Gridding Concepts

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
for marching snare drum

Copyright
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Happy Drumming!
Copyright © 2017 Final Designz Studios Publishing.

All rights reserved. Made in the USA.
Authors: John Lluvera & Mark Perrett

Graphic Design: Mark Perrett
Photography: John lluvera & Mark Perrett
The Grid Book Series is exclusively published by Final Designz Studios Publishing.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, without the full written consent of the publisher.
Final Designz Studios Publishing is a division of Final Designz Studios.

P. O. Box 13236 St. Petersburg, FL 33733
A Pervera Collaboration.
Introduction
WELCOME TO THE GRIDDING CONCEPTS FOR MARCHING SNARE DRUM BOOK. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK
IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A 10 WEEK GRIDDING CURRICULUM INSPIRED BY EXERCISES FROM THE GRID BOOK
SERIES. WE BRING YOU THROUGH A PROCESS THAT WILL DEVELOP YOUR OVERALL PLAYING ABILITY AND
INTRODUCE YOU TO NEW CONCEPTS YOU MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THIS BOOK PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SKILL SETS TO PRACTICE USING ACCENTS DOWN, ACCENTS AROUND,
INDEPENDENCE, AND COMPOUND GRIDDING FORMATS. USE EACH WEEK TO DIG INTO YOUR PERFORMANCE
WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON THE ASSIGNED SKILL SET. USE THE TEMPO THRESHOLDS AND SLOWLY TRANSITION
FROM ONE TEMPO TO THE NEXT OVER TIME.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECORD YOUR PLAYING, TAKE NOTES, AND SHARE YOUR PROGRESS WITH OTHERS.
THIS HELPS MAKE YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND EVERYTHING IS EASIER WITH FRIENDS. FEEL FREE TO TAG
#THEGRIDBOOKSERIES WITH YOUR PROGRESS VIDEOS AND HAVE FUN DRUMMING!
LET’S BEGIN.
Contents
01 INTRODUCTION
02 CONTENTS
03 BEFORE YOU PLAY
04 WEEK 1 ACCENTS DOWN - 4 PARTIAL DIDDLE 24 WEEK 6 TIMING & INDEP - MONO HEIGHT/MONO HEIGHT
08 WEEK 2 ACCENTS DOWN - 4 PARTIAL DIDDLE 28 WEEK 7 ACCENTS DOWN - 3 PARTIAL DIDDLE
12 WEEK 3 ACCENTS AROUND - 4 PARTIAL DIDDLE 32 WEEK 8 ACCENTS DOWN - 3 PARTIAL DIDDLE
16 WEEK 4 ACCENTS AROUND - 4 PARTIAL DIDDLE 36 WEEK 9 ACCENTS DOWN - 3-4 COMPOUND GRIDDING
20 WEEK 5 TIMING & INDEP - MONO HEIGHT/MONO HEIGHT 40 WEEK 10 ACCENTS DOWN - 3-4 COMPOUND GRIDDING
Before You Play
• THE EXERCISES CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK ARE GREAT TOOLS FOR BUILDING CHOPS AND
LEARNING HOW TO MANIPULATE GRIDDING PATTERNS WITH STICKINGS.
• USE THE EXERCISES IN THIS BOOK AS AN ISOLATION TOOL FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE
DEMANDS TOGETHER. (TWO HEIGHTS, STICK CONTROL, DIDDLE INTERPRETATION, RHYTHMIC
ACCURACY, ETC)
• EACH WEEK HAS THREE EXERCISES. EXERCISE #1 IS A GRID FROM THE GRID BOOK SERIES AND
EXERCISES 2 & 3 ARE VARIATIONS OF THAT GRID.
• A “NOTES” PAGE HAS BEEN ADDED EACH WEEK FOR YOU TO WRITE SELF CRITIQUE COMMENTS,
FEEDBACK FROM INSTRUCTORS, AND BRAINSTORM NEW IDEAS BASED ON CONCEPTS FROM
THIS BOOK.
• USE THE “TEMPO THRESHOLDS” TO GUIDE YOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS. START AT THE FIRST
GIVEN TEMPO, STRIVE FOR PERFECTION, AND USE THE RULE OF 10 (10 TIMES IN A ROW WITHOUT
ERROR) BEFORE CHECKING OFF EACH BOX.
• TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS BOOK, TRY PLAYING ALL EXERCISES WITH A LEFT HAND LEAD.
3
GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 1
FOR YOUR FIRST EXERCISE, WE WILL PLAY AN “ACCENTS DOWN” GRID FROM THE
GRID BOOK SERIES. THIS MEANS THE ACCENT (CONSTANT) STAYS ON THE SAME
PARTIAL THE ENTIRE EXERCISE AND THE EMBELLISHMENT (VARIABLE) SHIFTS. LOOK AT
THE MUSIC ON THE NEXT PAGE AND WATCH HOW THE DIDDLE SHIFTS FROM PARTIAL
TO PARTIAL. IN EXERCISE 2 & 3 THE STICKINGS CHANGES BUT THE RHYTHMIC VALUE
OF THE VARIABLE DOES NOT.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS
GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

