In this week’s Audio Premium content, Mike Elliott teaches you a useful technique for playing complex drum grooves – especially grooves that require at least four sixteenth notes or more in a row.

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Ever hear a groove and think…that is impossible to play? For drum set players this often arises when the groove requires at least four 16th notes in a row (or more!) While the other hand is performing something else entirely. While there are players out there can pull off such a feat because they have such fine control over their hands, most of us will never achieve that level of control without practicing 12 hours a day for years.

So how do you it then? Well my drumming friends this done via the freehand technique (sometimes called a gravity roll). If you play metal, drum n bass, or just want to have an easier time playing at fast tempos then this trick is for you! Ready? Then let your hands be free!

Here’s what the technique looks like:

And here’s the kind of music you’ll be able to create once you harness the knowledge inside:

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Table of Contents

• Understanding Freehand
• Understanding Freehand: The Fulcrum
• Understanding Freehand: Hand Position
• Understanding Freehand: The Stroke
• Practicing Freehand
• Practicing Freehand: Beginning Exercises
• Practicing Freehand: Intermediate Exercises (Beginning Variations)
• Practicing Freehand: Advanced Exercises
• Applying Freehand
• Applying Freehand: Pattern One
• Applying Freehand: Pattern Two
• Applying Freehand: Pattern Three
• Conclusion

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