Linear Drumming

[gospodruma]

How can one apply Linear Drummin' to gospel? I heard Stanton Moore talkin' abt Linear Drumming abt a year ago(in October). he juss mentioned it and stuff and I was wonderin' wat a good application would be...thanx you

[Jedi3]

Linear drumming by definition just means that each limb plays alone, or more precisely, that for a given space in time, only one voice is actually being played.  I think a lot of cats actually use linear concepts in a gospel context but don't necessarily know to call it "linear."  But to consciously add it to your vocabulary on the kit, you may want to start by adding some linear concepts to your fills.  Things like breaking up fills between the hands and feet.  For example, common patterns like two on the hands and two on the feet.  Sometimes I'll use the pattern LRRL and I'll break it up around the kit and go from snare to floor tom to bass drum to hi hat.  You can also use linear pattern to give the impression of a shift in the time of a song...almost like a beat displacement but not really.  You can practice playing your hi hats broken up and on off beats which will give you like a syncopated sound that can be pretty cool.  I hope this helps at least a little bit.  The links below are to some online lessons with different patterns and ideas written out that you can take a look at.  Also, check out Gary Chaffee's books "Technique Patterns" and "Linear Time Playing" for some really extensive examples and ideas.  God Bless.

B

http://www.drummingweb.com/linear.htm
http://mikesnyder.net/linearPractice.html
http://mikesnyder.net/linear1.html