Steve Gadd - One Point Five - Groove Analysis

In this article I describe a groove by Steve Gadd, based on an Afro-Cuban bell pattern, which can also be played on the ride cymbal.
Example 1

Here is the intro of a piece whose title is One Point Five. The groove is inspired by a traditional Afro-Cuban bell pattern in 12/8.

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Exemple 2

This is the traditional bell pattern, which can also be played on the ride cymbal. I first knew this rhythm as Nanigo, then as 6/8 Afro-Cuban, and finally as Bembe. To this day, I don't know exactly what the difference is between Nanigo and Bembe, but this rhythm is one that every drummer should know how to play.

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Exemple 3

To learn this rhythm, you can start by playing a double paradiddle.

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Exemple 4

Then the right hand moves to the ride cymbal, and the accentuation is changed a bit.

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Exemple 5

We add the bass drum on the first beat, and we play most of the left hand notes as ghost notes.

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Exemple 6

To get closer to Gadd's pattern, we remove some of the ghost notes, play the snare drum in crosstick, and the hi-hat with the left foot on the 2nd and 3rd beats. In the traditional pattern, the last note of the bar would be played by the right hand on the bell, but here it is played by the bass drum.

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Exemple 7

Here is the transcription of the intro again, but this time written in two voices.

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Copyright © 2020 - Alain Rieder - all rights reserved



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Alain Rieder is a professional drummer, educator, and the author of two acclaimed drum books.
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