ACCENTS DOWN 34 BPM 78 BPM 122 BPM
4 PARTIAL 50 BPM 94 BPM 138 BPM
DIDDLE GRID
SNARE DRUM
THE GRID BOOK SERIES SNARE DRUM WEEK 1 4
1
WEEK 1 PRACTICE TIPS

• Use a Metronome with 16th note subdivisions.
• Maintain great height separation.
• On exercise #1, play every diddle with the same rhythmic spacing regardless of stroke type.
• On exercise #2, play with no accents first and strive for a consistent hand motion throughout
the exercise. Do not squeeze the stick in the variations.
• On exercise #3, do not allow the invert sticking to cause slurred rhythms.
thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 1 5

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 2
WEEK 2 USES AN “ACCENTS DOWN” GRID AS WELL, AND THE DIDDLE (VARIABLE)
SHIFTS THE SAME AS WEEK 1, BUT NOW THE ACCENT (CONSTANT) IS ON THE SECOND
PARTIAL (E) THE ENTIRE EXERCISE. SINCE THE DOWNBEAT LACKS A CONSISTENT
ACCENT, TRY USING THE MARK TIME TO ANCHOR YOUR INTERNAL PULSE TO THE
QUARTER NOTE.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

DIDDLE GRID 54 BPM 98 BPM 142 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• On exercise #1, remove the diddle and play the two height check pattern first so you can feel
the relationship between the accent and the downbeat.
• On exercise #2, be aware of the tendency to under play accents in the first variation. Use a
quick up stroke on the downbeat to place an accent on the (E) partial in time.
• On exercise #3, focus on balancing the accents from variation to variation, especially in the
Intermediate and Advanced Tempo Thresholds.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 3
THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE “ACCENTS AROUND” GRIDDING. IN THIS GRID, THE
DIDDLE (CONSTANT) STAYS ON THE SAME PARTIAL THE ENTIRE EXERCISE AND
THE ACCENT (VARIABLE) SHIFTS. NOW THAT THE ACCENT IS SHIFTING WITHIN THE
EXERCISE, STROKE TYPES ARE CHANGING MORE OFTEN PROVIDING A VARIETY OF
NEW DEMANDS.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

ACCENTS AROUND 34 BPM 78 BPM 122 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• On exercise #1, control your down strokes without squeezing the stick to perform quality
inner beats.
• On exercise #2, the sticking pattern changes to paradiddles. Play this without accents first
to ensure low end quality and rhythmic accuracy.
• On exercise #3, CONTROL YOUR DIDDLES! Start slow and place every note in time.
• Use the “Tempo Thresholds” to guide your progress and build consistency at each tempo
before moving on.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 4
LAST WEEK WE PRACTICED AN “ACCENTS AROUND” GRID WHERE THE DIDDLE
(CONSTANT) WAS ON THE DOWNBEAT AND THE ACCENT (VARIABLE) SHIFTED. THIS
WEEK, WE MOVE THE DIDDLE TO THE SECOND PARTIAL (E) AND SHIFT THE ACCENTS
THE SAME WAY. USE THIS EXERCISE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO PINPOINT YOUR
INCONSISTENCIES. DON’T JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS, PLAY WITH GREAT
QUALITY AND GREAT HEIGHT SEPARATION.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

ACCENTS AROUND 34 BPM 78 BPM 122 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• On exercise #1, be aware of the tendency to over prep the first left hand. Turn your wrist
and place the left diddle with perfect rhythmic accuracy.
• On exercise #2, take note that the paradiddle sticking requires you to play a 32nd note
drag followed by a 16th note diddle every beat.
• On exercise #3, control the up strokes and work on having fast prep strokes (even at
slow tempos).

