing is accenting. Generally, the slower the tempo, the more the ride leans towards the triplet or dotted eighth-sixteenth note pattern, and the faster the tempo, the more the ride pattern leans toward straight eighth notes. Tempo is also an important factor when choosing a feel for the ride cymbal. On the other hand, the dotted eighth-sixteenth note pattern works well with swing and big bands, because it tightens up the rhythm section, and giving a stiffer feel, which is ideal for dancing. Usually, the triplet pattern goes well with looser and open rhythm sections. Playing either of these feels should be a conscious choice depending on the desired feel we want to give to the music and the style of jazz we are playing. Or it can have a looser feel, more into the straight 8 th notes subdivision.

Nevertheless, the ride cymbal beat does not always fit perfectly into the triplet subdivision sometimes it feels tighter, leaning towards 16 th notes subdivision. So let’s begin:įeel: through the years the Jazz beat has been standardized as a triplet-based rhythm, which makes sense because it is the closest subdivision we can relate to it. We are going to go through a series of exercises to develop a strong feel, pulse, and technique. In this series of articles, we are going to narrow our focus in on just the ride cymbal. Hence the importance of spending a good amount of time developing your ride cymbal technique, sound, and feel. Otherwise, we are going to end up having a shallow and nonsensical conversation with the rest of the band and furthermore, with ourselves. The ride cymbal is our rhythmic subject in the jazz conversation, so everything that we need to say has to be related to our subject. Playing intricate snare/bass drum patterns is meaningless if the ride cymbal is weak. It provides the drive and establishes the style and rhythmic foundation for the drummer to build on and the band to play along with.įor Jazz drummers, developing a strong jazz ride beat is a must if one wants to succeed in the business. The ride cymbal is the most important part of a jazz drumbeat. Unlike Funk or Rock music, which is built from the bottom up (meaning that the bass drum and snare drum are the essential parts of the drum beat), Jazz music is built from the top down. It shapes the feeling and rhythmic subdivision of the tune, and creates a foundation for everyone else to play off.

Jazz patterns drums