Learn How to Play Rhythms in Odd Meters with Gary Chaffee's Odd Time Stickings Book
- Thesis statement: Gary Chaffee's book "Odd Time Stickings" is a great resource for learning how to use stickings in different meters and create your own time feel and solo ideas. H2: Who is Gary Chaffee and What is His Sticking System - Biography: Give some background information on Gary Chaffee, his education, career, and influence on drumming. - Sticking system: Describe the main features of his sticking system, such as the use of accents, permutations, combinations, and linear phrasing. H2: How to Use Odd Time Stickings in Your Drumming - Basic concepts: Explain how to count and play odd meters, such as 5/4, 7/8, 9/8, etc. - Sticking phrases: Show some examples of sticking phrases for each meter from the book and how to apply them on the drum set. - Time feel and soloing: Demonstrate how to use sticking phrases to create different grooves and fills in odd meters. H2: Benefits and Challenges of Odd Time Stickings - Benefits: List some advantages of learning odd time stickings, such as expanding your vocabulary, developing your coordination, enhancing your musicality, etc. - Challenges: Acknowledge some difficulties of learning odd time stickings, such as breaking habits, avoiding confusion, practicing consistently, etc. H2: How to Get the Most Out of Gary Chaffee's Book - Tips and advice: Give some suggestions on how to study the book effectively, such as starting with simple patterns, working with a metronome, listening to examples, etc. - Resources: Provide some links to other books, videos, and websites related to Gary Chaffee's sticking system and odd time stickings. H1: Conclusion - Summary: Recap the main points of the article and restate the thesis statement. - Call to action: Encourage the reader to get a copy of the book and start practicing odd time stickings. Table 2: Article with HTML formatting What are Odd Time Stickings and Why You Should Learn Them
If you are a drummer who wants to take your skills and creativity to the next level, you might be interested in learning about odd time stickings. Odd time stickings are patterns of strokes that you can use to play rhythms in meters that are not based on 4/4 or 3/4. For example, you can play in 5/4, 7/8, 9/8, or any other combination of beats and subdivisions that you can imagine.
gary chaffee odd time stickings pdf 22
Odd time stickings can help you improve your drumming in many ways. They can expand your rhythmic vocabulary, develop your coordination and independence, enhance your musicality and expression, and challenge your mind and body. They can also make your drumming more interesting and fun for yourself and your listeners.
One of the best resources for learning how to use odd time stickings is Gary Chaffee's book "Odd Time Stickings". This book is an extension of his popular "Sticking Patterns" book, which introduces his unique approach to the use of stickings on the drum set. In "Odd Time Stickings", he explores how stickings can be used in a variety of odd meters, and provides a number of sticking phrases for each meter that you can use to create your own time feel and solo ideas.
In this article, we will explain who Gary Chaffee is and what his sticking system is all about. We will also show you how to use odd time stickings in your drumming, what benefits and challenges they offer, and how to get the most out of his book.
Who is Gary Chaffee and What is His Sticking System
Gary Chaffee is a renowned drummer, educator, and author. He was born in 1942 in Massachusetts, and started playing drums at the age of six. He studied at the Berklee College of Music, where he later became a faculty member and the head of the percussion department. He has taught many famous drummers, such as Steve Smith, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jonathan Mover, and Dave DiCenso.
Gary Chaffee is also known for his innovative sticking system, which he developed over the years and published in a series of books and DVDs. His sticking system is based on the idea that stickings are not just rudiments or exercises, but tools for creating musical patterns on the drum set. He uses accents, permutations, combinations, and linear phrasing to create a wide range of rhythmic and metric possibilities.
His sticking system consists of four main books: "Rhythm and Meter Patterns", "Sticking Patterns", "Time Functioning Patterns", and "Technique Patterns". Each book covers a different aspect of drumming, such as odd rhythms, mixed meters, polyrhythms, metric modulation, finger control, endurance, multiple-note playing, hand-foot combinations, and more. His fifth book, "Odd Time Stickings", is an extension of his second book, "Sticking Patterns".
How to Use Odd Time Stickings in Your Drumming
Odd time stickings are not only useful for playing in odd meters, but also for adding variety and interest to your drumming in any meter. Here are some basic concepts and examples of how to use odd time stickings in your drumming.
Basic Concepts
Before you start playing odd time stickings, you need to understand how to count and play odd meters. Odd meters are meters that have an odd number of beats or subdivisions per measure. For example, 5/4 has five quarter notes per measure, 7/8 has seven eighth notes per measure, and 9/8 has nine eighth notes per measure.
