My latest hobby is playing the hi-hat with my foot on the offbeats, i.e., the & in 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. Due to limited independence of my limbs, I had to restrict myself to the following version*The ride cymbal can also be replaced by one or more toms.:
Count | 1 e & a | 2 e & a | 3 e & a | 4 e & a |
Ride | x - x - | x - x - | x - x - | x - x - |
Snare | - - - - | o - - - | - - - - | o - - - |
Bass Drum | o - - - | - - - - | o - - - | - - - - |
Hi-Hat Pedal | - - x - | - - x - | - - x - | - - x - |
I especially wanted to be able to play the bass drum in different positions. For example, I really like the following bass drum pattern.
Count | 1 e & a | 2 e & a | 3 e & a | 4 e & a |
Bass Drum | o - - - | - - o o | - - o - | - - - - |
And the following bass drum pattern is my ultimate challenge. Even without using the hi-hat pedal.
Count | 1 e & a | 2 e & a | 3 e & a | 4 e & a |
Bass Drum | o - - - | - - - o | o - o - | - - - - |
It appears, for example, in Creep by Radiohead. That was one of the first songs we played together as a band. Oddly enough, the only bass drum patterns or variations thereof that I’ve encountered in my beginner practice books are the following:
Count | 1 e & a | 2 e & a | 3 e & a | 4 e & a |
| o - - o | - - - - | o - - o | - - - - |
| o o - - | - - - - | o o - - | - - - - |
| o o - o | - - - - | o o - o | - - - - |
| o o o - | - - - - | o o o - | - - - - |
| o - o o | - - - - | o - o o | - - - - |
| o - - o | - - - o | o - - o | - - - o |
But the authors avoided the Creep-pattern like the plague. No idea why.
To focus on learning all the bass drum patterns, including the hi-hat pedal, specifically on the offbeats, I came up with a few grooves.
Although the motivation stemmed more from my inability to move my right foot off the beat while my left foot was playing on the offbeat, the sheet music also includes variations in snare position and volume.
Of course, I overshot the mark with the last few grooves as in Triplets in Drum Grooves.