How to Play Sweeps on Marching Tenor Drums
Marching tenor drums typically feature either four or five individual drums, and auxiliary attachments like shot blocks, cowbells and cymbals. All of this makes it possible for a fast drummer to strike them with some flashy stick work. One fundamental sticking tricks is the sweep, or the scrape. These diddles are played on two different drums, so the first beat may be on drum, and the second beat on another. These instructions are designed for quads or quints with a typical setup consisting of two smaller drums in the middle and two larger drums on either side.
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Instructions
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With your right hand, strike drum one and then drum three. Bring your left hand across your body, and strike drum one and then drum three while you bring your right hand over the top of your left arm.
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With your right hand, strike drum two and then drum four. Raise your right hand to allow your left hand to pass underneath, then use your left hand to strike drum two and then drum four. Again, use your right hand to strike drum two and then drum four while bringing your left arm over your right arm and across your body.
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With your left arm, strike drum one and then drum three. Repeat the sequence of hitting one and three with the right, then one and three with the left, while bringing the right arm over the top of the left arm.
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Go through these motions slowly and concentrate on the feel of the arm sweeps. Practice at a very slow speed until it feels comfortable and natural.
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Slowly increase the speed as you practice the move.
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Tips & Warnings
If practicing sweeps while wearing the drums is awkward, try practicing with the drums mounted on a stand at first.
Make sure you're using sticks or mallets that are of a comfortable size and weight but also appropriate for the types of drum head you're using.
Sometimes sweeps will appear in sheet music but will not be specifically labeled as sweeps. Instead, they will just be indicated by Ls and Rs above or beneath the notes.
References
Resources
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