It is important to understand the difference between quarter note, eighth note and sixteenth note grooves. In this blog, you will get a hands-on experience of understanding sixteenth note grooves and the different ways to go about playing a sixteenth note groove. Let's get started!

Remember to Count

It is always a great idea to return back to the fundamentals.

Congratulations! You are now half-way through the lessons and your journey as a drummer is only going to get interesting from here on. However, instead of getting carried away by the sheer power of the entire instrument, we must not forget to know the difference between a quarter note, an eighth note and a sixteenth note.

Counting Sixteenth Notes

Going back to basics, a sixteenth note has four notes and is counted as 1-e-&-a-2-e-&-a-3-e-&-a-4-e-&-a. On the other hand, an eighth note groove has 2 notes and is counted as 1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&. Once you begin to distinguish the difference between an 8^th note and a 16^th note groove, transitioning from one beat to the other becomes effortless, provided you count out loud while playing.

Playing a Sixteenth Note Groove

Let’s get started with a standard sixteenth note groove. Before adding the kick drum and the snare drum to the groove, practise playing single strokes on the hi-hat using your right hand in 16^th notes. So, single strokes on the hi-hat on 1-e-&-a-2-e-&-a-3-e-&-a-4-e-&-a. Don’t forget to count and aim at a slower tempo in the beginning.

Once you’ve got the hang of it at a reasonable speed, add the kick drum on counts 1 and 3 and the snare drum on counts 2 and 4 (just like the kick drum and snare drum pattern for the eighth note groove).

What’s great about a sixteenth note groove is that you can experiment and get creative. For example, add a kick drum on the “a” of 2 before you add the usual kick drum on count 3. This gives the groove an entirely different feel. If this seems difficult at this stage, perfect the standard sixteenth note groove and try getting creative.

Playing the Double-Handed Sixteenth Note Groove

There are different ways to play a sixteenth note groove. In this part, you get to play double-handed sixteenth notes on the hi-hat while the rest of the groove on the snare drum and kick drum remains the same.

You will notice that the single-handed sixteenth note groove sounds straight as only your right hand is in action. In this case, the sound of a double-handed 16^th note groove will seem rounded as both your hands are playing single strokes following the sixteenth note pattern.

So, on the hi-hat, count 1-e-&-a-2-e-&-a-3-e-&-a-4-e-&-a and play single strokes leading with your right hand. The bass drum goes on counts 1 and 3 while the snare drum goes on counts 2 and 4. You might also notice that on counts 2 and 4 where the snare drum is played, there is a linear pattern going on. That is, the hi-hat and the snare drum are not played at the same time. This is only because the right hand and the left hand are both playing single strokes.

Why don’t we try improvising the double-handed sixteenth note groove we just learnt. Ready? let’s get started. For the first part, play the sixteenth note groove as we discussed using both your hands on the hi-hat. The catch is the placement of the kick drum. Right before the kick drum on count 3, add a bass drum on the “a” of the 2.

Take it slow if this is confusing, practise the standard double-handed sixteenth note groove until you feel comfortable.

Double-Handed Sixteenth Note Groove (Four on the Floor)

Next comes the four on the floor beat. Have you practised and revised all the previous lessons? Yes, the four on the floor beat is nothing but adding the kick drum on all four counts. That is, when you play the double-handed sixteenth note groove, along with the kick drum on counts 1 and 3, add the additional kick drum on counts 2 and 4 along with the snare drum.

Keep in mind that the snare drum and the kick drum should not sound separately or like flams. Practise hard and you are well on your way to becoming the best!

Playing the sixteenth note groove is a vital skill as it can be used in different subdivisions and time signatures. In the next blog post, we learn and practise a creative way to play the snare drum – the cross stick.