Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced · 4 units · 55 etudes

Hi-hat patterns and ghost placement

The course opens with fifteen right-hand patterns: 8ths, 16ths, quarters, upbeats, open-closed and accented. Think of them as outfits any groove can wear. Then a single ghost is added to each groove — the two most natural spots are the 'e' right after a kick and the 'a' just before a backbeat.

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Next come three building blocks — ghost-ghost, ghost-ghost-kick and kick-ghost-ghost-kick — that you slide between beats 2 and 3 to build new grooves. In the last unit the snare plays every three sixteenths, creating a cycle that drifts across the bar of four.

What you'll learn

Who it's for

Drummers who keep playing the same few grooves and want fresh ideas.

Practice screen: drum notation with notes coloured green, orange and red by timing

Units

Beginner
01Hi-hat outfits15 etudes

Fifteen right-hand patterns: 8ths, 16ths, quarters, upbeats, open-closed and accented. Think of them as outfits any groove can wear. Play each alone for two minutes, then dress a groove you know in it.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
Open in the app →
02One ghost in the right place12 etudes

Each groove first plain, then with a ghost. The two most natural spots: the 'e' right after a kick and the 'a' just before a backbeat. A ghost is a whisper — heard, but never loud.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
Open in the app →
Intermediate
03Double-ghost building blocks13 etudes

Three building blocks: ghost-ghost, ghost-ghost-kick, kick-ghost-ghost-kick. Slide them around between beats 2 and 3 to build new grooves. Small blocks, endless options.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
Open in the app →
Advanced
04A cycle of three in a bar of four15 etudes

The snare plays every three 16ths, creating a cycle that drifts across the bar of four; ghosts and full strokes alternate. Keep the hi-hat straight: order on top, a drifting cycle underneath.

  1. Etude 1
  2. Etude 2
  3. Etude 3
  4. Etude 4
  5. Etude 5
  6. Etude 6
  7. Etude 7
  8. Etude 8
  9. Etude 9
  10. Etude 10
  11. Etude 11
  12. Etude 12
  13. Etude 13
  14. Etude 14
  15. Etude 15
Open in the app →

How you practise

Every etude is real notation, like in a book. You play with a metronome, spoken counting and a tempo ladder; your e-kit or microphone listens to every stroke and colours the notes green, orange or red. In a tricky bar, wait mode pauses until you hit the right drum.

Other courses

15 minutes today. A little better tomorrow.

Try it free for 14 days — no card needed.

Try it free for 14 days