Danny Carey

Grouping beats in a sequence such as 1-1-2-3-5-8, as heard in the Lateralus verse.

Practise: Count and play a groove that adds one beat per phrase following a fibonacci-style sequence.

Comes out of: Stage 1 — Foundations: counting in odd meters

Heard in: Schism · Lateralus · The Patient

A groove where kick, snare and hi-hat notes never land together, creating constant forward motion.

Practise: Build a one-bar linear pattern where no two limbs ever strike on the same subdivision.

Comes out of: Stage 2 — Core grooves: linear phrasing

Heard in: Forty Six & 2 · Schism · Jambi

Fast, articulate single-hand patterns on toms or snare inspired by Carey's tabla study.

Practise: Practise fast alternating and single-hand rolls on a practice pad, focusing on articulation over speed.

Comes out of: Stage 1 — Foundations: counting in odd meters

Heard in: Sober

A repeating foot pattern maintained independently while the hands play a different phrase.

Practise: Set a simple repeating kick or hi-hat foot ostinato and layer a contrasting hand pattern on top.

Comes out of: Stage 1 — Foundations: counting in odd meters

Heard in: Forty Six & 2 · Stinkfist · The Patient

Playing two different groupings simultaneously, such as 3 against 4, across different limbs.

Practise: Practise 3-against-4 slowly with a metronome, isolating each limb before combining them.

Comes out of: Stage 5 — Advanced coordination: ostinato independence

Heard in: Stinkfist · The Patient · Jambi

Smoothly shifting the felt pulse from one meter or subdivision to another mid-song.

Practise: Practise transitioning from a groove felt in 4 to the same tempo felt in 3, and back.

Comes out of: Stage 1 — Foundations: counting in odd meters

Heard in: Schism · Lateralus · The Patient

Using the full extended kit, including gongs, chimes and auxiliary percussion, for texture.

Practise: Play a simple groove while adding one auxiliary percussion texture per repeat around the kit.

Comes out of: Stage 2 — Core grooves: linear phrasing

Heard in: Forty Six & 2 · Schism · Jambi

Sustaining a repeated pattern over many bars while gradually building dynamics and intensity.

Practise: Loop a single groove for five minutes, gradually increasing dynamics without changing the pattern.

Comes out of: Stage 5 — Advanced coordination: ostinato independence

Heard in: Stinkfist · The Patient · Jambi

A fill that spans an odd-meter bar and resolves cleanly back onto the downbeat of the next phrase.

Practise: Practise a fill that fills exactly one 7/8 or 5/4 bar and lands cleanly on the next bar's one.

Comes out of: Stage 1 — Foundations: counting in odd meters

Heard in: Sober · Stinkfist · Schism