Once you know about his extensive drumline background and rudimental foundation, it makes complete sense why Keith Carlock’s double strokes are so good. “We used to practice just singles and doubles all day to get them clean and strong…it taught us to lock in and listen to other people.”

Now he applies these skills to the drum set. Here are two exercises Keith has used to strengthen his doubles. You want to get that snap so both the first and second stroke are at the same volume.

In this exercise, you’re doing a shuffle-type pattern with only your right hand, then only your left. The pattern changes in the second half:

In this doubles exercise, you’ll put an accent on the second stroke each time. Even if you never find a use for this in a song or solo, it’ll help your body remember to keep that second note strong:

Whether he’s in a hotel room or getting ready for a show, Keith is always practicing on a pad to stay in shape and keep his doubles strong. Now it’s your turn. Feel yourself working your muscles as you go through these exercises, and keep it up!

We’ve put together a playlist with drumless tracks at different tempos so you can practice over real music:

In this quick tip, Keith Carlock breaks down his favorite lick – one he says he adapted from Elvin Jones, and has become something of a signature.

It’s a simple paradiddle-based pattern: two notes on the bass drum, right hand left hand, and a roll to finish it: KKRLRRLL

The key to getting the dynamic hill-and-valley sound is to put the emphasis on the first four notes (KKRL) and keep the following roll quiet. Keith refers to that first kick-kick-right-left section as the ‘accent’.

From there, you can start mixing it up around the kit to make it more interesting. You can also make the roll longer. Try doubling it up: KKRLRRLLRRLL

You might change out the paradiddle-diddle for other rudiments if you want to make it your own.

Use this lick in fills, in solos, as a transition, or maybe at the end of a song where you want to play a powerful flurry of notes. There are so many ways to adapt it, and even Keith is still finding new ways to play it. Now it’s your turn. Take it away!

Keith Carlock is the master of building incredible and dynamic drum solos that keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Watch this 10-minute performance and see if you can catch exactly where the modulation happens during the solo. By implying changes in tempo, Keith is able to use this technique to bring more feeling and surprise into his playing, which leaves the listener shifting how they groove along to the music.

This awesome solo comes from Keith’s free full lesson, which you can check out by clicking here.

Keith Carlock, best known for his work with Steely Dan, Toto, and other legendary acts, came out to Drumeo to wow everyone with a full lesson on how to make your solos more interesting.

Keith’s biggest way to bring unpredictability and creativity to his solos is to play around with modulation, moving from a 12/8 feel to a 6/8 or 3/4 feel, and weaving in and out of all three. “It allows for interesting things to happen and shifts the way the time feels to keep things interesting for the player and the listener.”

Lesson takeaways:

• Practice to a metronome
• Sing ‘melodies’ between the kick and snare that you might play in that timefeel
• Work with existing muscle memory and bring in grooves you’ve played before
• Make your solos more interesting by bringing in new timefeels, melodies, dynamics, repeating sections, textures, and using the rim and hands
• Play along to records to solidify your internal clock

Lesson Index:
0:24 – SONG: “Hey You” by Oz Noy
5:57 – Introduction
8:30 – Drum solo #1
19:21 – Demonstrating modulation
30:00 – Drum solo #2
34:02 – Putting it all together
36:29 – “Black Cow” by Steely Dan
41:00 – Drum solo #3

About Keith:
Keith Carlock is a professional drummer and famed author of the critically acclaimed DVD “The Big Picture: Phrasing, Improvisation, Style, & Technique”. Keith has recorded and toured with the who’s who of the music industry, including John Mayer, Sting, Steely Dan, James Taylor, TOTO, Christopher Cross, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, The Blues Brothers Band, Mike Stern, Leni Stern, David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, Richard Bona, Chris Botti, Wayne Krantz, Rudder, Harry Belafonte, Oz Noy, Larry Carlton, Clay Aiken, Rascal Flatts, Paula Abdul and Grover Washington Jr. Besides his extensive and impressive resume as a professional musician, Keith has also been voted number 1 Pop drummer, number 1 Fusion drummer, and number 1 Best All-Around drummer through Modern Drummer’s Readers Poll.

Keith plays:
Gretsch Drums
Zildjian Cymbals
Evans Drumheads
Vic Firth Drumsticks

Follow Keith:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram