On The Beaten Path: Beginning Drumset Course Book/CD

On The Beaten Path: Beginning Drumset Course Book/CD

You may recognize Rich Lackowski from his On The Beaten Path series of hit books consisting of three volumes. (Click Here for more info.) What was so cool about that series was the way Rich not only introduced us to some of the most famous drummers of the past and present, but how he carefully broke down their most famous patterns into bite-size pieces and wrote them out step-by-step so that they were relatively easy to learn to play.

Rich has produced another trio of books, each available with a CD, based on the same concept but this time he slants them specifically toward beginning drumset players. This is a very practical approach because to be the best drummer you can be, you need to be aware of what the best drummers in the business are playing. In this series, Rich covers that in detail.

Level 1

The first volume opens with some diagrams explaining the parts of a drumset and then covers how to set one up. Next, he explains and illustrates the correct method of holding the sticks using matched grip along with the technique of making a basic stroke. Following that is a page on basic foot technique and a few more pages explaining how to read music notation.

The book concludes with diagrams showing the various parts of a drum, basic categories of drumheads and their use, drum tuning, and drumstick selection. In between that is the really good stuff! The first volume in the series is broken into two separate sections, Basic Rock Beats and Basic Rock Fills. Each section contains one or more patterns that a particular famous drummer is known for.

Rich includes a little background info on the drummer along with the pattern, broken down into easily digestible steps that start easy and gradually build until you are playing the entire pattern. Rich also tells you the title of the song and the album that each original beat or fill was from. At the end of the first book you will have learned to play 26 authentic rock beats and fills from some of the world's best drummers.