Drums · Level 7 · Jazz
Jazz swing ride pattern
Don’t just read about the jazz swing ride pattern. Play it.
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“Ding, ding-a, ding, ding-a” on the ride cymbal, with the hi-hat foot on 2 and 4: the basic time feel of jazz.
Tap an instrument name to mute it and play that part yourself.
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a steady groove.
- Press play and listen to the whole groove twice before you play.
- Mute every row except the hi-hat (or ride) and play along with the rest. Let the ride lead. Keep the bass drum feathered, so soft it is felt, not heard.
- Add the bass drum, then the snare, one part at a time.
- Set the tempo to 84 BPM and play the full groove four times without stopping.
- Raise the tempo to 120 BPM once it feels easy.
- Record a take and listen for the swung ‘ding-a’ and a crisp hi-hat ‘chick’ on 2 and 4.
Listen for
Aim for the swung ‘ding-a’ and a crisp hi-hat ‘chick’ on 2 and 4. A common mistake is playing the bass drum loudly on every beat.
Why it works
In swing the beat divides into a long–short triplet, and the ride cymbal carries the time.
Questions
How do you count the jazz swing ride pattern?
It is in 4/4 swing. Count 1 trip let 2 trip let 3 trip let 4 trip let for each bar.
What tempo should I practise the jazz swing ride pattern at?
Start around 84 BPM and work up to 120 BPM. Only speed up when you can play it four times in a row without mistakes.
Is this drum lesson right for my level?
It is a level 7 groove. If it feels too hard, go back to “Boom bap hip-hop beat”.