Things You'll Need:
- Drum kit with snare, kick, hi-hat
- Pair of drumsticks
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Step 1
Start by playing the basic pattern at a slower tempo. This will allow you to get used to the feel of the blast beat. A standard blast beat is played by striking the hi-hat (or any other cymbal) at the same time as the kick drum, then immediately playing one note on the snare alone, then repeating. It will look like this: (K = kick drum; H = hi-hat or other cymbal; S= snare)K X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---H X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---S ---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---XAt a slower tempo, this won’t sound like much until you work your way up to playing this type of alternating pattern in 32nd notes at a moderate to fast speed. This is the basis behind most blast beats.
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Step 2
Try alternate variations or styles that will further enhance your blast beat skills. Variations of the pattern you have already learned can include alternating the hi-hat with another cymbal (such as crash or china) to emphasize the guitar or vocal pattern behind it while maintaining the double-time kick and snare. Another way to switch it up is to use a double-kick foot pattern while still emphasizing rapid snare and cymbal hits. Incorporating snare or tom fills will also add some spice to the standard blast or can even become part of a more complex pattern tailored to the guitar or vocal progression. Finally, a version of the blast is played by some drummers as a simultaneous snare and cymbal stab done at a 32nd note repetition, with the kick either playing 16th or 32nd notes under it. Although played at the same general tempo, this style of blast will tend to sound even faster than the others discussed previously, and is also a lot more strenuous to play.
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Step 3
Build endurance. The difficult aspect of playing a blast beat is building the stamina required to incorporate it into a live set or studio session. If this sound is a major component of your band’s music, building up your endurance is a must. Think of it as training for a sports competition or any other kind of athletic event, because playing a blast beat is easily one of the most physically demanding tasks in a drummer’s arsenal. Try to dedicate at least 10 to 15 minutes of your normal practice routine to continuous blast beat exercises. The more you do this, the less pain or burning you will feel when executing these beats live. This is important even if you can perform the songs at practice with no difficulty. You will find that in a live setting when the adrenaline is pumping, the tempo you play at is much higher than in the rehearsal room, and you don’t wan to run out of steam halfway through your set.
