Customer Reviews

The Sound of Brushes

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

 

 

I'm a life-long guitar and bass player, but completely new to drumming. I love the sound of brushes, and this book is a great place to begin. The brush patterns are clearly illustrated in the book with large, drum-size diagrams. It's easy to practice the patterns just with your fingertips to get the groove, then try them with brushes on the drum. Ed narrates the CDs, counting time, giving instruction, offering encouragement...it's like a live lesson!

I also purchased the DVD, but if you have to decide one or the other, the book is a better place to begin.

I'm an experience drummer who has been praised for my brush technique. However, I knew there was much I needed to learn. Having seen Ed Thigpen perform, I agree with renown drummers, Buddy Rich & Gene Krupa, Who said that "Ed Thigpen is the best in the world on Brushes". When his book "The Sound of Brushes" became available, I immediately snatched it up. It still is the best work I've read on brushes. Any drummer can learn from this package. Various exercises for swing, ballads, 3/4 time, Latin rhythms and shuffles are all illustrated in this work. As stated in previous reviews, the diagrams are a tremendous tool in getting the timing as well as the "pulse" of brushing. If you read the instructions, trace the diagrams and practice with the CD in that order, you will maximize your instructional benifits and progress with lightning speed. The Sound of Brushes in its self is an excellent package. But to truly complete your brushing experience, purchase Ed Thigpen's DVD "The Essence of Brushes". This combination is prominent in my music library and would be in yours as well.

This is a great book. If you want help with your brush playing or just need some inspiration then this is a great product to purchase

Book is amazing! Ed has great simple examples. There are only a few, but they unlock the fundamentals and get you on your way to being creative and creating music for yourself!

The Sound of Brushes is indeed worth a five star rating. I recently purchased it, and was very happy to see all the different patterns drawn out.

As far as the educational integrity, let me tell you there is plenty. I have just cracked it open and made my way through like four pages, and already I hear a definite improvement in my brush playing. The CD's really help, but be careful; the casing for my CD's came unglued, and they fell out initially. Tape 'em up and they're fine. Get this book.

Okay, I haven't actually read this book. I have, however, viewed the Ed Thigpen brush video (twice), and since it is easily the best and most informative music video I've ever seen, it seems very likely to me that this book will also be very, very helpful.

Just for the record, the brush sweep should be notated thus: Draw a horizontal line replacing the note head in the E (what would be E if this were bass clef, that is) snare space with a slur to show that brush is not lifted. Two brushes on the snare require alternate stem direction.