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 5
THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE A NEW GRIDDING FORMAT CALLED “INDEPENDENCE
GRIDDING”. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO UNDERSTAND TIMING AND ISOLATING
PARTIALS. THE CONSTANT HERE IS A QUARTER NOTE, AND THE VARIABLE IS 16TH
NOTE TIMING USING 1 NOTE PARTIALS. SUBDIVIDE WHILE YOU PLAY AND BE AWARE
OF YOUR TIMING TENDENCIES. MAKE SURE YOU FOCUS ON THE DEMANDS OF EACH
HAND AND MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY THROUGH THE ENTIRE EXERCISE.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

TIMING + INDEP 64 BPM 108 BPM 152 BPM
MONO HEIGHT
MONO HEIGHT 88 BPM 132 BPM 176 BPM
100 BPM 144 BPM 188 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• Anywhere the notes line up, perform double stops. (Produce the same rhythm and quality of
sound from both hands.)
• Use the metronome with 16th Note subdivisions and place each partial accordingly.
• In exercise #2, the (X) you see in the music is the notation for playing on the rim. Maintain your
form and technique even though you are playing on the rim. (To get the most rebound, play
as close to the bead as possible.)
• In exercise #3, perform the quarter note with a lower volume/height. For example, play the
timing pattern at forte, and the quarter note at piano. This will create a “Two Height” feel.
Avoid the tendency to “flam” the notes. This should not sound like a “grace note”, it is simply
two different heights performed at the same time.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 6
THIS WEEK WE USE THE SAME INDEPENDENCE GRIDDING FORMAT AS LAST WEEK, BUT
WE ADD A PARTIAL TO THE TIMING VARIATION. THE CONSTANT IS STILL A QUARTER
NOTE, BUT THE VARIABLE IS 16TH NOTE TIMING USING 2 NOTE PARTIALS. WHILE YOU
PRACTICE, MARK TIME, PUT YOUR FEET TO THE METRONOME, AND PLAY TO YOUR
FEET.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

TIMING + INDEP 64 BPM 108 BPM 152 BPM
100 BPM 144 BPM 188 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• Be aware of the various “Triple Beats” that occur throughout the exercise and play all partials
with the same sound quality.
• In exercise #2, do your best to match the sound quality between the rim and the drum.
• Try moving your hands around the drum to different playing zones. (One example would be one
hand in the center and one hand at the snare bed.)
• Make sure you switch hands to ensure a well rounded approach.
• Exercise #3 uses the same “Two Height” concept from last week. Be very deliberate with the
timing of the multiple strokes.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 7
THIS WEEK WE GO BACK TO THE “ACCENTS DOWN” EXERCISE FORMAT, BUT NOW
WE INTRODUCE A 3 PARTIAL (TRIPLET) GRID. THE ACCENTS (CONSTANT) STAY ON
THE FIRST PARTIAL, WHILE THE DIDDLES (VARIABLE) SHIFT AROUND THE ACCENTS.
THIS NOW HAS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HANDS AND FEET SINCE
EACH BEAT HAS 3 NOTES INSTEAD OF 4. MAKE SURE YOU MARK TIME WHEN YOU
PRACTICE!
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

SNARE DRUM
1

• Use a metronome with 8th triplet subdivisions.
• On exercise #1, play without embellishments first. Make sure your triplets are evenly spaced and aligned with the
metronome.
• On exercise #2, the sticking variation is alternating and the rudiment formed is the “Herta”.
• On exercise #3, play without accents first and use a “Comparison Process” to bring consistency to your 16th note triplet
interpretation.
COMPARISON PROCESS
• Begin this process with no embellishments.
• Isolate each variation from all 3 exercises.
• Play variation one from each exercise back to back. The rhythm should sound the same as you change stickings each
measure.
• Then, repeat for variation two and three.
• Repeat this process and add the embellishment.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 8
WEEK 8 USES AN “ACCENTS DOWN” EXERCISE AS WELL, BUT NOW THE ACCENT
(CONSTANT) IS ON THE SECOND PARTIAL THE ENTIRE EXERCISE. THE DIDDLE
(VARIABLE) SHIFTS THE SAME WAY, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE ACCENT NOW
CHANGES THE FEELING IN THE HANDS AND FEET. WITH THE ACCENT OFF THE
DOWNBEAT IT IS EASY TO PLAY OUT OF TIME. BE AWARE OF YOUR TENDENCIES AND
STAY DETAILED WITH YOUR TIMING.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

SNARE DRUM
1

• On exercise #1, remove the diddle and play the two height check pattern first so you can feel the
relationship between the accent and the downbeat.
• On exercise #2, play each variation without accents first to understand the feeling and hand speed of the
herta rhythm.
• Perform all excises slowly and deliberately. Fight the urge to play these too fast right away. You may already
know how to play hertas, but the added demand of the accents make this much more difficult.
• Use the “Notes Page” to write out your inconsistencies to practice later on.
• In each exercise, isolate variation three and practice releasing on the downbeat with the foot.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 9
THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE A NEW GRIDDING FORMAT CALLED “COMPOUND
GRIDDING”. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO UNDERSTAND ODD METER GROUPINGS. THIS
EXERCISE CONSISTS OF 7 PARTIALS, BUT IS GROUPED IN SETS OF 3 AND 4. THE
CONSTANT AND VARIABLE WORK DIFFERENTLY IN THIS FORMAT, AS THE VARIABLE
ONLY SHIFTS IN THE GROUPING OF 4. DON’T FORGET TO REPEAT EACH LINE
ALLOWING YOU TO PLAY THE 3 PARTIAL GROUPINGS BACK TO BACK.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

