Being able to hit the snare and the bass separately is a huge accomplishment for a new drummer. It’s really exciting because this ability opens up unlimited beats and grooves for him or her to play. The thing about this is, though, that we sometimes forget where we started. Above is an exercise made for re-learning how to play the bass and snare at the same time.
There are four pairs of beat here. The first measure in each pair is an example of a typical beat, and the second measure puts the bass and snare together in one way or another. The most important part in this exercise is to avoid flamming the bass and snare. Make sure they’re played at the exact same time, not one quickly after the other. Trust me, it sounds really ugly when this happens…personal experience.
~Bianca