On the Beaten Path: Beginning Drumset Course, Level 1

This inspiring three-volume series teaches you to play the drums using carefully selected beats and fills from hit songs that shaped modern music. Level 1 teaches you to play with over two dozen authentic rock beats and fills by legendary drummers, including John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Tré Cool (Green Day), Dave Grohl (Nirvana), and many more. You’ll also learn the parts of a drumset, setup and tuning, drumstick and drumhead selection, how to hold the drumsticks, hand and foot technique, and how to read music. Plus, you’ll learn to play flams, drags, and one- and two-handed patterns for open and closed hi-hat. Tips, tools, and terms are used throughout the book to introduce key drumming concepts at just the right pace, and the included audio CD contains all the beats and fills presented in the book. “Lackowski aims to win young hands and hearts with the music that inspired him, compiling a mix of grooves played by the likes of John Bonham, Dave Grohl, and Tré Cool between 1968 and 2001. What better way to learn simple syncopations than playing a song like “Hard To Handle” or “Free Fallin'”? What better way to really grasp 8th and 16th notes than playing “Kashmir” and “Smoke on the Water”? – Modern Drummer magazine “By the time you complete the course, you’ll understand the essentials of being a good drummer and have a well-rounded vocabulary of more than 100 beats gleaned from experts like Art Blakey, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Ringo Starr, Steven Adler, Levon Helm, and Alex Van Halen.” – Making Music magazine