In this lesson you will be applying an odd grouping of notes to the right hand when playing in 6/8. The groupings you would expect to see in this time signature would be either dotted crotchets or two sets of three quavers, but in these grooves you will be playing three crotchets. This gives the groove a more 'simple time signature' feel and can provide a really cool variation when a piece uses straight 6/8 throughout.
There are two ways to notate the right hand part. The first is to follow the groupings rules of compound time signatures and the second is to follow the rules of simple time signatures. Both versions are shown below with the compound version on the left and the simple version on the right.
I find the second of these represents the fact that the right hand is playing an odd grouping best and it is also a little less cluttered so this form of notation will be used below.
In terms of playing this part, the right hand falls on all odd counted notes. So '1', '3' and '5'.
Listed below are some examples of this right hand concept applied with kicks and snares. For this first lesson I haven't applied any 16th notes, but we will cover this in a later lesson. In the first groove I have deliberately used constant eighth notes to make where the right hands fall a little clearer.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
TASKS
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all grooves up to a tempo of at least 120bpm.
- Create your own variations on these patterns. Write as many down as possible.
- Use these patterns as part of a Structured Pattern. This idea works well as both a fill or groove.
Example Piece
Below is a short piece that uses the idea presented in this lesson as both a fill and groove.
