Added: 1 year ago
From: drumteacher76
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  • Amazing! thanks

  • Dear Mike , you are an entertaining teacher unlike other web instructors. Reminds me of lessons when I was a kid, you make it fun man ! I'm now going to watch all of your vids.

  • That was probably the sickest drum lesson ever. So funny, so helpful, so talented. Thank you :D!

  • 3:55 "Umpa umpa umpa umpeh uuh" LOL! Amazing teaching, as always!!

  • Thats a wrap!

  • You are not only funny as crap, but also very amazing! this video just from watching it at 4am made helped me find things to practice on a daily basis. I hope one day soon i can get enough money to get drum lessons from you.

  • 7:18 Periphery?

  • Apparently after 15 as a "professional drummer"... Ima goin back to school...*side note I saw Peter when I was just a puppy (13 or 14 i think) and the best way I could explain what he did was to take a regular drummer and an exacto-blade, cut drummer into 4 seprate limbs and poof "Peter Magadini"

    thanks for the renewed inspiration!

  • Can you play a 3/4 polyrhythm in 44 time with the hi hat on the click ?

  • Mike, I'm such a fan. You inspire me to get so much better at drums. I'm self taught and I didn't know what a polyrythmn or a para diddle was before I watched your videos. Thank you for sharing. I'm ordering your book as soon as I can afford it man!

  • Nice Control!

  • DING, CAT! DING, CAT! DING, CAT! Who agrees that, in honor of Mike, we should get a group of hundreds of percussionists together, march down fifth avenue, and chant that?

  • Bro, it's refreshing to see guys still interested in picking apart every detail of drumming while keeping a working musician's mindset. I've seen so many players either learn how to chop it up like crazy and not be able to keep a gig or focus solely on pocket drumming and lose sight of the chops. It's very refreshing to see you combine the two. I'd love to see you post a video comparing the two mentalities and how to integrate chops into a gig without losing the gig because of the chops.

    Josh

  • I dont know if you still read these comments since this vid is like a year old but wow. This is my first time playing my new drumset and i wanted a few pointers so i ended up finding this video. I already have that polyrythem down and im loving it. I would love to do that crazy stuff you did at the end of the vid. You inspired me. good job!

  • My brain asplode.

  • Mike your lessons are awesome, but trying to count polyrhythms in my head made me feel ill haha :D keep the vids coming, their really good

  • Haha, the country guy bit cracked me up hard :D

  • Hands down best drum instruction on youtube.

  • hi i have been drumming for about 4 years. and since i started taking music more seriously (about a year ago) i have started to experience some serious pain in my wrists and my ankles when drumming. the wrists i know are due to tendinitis and have sorted my stick grip. but the feat... is there a specific method because it hurts playing...

  • I'm 50 and started drumming again after 25 years...bought an electric kit also and I practice in the back shed every night even in the winter( for the past year and ahalf ) often till way past midnight...your lessons are so helpful I only wish youtube was around in the 70's...thankyou Mr. Johnston

  • i wish i could come to you drum camp

  • Hey Mike, It's Mike! XD Sup!? What are the sizes of your toms? My dream kit is one high tom, one kick, a snare, and 2 floors. So please reply because the sizes of your toms are the sizes I want on my drums.

  • mike you are such a great teacher, i have had a lot of teachers including going to DrumTech in London and you still teach in a way that keeps its fun and enjoyable whilst teaching some awesome and creative things thanks mike, would be great to meet you one day

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  • I'd like to see you play some polyrhythms with 5 or 7. :)

  • every time i watch these videos. i have always learned something new. i love watching these fucking vidos!

  • Mike, Just where have you been.

    Fantastic I have found this resource finally.

    If i join your lessons, as im in New Zealand i was wondering do I have to get up at 2am to do these lessons live or will I get like a (video,mp3,pdf) package that i can use when im awake or at least not just getting home from a Gig, my wife would kill me...probably quite slowly to avoid suspician, shes very crafty.

    Love your stuff Mike...

  • He looks like a DJ when he's counting the different beats haha

  • Yep....I'm subscribing.

  • paradiddle paradiddle paradiddle... pardille pardille pardille...

  • ohooo thats god drum lesson and brain exersise thannx man

  • that must be so hard to talk whilst doing that :P

  • boom boo chick boom chick oom

  • Going from din ka din ka to dinka dinka is metric modulation.

  • MIke, I've had a couple "drumming periods" in my past. At 51, I've decided to buy drums again (the third time). They're so much fun.

    You have a real talent, but beyond that, you've put in the work to get to this level.

    Your ability to teach is also a talent and certainly a gift to me. (And you don't even know me!)

