A Rhythmic Concept for Fusion / Funk Drums: Drumset Book & 2 CDs

Lettner and O'Mara offer something rare in drum method materials: insight into how working professionals approach funk and fusion grooves in real time. The inclusion of both a full mix and a rhythm section-only track on CD 2 gives drummers the confidence to develop their own voice over established forms rather than simply executing predetermined patterns.

These grooves pulse with the elastic pocket of modern fusion, where precision and swing coexist. You'll hear tight kick drum work against spacious hi-hat articulation, ghost notes that speak as loudly as backbeat hits, and rhythmic spaces designed to lock with a responsive bass player and guitarist.

Drummers comfortable with eighth-note and sixteenth-note subdivision who are ready to move beyond rock patterns into the rhythmic complexity of funk and fusion. This resource suits intermediate to advanced players pursuing improvisation and ensemble interplay rather than beginners building fundamental vocabulary.

• Study the full mix on CD 1 first to hear how the drums sit within the complete arrangement, then isolate the groove's essential pocket before adding your own interpretive layer
• Use the rhythm section track on CD 2 to develop consistency across multiple takes; record yourself and listen critically to how your dynamics and placement interact with the bass and guitar
• Explore the MIDI files to slow down specific tunes for detailed analysis of cymbal voicing, ghost notes, and kick drum syncopation without losing the harmonic context
• Treat each tune as a conversation rather than a fixed blueprint; the book documents one interpretation, but O'Mara and Lettner encourage you to find variations that sit naturally in your hands

Assign these tunes to drummers preparing for jazz ensemble auditions or fusion combos; the material translates directly to group settings since compatible guitar and bass editions exist. Individual study works best during the latter half of the school year when students have already solidified basic facility and are ready to invest in developing a personal approach to groove.

• Funk and fusion groove interpretation across multiple tempos
• Ghost note placement and dynamic control on the snare
• Kick drum syncopation and pocket awareness with a rhythm section
• Listening and locking skills through play-along tracks
• Personal voice development within structured rhythmic frameworks