Universal Rhythms for Drummers: The Keys to Unlock a World of Creativity, Book & CD

A well put together book for learning drum rhythms by an amazing drummer/ instructor

“Universal Rhythms” is an excellent book designed to help the advanced and professional drummer expand his/her concepts for drumset part creation. Dave is one of the hottest drummers and educators on the scene today. This book details his brilliant approach to building drum parts that accent and accompany a melody, in this case one of five commonly used (universal) rhythms. I really enjoyed working through this book and gained new musical inspiration, ideas, stickings, and flexibility on the drumset. You may also want to check out “Drumset Overlay” by Blake Paulson, which works as a good companion/prerequisite book.

Dave DiCenso is a master drummer with a very clear concept. This book will teach you hundreds of amazing licks and how to use them in the proper musical context.

Nothing better than this!

I am thankful for the 2 earlier reviews for very insightful details of this book. Having used the book myself all I can say is it's the best system I have seen since Gary Chester's New Breed book. Dave Weckl studied Gary's New Breed. Look what happened to him. I think Dave Dicenso's book will help contribution to a new generation of not just incredible drummers, but incredible musicians as well. Honestly some of the book's material can even be benefitial to other instrumentalist. Even if you can't do the exercises completely yet, the wealth of material Dave Dicenso has shared from his own vocabulary is priceless. OVER 500 EXCERCISES. AND A RECORDING OF HIM PLAYING EACH ONE ON CD! If you want to work on your listening skills, overhaul your drumming, or even learn some great chops, this book has it. If you have not heard of Dave Dicenso please go to his website and look him up on YOUTUBE. NOW IF ONLY I CAN GET THIS BOOK AS AN E-BOOK FOR MY KINDLE . . .

Dave Dicenso has a very interesting approach to provide knowledge in a vast field of different musical styles yet linked together on a mutual basis (5 universal rhythms). Once you understand this approach, you will hear these basic rhythmical concepts in many types of music, which will developp the 'macro view' or 'bigger picture' of groove and song structure which will open doors for musical creativity. Maybe not for the beginner drum student, but with some basic skills you can start right off, and skip parts if some of them are too difficult.I was looking for a book that doesn't just provide different grooves in a disjointed way, but on the other hand not for antoher dry concept book. In my eyes Dave Dicenso managed to compose a thorough multi stylistic educational approach, that will help for all the important aspects of musical drumming. And it contains some of funkiest and nasties grooves and fills that make a lot fun!

Dave DiCenso has developed the most in depth system for mastering your voice and internal grasp on groove. Dave's understanding on groove, melody, and developing the right feel for a song is one of the greatest that I have had the privilege to witness. This book has helped me develop those same skills using an organized system of steps to master the universal rhythm and all its different styles and permutations. A topic that in the past was very overwhelming to me, this book helped me to break down and practice efficiently. Get this book people!!! PEACE AND DRUMS!!

I came to this having ploughed through Rhythms and Drums Demystified, and find exactly the same problem. Mr Dicenso glosses over the whole process of how he derives all of the many variations from the Universal Rhythms that are outlined. All you get is "Add notes", "Subtract notes", "Change resolve point" "Layer with foot" and then are presented with a groove or fill which is often nearly impossible to relate to the original "Universal Rhythm". So at best you just have hundreds of rhythms and fills to work through- big deal! That's not at all what the book claims to do. I'm sure that there are plenty of drummers out there who will enjoy just going through this book and find it useful, but I'm not sure how many will be able to develop their own material from it, or emerge any clearer about these Universal Rhythms than if they had just read the first few pages of the book (which are quite interesting). Dave Disenso's videos on Youtube are amazing and he is clearly an incredible drummer and musician. I am also sure he would be a great teacher, but his books are really frustrating- for all the wrong reasons.

Haven't had the chance to get stuck into it yet, but full of great ideas for fills and grooves that are musical. Dave D is a truly amazing drummer, well worth checking out if you're a bit stuck for new ideas or inspiration!