Five pretty-easy Syncopation systems for getting warmed up with some bossa materials. And for getting it together in the first place, if you’re just learning the style. Use with pp. 38-45 in Syncopation.
Play all of p. 38 (or whatever page) of Syncopation each of these ways, at whatever tempo you can do it. Hihat is on 2/4 throughout.
- SD/BD play melody in unison, RH plays 8ths on cym, HH on 2-4. Alternatively, the hihat could play the melody in unison with the drums.
- BD plays melody, SD fills in spaces. Continue cym.
- SD plays melody, BD fills in spaces, cont. cym.
- Alternating 8ths with brushes on SD, BD plays melody, SD accents notes in between BD.
- Continue alternating 8ths, accenting the melody, bass drum plays in between accents.
Also see the recent subtractive bossa thing, and my own style guide, Playing Samba and Bossa Nova and this other page of simple warmups.