Bass Drum Learning

[douglas1995]

I have been playing the bass drum for about 10 years. Although I have not competed, I played with competition bands when they did parades and non-competition functions. I have taken instruction from 2 grade 1 bass drummers. However, I recently moved to the country in Ontario and am no longer close to bass drum instructors.
Since I never learned how to read music I was wondering if anyone is aware of some very good instructional CD's I could use to learn various bass drum beatings and less importantly learn how to read music. (Even as a child playing piano, I reached grade 3 without ever learning how to read music. I played the music after listening to my music teacher play)
Your ideas would be greatly appreciated

[Phil Lenihan]

Douglas... You might want to ask this question down in the Drumming Section under Bass. The moderator may move this message over there.

I see you registered in 2001 and have been quiet. Join in the fun.

Cheers! PHIL

[Petra_A]

If you are trying to learn to read music it might be beneficial to get in touch with Hoss/Hossman. As I remember from a workshop of his there is a fairly old music tuition book by a lady (one who's name I can never remember) that he swears by. I have seen it once, a while ago, and it did a very good job of building music theory up from the groundworks and included practice in reading, counting and even writing. As to your priority for bass drum beatings over reading music, you might want to reconsider the order. Bass beatings tend to vary with the different tunes- and for good reason. Learning basic music theory, however, is a lifetime skill, or 'tool' as some would say, that allows you to both read and write bass drum music. It is always impressive (and useful) to have the knowledge base from which to sight read a score of sheet music or to be able to write down what someone teaches you by ear. I applaud your willingness to learn how to read music. As to instructional CD's my opinion is that a basic music theory book or the likes might be just as good and not quite as costly. Good luck and talk to Hoss.

[Robbert van Gorp]

Originally posted by Phil Lenihan:
Douglas... You might want to ask this question down in the Drumming Section under Bass. The moderator may move this message over there.
Phil, this is the right place for questions related to BASS SECTIONS I think, so bass and tenor.

[Hossman]

Douglas,
Sorry I haven't responded to this question.
Reading and writing can all be learned in Barbara Wharram's book on Music Theory.
It is related to the Conservatory of Music and is my music theory bible.
The most misunderstood thing that I run into all the time in Pipe Bands is the misuse of musical terms .

i.e.
"All too often 3- 1/8th notes in compound time are referred to as a triplet."


This book will make everthing very clear.
You and every other bass drummer in the World should own a copy. You can only truly understand a language when you can read, write and speak it.
If you can't find a copy, e-mail me and I'll get you set up.

Cheers for now, HOSS.

Quote Bill Livingston,
"The most educated musician in the band should be the bass drummer."

[Hossman]

posted May 16, 2005 07:57 AM
--------------------------------------------------Spelling checked! Sorry------------------------------
Douglas,
Sorry I haven't responded to this question.
Reading and writing can all be learned in Barbara Wharram's book on Music Theory.
It is related to the Conservatory of Music and is my music theory bible.
The most misunderstood thing that I run into all the time in Pipe Bands is the misuse of musical terms .

i.e.
"All too often 3- 1/8th notes in compound time are referred to as a triplet."


This book will make everything very clear.
You and every other bass drummer in the World should own a copy. You can only truly understand a language when you can read, write and speak it.
If you can't find a copy, e-mail me and I'll get you set up.

Cheers for now, HOSS.

Quote Bill Livingstone,
"The most educated musician in the band should be the bass drummer."

[Spunky]

Wharram, Barbara-Elementary Rudiments of Music

This is what I found...
http://www.tapestrymusic.com/index.html?loadfile=item09913.html