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Bill Powelson's School of Drums
PRIVATE DRUM LESSON 8E-M
"SWING": PART II

Copyright 1996 Bill Powelson all rights reserved

'Swing'

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DISCLAIMER: Steps A, B and C below have been
written incorrectly for simplification purposes.
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Three Easy Steps To Swing!

Step A.

Step B.

Hear the way Swing will sound (without bass drum note.) Listen closely to the cymbal rhythm. It is very difficult to hear it.

Step C.

Hear the way Swing will sound (with repeating bass drum note.)

Looking at the same beat as it appears when correctly written.

It sounds the same as it repeats.

Another common version of Swing. Here we will be playing quarter notes on the bass drum.

Master the Swing beat to this tempo or faster.

VIDEO: Click here to 'Play', see, and hear the Swing beat. Watch the bass drum change.

We could go on with page after page of Swing Variations. There are potentially 16 Million or more variations of this pattern. To master Swing Independence is to master Jazz techniques. At this point I would recommend a book to help you maximize your abilities with the Swing beat. The book, 'Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer', is a classic! Written by one of the Jazz greats, a fellow by the name of Jim Chapin . . . this book can't be topped and any attempt to do so would only end up being a cheap imitation! So, buy a copy right away.

In the 1990s you could order it from any music store for around $12.95 (US). It is distributed by Mel Bey. They will probably continue to distribute it, but the price is sure to increase with time.

Copyright Bill Powelson 1996 all rights reserved.