TGIF, Part 2 (taiko drills)

VIDEO DEMO COMING SOON!

Welcome to TGIF, Part 2! Thanks for coming back if you were here last week, and welcome if this is your first TGIF.

Focus: Timing, Right/Left Balance
Watch for:
1. Continue to focus on making vertical strikes with both hands. If your strike comes down at an angle, this can really weaken the sound and clarity of your hit. You can improve this by air drumming this week's drill in front of the mirror at a slow speed, but make sure you're diligent in watching for that straight line.
2. The volume of your hits should be equal for this drill. If you're consistent with this, then take the next step--check out the Extension.

Today's drill is a continuation of last week's so you can continue to focus on last week's tips as we move forward. If you have enough time, after you practice this new drill for 15 minutes, review last week's for an additional 5.

When we play taiko it is really easy to think of the base beat and the body of the song as two separate parts that fit on top of one another. This drill will help you begin to hear the base beat and overlaying rhythms as one. It will take some time to really feel it, but having this skill will make your songs tighter and make it easier to understand complex rhythms.

Okay, right hand is the base beat and continues steadily throughout the whole drill. Play:

DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON

Then continue another 8 beats, but fill in the upbeat with your left hand:

DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO

Repeat the base line with your right hand:

DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON

Fill in ever other upbeat with your left hand:

DO
DO KO
DO
DO KO
DO
DO KO
DO
DO KO
Loop from the beginning for 15 minutes a day with the help of your favorite metronome. Practice with your strong hand as the base for 5 minutes and your weak hand for 10. Remember to work at a speed that's comfortable for you and try to increase the tempo slightly each day, but don't move forward if you're not ready.

Extension:

Keep your base hand small and make all of the beats with your other hand big and forceful. This will help to mentally emphasize that one hand is keeping the base beat and the other is playing on top if it, even though both hands are playing together.

DON DON DON DON DON DON DON DON
DOKO DOKO DOKO DOKO DOKO DOKO DOKO DOKO
DON DON DON DON DON DON DON DON
DON DOKO DON DOKO DON DOKO DON DOKO



Got questions? Post them in the comments section! Others probably have the same question.

Check back next Friday for another drill. In the meanwhile, I'll be checking in with some information about the body's core, why it's important when playing taiko, and some ideas on how to strengthen yours.