One Sticking, Six Ways: A Drumset Coordination Workout

Benefits of the 6-Way Coordination System

Achieving drumming independence is crucial for any drummer aiming to enhance their musical versatility and technical skills. The 6-Way Coordination System specifically targets this aspect of drumming by allowing you to practice and perfect your ability to operate your limbs independently of each other. This kind of training not only boosts your ability to tackle complex rhythms with ease but also significantly improves your overall groove and timing. Engaging in this practice can transform your playing, making you more adaptable and confident across various musical styles.

Applying the 6-Way Coordination System

We’ll start with a basic single stroke roll. This system can be applied to any sticking pattern, but today I’ll introduce a few foundational ones. Once you’re comfortable with these, you’re encouraged to adapt and expand upon them with your favorite stickings. This approach not only builds your skills but also encourages creative exploration in your practice routine.

* note that this is for right handed players. If you are left handed then alternate the stickings.

Single Stroke Roll

1. Basic Hands and Feet Coordination

• Standard Hand Coordination: Start with the basic R L R L sequence on a the snare.

• Standard Foot Coordination: Parallel to your hands, play the same R L R L sequence with your bass drum and hi hat pedals.

2. Cross Coordination Techniques

• Right Hand, Left Foot (RH LF): Play right hand on the snare and left foot on the hi hat pedal.

• Left Hand, Right Foot (LH RF): Alternate with left hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

3. Same Side Coordination

• Right Hand, Right Foot (RH RF): Alternate with the right hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

• Left Hand, Left Foot (LH LF): Similarly, alternate your left hand on the snare and left foot on the hi hat.

Double Stroke Roll

Next, let’s tackle the double stroke roll. This pattern enhances your ability to control rebounds and maintain even strokes, which is crucial for faster and more fluid playing.

1. Basic Hands and Feet Coordination

Standard Hand Coordination: Begin with the familiar RR LL sequence on the snare.

Standard Foot Coordination: Simultaneously, execute the RR LL sequence using your bass drum pedal and hi hat.

2. Cross Coordination Techniques

Right Hand, Left Foot (RH LF): Alternate with the right hand on the snare and right foot on the hi hat pedal.

Left Hand, Right Foot (LH RF): Alternate this pattern with left hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

3. Same Side Coordination

Right Hand, Right Foot (RH RF): Alternate this pattern with right hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

Left Hand, Left Foot (LH LF): Likewise, alternate this pattern with left hand on the snare and left foot on the hi hat pedal.

Paradiddles

By now, you should be getting the hang of how to apply various stickings using the 6-Way Coordination System. So let’s try one last example. Let’s apply what you’ve learned to the paradiddle, a fundamental sticking that offers a fantastic way to develop control and independence.

1. Basic Hands and Feet Coordination

Standard Hand Coordination: Start with the classic RLRR LRLL paradiddle pattern on a snare or practice pad.

Standard Foot Coordination: Simultaneously, execute the RLRR LRLL sequence using your bass drum pedal and hi hat.

2. Cross Coordination Techniques

Right Hand, Left Foot (RH LF): Alternate with the right hand on the snare and right foot on the hi hat pedal.

Left Hand, Right Foot (LH RF): Alternate this pattern with left hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

3. Same Side Coordination

Right Hand, Right Foot (RH RF): Alternate this pattern with right hand on the snare and right foot on the bass pedal.

Left Hand, Left Foot (LH LF): Likewise, alternate this pattern with left hand on the snare and left foot on the hi hat pedal.

Tips for Practicing

• Start Slow: Begin at a slow tempo to ensure accuracy and consistency in your strikes.
• Use a Metronome: Keeping time with a metronome will help you maintain steady rhythm and pace.
• Incremental Increases: Gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable with each pattern.
• Experiment: Don’t stop here! Use a book like Stick Control to give yourself more sticking possibilities. Also, try different note rates. Don’t just stick in a 16th note framework. Triplets will challenge your balance! Get experimental with this.

When you get comfortable with this as an exercise, you can move your hands to the hi hat or ride and start to use this exercise musically. Many grooves or fills require this type of coordination to execute correctly so you’ll find that practicing this type of material will help you play that material with more ease and facility.

This approach to practicing across all limbs not only improves your stick control but also boosts your ability to maintain complex rhythms in a variety of musical settings. As you progress, continue to challenge yourself by integrating these exercises into longer practice sessions, gradually increasing speed and complexity.