Fast Eighths drum pattern
A clean high-tempo eighth-note rock pattern for endurance practice. Press Play to hear it with a sampled drum kit at 190 BPM, change the tempo or swing, and follow every hit on the grid.
How to count the Fast Eighths
Count it as: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. The pattern is one bar of 4/4 (eighth-note grid).
The Fast Eighths pattern, hit by hit
Each character is one step of the grid and each group is one beat. X is an accented hit, x a normal hit, o a quiet or ghost note and - a rest.
| Voice | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Kick | X- x- X- x- |
| Snare | -- X- -- X- |
| Closed hat | xo xo xo xo |
Tempo and feel
Small motions and even spacing. Speed must not change the backbeat placement. The default tempo is 190 BPM. Slow it down until every hit is controlled, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time.
How to practise the Fast Eighths
Keep the hats low. Relax after every bar. Reduce tempo before tension appears.
Variations to try next
Move hats to ride. Add double-kick eighths. Practice in four-bar bursts.
Where to hear this feel
Records in this family include Fast rock and metal practice vocabulary. This is a style study written for practice, not a transcription of any one recording.