James Travers Demonstrates a Latin/Funk groove on Drum Set

[Manzo27]

Awesome groove.  Deff have to lock myself in the basement for this one.

[Mac1Jack]

Awesome, I met Piloto awesome guy!

[scooter146]

Very hip groove - thank you for sharing! I'm going to work on it...

[philipminnis]

cool groove, I'm going to start practicing it. But did anyone else notice that when he isolates the cowbell part it is not the same as how he plays it in the groove?

[rbjax2001]

Of the 100's of drum videos I've seen this is seriously one of the best grooves I've heard. I may have to lock myself somewhere for a month to learn it. Awesome.

[rhythmtraders]

@rbjax2001

Thanks for the kind words. I love this groove and use it a bunch. Once you get it down, you can start applying the LH hihat/snare with RH bell concept to other types of grooves. Another cool thing is if you are using timbales on the left side of your kit, you can switch the hihat/snare to the RH and play the embellishments with the LH on the timbales. To practice I do the hand patterns and on BD do the reading from "Modern Reading Text in 4/4" by Louis Bellson. Fun stuff!!! (James)

[joetruglio]

@rhythmtraders

Love this groove. Reading lines with the bass drum?!? = winning.

[Allouez]

Thank you for the feedback... This is really interesting. I'm just now getting into Latin-based playing, but have also found LH lead to be beneficial in certain situations, but not necessarily as a rule. I'm a right-handed person, but I've been pushing myself to lead more w/the left for all the benefits allows, like open access to the rest of the kit... Very cool. Thanks again!

[RCRhythm]

I think I've met Mr. Travers.

And Rhythm Traders is amazing.

Really nice playing here.

[rhythmtraders]

@CaterpillarOrgy

The Cowbell patter in the 2/3 "Contra Campana" or "Mambo" bell part. Any of those will work.

[Allouez]

Do you find that with Latin grooves it can be beneficial to "lead" with your left hand on hi-hat, ect? I've noticed that with timbale players for example, there doesn't seem to be a strong emphasis on one hand or the other.... Both are used somewhat interchangeably. Or have I misunderstood this?

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

[DJTrancenergy]

@Allouez Depends on how u play it, some players just lead with the right and leave the left hand free for improvising, others like to imitate the shaker sound on the hihat with the left hand, which in my opinion spices up a lot the groove.

[rhythmtraders]

@Allouez For me (James) it is situation specific. In a groove like this, I prefer LH on the snare/hi-hat. It allows me to embellish with the RH on the toms. If I were playing more of a Songo groove, I would probably go with RH lead. If I am playing the Timbales on the right side I, generally, go with LH lead also. Again, it allows me better access to the kit. In any case, It's fun to try both and see what your able to come up with.

[hassantafia]

Made it after some practice! Thanks for the inspiration! Both of the bell patterns are sounding great.

[rhythmtraders]

@hassantafia

Cool. Now that you have the groove down, see what yo can come up with and post it on Youtube. Maybe we can get a bunch of folks and their take on the groove. (james)

[mikeleza]

Nice one!

I am going to give this a try... Thanks for the tip....

Oh and I just wondered if you realised that you changed the bell pattern ever so slightly once you put all the parts together, you are missing the bell that goes together with the snare.

It might help to lock the groove together a bit more but it also sounds cool the way you did it.

Thanks again

[Danielcrspo]

This is such a sick groove, definitely learning this one.

[rhythmtraders]

Danielcrspo,

This is a great groove and it works very well in a bunch of different settings. Good luck with it. Feel free to contact me at the Rhythm Traders if you have any questions.

[Adelioni]

Yeah your right! Thanks. I play trombone as my main focus and on the side i play guitar, piano and soon ro start the drumset

[Adelioni]

I lov it, I'm gettn a drumsets soon and I'm tryn to learn as many beats as I can.

[deftdrummer]

the only beat you need is your own.

[hiphopsucks96]

@deftdrummer Well put, man!

[tzotzo]

great feel.

[rhythmtraders]

Thank you very much!

[SAHBfan]

Sounds great, but it's making my head sore trying to work it out!

I need to see it written down, I think...

[namniekib]

I like the two distinctly different sounds on the bongo bell.

[m1bug]

sincerely ive seen thousand of drum vids, its the first time i hear and see this beat. good job in there Sir.

[rhythmtraders]

Thanks. It's a great groove. Wish I could take credit for it but that's all Piloto! (james)

[drumatomic]

this is pretty good man....i like the set...arent they dws??

[rhythmtraders]

Hey, Thanks for the kind words. The kit is, actually, our Rhythm Traders maple kit. You can check it out on our website on our "Drumsets" page.

jt

[idrumkingdom223]

you have by far the most hilarious and awesome name on youtube

[drumtitan93]

ty so much, this is gonna help me alot in Jazz Band, my dad plays latin percussion for a living, but he cant teach worth crap, haha. thx again

[rhythmtraders]

This is a really fun and useful groove. I thank Piloto for showing it. Try it out in different situations. Latin, Rock, Funk, Jazz. See what you come up with.

[TommyGadd]

Is notation available?

[italiarovinata]

Did you receive the notation from Maestro Treves? I'm interested too.

It seems to be basically a Mambo-Jazz, with kick-drum sincopes, hi-hat with left hand in 8 (sounds on 4) and no toms.

