Two Hand 16th Note Funk Grooves

Part 1 - "Introduction"
(SVDL28)
John Xepoleas

Welcome to lesson #1 in my four-part “Two Hand 16th Note Funk Groove” series. In this series, I’ll
teach you how to play a variety of great sounding grooves using alternate 16th notes on a closed hi-hat.
Funk, rock and pop drummers have been playing alternate 16th notes on the hi-hat to create driving
funky grooves since the late 60’s.

First, we’ll get a good feel for the alternate 16th note hi-hat part. Start slowly playing the hi-hat with
the shoulder of the stick about an inch or so from the tip on the edge of the hi-hat.

q = 100 R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
1.

" !

Now we’ll add the snare part. Be sure to play the snare with a solid stroke in the center of the drum.

R
%
R L L
R L R
R L R L
%
R LLR L

# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
2.

"

Next, we’ll add the bass drum to counts one and three. Notice that it lands with the right hand on the
hi-hat part.

R
%R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
3.

" $ $
Here are a few simple 8th note bass drum patterns. Be sure that the bass drum locks in with your right
hand on the hi-hat.

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
4.

" $ $ $

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
5.

" $ $ $ $
 Two Hand 16th Notes Part 1 - page 2

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
6.

" $ $ $

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
7.

" $ $ $ $

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
8

" $ $ $ $ $

The next two examples have syncopated bass drum parts. These patterns are commonly used in funk
and R&B drumming.

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
9.

" $ $ $ $
% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
10.

" $ $ $ $
For the last two 8th note examples the bass drum is playing a very sparse rhythm. Relax as you play the
hi-hat pattern and wait to play the bass drum notes with out rushing them.

% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
11.

" $ $
% %
# # # # $ # # # # # # # $ # # #
12.

" $ $
Copyright (C) 2014 by John Xepoleas. All rights reserved.
 Two Hand 16th Note Funk Grooves
Part 2 - "16th Note Bass Drum Rhythms"
(SVDL29)
John Xepoleas

Welcome to lesson #2 in my four-part “Two Hand 16th Note Funk Groove” series. In this part, you’ll
learn how to play a variety of commonly used 16th note bass drum rhythms with a "Two Hand 16th
note hi-hat" pattern.

The first bass drum pattern plays on the 1st and last 16th notes of beats 1 & 3. Be sure to to lock in
your right hand on the first bass drum note and the left hand on the second bass drum note.

Pattern #1

q = 100 R
%R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

! $ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
1.

" !# # # #

Practice these grooves using pattern #1

% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
2.

" # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
3.

" # # # # #
Our next pattern places the bass drum on the last 16th note of beats 2 and 4. This is a very common
R&B bass drum pattern. It can be challenging to play at first, because the two bass drum notes are
played so close together. So start slow, and make sure that the hi-hat and bass drum are locked in.

Pattern #2

R
%R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
4.

" # # # #

Practice these grooves using pattern #2

% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
5.

" # # #
 2 Hand 16th Notes Part 2 - page 2

% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
6.

" # # # # #
Now we'll play the bass drum on the 2nd 16th note of beats 2 and 4. Notice that the bass drum lands
with a left hand hi-hat note.

Pattern #3
R
%R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
7.

" # # # #
Practice these grooves using pattern #3
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
8.

" # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
9.

" # # # # #

For pattern #4 we'll play a "1 & uh" bass drum rhythm on beats 1 and 3.

Pattern #4

R
%R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
10.

" # # # # # #
Practice these grooves using pattern #4

% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
11.

" # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
12.

" # # # # #
 2 Hand 16th Notes Part 2 - page 3

Here are some additional one-bar grooves that combine all of the previous bass drum patterns.

% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
13.

" # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
14.

" # # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
15.

" # # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
16.

" # # # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
17.

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% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
18.

" # # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
19.

" # # # # #
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
20.

" # # #

Copyright (C) 2014 by John Xepoleas. All rights reserved.

 Two Hand 16th Note Funk Grooves
Part 3 - "Snare Drum Variations"
(SVDL30) John Xepoleas
Welcome to lesson #3 in my four-part “Two Hand 16th Note Funk Groove” series. In this part, you’ll
learn how to add some great sounding snare drum variations to your Two Handed 16th note hi-hat
rhythm.

For the first drum snare drum pattern play the last 16th note of beat one using your left hand and the
first 16th note of beat 4 using your right hand. Play both snare notes with a solid stroke in the center
of the drum.

Snare Drum Pattern #1

q = 100 R
%L R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R

! $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
1.

" !#
Practice these grooves using snare drum pattern #1

R
%L R L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R

$ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
2.

