Easy Complex Subdivisions
You read that right. These are easy ways to learn a few complex subdivisions to add to your technique toolbox. First, read a little about complex subdivisions if you’re unfamiliar.
Complex subdivisions appear in music as numerical ratios above your notes:
- 5:4
- 7:4
- 4:3
Understand the meaning by replacing the colon with the phrase “in the space of”.
- Five in the space of four
- Seven in the space of four
- Four in the space of three
Lastly, look at the music where the complex subdivision is defined. Use the written note(s) to determine what type of subdivision you’re going to change.
- Five quarter-notes in the space of four quarter-notes
- Seven 16th-notes in the space of four 16th-notes
- Four 8th-notes in the space of three 8th-notes
Some of these you’re already familiar with, maybe without even knowing it. A triplet is technically a 3:2 — three 8th-notes in the space of two 8th-notes. A sixtuplet is 6:4 — six 16th-notes in the space of four 16th-notes.
It might sounds like a lot of math, and it certainly is. Give this Easy Complex Subdivisions drum exercise a try and see if you can’t find some fluidity in all that math.
Easy Complex Subdivisions for Drums
- Easy Complex Subdivisions Sheet Music PDF
The basic idea is to take a tap-roll and evenly distribute the “diddles” between the accents. Hopefully it will come very naturally and quickly for you.
Please leave a quick comment if you liked this exercise!
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