Jazz Concepts & "Aja"

Drumming legend Steve Gadd has created several lesson packs exclusively for Drum Guru! In these lessons, Steve shares many of the signature concepts, grooves and fills that have made him one of the most popular, important, and imitated drummers in the history of the instrument.

This is Steve Gadd Pack 4: Jazz Concepts and “Aja.” An acknowledged master of all styles, here Steve demonstrates his approach to jazz drumming. Starting with a performance of the tune, Steve then explains how he approaches the swing concept. This is followed by demonstrations of other techniques. Please be sure to refer to “practice mode” to analyze the transcriptions of these lessons and play-along at varying speeds until you are comfortable.

The pack closes with Steve presenting a slow demo of one of his most legendary drum parts: part of the drum solo from the classic Steely Dan song “Aja.”

Here are the lessons that appear in this pack:

• “C’Mon Now” from Baby Steps to Giant Steps
• Brief Explanation of Swing Concept
• Broken Time Playing in a Swing Feel
• How to Use the Bass Drum in Swing
• More Demo of Broken Time Playing
• Steely Dan’s “Aja” Drum Break Demo