It’s a phenomenon called Limb Assistance. That’s when one limb is able to perform better when it’s partnered with another limb.

The trend toward smaller bass drums was driven as much by portability as sound. Elvin Jones settled on an 18" bass drum because it fit into a cab nicely (so I’ve heard).

So you pack your bags, load up the drums and head for the big city -- just as countless other aspiring players have done. And you’re immediately faced with the more established players, the ones who really are the big fish in this bigger pond.

We all need something to make us smile, and I can practically guarantee the following will provoke a smile—perhaps even a chuckle. It's an unusual and amusing photo of the best drum student I ever had.

Here’s the playlist of the eight videos that are on YouTube so far. I have eight more in the can that will be uploaded soon. Enjoy!

It was an after-hours open stage club in the heart of the jazz district, and our budding jazz band had arranged to play a set -- our first venture outside the practice room. The resident drums were just awful.

Episode #3 of 5 minute lessons with George Lawrence. This is a linear groove that Steve Klink taught me when I was teaching at Fork’s Drum Closet in the nineties; The Garibaldi Seven.

Another sticking challenge from that rascal sage, Joel Rothman

Most companies will guarantee a newly purchased cymbal against certain types of breakage, but it ends there. If a player breaks a replacement cymbal, all love is lost and the cymbal will not be replaced. The rational is that the owner/player must be doing something wrong or just plain abusing their bronze.

I'm So Confused
And so you should be. Options you may hear about bearing edges include: round-over, 30 degree, 45 degree, dual-45, reverse 45,  45 with round-over, bull-nose, baseball bat, vintage round-over. There are also different theories, applications, claims, boasts, and myths. 

Here is the second video in the series "5 minute Drum Lessons w George Lawrence" shot at Memphis Drum Shop . We are publishing once a week on Saturdays. Hopefully there will be many more to come.

Here is the first of 8 videos in the series "5 minute Drum Lessons w George Lawrence" shot at Memphis Drum Shop . We are publishing once a week on Saturdays. Hopefully there will be many more to come. This can also be found on MemphisDrumShop.com. Just scroll down the front page.

George Lawrence talking and playing with Chris Pat Brown at Memphis Drum Shop.

All Crotchety
The traditional grip fulcrum will always be in the crotch of the thumb and first finger. Hold out your left hand (unless you're a lefty) as if you were going to shake someone's hand and put your stick firmly in the above-mentioned crotch.

When I was younger, studying full percussion, my piano teacher was always trying to get me to sit up straight. Easier said than done. And while practicing drums and mallets it’s near impossible to not be bending over.

Most of the time I find the writer has not done their homework in researching other books to discover what has been published on the same subject. That research can take a lot of time, but it’s necessary if you don’t want to waste your time submitting material that's already available.

Aside from single and double strokes, paradiddles are the most often used sticking patterns in drumming. In the family of paradiddles there are four standard types—single paradiddles, double paradiddles, triple paradiddles, and paradiddle-diddles. The following highlights each family along with their inversions.

I am a staunch disciple of renowned drum teacher Jim Blackley. His death in 2018 at the tender age of 86 silenced his voice, but it needn’t cut us off from his legacy and extraordinary teaching.

Move over Tesla!

Yes, we've preserved the traditional functions, but nowadays we prefer to do more with our instruments.

You may ask, “Ulysses what if I don’t play gigs requiring brushes?”

I believe for any musician who plays the drums, it doesn’t matter. Learning the brushes is part of your due diligence on the drum kit.