To count odd meters, you can use different methods depending on the meter and your preference. One common method is to group the beats or subdivisions into smaller units that add up to the total number of the meter. For example, you can count 5/4 as 1-2-3-4-5 or as 1-2-3-1-2 or as 1-2-1-2-3. You can count 7/8 as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 or as 1-2-3-1-2-3-4 or as 1-2-1-2-1-2-3. You can count 9/8 as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 or as 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 or as 1-2-3-4-5-1-2-3.
To play odd meters, you need to feel the pulse and the accent pattern of the meter. The pulse is the steady beat that you tap your foot or nod your head to. The accent pattern is the emphasis that you give to certain beats or subdivisions. For example, in 5/4 you can feel the pulse on every quarter note and accent the first and fourth beats (1 and 4). In 7/8 you can feel the pulse on every eighth note and accent the first and fifth beats (1 and 5). In 9/8 you can feel the pulse on every eighth note and accent the first and seventh beats (1 and 7).
Sticking Phrases
In his book "Odd Time Stickings", Gary Chaffee provides a number of sticking phrases for each meter that you can use to play rhythms on the drum set. A sticking phrase is a sequence of strokes that can be played with different accents and permutations. For example, one of the sticking phrases for 5/4 is RLLRLRLLRLRLLRLRLLRL (R = right hand, L = left hand). You can accent any stroke in this phrase and permute it by starting from any point in the sequence.
RLRLL (L = hi-hat). You can orchestrate RLLRLRLLRLRLLRLRLLRL as RLSRLSRLSRLSRLSRLSR (S = snare drum) or as RCTRCTRCTRCTRCTRCTR (C = crash cymbal) or as any combination of drums and cymbals that you like.
Here are some examples of how to use sticking phrases for 5/4, 7/8, and 9/8 on the drum set. You can find more examples in the book and create your own variations.
Meter
Sticking Phrase
Voicing
Orchestration
5/4
RLLRLRLLRLRLLRLRLLRL
RLKRLKRLKRLKRLKRLKR
RSSRSRSRSRSRSRSRSRSR
7/8
RRLLRRLLRRLLRRLLRRLL
RRKKRRKKRRKKRRKKRRKK
RCTRCTRCTRCTRCTRCTR
9/8
LRLLRLLRLLRLLRLLRLL
LKLLKLLKLLKLLKLLKLL
LSTLSTLSTLSTLSTLSTL
Time Feel and Soloing
Once you have learned some sticking phrases for odd meters, you can use them to create different grooves and fills in odd meters. A groove is a repeated pattern that establishes the time feel and the style of the music. A fill is a variation or embellishment that breaks the groove and adds interest or excitement.
To create a groove in odd meters, you can use a sticking phrase to play a cymbal ostinato with your right hand and a bass drum pattern with your left foot. Then you can add snare drum accents with your left hand to mark the pulse and the accent pattern of the meter. For example, you can create a groove in 5/4 by using RLLRLRLLRLRLLRLRLLRL to play a quarter note cymbal ostinato with your right hand and a syncopated bass drum pattern with your left foot. Then you can add snare drum accents on the first and fourth beats with your left hand.
To create a fill in odd meters, you can use a sticking phrase to play a linear pattern with your hands and feet. A linear pattern is a pattern where no two limbs play at the same time. You can use different voicings and orchestrations to create contrast and movement. For example, you can create a fill in 7/8 by using RRLLRRLLRRLLRRLLRRLL to play a linear pattern with your hands and feet. You can voice it as RRKKRRKKRRKKRRKKRRKK and orchestrate it as RCTRCTRCTRCTRCTRCTR.
Here are some examples of how to use sticking phrases to create grooves and fills in odd meters. You can find more examples in the book and create your own variations.
Meter
Sticking Phrase
Groove
Fill
5/4
RLLRLRLLRLRLLRLRLLRL
7/8
RRLLRRLLRRLLRRLLRRLL
9/8
LRLLRLLRLLRLLRLLRLL
Benefits and Challenges of Odd Time Stickings
Learning odd time stickings can be very rewarding and enjoyable, but also very challenging and frustrating. Here are some benefits and challenges of learning odd time stickings that you should be aware of.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of learning odd time stickings are:
They can expand your rhythmic vocabulary and give you more options and ideas for playing in any meter.
They can develop your coordination and independence and make you more comfortable and confident on the drum set.
They can enhance your musicality and expression and make you more versatile and adaptable to different styles and situations.
They can challenge your mind and body and keep you motivated and inspired to practice and improve.
Challenges
Some of the challenges of learning odd time stickings are:
They can break your habits and force you to think and play differently from what you are used to.
They can confuse you and make you lose track of the pulse and the accent pattern of the meter.
