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Bill Powelson's School of Drums

PRIVATE DRUM LESSON
"LATIN RHYTHMS: Calypso

Copyright 1998 Bill Powelson all rights reserved

Master all variations of this beat before moving on to the upcoming and more difficult Mambo and Merengue beat patterns. We will stairstep into this relatively simple beat structure. It is important to remember that Calypso is most useful in extremely quick tempos. It is commonly used as a substitute for Cut-time 2/4.

Practice until you can play it faster than the sound file. Here you are playing a Layover rimshot on the snare with the left hand.

As you move up to the hi-tom for that last note, use the butt of your LEFT stick, You'll be moving off the snare from the layover rimshot position directly to the tom. There will be no time to turn the stick around.

VIDEO: Click here to see, and hear the above pattern.

Now, begin playing two, quick 16th notes on the hi-tom. Build this to lightning speed. Listen to the final sound file to get an idea as to how fast this beat might later become with sufficient practice.

VIDEO: Click here to see, and hear a faster version.

Here it is at top speed.

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Copyright Bill Powelson 1996 all rights reserved.