    I admire people who are blessed and willing to bless others.

    Thanks!

  • @1wayne12345: Wow, thank you so much for the kind words Wayme, I really appreciate it my friend.

    Thanks again,

    Mike Johnston

    MIKESLESSONS COM

  • thanks. watching this video made me realize i still have a ways to go. thanks for making me humble again :)

  • Great Demo!  The volume fading was vey effective to illastrate the point

  • Man you're a sicko! Lol!

  • haha man you are such a funny guy but also an incredible drummer! I wish I could have you as my teacher. not sure if you're still uploading videos or not but I hope you keep it up, it's quality stuff.

  • country paradiddle funniest thing ever! hahahahahahahahahahahah

    

  • Dean Cot Dean Cot Dean Cot! XD This was a great video! Can you still get those posters from music stores?

  • Im convinced im saving money for and intermediate lesson

    mike i will be seeing you asap

  • love how you fake that counting that is hard for you. mike you're the best teacher on the web!

  • Man I am learning to play drum and this makes me feel hopeless and depressed

  • @t4math we've all felt like that before man, its just practise :)

  • hey can u tell me what cymbals you're using in this video

  • Mike on your newer kit, what wood is it? i know its a DW but what wood?

  • this guy just gave me a boner. and more proof i need lessons.

  • Mike, -- I tried to send you an email on your site and I can't get past the reCaptcha... I don't think it is working -- no matter what it asks to type to prove a human... it errors. Please check this. I had a problem with order something and needed assistance.

  • @usetaknow: So sorry about that. Google changed a bunch of "captcha" stuff without telling any of their clients. Long story short, it's all fixed now so email away my friend :)

    Mike Johnston

    MIKESLESSONS COM

  • Oh this is what I've been doing! Wow I learned this without even knowing what it was. I thought I created it. :(

  • great lesson, and i'm not even a drummer!

  • 6:48

  • your dope at drumssss

  • Is the speedchart still available? Btw, awesome playing man, it helped a lot!

  • wow Mike, u're great! signing up asap :)

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  • I love this guy! He's funny, but still skilled. So unlike most drum lessons, this guy is entertaining aswell.

  • is it posible to get yor poster in iceland?

  • umpa umpeh umpa umpeh eHh...:P..u sound teeny weeny weird at 3:57..:P

  • Sweet!! i learned this rhythm but had absolutely no idea what to do with it or what made it special, cause i was only hearing that one pulse..thanks a lot for this, it really helped, Great vid!!

  • Im 14.. trying to learn polyrhythms LOL.. I CANT DO IT!! SO COMPLICATED

  • @xTurnipTimex Keep trying man, practice is all it takes :) I have faith in you lol. Good luck

  • You explain rhythmic modulation in this video rather than polyrhythms really.

  • @amjan: Sounds like we should talk on the phone. I would be more than happy to walk you through the differences between Polyrhythms, Beat Displacement, and Metric Modulation. This whole lesson deals with a 3 over 4 Polyrhythm.

    Send me your # "drumteacher76 at yahoo dot com" and I will give you a call later tonight my friend :)

    Mike Johnston

    MIKESLESSONS COM

  • @drumteacher76 mike im coming to the drum camp, and i'm telling ya, i'm never gonna get this!!!! i'm so frustrated!!

  • @drumteacher76 aww snap! naw, he did-nnn't.

  • @drumteacher76 Haha, I should come up with something so I get a call from you haha, that would be awesome. "Hey Jorge, who's that on the phone?" "Uhm just Mike Johnston dude"...Holy Molly :P Guru of drumming ;)

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  • pause at 6:28 lol

  • @jmw1993 cuz its funny

  • @tylerjschwartz1 i dont see anything funny though... ??

  • mike is meditating! LOLOL!

  • TEACHER.JOHNSTON..i am a student from hongkong..my name is Cedric..i think your lesson is so great and funny..i love it very much...

  • that snare sounds fantastic

  • Im in Americaland

  • Very well explained!!!! thanks alot! Guys like you make the drumming world a better place lol

  • haha that volume control exercise was badass

  • So, din-ka was ur friend or something?

  • I think one of my favorite parts of your lessons are your vocalizations of drum parts.

  • hey mike, i really enjoy your lessons and you explain things extremley well

    i have a question though would it be possible to send one of your posters out to australia?

    keep up the great work!

    cheers

    J.

  • Love your work Mike! You've created something special!

  • This is crazy, the thing u play at the end i think is an example of polyrhythm in icarus lives by periphery

  • Any normal drum lesson on YouTube is beat by this. Your facial expression and the noises make everyone crack up. AND, you talk to the camera like it's an actual person. Great job!

