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Bill Powelson's School of Drums

PRIVATE DRUM LESSON
"LATIN RHYTHMS: (Bossa-Nova)"

Copyright 1998 Bill Powelson all rights reserved

Part I: Bossa-Nova This may be considered by some to be a Latin beat in its own right. Actually, it is really just the first half of a 2-bar beat called Bossa-Nova. In developing these sound files, I found that my midi file maker had trouble producing a reasonable lay-over rimshot. I have added a hand-clap sound to compensate for this little problem.

Part 2: Bossa-Nova This second half of the beat (above) is a little harder to master. We will be playing a closed hi-hat with the right hand while the left will play a lay-over rimshot on the snare. Some drummers play this pattern with a stick in the left hand and a brush in the right. The right hand (brush) may be played on a closed hi-hat or often the drummer may move the right hand off the hi-hat to the Snare to play the same 8th note rhythm. Doing this will produce a much softer (jazzy) sound.

VIDEO: Click here to see, and hear the above pattern.

BOSSA-NOVA: (The whole thing) Bossa-Nova styles were very popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Though they have since faded in popularity here in the US, these beats are still quite common in the South American countries. We never know when a band might spring a Bossa-Nova type tune on us. This good material to have in your bag of tricks and these simpler Latin beats will also serve as a foundation that should make the more complex, upcoming beats, easier to learn.

VIDEO: Click here to see, and hear the above pattern.

Bossa-Nova variation: You may do almost anything you wish with the bass drum. This is one of the more common variations (above.)
Also, it is very common to play quarter-notes on the bass (not shown.)

VIDEO: Click here to see, and hear the above pattern.

Double tempo Bossa-Nova variation. I love the variation above! Sadly there aren't many tunes that use it.

Copyright Bill Powelson 1996 all rights reserved.