" # # #
% %
$ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
3.

" # # # # #
This next pattern places the snare drum on the 1st & last 16th notes of beat 2, plus the first 16th note of
beat 4. Start slow and be sure to play all of the snare notes with a solid stroke in the center of the drum.

Snare Drum Pattern #2

R
%R L R %L R L R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
4.

" #

%
Practice these grooves using snare drum pattern #2
% %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
5.

" # #
% % %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
6.

" # # #
 2 Hand 16th Notes Part 3 - page 2

Here we'll play the snare drum on beat 2, the 2nd 16th note of beat 3 and beat 4.

Snare Drum Pattern #3

R
%R L R L R %L R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $
7.

" #
Practice these grooves using snare drum pattern #3

% % %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $
8.

" # # #
% % %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ # $ $ # $ $ $
9.

" # # # #

This next snare pattern plays on the two, the and of three and the four, all with your right hand.

Snare Drum Pattern #4

R
%R L R L R L %R L %R L R L
L R L

$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ # $ # $ $ $
10.

" #

Practice these grooves using snare drum pattern #4

% % %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ # $ # $ $ $
11.

" # # #

% % %
$ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ # $ # $ $ $
12.

" # # #
 2 Hand 16th Notes Part 3 - page 3

For this example the snare drum plays on the 2nd 16th note of beat 2 and the 1st 16th note of beat 4.

Snare Drum Pattern #5

R
%L R L R L R L %R L R L
L R L R

$ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
13.

" # #

Practice these grooves using snare drum pattern #5

% %
$ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
14.

" # # # #

% %
$ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $ $ $ $ # $ $ $
15.

" # # # # #

Copyright (C) 2014 by John Xepoleas. All rights reserved.

 Two Hand 16th Note Funk Grooves
Part 4 - "Two Bar Grooves"
(SVDL31)
q = 100 John Xepoleas

Welcome to lesson #4 in my four-part “Two Hand 16th Note Funk Groove” series. In this lesson you’ll
learn some great sounding 2 bar grooves by combining the concepts you learned in the previous three
lessons. Practice these. Then, if you haven’t already done so, develop some of your own.

This first groove combines Ex. 4 with a variation of Ex. 9 from lesson #1

$ $ $ $
## # # "# # # ## ## "# # # ## ## "# # # # # ## "# # #
1.

! " " " " " "

This one combines Ex. 12 from lesson #1 with Ex. 19 from lesson #2

$ $ $ $
## # # "# # # # # ## "# # # ## # # "# # ## # ## "# ##
2.

! " " " " " "

Now we'll combine Ex. 5 and Ex. 15, then Ex. 5 and Ex. 18 from lesson #2

$ $ $ $
## # # "# # # ## # # "# # # ## # # "# # # ## ## " ## #
3.

! " "" " "" " "

$ $ $ $
## # # "# # # ## # # "# # # ## # # "# # ## # ## "# ##
4.

! " "" " " "" "

The next two grooves incorporate snare drum variations from lesson #3. The first one combines
Ex's 2 & 3 and the next one combines Ex's 5 & 6

$ $ $ $
## # "# # ## ## # # "# # # ## # "# # ## ## # #"# ##
5.

! " " " " " " " "

$ $ $ $ $ $
## # # "# # "# # ## "# # # ## # # "# # "# # ## " ## #
6.

! " " " " "

 2 Hand 16th Notes Part 4 - page 2

This groove combines Ex. 18 from lesson #2 with Ex. 7 from lesson #3.

$ $ $ $ $
## # # "# # ## # ## "# ## ## # # "# # # # "# # "# # #
7.

! " " "" " "

Simplified Vesrion

$ $ $ $ $
## # # "# # ## # ## "# ## ## # # "# # # # "# # "# # #
7b.

! " " " " "

Here, we’ll combine a variation of Ex. 14 from lesson #2 with Ex. 11 from lesson #3.

$ $ $ $ $
## # #"# # # # # # #"# # # ## # #"# # # # # "# " ## #
8.

! " " "" " " "

The first bar of this groove is a variation of Ex. 13 from lesson #3. The second bar is Ex. 6 from
lesson #3. I've also added four 32nd notes at the end of bar one to give the groove a little lift.

$ $ RRLL $ $ $
## # ## "# # ## # # "# #### ## # # "# # "# # ## " ## #
9.

! " " "" " " "

Here's a classic New Orleans style groove that's inspired by the exampless in this series

$ $
## # ## # ## # # ## "# # # ## # ## # ## # # ## "# ##
10.

! " " " " " " " " "

Copyright (C) 2014 by John Xepoleas. All rights reserved.