I practice groove every day, and over the years I’ve built a compact routine that consistently locks my neo‑soul pocket across tempos. This 15‑minute sequence focuses on feel, subdivision control and musical choices you can apply to real songs. It’s designed to be repeated daily — short...
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Technique
I love vintage snares for the character they bring—those slightly woody...
Technique
I’ve been running hybrid kits for years — acoustic shells fitted with mesh...
Technique
Getting a sampled kick and an acoustic kick to sit together in a mix so they...
Technique
I love the sound of a vintage snare: that warm woody body, the subtle overtones...
I love making lo-fi drum beats on the SP-404 because it forces me to be creative within limits. The unit's tactile workflow, immediate effects, and resampling capabilities make it perfect for building dusty, shuffling grooves that feel lived-in...
Getting a locked-in pocket for funk and neo-soul isn’t about adding more notes — it’s about making the notes you play breathe, sit with the groove, and serve the song. Below I share five focused practice routines I use with students and in my...
Small live rooms can be a nightmare for drum sounds. I’ve played and recorded in enough cramped venues and DIY rehearsal spaces to know how quickly a kit can turn into an uncontrolled wash of ringing toms and over-sustained snare. Over the years...
Keeping a steady tempo is one of those skills that separates "plays the song" from "owns the song." Over the years as a teacher and session player I've found that raw metronome practice only gets you so far. What accelerates real-world tempo control...
I love the sound of a vintage snare with a tight, focused pop that still carries warmth and body. There’s something magical about a brass or maple shell that sings with personality — but getting that balance isn’t always obvious. Over the...
One of my favorite practice shortcuts is taking a single rudiment — the paradiddle — and turning it into several musical fills you can use immediately in songs. It’s efficient, musical, and great for building vocabulary. Below I’ll walk you...