By altering the distances between strokes in rudiments (or any sticking pattern), you’ll unlock numerous benefits. This book will inspire you to reconsider your technique, challenge your rhythmic skills and hearing perception, and reveal unexpected relationships between patterns. You’ll also discover new pathways to contemporary drum set ideas through tuplets and groupings in various structures.

Finally, Claus encourages a fun and creative exploration of rudiments with an open-minded, experimental approach. By transforming these traditional stickings, you’ll learn how to create your own modern drumming vocabulary, grounded in the ancient art of rudiments.

eBook | 138 pages with Video

Claus Hessler is an internationally recognized drummer, educator, and author renowned for his innovative approach to drumming. As a master student of the legendary Jim Chapin, Claus has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between traditional rudimental techniques and contemporary drum set applications and gained international reputation for coaching professional players of all genres.

He has authored several influential drumming books, including Open-Handed Playing Vol. 1 & 2 (co-written with Dom Famularo) and Camp Duty Update, featuring contributions from drumming icons like Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, and David Garibaldi. Claus has performed and conducted masterclasses at prestigious institutions such as Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has been invited to drum events in over 40 countries, sharing the stage with renowned musicians including Alex Acuña, his mentor Dom Famularo, Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang, JoJo Mayer, Steve Smith, and Luis Conte. With his educational platform openmindeddrumming.com he is setting new standards in consistent, legit, and streamlined online education.

With a passion for fostering creativity and technique in aspiring drummers, Claus Hessler continues to inspire and elevate the global drumming community, mentoring successful alumni like Anika Nilles (Jeff Beck, Rush, Nevell) and Philo Tsoungui (The Mars Volta). Aside from his work with the new project CLAUS HESSLER TRIAD and his hammond trio, FLUX, Claus has collaborated live and in the studio with international artists from Mike Stern to the New York Voices.

More info at claushessler.com

This book
took much longer to complete than I anticipated, with numerous unexpected challenges arising; the pandemic was merely a minor
disruption in the grand scheme I lost my partner in crime, Dom Famularo, during the writing of this release When Dom suddenly fell ill,
other matters took on greater significance 2023 proved to be a difficult year, marked by several personal losses, with Dom’s passing in
September being just one of them It took a considerable amount of time before I felt ready to continue this work As a result, I left many
passages referring to "we" instead of "I," not having the heart to change the perspective of authorship I hope you understand
This book holds special meaning for me in many ways: It not only connects my previous work as an author and educator in a cohesive
manner, but it also evokes a wealth of memories that remind me of the people I lost during the creation of this manual

Dedicated to my mentors and friends

Dominick Salvator "Dom" Famularo
"The Global Ambassador of Drumming"
(August 26, 1952 - September 27, 2023)

James Forbes "Jim" Chapin
"The Father of Independence"
(July 23, 1919 - July 4, 2009)

Contents
Credits and Personal Thank You’s 6
A Word on Dynamics 6
Drum Map | Notation 7
Foreword by David Garibaldi 8

Chapter I: Get Yourself Ready
About This Book 10
Pumping Motion Update 1 14
Pumping Motion Update 2 15
Accent Study Reinterpretation - Snare 16
Accent Study Reinterpretation - Drum Set 17
Conclusion 19

Chapter II: Introducing the Concept
Collapsed Rudiments: A Definition 21
Knowing Your Rudiments and Their Inner Structures 21
Analysing Rudimental Relationship 22
Second Thoughts About the "Flam Universe" 23
Clarification on the Coup De Charge | Coup De Coulé 24
The Game-Changing Effect of Dynamic Levels 25
Giving the Drag a Place 26
A View Inside the Rudimental Quantum Foam 27
Double Drag Tap | Expanded Variations | Quintuplet to Septuplet 28

Chapter III: Technical And Coordinative Groundwork
Technical and Coordinative Groundwork 30
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Expanding to X-Tuplets 31
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Drum Set Application 33
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | French "Coup de Charge" Structures 35
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Flat Flam Structures 37
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Expanding to X-Tuplets 39
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Flam Combinations 41
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 8th Note Triplets | Expanding to X-Tuplets 43
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 8th Note Triplets | French "Coup de Charge" Structures 45
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 8th Note Triplets | Flat Flam Structures 47
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 8th Note Triplets | Expanding to X-Tuplets 49
Section 1: Collapsing & Expanding Single Stroke Structures | 8th Note Triplets | Flam Combinations 51
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Expanding to X-Tuplets 53
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Accent & Soft Flam Combination 55
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Expanding to X-Tuplets 57
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Inverted Double Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Expanding to X-Tuplets | No Accents 59
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Inverted Double Stroke Structures | 16th & 32nd Notes | Unaccented Flams 61
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 8th-Note Triplets | Expanding to X-Tuplets 63
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 8th-Note Triplets | Accent & Soft Flam Combination 65
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Double Stroke Structures | 8th-Note Triplets | Expanding to X-Tuplets 67
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Inverted Double Stroke Structures | 8th-Note Triplets | Expanding to X-Tuplets 69
Section 2: Collapsing & Expanding Inverted Double Stroke Structures | 8th-Note Triplets | Unaccented Flams 71
Section 3: Collapsing & Expanding Syncopation Concepts | The Standard Case 1 73
Standard Syncopated Reading Text 74
Section 3: Collapsing & Expanding Syncopation Concepts | The Standard Case 2 75
A Word on Orchestration 76
A Word on Reading Texts 76
Computed Reading Text 77
Section 3: Collapsing & Expanding Syncopation Concepts | The Standard Case 3 78
Reverse Syncopation Studies | Inward Paradiddle 80
Reverse Syncopation Studies | Flam Accent 81
Reverse Syncopation Studies | Flam Accent Twister 82
Ultimate Challenges: Collapsed Twos 83
Ultimate Challenges: Collapsed Threes 84
Ultimate Challenges: Collapsed Threes And Twos | Moving the Twos 84
Ultimate Challenges: Collapsed Threes And Twos | Moving the Threes 85
Conclusion 87

