Advanced Funk Studies: Drumset Book & 2 CDs

This book earns its place on Modern Drummer's greatest-of-all-time list because Latham doesn't just present exercises; he codifies the DNA of classic funk drumming in a way that's both systematic and immediately applicable. Rather than offering generic patterns, he draws directly from the vocabulary of legendary funk drummers, so students aren't learning abstract concepts but rather the actual grooves and approaches that shaped the genre.

Precise and grounded. Every exercise feels pulled from actual music rather than constructed for pedagogy alone, so there's an authenticity to the work that keeps you engaged. The addition of audio tracks transforms it from a workbook into a conversation with a working drummer who's sat in rooms with the best.

Drummers who have moved beyond basic funk vocabulary and want to deepen their understanding of hi-hat work, groove refinement, and fill construction. This suits students preparing for jazz combos, funk ensembles, or any setting where rhythmic precision and style matter. It's equally valuable for educators looking to teach funk drumming with authority.

• Study the audio examples first before reading the written notation; hearing Latham's interpretations of timing and swing will inform how you approach the hi-hat patterns and syncopation.
• Focus on one section of the book at a time rather than jumping around; the progression builds your foundation for more complex fill ideas.
• Record yourself playing the exercises and compare your pocket to the CDs; funk is unforgiving about timing, and this direct comparison reveals where you're ahead or behind.
• Apply the fill patterns in an actual groove context during rehearsal or jam sessions; these ideas only become yours when you can weave them into real music.

Include this in a jazz ensemble curriculum to develop your section's swing and pocket, or assign it to advanced drummers working independently on technique. Use it as a bridge text when students are ready to explore funk beyond basic grooves but aren't yet in an ensemble that features the genre; the recorded examples provide the musical context they need.

• Hi-hat articulation and coordination across various funk styles
• Syncopated funk groove patterns derived from classic recordings
• Drum fill construction that serves groove-based music
• Listening and transcription informed by historical funk recordings
• Pocket and timing development through accompaniment-based practice