Senri Kawaguchi is not only one of Japan’s premier drummers, but she’s received global acclaim for her technique and prowess starting from a very young age. In this clip taken from Senri’s Drumeo course, she breaks down four of her favorite licks. One cool thing to note is how she tends to give each pattern a name based on how it sounds or feels – a great trick for memorizing and writing drum parts in general.

Give them a try!

1. Shikashi-Nagara

To make 16th note triplets easier to remember, use a word or phrase with six syllables (Senri uses shikashi-nagara). This pattern is six on the snare, two on the kick, two on the toms, and two on the kick for a total of 12 notes in the phrase.

2. Accented Sextuplets

A 9-note pattern that consists of single and double strokes, accent every single stroke. You can make it sound bigger and more impressive just by changing where you place that accented note, whether it’s on a cymbal or a tom.

3. Bah-Keh-Ratta

Senri compares this lick to the sound of a horse running, which the pattern on the double kicks emulate. It sounds more complex than it is. This is a simple alternating right-left four-note phrase on the feet under a simple two and four with the hands.

4. Bira-Atsume

If you’re familiar with Senri’s drum solos, you might recognize it. Her name for this lick was inspired by people collecting flyers (imagine pulling them toward you from multiple directions – it’s a hand motion that looks almost like you’re swimming). Think symmetrical: set up a symmetrical kit and have your right hand and right foot mirror what your left hand and left foot are doing. Like most of the other licks, it sounds more complex than it is. You can also ‘collect flyers’ from the right or left side instead of from the middle – it looks awesome!

Senri Kawaguchi is otherworldly – and if you haven’t yet been abducted by her talents, this video will transport you to another planet. One where jazz fusion reigns.

“Wupatki” by Senri Kawaguchi’s trio, Triangle (also featuring Philippe Saisse on keyboard and Armand Sabal-Lecco on bass) is full of funky touches, hi-hat barks and heavy tom breaks that will whisk you into space for four epic minutes.

Too short for you? Watch another interstellar performance from Senri here.

About Senri:
With over 40 million views on YouTube, Senri has swept the world with her amazing musicianship and mastery of the drum set. She’s been selected as one of the top 500 drummers in the world by Drummerworld and was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine.

Senri has also released multiple albums as a solo artist and as part of KIYO*SEN, and has worked with a selection of world class musicians such as David Sanborn, Bootsy Collins, Lee Ritenour, E-girls, Philip Seth and Guthrie Govan.

Senri plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Zildjian Drumsticks.

In this video, Senri Kawaguchi performs “Flux Capacitor”, an original composition by her project, Triangle (with Philippe Saisse on keyboard and Armand Sabal-Lecco on bass). The track gets a funky, smooth and cool fusion treatment in typical effortless Senri style.

About Senri:
With over 40 million views on YouTube, Senri has swept the world with her amazing musicianship and mastery of the drum set. She’s been selected as one of the top 500 drummers in the world by Drummerworld and was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine.

Senri has also released three albums as a solo artist and as part of KIYO*SEN, and has worked with a selection of world class musicians such as David Sanborn, Bootsy Collins, Lee Ritenour, E-girls, Philip Seth and Guthrie Govan.

Senri plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Zildjian Drumsticks.

What’s better than one awesome drummer? Two awesome drummers! Check out this drum duet featuring Senri Kawaguchi and Sarah Thawer playing the funky track “Real Life” (by Senri Kawaguchi). They trade solos mid-video before transitioning into a heavier version of the song. Can this get any more epic?

About Senri:
With over 40 million views on YouTube, Senri has swept the world with her amazing musicianship and mastery of the drum set. She’s been selected as one of the top 500 drummers in the world by Drummerworld and was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine. Senri has also released three albums as a solo artist and as part of KIYO*SEN, and has worked with a selection of world class musicians such as David Sanborn, Bootsy Collins, Lee Ritenour, E-girls, Philip Seth and Guthrie Govan.

Senri plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Zildjian Drumsticks.

About Sarah:
Sarah Thawer has been making a name for herself since setting foot on stage to perform for the very first time, when she was only 6 years old. A self-taught drummer at heart, Sarah has found great success by embracing the world of formal education by studying jazz and world music at York University where she was the recipient of the Oscar Peterson Scholarship, the highest award given by the institution, in addition to graduating with the Summa Cum Laude distinction. All her accolades and work ethic have taken her to share a stage with world-class artists including AR Rahman, Ruth B, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Del Hartley, and D’bi and the 333, just to name a few.

Sarah plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Evans Drumheads.

Watch Senri Kawaguchi rip through “Adventure” by KIYO*SEN without breaking a sweat! This high tempo song from the 2016 album Trick or Treat is bursting with energy – and if it doesn’t get you moving, we don’t know what will.

About Senri:
With over 40 million views on YouTube, Senri has swept the world with her amazing musicianship and mastery of the drum set. She’s been selected as one of the top 500 drummers in the world by Drummerworld and was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine.

Senri has also released three albums as a solo artist and as part of KIYO*SEN, and has worked with a selection of world class musicians such as David Sanborn, Bootsy Collins, Lee Ritenour, E-girls, Philip Seth and Guthrie Govan.

Senri plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Zildjian Drumsticks.

You’re in for a treat! Today, Senri Kawaguchi performs “Ladies Talk” from her fusion jazz duo KIYO*SEN, which also features keyboardist Kiyomi Otaka. Senri’s creativity and cool licks make this song exciting from start to finish. Enjoy!

About Senri:
With over 40 million views on YouTube, Senri has swept the world with her amazing musicianship and mastery of the drum set. She’s been selected as one of the top 500 drummers in the world by Drummerworld and was featured on the cover of Drumhead Magazine.

Senri has also released three albums as a solo artist and as part of KIYO*SEN, and has worked with a selection of world class musicians such as David Sanborn, Bootsy Collins, Lee Ritenour, E-girls, Philip Seth and Guthrie Govan.

Senri plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Zildjian Drumsticks.