3-4 COMPOUND 50 BPM 94 BPM 138 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• When practicing with a metronome, try using 16th subdivisions and playing in double time.
(8th Note = 16th Note)
• Don’t add the feet until the Intermediate Tempo Threshold. (74bpm)
• On exercise #1, play without diddles first. Gain consistency with the accent pattern before
adding the embellishment.
• On exercises 2 & 3, trouble-shoot problem areas by isolating variations. You can also break
each measure into smaller sections by isolating individual partial groupings.

2

NOTES

GRIDDING CONCEPTS
WEEK 10
THIS WEEK, THE FINAL WEEK IN THIS MODULE, WE USE THE SAME COMPOUND
GRIDDING FORMAT AS LAST WEEK, BUT NOW THE VARIABLE SHIFTS IN THE 3 PARTIAL
GROUPINGS. DON’T FORGET TO REPEAT EACH LINE ALLOWING YOU TO PLAY THE 3
PARTIAL GROUPINGS BACK TO BACK. STAY DETAILED IN YOUR PRACTICE TIME AND
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PLACEMENT OF EACH DIDDLE.
TEMPO THRESHOLDS

3-4 COMPOUND 50 BPM 94 BPM 138 BPM
SNARE DRUM
1

• Practice without the variable and build some muscle memory in the check pattern first.
• Then practice without accents. Make sure your low end quality is solid, and rhythmically
accurate.
• Don’t be afraid to isolate each variation (1 line at a time) before putting them all together.
• Don’t rush the process. Playing this fast is REALLY FUN, but if you’re not playing with
great quality it won’t actually help you in the long run.
• Apply all comments from WEEK 9 and stay consistent.

2

NOTES

Congratulations
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE 10 WEEK GRIDDING CONCEPTS CURRICULUM!
USE THE CONCEPTS YOU LEARNED IN THIS BOOK TO HELP YOU PERFORM OTHER RUDIMENTAL
DEMANDS IN YOUR CAREER. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK, WE HAVE MANY MORE EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THEGRIDBOOKSERIES.COM. EVERY PRODUCT WE MAKE IS TO HELP
YOU #GETBETTER AND REACH YOUR GOALS. KEEP WORKING ON YOUR CRAFT AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
- THE GRID BOOK TEAM

PLAY IT POST IT TAG US
PRACTICE THIS MUSIC AND USE IT TO REALLY DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL, AND DON’T BE ONCE YOU POST YOUR VIDEO, TAG US FOR A
DEVELOP YOUR PLAYING ABILITY. THESE EMBARRASSED TO SHARE YOUR PROGRESS. WE FEATURE USING THE FOLLOW HASH-TAGS:
EXERCISES WILL BRING A NEW LEVEL OF ARE ALL ON A PATH TOWARDS BEING GREAT
CLARITY TO EVERYTHING YOU DO. SPEND TIME MUSICIANS. SOME ARE JUST FURTHER DOWN #THEGRIDBOOKSERIES
WORKING EACH MEASURE AND REALLY PULL IT THE TIME-LINE THAN OTHERS. POST YOUR #GRIDOFTHEWEEK
APART. PROGRESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Contact Us
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info@thegridbookseries.com
@THEGRIDBOOKSERIES
#thegridbookseries
© 2017 The Grid Book Series

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL MATERIAL IN THIS PUBLICATION IS NOT ALLOWED
TO BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT
PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE GRID BOOK SERIES.

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for marching snare drum

Copyright © 2017 Final Designz Studios Publishing.

Authors: John Lluvera & Mark Perrett

Final Designz Studios Publishing is a division of Final Designz Studios.

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 1 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 1 5

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 1 6

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 1 7

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 2 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 2 9

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 2 10

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 2 11

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 3 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 3 13

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 3 14

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 3 15

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 4 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 4 17

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 4 18

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 4 19

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

60 BPM 104 BPM 148 BPM

WEEK 5 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 5 21

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 5 22

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GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

60 BPM 104 BPM 148 BPM

WEEK 6 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 6 25

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 6 26

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GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

40 BPM 84 BPM 128 BPM

WEEK 7 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 7 29

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 7 30

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 7 31

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

40 BPM 84 BPM 128 BPM

WEEK 8 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 8 33

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 8 34

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 8 35

GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 9 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 9 37

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 9 38

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GRID FORMAT BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

30 BPM 74 BPM 118 BPM

WEEK 10 PRACTICE TIPS

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 10 41

thegridbookseries.com SNARE DRUM WEEK 10 42