They can require a lot of practice and patience to master and apply them effectively.
They can be difficult to find or create musical contexts where they are appropriate or desirable.
How to Get the Most Out of Gary Chaffee's Book
Gary Chaffee's book "Odd Time Stickings" is a great resource for learning how to use stickings in odd meters, but it is not a magic formula that will make you a master drummer overnight. You need to study the book carefully and practice the exercises diligently to get the most out of it. Here are some tips and advice on how to do that.
Tips and Advice
Some of the tips and advice on how to study the book effectively are:
Start with simple patterns and work your way up to more complex ones. Don't try to learn everything at once, but focus on one meter, one sticking phrase, or one concept at a time.
Work with a metronome or a click track to keep your timing steady and accurate. Start with a slow tempo and gradually increase it as you get more comfortable and confident.
Listen to examples of drummers who use odd time stickings in their playing, such as Gary Chaffee himself, Steve Smith, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jonathan Mover, Dave DiCenso, etc. Try to imitate their sounds, styles, and ideas, or create your own variations based on them.
Experiment with different voicings and orchestrations for each sticking phrase. Try to find the ones that sound good, feel good, and fit the music. Don't be afraid to be creative and original.
Apply the sticking phrases to different musical contexts, such as songs, grooves, fills, solos, etc. Try to make them sound musical, not mechanical. Don't use them just for the sake of using them, but for the sake of making music.
Resources
Some of the resources that you can use to supplement your study of the book are:
Gary Chaffee's other books and DVDs, such as "Rhythm and Meter Patterns", "Sticking Patterns", "Time Functioning Patterns", "Technique Patterns", "Linear Time Playing", "Sticking Time, Linear Time, Rhythm and Meter", and "Phrasing and Motion". These cover other aspects of his sticking system that are related to odd time stickings.
Gary Chaffee's website https://www.garychaffee.com/, where you can find more information about him, his books, his DVDs, his students, his clinics, his endorsements, etc.
Gary Chaffee's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/garychaffeedrums, where you can watch some videos of him playing, teaching, demonstrating, explaining, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/garychaffeedrums/">https://www.facebook.com/garychaffeedrums/, where you can follow him and get updates on his activities, events, products, etc.
Other books, videos, and websites that deal with odd meters and stickings, such as "Odd Time Reading Text" by Louis Bellson, "Odd Feelings" by Matt Savage, "Odd Meter Bassics" by David Keif, "Odd Meter Grooves" by Joe McCarthy, etc.
Conclusion
Odd time stickings are patterns of strokes that you can use to play rhythms in meters that are not based on 4/4 or 3/4. They can help you improve your drumming skills and creativity in many ways. Gary Chaffee's book "Odd Time Stickings" is a great resource for learning how to use stickings in odd meters and create your own time feel and solo ideas.
In this article, we have explained who Gary Chaffee is and what his sticking system is all about. We have also shown you how to use odd time stickings in your drumming, what benefits and challenges they offer, and how to get the most out of his book. We hope that you have found this article informative and helpful, and that you are inspired to get a copy of the book and start practicing odd time stickings.
Remember, learning odd time stickings is not easy, but it is rewarding and enjoyable. It will expand your rhythmic vocabulary, develop your coordination and independence, enhance your musicality and expression, and challenge your mind and body. It will also make your drumming more interesting and fun for yourself and your listeners.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your sticks, your drum set, and your copy of "Odd Time Stickings", and start playing some odd rhythms today!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about odd time stickings and Gary Chaffee's book:
What are odd time stickings?
Odd time stickings are patterns of strokes that you can use to play rhythms in meters that are not based on 4/4 or 3/4.
Who is Gary Chaffee?
Gary Chaffee is a renowned drummer, educator, and author. He is known for his innovative sticking system, which he published in a series of books and DVDs.
What is his book "Odd Time Stickings" about?
His book "Odd Time Stickings" is an extension of his book "Sticking Patterns". It explores how stickings can be used in a variety of odd meters, and provides a number of sticking phrases for each meter that you can use to create your own time feel and solo ideas.
How can I use odd time stickings in my drumming?
You can use odd time stickings to create different grooves and fills in odd meters. You can also use them to add variety and interest to your drumming in any meter.
What are the benefits and challenges of learning odd time stickings?
The benefits of learning odd time stickings are that they can expand your rhythmic vocabulary, develop your coordination and independence, enhance your musicality and expression, and challenge your mind and body. The challenges of learning odd time stickings are that they can break your habits, confuse you, require a lot of practice and patience, and be difficult to find or create musical contexts where they are appropriate or desirable.
71b2f0854b