Linear Drumming Basics: 3 Linear Drum Patterns

Linear drumming is a drum technique wherein a player only strikes one instrument on a given beat. For instance, if the drummer hits the bass drum with a kick drum pedal, they cannot simultaneously strike a snare drum with a drumstick. Or, if they sound their ride cymbal, they cannot simultaneously play a click on the snare drum's rim.

Linear playing is unusual in most styles of music. For instance, a standard rock ‘n’ roll backbeat might feature a constant eighth-note pulse on the hi-hat, joined by either the bass drum or snare drum on specific quarter note beats. Yet in a linear drum beat, the drummer would not play a hi-hat and a snare at the same time. The drummer would instead play a linear pattern that selects one drum or cymbal per beat.

You can find linear grooves in all styles of music with all types of drum feels, including standard 4/4 grooves or rock beats, backbeats, shuffles, swing, double-time, half-time, odd meter, and mixed meter. Linear drums usually sound best on songs where space and silence have value. As such, you're more likely to hear linear beats on rock, pop, R&B, hip hop, and cool jazz tunes as opposed to rhythmically intense genres like funk, fusion, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban music.

Many of the best examples of linear drumming can be found in the minimalist hip hop and R&B genres. Drummers like Tony Royster Jr., Chris Coleman, and Aaron Spears incorporate linear ideas into their playing as they back artists like Jay-Z, Usher, Big Shawn, Chamillionaire, Lil’ Wayne, and Rachelle Ferrell.

Even drummers known for their agility and use of syncopation have embraced linear drumming at points in their careers. Steve Gadd's famous drum beat for Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is a linear groove. Tower of Power drummer David Garibaldi uses linear beats on tunes like "Oakland Stroke" and "Soul Vaccination." Even progressive metal drummer Matt Garstka expresses linear drumming concepts in his band Animals as Leaders.

Linear drum patterns cover the same beats as standard drum grooves. Linear drummers still set a groove based on quarter notes, eighth notes, or sixteenth notes. Principles from standard drumming—like using a bass drum note to establish the downbeat of a measure—still apply. And, perhaps more than in any other case, players must master drum rudiments like single stroke rolls, double stroke rolls, sticking patterns, bass drum patterns, and paradiddles for both right hand and left hand. These are the basis of linear drum fills and grooves.

Use the linear drum patterns below for your next drum lesson.

1. Quarter Note Linear Drum Pattern

2. Eighth Note Linear Drum Pattern

3. Funky Sixteenth Note Linear Drum Pattern

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