Customer Reviews

Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer: Coordinating Independence As Applied To Jazz And Be-bop With Cd (audio) (Vol. 1)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jim Chapin's Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer is the witten document that shifted drumming into the modern world. I have owned a copy since I was 16 years old (forty years). It still holds up, and opened many doors for myself and other drummers. Mr. Chapin has trained many outstanding drummers, in his methods, which derive from the Moeller technique he was trained in as a young man. How can you miss with a drummer that was a compatriot of Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and countless others? Not to mention, the father of the incredible Harry Chapin. You can't be a drummer and not know about this book. The CD is a major boost, for us. This is ONE musical genius!
I have absolutely no reservations in recommending it to all drummers. Go for it!

This book helped shape the art of drumming, and continues to be a must-have for drummers. Chapin's book was used a favorite of Elvin, Tony, and tons of great drummers. This book isn't just for jazz drummers, though. Anyone looking to develop independence should check out this book. The independence it builds between the hands and feet is invaluable in any type of music that needs to groove. Even almost sixty years after its publication, this continues to be an amazing book.

I'm not commenting on the content, but this is hand-written musical notation that looks like it has been through a few generations or recopying. It looks sloppy, and when you are taxing your brain trying to learn exercises, you shouldn't have to worry about reading muddy and blurry print the publisher was too lazy to spend a couple hundred bucks to transcribe into sharp, readable text. My "62nd printing" looks like it has been through a photocopier about that many times.

That quote stuck with me from a Peter Erskine video in which he pays homage to (though doesn't directly mention) the genius of Jim Chapin. I spent part of my workday cutting and pasting from this book to get the exercises to fit on one page because I wanted to remove distractions such as turning the book page mid-exercise! This requires we focus.

What is especially nice is that this book relates the ideas in a musical context. Not just doing a complicated rudiment that you probably won't use: this stuff you can use right away.

I agree that this is a must have for drummers regardless of style. Especially rock drummers, like myself. It has opened up a whole new world of ideas. I found it easiest to start with the dotted eighths and triplet sections (1A and 1C) before trying the eighths and sixteenths sections (1B and 1D). This book is one of the treasures of my library, and it has dramatically improved by playing in only one month. This after playing for 25 years.

This book is designed with the jazz drummer in mind, but the exercises will help all players develop independence. The cymbal / hi-hat pattern is pretty consistent through the entire book book - the dotted 16th pattern that is common in be-bop. This means that the right hand is doing the same thing in pretty much every exercise, assuming you are right handed. Despite this, the exercises can be quite challenging, especially as the book progresses. To keep things interesting, alternate the sticking so that your non-dominant hand plays the cymbal pattern. The CDs are great and are helpful in understanding the trickier patterns. It's easy to see why this book is a standard among jazz drummers, but any drummer will benefit from mastering the patterns in this book.

1st: Ive never owned the version that comes with an audio cd - but the cover of the books looks exactly like mine.

With that said - The version I own (Im pretty sure the print is exactly the same) - the book I own isnt all that great in comparison to Ted Reeds Syncopation, which can be used for a BILLION of things - first of which I was introduced to in the Jazz Idiom.

This book does show you some snare / bass drum combinations - but again, this can be learned / worked on using other systems (like Ted Reed).

The one section in this book which I do like is the one when you play the swung ride cymbal pattern in your right hand, and the left hand snare ("comping") pattern are to be played using STRAIGHT EIGHTS - NOT SWUNG EIGHTS

This coordination of straight eights against the swung ride pattern creates a double time like feel or impression.

It is a good book, its just that I have found other systems / methods to achieve Jazz Independence which (for me) work better.

I do not want to offend ANYONE HERE, but I do find this book boring. It does give you some Jazz Coordination / Independence (sd/bd patterns against the jazz ride) but it just doesnt give you a total freedom as far as independence and jazz vocabulary like Ted Reeds Syncopation.

I feel that the ultimate goal for any drummer is to eventually be able to play whatever you hear in your head. This book teaches you a limited amount of patterns. It just doesnt seem to REALLY OPEN UP your Jazz Independence - it is similar to Mel Bay Studio: Jazz Drum Cookbook - which I own and think sounds more "hip".

I hope this helps - it is a good book, (again) I find other methods to be far more inclusive.

have fun with it either way!

CDs make it very clear. It's better than Reed's Syncopation book in my opinion because you syncopate your bass drum foot in proper time with the hands. I still have a lot of work to do with it, so I gotta go!

The Advanced Techiques for the Modern Drummer has been the benchmark in jazz coodination since its release,in 1948. Since then all the serious drummers, study it in a way to better dominate the required technique to play Bop Drumming. Even the creators of Bebop, as confessed Max Roach in an interview, used it to sharpen their comping skills. Bottom line: An All Time Classic and a "must have" to any drummer who takes his craft seriously!
Daniel Oliveira
Drumset Program Coordinator
IBVF Brazil

Many top names in music have used his book...one of my instructors got me into this book years ago and I recently puchased it again after giving away my previous copy. This edition comes with a CD of Jim Chapin playing the patterns as they are written. If you need help in getting started, find an instructor in your area who can help you play these patterns. I found it very, very useful for keeping time while being able to develop my own creative expression. You can do it too...a little effort with this book will help you grow into becomming a mature musician. Also, check out another great book for developing independence and coordination: Gary Chester's, The New Breed.

Through my drum instructor back in the 1970's, I was schooled using Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer. I just recently purchased the book for a quick review on what I may have forgotten after all those years. This book is a must buy for any serious set drummer. It`s the best for learning counter rhythms and to gain independence between the hands and feet. Whether you're a rocker or a jazz drummer this book is the best!