Chapter IV: Expanding & Collapsing An Existing Rudiment Creates Another Existing Rudiment
Non-Alternating Flams are Collapsed Single Strokes 89
Half Drags are Collapsed Flam Taps 90
Inverted Flam Taps are Collapsed Single Strokes 92
Alternating Flams are Collapsed Double Strokes 93
Flam Accents are Collapsed Single Paradiddles 94
Pataflaflas are Collapsed Paradiddle-Diddles 95
Double Drag Taps are Collapsed Drag Paradiddles #1 96
Single Flammed Mills are Collapsed 5-Stroke Rolls 99
Flammed 5-Stroke Rolls are Collapsed Paradiddle-Diddles 100
Single Ratamacues and Maermeli are Collapsed Double Paradiddles 102

Chapter V: Expanding & Collapsing An Existing Rudiment Creates A New Rudiment
A Creative Generator for Drumming Vocabulary | Rudimental Background of "Soul Vaccination" 107
A Creative Generator for Drumming Vocabulary | Rudimental Background of the "Blushda" 109
The Big Step: Developing Your Own Set of Rudiments 110
Single Drag Tap | Flam Accent Twister | French Army Triplet 111
Single Drag Tap | Shifted Variations 112
Single Drag Tap | Shifted Variations | Three-Note Grouping Application 113
Lesson 25 | Lesson 26 | French Flammed Mill 114
Double Drag Tap | Flammed Reveille | Trap Reveille 115
Trap Reveille | Shifted Positions 116
5-Stroke Roll | Flatafla | French Roll 117
6-Stroke Roll | Pataflafla Coulé | 6-Stroke Roll Coulé 118
Collapsed 6-Stroke Roll Variations | Different Positions 119
Paradiddle-Diddle | Paradifliddle | Moulin Sauté 120
Paradifliddle | Five-Note Groupings 121
Final of Seven | Pataflafla Sauté | Final of Cuba 122
Final of Seven | Pad and Drum Set Variations 123
8-Stroke Roll | Pataflaflafla | 8-Stroke Roll Coulé 124
Expanded 8-Stroke Roll Variations | Snare and Drum Set Exercises 125
9-Stroke Roll | Little Five | Flatafla Army Triplet 126
Collapsed 9-Stroke Roll Variations | Different Positions 127
Maermeli Stroke | Trap Maermeli | Coup Basse-Franconie 128
Overcharged Double Drag Tap | 6-Stroke Rolled Mill | Big Nine 129
Overcharged Double Drag Tap | Expanded Variations | Isolating Hands 130
Overcharged Double Drag Tap | Expanded Variations 131
8-Stroke Roll and 5-Stroke Roll Cluster | Big Eleven 132
Big Eleven | Expanded and Collapsed Variations 133
Conclusion 136

Appendix | Further Sources 137
Video Playlist 138

Credits and Personal Thank You’s
I would like to thank these companies and their wonderful people for their continued support:
Mapex Drums wwwmapexdrumscom Sabian Cymbals wwwsabiancom
Promark Sticks wwwdaddariocom Evans Drumheads wwwdaddariocom
Gon Bops Percussion wwwgonbopscom Sontronics Microphones wwwsontronicscom
CRS Cymbal Resonance System wwwcrsnorwaycom Polynome iOs Metronome wwwpolynomenet
Alfred Music Publishing wwwalfredcom Hudson Music wwwhudsonmusiccom
Wizdom Media wwwwizdom-mediacom

I would also like to thank these amazing fellow drummers for their testimonials and endorsements; in alphabetical order:
John Beck, Billy Cobham, David Garibaldi, Thomas Lang, Jost Nickel, Anika Nilles, John Riley, Steve Smith
Back cover photo by Matt Owens/Sweetwater Sound