How to Play Quarter Note Beat Combinations

The kick bass drum and the high hat cymbal are two pieces of the drum set played with your feet, so typically you'll play them in a steady rhythm to keep the basic beat of the music. Because it's important that the rhythm you play with your feet be natural and almost unconscious while you play the rest of the drum set, drummers should practice different exercises with their feet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drum set with a kick bass drum and high hat cymbal

1. Practice playing the kick bass drum with one of your feet in a basic quarter note pattern. Most people use their right foot, but it's not unheard of to play with your left. Set a metronome and play the drum once on every count.

2. Vary the quarter note pattern by playing the kick bass drum only on certain beats. Count to four and play only on 1, then only on 2, then 3 and finally 4.

3. Add other beats to your combination. Play the kick bass drum only on 1 and 2, then try 3 and 4, as well as 1 and 3 or 2 and 4.

4. Practice playing the high hat cymbal with one of your feet in a basic quarter note pattern as well. Typically, high hats are played less frequently than kick bass drums, but practicing these exercises will strengthen your technique.

5. Vary the pattern with the high hat cymbal as well to create different exercises. Add the kick drum and high hat to create different combinations, and try playing the cymbal on the up beat instead of just the down beat by subdividing the 4 counts into "one and two and three and four and" and playing the cymbal only on certain beats when you say "and."

Tips & Warnings

• Write down some of your favorite combination exercises so you can practice the same patterns every day and really master certain combinations with your feet. Practice is more effective when you repeat the same exercises.