So I wrote it on the sheet, it sounds good and seems to be perfect, but I would like to be sure.

If you want I can send you my notation.

[TommyGadd]

is notation for his beat available? i'm a teacher and would like to use this for my students

Thanks

[rodoconga]

Thanks a lot. i think is very important people like you that helps other musicians with no other interest that let every one learn a little more. Im not very clear about if should use my left hand for bongo bell like RIVERON or with the right hand like FORMELL. I think that, like Riveron, you let the right hand free for any groove without stoping the bongo bell who leads the tempo most properly. What do you think about that?

[rhythmtraders]

Sorry for the delay in response. In my opinion, it is important to learn the bongo bell and the contra-campana from both the left and right sides so as not to limit your ideas. Personally, I use the right hand (on the bongo bell pattern) about 70% of the time either on the Timbales, mounted on the Kick drum or mounted on the rim of the floor tom with an LP claw but I do sometimes play it with the left. It is definitely situation specific but I practice both. Hope that helps!

[rodoconga]

thanks that helps a lot... i wanna ask if you have any important advice for playing timba? im having also little problems with my weak hand when i play both bells, do you have some exercise to increase resistance and speed? thanks a lot nice job, cogratulations from venezuela

[rhythmtraders]

Again, thanks for the kind words. My first suggestion is GO TO CUBA!!!! Study with the cats> There is no better way to learn than to sutdy with the guys that make the music. 2nd suggestion is to listen to as much of the music as you can. I started with NG la Banda "En la Calle". Piloto is one of the masters of this style. I learned every groove on that Cd. Learn the first 4 Bamboleo Cd's. Manolito y su Trabuco's "Directo al Corazon". Anything by Manolin "el medico de salsa".

[rhythmtraders]

Anything with Samuel Formell. Also, Chispa y los Complices "New Pa' Que Vea" and "Que Pasa Mi Negra". All Charanga Habanera and Klimax. of course, there are many more but these were where I started. Also, any NG la Banda with either Jimmy Branly or Calixto Oviedo in particular "Echale Limon" Calixto's playing on this really swings. For Excercises Changuito's "Masters Approach to the Timbales" has some great independence excersise. Also, I use Ted Reeds "Syncopation for the Modern Drummer"

[rhythmtraders]

and the Louis Bellson/Gil Breines book "Modern Reading Text in 4/4" You can play clave (with the hand or foot) an do the reading from the books. Or you can play the bongo bell pattern in one hand, contra-campana in the other, clave in the foot and do the reading in bass drum. There are tons of ways to use those books. But listening to the guys who are making the music, learn how what they play fits with clave, what to play in the different section and then putting your own spin on it!

[rodoconga]

I like it a lot... could you tell me, what kind ok sticks are you using, and if you use an other tipe when you play with the tiimbal and drums for timba

[rhythmtraders]

Thanks for checking out the clip! I think in this video, I am using the Vic Firth SD4 which is what I use for most drumset only applications. When I am playing Timbales and drumset together, I use either the Zildjan "El Negro" signature sticks or the Karl Perazzo "Drumbale"

sticks depending on how much ride cymbal I will be using for the song. When I play Timbales only, I use either the "El Negro" sticks or Vater 1/2" hickory timbale sticks.

[DrummerGrrrl]

Damn, that is reallllllly funky! I think I could figure it out... in about ten years! LOL. I'm kind slow sometimes...

[rhythmtraders]

DrummerGrrrl, This is a very fun groove. I am sure if you take it slow and break it down you'll get it. Good Luck!!!

[rhythmtraders]

7drj, Unfortunately, I do not have it notated and I am not high tech enough yet to scan it. If you are local (Portland), feel free to stop by Rhythm Traders on a Sunday and I can show it to you. Otherwise, send us a personal email to the Rhythm Traders with your address and I can snail mail it to you.

[thislisa]

You will snail mail the notation!!!!! I want in on that. I can paypal you a few bucks for your time and postage. You are the best!!!!!!!!

[thislisa]

Does anyone know how you would count that bass drum part? Thanks in advance.

[rhythmtraders]

thislisa, the kick drum part is a little tricky but to break it down, it is, actually, a 2 bar pattern repeated twice.

[rhythmtraders]

It is in 2/3 clave (Rumba or Son works). So I will spell it out in cut time With the beats that you play on in CAPITAL letters

[rhythmtraders]

Here it is:

(bar one)

ONE and two AND three and FOUR and (two side)

(bar two)

one TWO and three AND four and (three side)

then repeat.

I think of the complete pattern as twice through the contra campana part (the bell part)or 4 bars of cut time.

It is sort of a weird part because even though it is in 2/3, the kick part is, basically, 3/2 son clave with the last note shifted to the right by one 8th note.

Does any of that make sense?

Hope it helps and good luck!!!

[thislisa]

Got it! Thanks so much for your time. You are an amazing musician.

[rhythmtraders]

Thanks for the very kind words. I really appreciate it but I always have to give props to Piloto for taking his time to show me this groove!!!

[thislisa]

That is phenomenal!

[ahbalone]

Shhweet!

Thanks Mon!

[conga71]

That's funky James thanks for posting keep em coming.

[rhythmtraders]

Thanks for the kind words. That's straight up Piloto!!!

[delacerdaa]

NICE!!