Accents Using Stick Control

Converting Rights into Accented Notes

Lesson Introduction

Accents add a great deal of character and dynamics to your playing, in this lesson we work through Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone. Converting ‘Rights’ into Accents while lefts are played softly. Video lessons are broken into 4 lines as per the book.

It’s expected you’ll have a working knowledge of accents by completing our Introduction to Accents Lesson prior to trying this lesson.

Level: Intermediate

 

Instructions

All exercises to be played using a single stroke roll R L R L etc..

The patterns below are to be converted from their respective patterns into accented patterns.

R = Right

L = Left

A = Accent

S = Soft

Eg: R L R L becomes A S A S

 

LESSON 1

Play patterns 1 – 4 as per stick control right becomes accented left is played soft. Play a single stroke roll for all exercises by converting the exercises below.

  1. R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L
  2. L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R
  3. R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L
  4. L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R R

TIP: Hands play Single Stroke Roll for all exercises.

Video

Patterns 1 – 4 (PG 5)

LESSON 2

Play patterns 5 – 8 as per stick control right becomes accented left is played soft.

5. R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
6. L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R
7. R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L
8. R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R

TIP: ‘R’ is played Loud, ‘L’ is played soft.

Video

Patterns 5 – 8 (PG 5)

LESSON 3

Play patterns 9 – 12 as per stick control right becomes accented left is played soft.

9. R R R L R R R L R R R L R R R L
10. L L L R L L L R L L L R L L L R
11. R L L L R L L L R L L L R L L L
12. L R R R L R R R L R R R L R R R

TIP: Left foot plays Hi Hat on 1 & 3.

Video

Patterns 9 – 12 (PG 5)

Playing Tips

  1. Purchase a copy of stick control to make the most out of this lesson
  2. Play each line individually 20 times over before moving onto the next pattern
  3. Incorporate your left foot playing the Hats on 1 & 3
  4. Try playing soft notes on the Toms

Conclusion

How did you go? These lessons should be used regularly to build your ability to play accents. Although not all patterns are particularly pleasing to hear. Over time you’ll develop the ability to play more complex rhythms using techniques learn’t here. 

Next Steps

These lessons are based on this book Stick Control. Once you adapt my way of learning, you’ll find this book a valuable resource for many years to come. These lessons are based on page 5 Single Beat Combinations.

Purchase this book from Amazon using the link below.

Get it on Apple Books

Music Using Accents

Who Are You.. – Blake Shelton

She’s Gotta Be (Intro) – Keith Urban

The Hard Way – Keith Urban

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