As I am currently in the process of writing a new solo for myself to sort of “showcase” the progress I have made with my new drum teacher, I m learning a lot about the creative process as I go. Going into it I, and many other people may feel this way too, was working mainly on different sections, or different beats/rhythms, that I thought sounded good. I soon encountered the problem of how best to transition from section to section without it sounding choppy, or just what it was, a bunch of different beats only tied together by the fact that I was playing them all.
So, my tip for everyone when creating a solo, soloing in general or freestyle, or just jamming alone or with friends, is to find a groove that will act as the “base” of what you are playing. The groove can be anything really. Consistency, timing, and variation will play important roles as you branch off from the groove beat. There are many way to go off the groove beat, using stops, chokes, runs down various drums or cymbals, or just an abrupt shift, you will know what sounds good and what doesn’t groove well together, have fun with it. The key, I have found, is to try and keep that groove beat constantly playing in your mind the whole time. So, lets say you’ve switched from the groove beat to a paradiddle type beat. While I’m playing the paradiddle beat I should have my groove in the back of my mind so that when I decide it’s time to switch back to that “base” beat, I can just right in at the right time and at the right tempo. As always, it is much easier to understand what I’m talking about by seeing it in action. Here are some solos that portray that groove beat idea perfectly.
DERICO WATSON-
SCOTT PELLEGROM-
