Re-arranging Longer Phrases
by Gary Chaffee
Previously, when we were working with the short phrases, I demonstrated a few examples of re-arranging the figures. Well, you
can do the same thing with these longer phrases. In the last article, we worked on a phrase made up of four 5-note groups and
two 4- note groups. What I’m going to do this time, is re-arrange the phrase by playing two 5’s in the front, two 4’s in the middle,
and two 5’s at the end. First, I’ll play it on the snare drum, and then apply it to the drum set.

Drum Key

Linear Examples

34

5

6

7

8

In this first example, I’ll play the phrase 5/5/4/4/5/5 on the snare. Both measures below are exactly the same, the notes are just grouped differently.

Chaffee Ex. 1 - CD Track 03

Here’s the same phrase, now applied the drum set using the kick, snare and hi-hat.
This example uses the phrase above, now with an accent line to help shape the groove.

Chaffee Ex. 2 - CD Track 04

Here’s the same phrase, only now with an alternate accent line, made by crossing over to the snare.

Chaffee Ex. 3 - CD Track 05

This last example demonstrates another groove, very different sounding, yet using the exact same phrase of 5/5/4/4/5/5. Notice
the use of the floor tom and the step hi-hat.

Chaffee Ex. 4 - CD Track 06