Now that you've managed to perfect your technique on one surface we move onto lateral motion. Now before you start playing flam fives around while scraping the diddles, you have to realize some important aspects. Moving around the drums is funamentally identical to playing on one surface. The stronger you make this connection in your playing, the better you become as a quad drummer. A very common and irritating tendency is to let the drums dictate you playing. People will let the lateral motion and drum tones cause technique and timing discrepancies. Just as with rudiments we must break the motions down to the basics and build quality with fluidity.

We can start with 8's between 1 and 3. Very little motion is needed here as we make sure to travel the shortest distance between each stroke. Remember energy efficiency is necessary for gaining speed. Alternate between playing on the 1 drum then both drums so that you gauge yourself effectively. It is so important to gauge yourself because if you don't you are inherently practicing errors which is very common. Move on to three drum motion between 2, 1, and 3 while still playing 8's. This takes a bit more energy but after a while of playing one starts to relax and find the most comfortable way to play the exercise. This is another example of the quad flow. You settle into the energy basin of efficiency and a balance is felt. Your goal is to search for this balance and apply it throughout your playing.

I find that with my warm-up routine I will approach it like a mental and physical tuning. I start playing discovering that my hands feel different than the last time. I will search for my desired technique and style and basically remember how I want to play and then apply it. (It's important to state how I want to play rather than how I'm playing because I'm always reaching to improve. After 11 years of playing I'm smart enough to know that I still have far to go). Remember how you want to play then apply it! Visualize what you want to look like and how you move. Listen to your sound and judge if your fundamental approach is consistent throughout your playing. Sound is often overlooked because of so many demands but is most important because after all, we are musicians.

Anyway, back to the moving around the drums, there is only so much I can advise without some sort of visual aide, but I'll still give it a shot. The most important thing that I can say is that if you can't play it on one drum then you can't play it well while moving it. I strongly suggest you constantly check yourself on one drum then move it. You will save yourself some ticks later on. When you start using more advanced motions like scrapes and crossovers, the same philosophy of controlled relaxation applies. The approach is always going to be to remain tension-free and fluid. My favorite quad players always looked like they were stopping time 'cause the motion was so smooth. Never sacrifice sound quality because of a crossover; there is a sweet spot for all crossovers that a player can get a full stroke. When you scrape doubles remember that the goal is to make it sound like singles. The second beat of the double should be as relaxed as the primary stroke. When you move it nothing changes...nothing. Scraping around the drums should feel like you're suspended feeling every rebounded stroke, to me it's one of the best things in the world (next to just playing 8's).

It takes long hours and countless days to start approaching the levels that I'm talking about. I can't even begin to calculate how long I've been at it. I read a study that states most good musicians spend about 3000 hours practicing before they reach a moderate skill level so keep it in mind when considering where you are. The best players work the hardest and take care of business. It takes a strong intelligent person to commit to such a task such as learning the quads. This is why quad drumming is like a religion in some people's eyes. If you're just starting out, try to find the joy of learning new things because there is so much to learn; it never really stops. Always be honest with yourself and realizes what you need to improve. Constantly evaluate your technique and alter it if you feel it needs it. Trust your intuition.

The most important point that I'd like to make with this writing is that mastering this instrument holds many incredible experiences. After you've perfected your stroke and smoothed out your flow to where it resembles the flow of water, a person can start to experience the deeper levels of music and communication. One can even start to approach the playing of this instrument at the level of an art form. I first found my Zen while playing in BK '95 in Allentown, P.A.; I could actually feel the playing of a guy six spots down from me. I had no thoughts, only effortless and perfectly executing actions. I was in a state of mind that I felt like I found the meaning of my life. I could focus on the experience rather than worry about ticking. It took me a long time to reach it again but I began to do it on my own while playing solo. Now I urge you to find yours, it might just change your life.

man keep them coming!!!

i will use this and be sure to add this to everything i got from you to help me teach others. its hard to put somethings in writing,thanks!

IT'S HERE!
MOVE THE FLOW!
HOOAH!

There's more coming soon. It's going to be more directed towards music and art in general but all relative to a series of books (hopefully videos) that I've been working for a few years now.
My experience through music has often paralled my life lessons which is what my approach is based upon. These lessons are merely trying to "connect the dots" of life experience. If you become great at one aspect of your life you can apply it to all aspects. Check out the articles and realize that it's the tip of the iceberg. Music is more than technique/notes and you can't reduce it to simple logic. It's way too rich and profound to be put in boxes and graphs. If there is one thing to take away from these articles it is that realization.

oh yeah, and practice,practice,practice.....etc.

Another great post. Keep 'em comin'.

I'm looking forward to your views on the art and journey of music.

If you have any more material on percussive technique, (particularly quads) I've been struggling to increase my single handed alternation speed. Single stroke rolls have been worrying me lately, especially on the excercise "slow/fast" (Bill Bachman's quad logic). If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks for your posts and in advance for what's to come.

get your 8 on a hand fast, relax

Wow,these quad zen posts are really great! They help me out alot a lot!!

Man i love your posts, these are really helping me out in becoming a better player and whenever you do get videos please let me know.

Wow these posts really help to explain some things that sometimes its just hard to say/write.

I'll definitely keep that in mind next time I'm practicing. Because we all know I need it. ha ha