Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced · 12 units · 275 etudes

Bass drum (kick) exercises

In this course the hands stay put like a wall and only the foot sings the melody. First the kick lands on the numbers and '&'s; then it reaches the 'e' and 'a', and then come doubles — two strokes played in a single motion.

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In the later units a kick figure (for example K K . K) slides one sixteenth to the right with each etude until it has visited every spot in the bar. Instead of memorising, you slide: same figure, new place. By the end you can drop the figure anywhere into any groove.

What you'll learn

Who it's for

Drummers whose foot lags behind their hands, or who only ever play the kick on 1 and 3.

Practice screen: drum notation with notes coloured green, orange and red by timing

Units

Beginner
01Kick melodies in 8ths8 etudes

The hands are a steady wall; only the foot sings the melody. The kick lands on numbers and '&'s only. Count the kick out loud on its own first, then add the hands.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
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Intermediate
02Kick melodies in 16ths10 etudes

Now the foot reaches the 'e' and 'a' too. The key shape is long-short: 1 . . a. Keep each kick short and punchy — don't bury the beater, so the foot is ready for the next note.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
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03Doubles running into the beat3 etudes

The double steps up into the next beat like a stair: 'a-1', 'a-3'. The goal isn't the double, it's the beat it lands on. Play that beat a little stronger — the double is just the run-up.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
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04Doubles running into the '&'9 etudes

This time the target is the '&': 'e-&'. The second note lands together with the hi-hat — that unison should sound crisp. Mix these with the previous unit's doubles to build your own phrases.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
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05Plenty of kick doubles11 etudes

Two strokes, one motion: the first from the ankle, the second from the rebound. The second note always leans into something — hear where. At a slow tempo, make both notes equally loud.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
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06Kick figure: K K44 etudes

Figure: two kicks on consecutive 16ths. Each etude slides the figure one 16th to the right until it has visited every spot in the bar; then you drop it anywhere into a plain groove. Don't memorise — slide: same figure, new place. In the half-time etudes the snare plays only on 3.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
  18. Etude 18
  19. Etude 19
  20. Etude 20
  21. Etude 21
  22. Etude 22
  23. Etude 23
  24. Etude 24
  25. Half-time 1
  26. Half-time 2
  27. Half-time 3
  28. Half-time 4
  29. Half-time 5
  30. Half-time 6
  31. Half-time 7
  32. Half-time 8
  33. Half-time 9
  34. Half-time 10
  35. Half-time 11
  36. Half-time 12
  37. Half-time 13
  38. Half-time 14
  39. Half-time 15
  40. Half-time 16
  41. Half-time 17
  42. Half-time 18
  43. Half-time 19
  44. Half-time 20
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Advanced
07Doubles starting on the '&'13 etudes

The double starts on the '&' and ends on the 'a': '&-a'. Don't rush as you approach the backbeat — the 'a' sits exactly in place. Finish by combining every double placement in one groove.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
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08Doubles starting on the beat17 etudes

'1-e', '3-e': the double starts right on the beat and pulls away. The hardest spot is a double starting with the snare (2-e, 4-e). Don't let the hands freeze — the foot lives its own life.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
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09Kick figure: K . K K40 etudes

Figure: kick, gap, two kicks. Each etude slides the figure one 16th to the right until it has visited every spot in the bar; then you drop it anywhere into a plain groove. Don't memorise — slide: same figure, new place. In the half-time etudes the snare plays only on 3.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
  18. Etude 18
  19. Etude 19
  20. Etude 20
  21. Half-time 1
  22. Half-time 2
  23. Half-time 3
  24. Half-time 4
  25. Half-time 5
  26. Half-time 6
  27. Half-time 7
  28. Half-time 8
  29. Half-time 9
  30. Half-time 10
  31. Half-time 11
  32. Half-time 12
  33. Half-time 13
  34. Half-time 14
  35. Half-time 15
  36. Half-time 16
  37. Half-time 17
  38. Half-time 18
  39. Half-time 19
  40. Half-time 20
Open in the app →
10Kick figure: K K . K40 etudes

Figure: two kicks, gap, kick. Each etude slides the figure one 16th to the right until it has visited every spot in the bar; then you drop it anywhere into a plain groove. Don't memorise — slide: same figure, new place. In the half-time etudes the snare plays only on 3.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
  18. Etude 18
  19. Etude 19
  20. Etude 20
  21. Half-time 1
  22. Half-time 2
  23. Half-time 3
  24. Half-time 4
  25. Half-time 5
  26. Half-time 6
  27. Half-time 7
  28. Half-time 8
  29. Half-time 9
  30. Half-time 10
  31. Half-time 11
  32. Half-time 12
  33. Half-time 13
  34. Half-time 14
  35. Half-time 15
  36. Half-time 16
  37. Half-time 17
  38. Half-time 18
  39. Half-time 19
  40. Half-time 20
Open in the app →
11Kick figure: K K . K K40 etudes

Figure: two kicks, gap, two kicks — two doubles back to back. Each etude slides the figure one 16th to the right until it has visited every spot in the bar; then you drop it anywhere into a plain groove. Don't memorise — slide: same figure, new place. In the half-time etudes the snare plays only on 3.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
  18. Etude 18
  19. Etude 19
  20. Etude 20
  21. Half-time 1
  22. Half-time 2
  23. Half-time 3
  24. Half-time 4
  25. Half-time 5
  26. Half-time 6
  27. Half-time 7
  28. Half-time 8
  29. Half-time 9
  30. Half-time 10
  31. Half-time 11
  32. Half-time 12
  33. Half-time 13
  34. Half-time 14
  35. Half-time 15
  36. Half-time 16
  37. Half-time 17
  38. Half-time 18
  39. Half-time 19
  40. Half-time 20
Open in the app →
12Kick figure: K . K K . K40 etudes

Figure: kick, gap, two kicks, gap, kick — a double wrapped in two singles. Each etude slides the figure one 16th to the right until it has visited every spot in the bar; then you drop it anywhere into a plain groove. Don't memorise — slide: same figure, new place. In the half-time etudes the snare plays only on 3.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
  16. Etude 16
  17. Etude 17
  18. Etude 18
  19. Etude 19
  20. Etude 20
  21. Half-time 1
  22. Half-time 2
  23. Half-time 3
  24. Half-time 4
  25. Half-time 5
  26. Half-time 6
  27. Half-time 7
  28. Half-time 8
  29. Half-time 9
  30. Half-time 10
  31. Half-time 11
  32. Half-time 12
  33. Half-time 13
  34. Half-time 14
  35. Half-time 15
  36. Half-time 16
  37. Half-time 17
  38. Half-time 18
  39. Half-time 19
  40. Half-time 20
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How you practise

Every etude is real notation, like in a book. You play with a metronome, spoken counting and a tempo ladder; your e-kit or microphone listens to every stroke and colours the notes green, orange or red. In a tricky bar, wait mode pauses until you hit the right drum.

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15 minutes today. A little better tomorrow.

Try it free for 14 days — no card needed.

Try it free for 14 days