With The Language of Drumming, Benny Greb presents a complete system for achieving freedom of expression on the drumset. Benny’s approach is a practical method that is based on a concept familiar to everyone: learning a language. Providing exercises for grooves, fills, independence, and more, this system progresses from rhythmic “letters” and “words” to “syntax” and “language,” ultimately providing an easily understandable system that is suitable for beginning to advanced-level drummers.
This book is available in several options:
- Digital eBook edition: includes digital edition of book with audio. No video is included with this version.
- Print Book edition with video: includes print edition of book with audio and video. Includes download code in book for audio and full length video program access.
- Digital eBook edition with video: includes digital edition of book with audio and video. Includes audio and full length instant video program access!
The book presents various ways for learning each step of the language of drumming. The “letters” are presented individually, and then in context with dynamics, rudiments, as bass drum and hi-hat components of full drumset grooves, and as ghost notes within grooves. “Words” take you into the realm of 3-,5-, and 7-note groupings and dozens of ways to articulate them on the drums. “Syntax” and “language” enable you to take the “letters” and “words” and apply them as advanced linear concepts that will greatly expand your groove and fill vocabulary. The combination of rhythmic permutations coupled with stickings and odd groupings in this material will expand the palette of drummers of all styles and levels.
Also included are play-along tracks designed for practicing various concepts in the book.
The Language of Drumming Book
2013 Modern Drummer Readers Poll Winner!
Following up and expanding on the concepts presented in his best-selling video of the same name, Benny here brings forth a wealth of practice material for drummers of all styles and levels, presented in a beautifully illustrated book with a timeless, classic look.
The Language of Drumming Book teaches a complete system for achieving freedom of expression on the drumset. Bennys approach is a practical method that is based on a concept familiar to everyone: learning a language. Providing exercises for grooves, fills, independence, and more, this system progresses from rhythmic letters and words to syntax and language, ultimately providing an easily understandable system that is suitable for beginning to advanced-level drummers. Included along the way are new hi-hat groove variations, dozens of ghost-note exercises, and a complete system for mastering odd groupings (3, 5, and 7) in your playing. Since the release of the Language of Drumming video, Benny has extensively expanded on and added to this system, creating a method that works as a stand-alone approach or as a companion to the video. Also included is audio containing unique practice tracks, which are designed for use by the player in practicing the various concepts in the book.
This book will not only enable you to play differently, but (more importantly) to think differently, and get a better understanding of rhythm, said Benny. This material will give you the facility to decode a lot of the other educational material out there, and by having that ability, you will be free to come up with your own exercises, and have more freedom to make musical choices on the spot while playing music.
The Language of Drumming Video
From the overture and opening credits to the movie-within-a-movie menu, viewers of The Language Of Drumming will immediately sense that even though theyre watching a drumming video they may well be seeing the beginning of a new era in music education.
Beyond its amazingly clever concepts, beautiful sets and Academy-award worthy production values, this groundbreaking video set also presents extraordinary European drummer Benny Greb and his advanced approach to making music that raises the art of drumming to an entirely new level. As Greb explains in his initial on-camera comments, learning to play the drums is like learning to speak a language. Greb makes the point that knowing a few basic drum beats and fills is like knowing only a few standard phrases in a language; they wont allow you to communicate clearly or have a full, interactive conversation in practical situations. Grebs carefully thought-through solution and a quantum leap in drum education is to learn the language of drumming by starting with its smallest components: the individual letters of the rhythmic alphabet. Greb then introduces his revolutionary 24-character system and shows how to use the basic binary and ternary rhythms to develop timing, technique, dynamic control and speed even the traditional drum rudiments.
Covering hands and feet, with and without a practice pad, he quickly progresses from simple alphabetical exercises to more intricate examples of words (rhythmic phrases) and syntax (sentences and vocabulary) on the full drumset. The video goes on to include a vast amount of additional information, from practical discussions about the importance of listening, building fills and solos using standard improvisational forms, and developing better time and expanding rhythmic comfort zones through creative use of a metronome to somewhat more esoteric examples of finding new and alternative sounds on the drumset.
Throughout the entire presentation, Greb flawlessly performs exercises and patterns that illustrate his theories while referring to the comprehensive archive of printable PDF charts and exercises that are included. The video also features several drum solos as well as Grebs performances with master percussionist Pete Lockett and the Benny Greb Brass Band.
