Teyha does a great job in this video of demonstrating how to play Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day. She has only been a drum student for a short time and has already made so much progress. Props to her for taking on a new hobby and trying to learn new skills even when she is no longer a kid or teen as most of my students are. I believe everyone should continue learning new skills throughout there life and Teyha is a great example!
Green Day's Wake Me Up When September Ends is a go to song for my drum students. It has a few elements in it that are really helpful for students trying to learn different techniques. Some of these drum techniques include learning to us flams in a beat, learning a sixteenth notes snare beat where the snare comes in between the timing of the Hi-Hats, and using the crash cymbal instead of the Hi-Hats or ride cymbal to keep your timing in the beat.
Let's Discuss what a Flam is
In drumming, a flam is a technique used to create a dynamic and expressive sound by striking the drum with two sticks in quick succession. The basic idea is to play two notes almost simultaneously, but with a slight time delay between them. The result is a thicker and more pronounced sound, with the first note being softer and the second note being louder. This technique is commonly used to add depth and nuance to drum patterns.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to play a flam:
Hold the Sticks: Hold one stick in each hand, making sure your grip is comfortable and relaxed. The fulcrum (the point where you hold the stick) should be between your thumb and index finger, with the other fingers loosely wrapped around the stick.
Understand Hand Positioning: In a flam, one stick (usually the left hand for right-handed drummers and vice versa for left-handed drummers) is positioned slightly higher than the other. This height difference is what creates the dynamic contrast between the two hits.
Choose Drum Surface: Decide which drum or surface you want to play the flam on. It could be a snare drum, tom-tom, or any other drum in your drum set.
Execute the Flam:
Start with the higher stick (the one positioned above).
Follow up quickly with the lower stick, hitting the drumhead almost simultaneously but with a slight delay.
The result should be a distinct sound with a softer initial hit followed by a louder second hit.
Practice Control: Achieving a clean and controlled flam requires practice. Work on controlling the height difference between the sticks and the timing of the second hit. Make sure the two hits are close enough to create the desired effect but distinct enough to be heard as two separate notes.
Use in Drum Patterns: Once you're comfortable with the flam technique, incorporate it into drum patterns. Experiment with different flam placements within a beat to add variety and dynamics to your drumming.
Remember, like any drumming technique, practice is key to mastering flams. Start slow and gradually increase your speed as you gain control and precision.
If you are looking to learn a new skill like drumming, don't hesitate to reach out. I will get you set up with a lesson time either in studio and in person or I also have the option of teaching private lessons online through a Zoom meeting.
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