Latest Drum Lessons | Total Drummer

Mastering Five Four Drum Fills: A Guide for Drummers

Mastering Five Four Drum Fills: A Guide for Drummers Learn how to play drum fills in five four timeWhen drummers first encounter the five four (5/4) time signature, it can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Unlike the more common 4/4 or 3/4 rhythms, five four has a unique pulse that challenges players to think differently about phrasing and groove. That’s where the Five Four Drum Fills lesson from Total Drummer comes in. This drum lesson is designed to help drummers confidently navigate and create exciting drum fills within the 5/4 time signature.Understanding the Five Four Time SignatureBefore diving into…

Six Eight and Three Four Fills

Six Eight and Three Four Fills Learn how to play interesting fills in three four and six eightSix Eight and Three Four Fills: Unlocking Creative Drum Fills in Odd TimePlaying in time signatures like 6/8 and 3/4 can be both a challenge and a thrill. These meters offer unique phrasing opportunities that break away from the straight feel of 4/4, opening the door to expressive, musical, and creative fill ideas. Whether you're working on a waltz, a shuffle, or a fusion groove, adding fills in 6/8 or 3/4 can inject real personality into your playing.Understanding the FeelBefore diving into fills,…

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Five

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Five Try this four limb independence drum challengeMaster the Art of Drumming Coordination: Four-Limb Independence ChallengeLooking to sharpen your drumming skills and gain better control at the kit? This Four-Limb Independence Challenge is crafted to boost your coordination, refine your timing, and strengthen rhythmic accuracy—essential abilities for any adaptable drummer.Developing independent control over both hands and feet can be a demanding process, but it’s a vital step toward becoming a more expressive and confident musician.The good news? You don’t need to be an expert to begin. With steady practice and dedication, you'll start seeing…

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Four

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge - Four Try this four limb independence drum challengeMaster Four-Limb Independence: A Drummer’s Coordination Challenge Ready to elevate your drumming skills and develop greater control behind the kit? This Four-Limb Independence Challenge is designed to enhance your coordination, rhythm accuracy, and timing—skills every versatile drummer needs. Achieving full independence between your hands and feet can be tough, but it’s a crucial milestone in becoming a dynamic and expressive drummer. The best part? You don’t need to be a virtuoso to get started. If you're committed and consistent, noticeable progress is well within reach. Want to take things further? Our…

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Three

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge - Three Try this four limb independence drum challengeMaster Four-Limb Independence: A Drummer’s Coordination ChallengeReady to elevate your drumming skills and develop greater control behind the kit? This Four-Limb Independence Challenge is designed to enhance your coordination, rhythm accuracy, and timing—skills every versatile drummer needs.Achieving full independence between your hands and feet can be tough, but it’s a crucial milestone in becoming a dynamic and expressive drummer. The best part? You don’t need to be a virtuoso to get started. If you're committed and consistent, noticeable progress is well within reach.Want to take things further?…

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Two

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge - Two Try this four limb independence drum challengeFour Limb Independence Drum Challenge – Build Coordination and ControlLooking to take your drumming to the next level? This Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge is a powerful way to boost your coordination, timing, and control behind the kit.Developing four-way independence isn’t easy—but it’s essential if you want to become a well-rounded drummer. The good news? If you’ve got four working limbs and a bit of dedication, you can master it. With the right mindset and consistent practice, progress is just a matter of time.If you're serious about…

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge – One

Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge - One Try this four limb independence drum challengeWelcome to the Four Limb Independence Drum Challenge.This is a really small challenge to improve your four limb independence.It takes effort to develop this stuff but it's crucial if you want to be a good drummer.The great news is that anyone with four limbs can do it....you just need patience and the right mindset so that you don't give up. If you are ready to go deeper then you can sign up for the full advanced independence drum course. It walks you through it slowly so even…

How To Use Polyrhythms On The Drumkit

How To Use Polyrhythms On The Drumkit Learn how to play polyrhythms around the drum kitWelcome to this drum lesson where we will learn how to use polyrhythms on the drumkit.What is a polyrhythm?A polyrhythm can be defined as, "A polyrhythm occurs when two or more distinct rhythmic patterns are played simultaneously while maintaining a common tempo."In this drum lesson we will learn how to play a polyrhythm at a basic level. We will then test you by switching hands. And finally we will look at how to use polyrhythms on the drumkit to create musical patterns in fills and…

Is this The World’s Funkiest Drum Groove?

Is this The World's Funkiest Drum Beat Learn how to play a really funky drum groove Is this The World's Funkiest Drum Beat Could this really be the world's funkiest drum beat? Is there such a thing? I think this is unquestionably a really funky drum beat and it's a lot of fun to play.And better yet, it won't take long to learn. The drum lesson video below will walk you through it in just a few minutes and you will be sounding like a bad ass funk drummer before you know it.It's only two bars long and it consists…

The Polyrhythm Behind Phil Collins’ Most Famous Drum Fill

The Polyrhythm Behind Phil Collins' Most Famous Drum Fill Learn how to play a cool polyrhythmic fillThe Polyrhythm Behind Phil Collins' Most Famous Drum Fill. This drum lesson breaks down a cool polyrhythm fill. What is a polyrhythm?A polyrhythm is defined as, "the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not easily perceived as derived from one another or as simple variations of the same meter. It creates a complex rhythmic texture by combining different rhythmic patterns together, often resulting in a feeling of tension or dissonance." When we use this in a drum fill context we can briefly create an…