This is a great lick that looks pretty simple on paper, but it sounds amazing when blazed! I stumbled upon it on YouTube, where master drummer and teacher, John Riley, was demonstrating it at a clinic.
Have a look at the video:
John plays the lick very slowly in the video; slow enough that you can really see what it is. However, there is no notation provided.
That’s where I come in. Below, is a PDF with Nasty Lick 122, written out, note-for-note, with the sticking included. Here’s the link: Nasty Lick 122
By the way, the original video of the Chaka Khan soundcheck is below. Have a look; there are many more great ideas there.
Enjoy!
PS – Imagine that you could regularly get these Nasty Licks delivered to your email inbox every time we post one. Great drumming vocabulary to raise your drumming level–free. Go do it–just type your email addy into the form below, and click that button.
He first gained attention as one of the winners of Modern Drummer magazine's very first drum solo contest, judged by Rush's Neil Peart.
He's played with Oz Noy, Will Lee, Alison Krauss, Curtis Stigers, Emily Remler, Joel Hoekstra, GE Smith, Andy York, Marshall Crenshaw, Tony Shanahan, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Big Brother and The Holding Company, and many other artists.
For more info: onlinesessiondrummer.com
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Mark: Am I correct? Didn’t you mention that you studied with John Riley? I like this lick because it is relatively simple, but great sounding when up to speed. Not that I can play it up to speed.
Hi Lisa!
I did study with John a bunch. I agree with you that this lick is sort of simple, but yes, it sounds amazing when up to speed! In fact, when fast, it’s a real killer.