To truly understand a rhythm is to be able to play it freely and with improvisation. A great way to get beyond simply playing “the beat” is to have the facility to comfortably add or subtract notes within it. In the same manner in which a good jazz drummer can comp on the snare drum while swinging the ride cymbal, let’s look at freeing up the snare drum part while playing a common Afro-Cuban groove in 12/8.
From DRUM! Magazine’s February 2018 issue; text, music, and video by Brian Andres. View the full text and music for this lesson, with the video, at