  • Dark vader? lol

  • "DEE KAH DEE KAH DEE KAH.....you dont know DEE Kah?" hahahahaha

  • 7:13 haha

  • 7:07 hahahha

  • What an awesome drummer you are mike. . . could you also post a video on a hi hat stomp technique you are using? For a beginner, I really find it hard to do. . . Thanks a lot mike and MORE DRUMMING PAWAHHHH!! peace! {^_^}

  • LOL one of the funniest videos iv seen him do. but still learned a TON from it.

  • I LOVE THIS GUY... :D

  • wait...im in germany... and it doesn't end in a land... let's call it germanyland so i can get myself one of those speedcharts

  • @c0d3x001 Deustchland...

  • @patman173 true...true but i don't think mike speaks german :D so he might not know... or maybe he does... who knows(other than him and his friends and relatives etc etc.) xD

  • @c0d3x001 but in German it's DeutschLAND ;)

  • @miroslavinthemorning I still have no clue why I didn't think of that :D

  • with Spanish subtitles please from peru

  • Dude, not only you are a sick drummer, you are fun too.

    Awesome teaching :)

  • i get it! i can't do it yet... but i get it. thanx mike  paz

  • will stoch plains fanwood music store in nj have it

  • 6:48 Corky? Sorry, just had too...

  • Dude! You are wild! I just came across your stuff and am instantly hooked. Thanks for sharing.

  • I love the country paradiddles...lol

  • Do you know where I can download the speed chart?

    I'm pessimist about music stores here, they don't even have Paiste alphas on display

  • In the Soundgarden song Head Down, during the bridge, is Matt playing a polyrythm? The ride is 4/4 but the toms and snare sound as if on a different time signature.

  • can I buy your books, etc In the U.K?

  • 3:58 lol

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  • you dont know dean ka? LOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best vid though. seriously very helpful. thanks mike

  • Dude your vids have made me look at drummin in a whole new light =D thanks for your commitment to teaching youve made me %1000 better

    thanks

  • I can do this easily by just listening. But when I actually had to think about it and count, I had a really hard time. I did notice one thing that helped me watching your left foot. You're not just lifting it 3 times, you're moving in time with the bass foot and only lifting the high hat 3 times.

  • its awesome how easily you can talk to us while playing 3/4 with one leg and 4/4 with other, looks really cool

  • pause at 6:49

  • You have some DJ genes in you mike haha

  • Sir Johnston of California (I think that's where you're from), what is your drum setup? I was trying to find it, but I couldn't.  I was trying to figure out what snare you had in particular. It sounds sickkkkkk, but that could be just because you're playing it, but either way I'd like to know.

  • @rcknrlltakeover

    im pretty sure its his signature snare.

  • @spankythedog56 Awesome, didn't know he had a signature snare until now. I just looked it up, so he's sponsored by DW and Shine (snare)?

  • Now I know DIngka! hahahahaha

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  • you're one of the coolest guy ever BRO:)

  • Is the begining of Lasso by Phoenix considered a polyrythm??

  • nah bro its totally cool i live in elk grove so i just went to guitar center and picked one up thanks for all your help man you are the greatest drum teacher ever lol. and my last comment was sposed to say i got pissed not u got pissed haha

    Dustin

  • i went to my music store and they said no we dont give out free stuff so u got pissed, damn skips

  • @DustinSchuh5: HUH? Skip's would gladly give you my poster. If they are rude to you then get their name and I will call them on your behalf tomorrow.

    Peace,

    Mike Johnston

    MIKESLESSONS COM

  • @drumteacher76 you are a gentleman for handling the lack of customer service in today's world... hoopaloop inventor

  • @drumteacher76 haha!!! mike that is so cool of you!!! haha

    i can picture it going something like this

    "Hello this is Skips music store how can i help you?"

    "Yeah this is Mike Johnston...yeah THE Mike Johnston. and i hear you gave my friend Dustin some trouble?"

    "Oh Mr Johnston!!! we Apologize SINCERELY!!! he may have his speed chart and whatever else you wanna give him FREE!"

    "Mike: THATS WHAT I THOUGHT!"

  • thanks Mike,

    glad to see a guy who can share so many cool things, and has a great time doing it!

  • ok.. i dig the pattern... the light is bright! peace.

