Bass players, as well as others, can derive benefit from the complexities of reading the syncopated figures in this book. Each exercise places quarter notes in each measure so that the student can always see the relationship of the downbeat to the exercise.

Drummers, get this book, get Stone's Stick Control, get a good teacher, and you will be well on the way to the ranks of the musically monstrous.


The Real Thing   July 25, 2007
Derek Warren (Salt Lake City, UT)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you want to significantly improve your independence skills, buy this book and then find an instructor who can show you the more than 40 different ways to apply it to the drum set.

Alan Dawson used this book extensively with his students. Thankfully, one of his students has documented those 40+ ways. See "The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson" (Paperback), by author John Ramsay. Ramsay did a great job of identifying (and providing audio examples) of the numerous ways you can apply Syncopation.

An excellent precursor to this book is Jim Chapin's "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer". That book will help you develop the basic independence you'll need to dive into Syncopation. Or if you already possess the ability to play the swing ostinato while playing swung eighth notes and triplets and sixteenth notes between your snare drum and bass drum, then you can likely dive right in.


All music students could benefit from this book.   January 15, 2007
J. E. Meyer (Newark, CA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I am currently using this book to teach my son basic drumming with a roland practice pad. It has been a fantastic help.

This book would be helpful to any beginning student learning to read music, not just drummers, since it so clearly breaks down rhythmic notation. The exercise progressions make a lot of sense, and there are quarter note guides that align the drum notes relative to the downbeat, which is very helpful for learning syncopation.


Excellent blueprint, here are some tips...   August 11, 2010
J. Donaldson (Tucson, AZ)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is not a "so you want to rock" book you find at the music store chain, this is to drumming what sanding and joinery is to a woodworker. Anybody that calls themselves a drummer has this hurdle to climb, a must for a serious drummer. My 1st teacher gave me this and "Stick Control" in the 1981 when I started taking drum lessons. I wasn't sure why I was learning to swing when the trend was rock, but I soon found myself deconstructing every song into these patterns. This book is written in jazz notation, meaning that it does not include the ride cymbal and hi-hat patterns in every bar. You should be able to play all of these patterns with a swing ride (dotted eight note) and the hit-hat on 2 and four. It sounds easy, but playing straight 8th or 16th notes on the left hand while swinging in triplet time on the right can really be frustrating. Make sure to reverse your hands after you've mastered your dominant technique, this breaks the limb dependance. My teacher told me that I should be relaxed enough to be able to play all of these patterns and recite the gettysburg address at the same time. This book unravels rhythm in a way that has been duplicated, but never matched over the years.


If used properly, this book is a great asset!   February 24, 2006
L. Moore (Ohio)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I recommend this book for anyone interested in developing there reading and coordination skills for drumset. It also challenges you to use your imagination to adapt each page to your particular drumset needs.