Drum Tips, Part II: Double Bass Drumming/Funky Drummers: Drum DVD

Energetic, collaborative, and deeply educational. You're sitting in the room with some of drumming's most inventive voices as they break down the secrets that made their records legendary. The funk sections hit with groove and swagger, while the double bass segments showcase both raw power and technical precision.

Drummers at intermediate to advanced levels who are serious about expanding their vocabulary in contemporary styles and learning from musicians who define the sound of funk and progressive rock. This DVD works equally well for the player focused on doubling bass drums or the one hunting to nail that pocket-heavy funk feel.

• Study the double bass techniques in isolation first, then watch how each featured drummer integrates foot independence with hand patterns across the full kit
• Pay attention to grip, posture, and pedal mechanics as much as the finished sound; the DVD reveals details that audio alone cannot capture
• Pause and mirror the funky drummers' ghost notes and pocket placements before attempting full speed; transcribing from video forces precision that listening alone misses
• Compare how different players approach similar grooves (notice the variations between Garibaldi and Chambers, for instance) to understand that there are multiple valid solutions to the same musical problem

Use this as a resource in private lessons to supplement your own instruction, or assign segments to students preparing for auditions or showcase performances in rock, funk, or fusion contexts. It pairs naturally with repertoire that demands either double bass control or deep groove sensibility.

• Double bass drum independence and control
• Funk groove placement and pocket awareness
• Ghost note definition and dynamic control
• Pedal technique and foot mechanics
• Listening and analysis skills across contrasting styles