  • ... We should play together so i can make you look like the messiah of drumming. I SUCK PLEASE GIVE ME TIPS ON MOVING AROUND THE DRUMS

  • i winder if he had to re-do this video

  • it seems if your BD pattern is different as you get louder. you drop the (and). as you emphasize the HH you bring the "and" back on the 3. that is sick. but there is a difference when you shift the "mixer". you are the man... just wondering if that is part of the drill. peace, naso thank you. i took 10 yrs off. and now i use your advice quite a bit and i love it

  • love the face XD

  • This was great man! Very helpful video, as a drummer its hard to find technical videos of how to do certain tricks but this one made sense!

  • I loved the lesson you did a while back on polyrhythms, love incorporating them into my tunes!

    oom pay oom pa oom pa oom pay euu!

  • As was touched upon in this video, it is surprising just how different one beat can feel depending on how you think or count. A bit off topic I know but I find this effect very noticable when playing a few bars of 3/4 - counting in "groups of 2" feels hugely different to counting in "groups of 3". Even though it's essentially the same beat, it can make the difference between a waltz and Van Halen. Sorry for rambling, I'm just a bit excited- just got behind my kit again after [over] 2 years!!!

  • LOL! you're the most refreshing teacher on youtube!! Great lesson, thanks.

  • I feel like to do some of this stuff, you need two brains! lol Maybe I'll get it someday

  • Dude I been a musician(guitarist) my whole life. Just started playin drums bout 4 months ago. I would like to think i picked it up quickly, but u are a freak man. lol I cant believe you can talk while doing those beats.

    U are def my favorite(only) teacher I have seen so far.

    Cheers!

  • excellent thanks again

  • Dude, are those speed charts free?

  • the inside of my brain is like this... rofl! good lesson! thanks mike!

  • There are two people out of their minds to not to like this ¬¬ Or maybe they hit the wrong button xD They better...

  • Haha, my left foot sucks, I should put a gun to its head and pull the trigger xD

  • what if the music store dosent sell vader products will they still send it

    

  • Thankyou so much for this mike, its the most comprehensive beginners guide to polyrhthms around. Keep them coming dude!

  • hey Mike, how are you feeling? Do you a cup of soup or something to drink to help you with your "sickness'? For some reason some of thee comments mention that you are sick. I think think you did a great job explaining polyrhythms and was quite entertaining. Thanks

  • Din KA! Din KA Dinka! LOL

  • Those paradiddles at the end = SWEET groove. I'm workin' on it.

  • I'm from Caracas, Venezuela... on all FOUR stores close to me doesn't sell Vater and... ALL THE DUDES are complete jerks and they tell me that they will not call to a brand that they doesn't sell just to ask for a "Free stupid poster" (That's how they called it... and that's because they are not musicians and can't understand it) so... can i call from home?? hahaha :(

  • Thank you so much, Mike. A problem that I was having was identifying the pulses that you were talking about. Hopefully, this will help me with that. Thanks again.

  • You are the best drummer

  • I was having TONS of trouble with 3 against four. Thanks for clearin' it up and giving us some sweet excersizes to practice it with. I'm deffinitely digging the single-single-triple-double-do­uble-single paradiddle thing. You should try combining your 1-1-3-2-2-1 paradiddle excersize and combine it with the accents on the hihat and then switch it to the accents on the bass while doing it. I'm sure you could.

  • My brain just ooosed onto my snare trying to play this

  • polyrythms r fantastic,n so r u mike.....awsm vid.!!!!

    cheers!!

  • After the fader has come to even, someone should put the drumsticks in your hands. lol

  • wow. that paradiddle groove is absolutely dynamite! if it wasnt 1am i would be playing that now. and yeh i thought of polyrhythms as u described it in the beginning not looking at both time signatures.

  • jeez dude you are so sick. i was wondering if you were christian because i saw some videos with some christian music. if so write me back

    dustin

  • LOL 6:46

  • captions ftw!

  • hey mike yu know this poly rhythm i did it my way by saying "cook the big fat chicken"

    ill send you a vid to show you what i mean ;D

    dont know if im right but the timing and everything are right

  • Guys you should sign up for his live lessons for sure...Just signed up a few days ago and it's more than worth it.

  • Yo mike your def in my top 5 drummers, but what cymbals do yo use in this video? Oh,and whats your bass drum size thanks, im going to try to get lessons soon, Thanks.

  • wat kind of high hats r u using?

  • Great lesson Mike!!

  • Im laughing,alot!

    Nice one KING!

  • Hey Mike, do you ever play fast bebop/swing stuff? You're so solid and your dynamics are so great I can't help but think you would tear up some bop. -Zach

  • we have the same name!!! i love u

  • @drumteacher76 I was just wondering about that first polyrhythm you demonstrated. Is it ok if i count the hihat beats as 4/4 and the bass as 3/4?