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Switching between different styles of playing to create contrast. Example: Transitioning from a meaty backbeat to a delicate brush technique.

Technique where the stick is laid across the drum to create a different sound. Example: Using the rim and head of a snare simultaneously for a woody tone.

Combining two or more different rhythms simultaneously. Example: Playing 3 beats in the hand while the foot plays 2.

Using non-traditional methods to produce sounds on percussion instruments. Example: Using brushes on a drum to create a sweeping sound.

Incorporating known melodies or rhythms within the solo. Example: Briefly introducing a familiar tune rhythmically on the toms.

Playing in time signatures outside of common 4/4 or 3/4. Example: Soloing in 7/8 to provide a different groove feel.

Shifting a familiar pattern to start on a different beat. Example: moving a snare drum groove so it starts on the 'and' of 1 instead of on 1.

Emphasizing off-beats or weak beats in the rhythm. Example: Accentuating the 'ands' of each beat on the hi-hat.

Intentionally incorporating rests and pauses in improvisation. Example: Adding a dramatic rest before a climactic hit.

Incorporating electronic devices or triggers for new sounds. Example: Using a sample pad to add synthetic sounds to a drum set.

Responding to and collaborating with other players in real time. Example: Echoing a rhythm pattern played by the bassist.

Building up rhythmic layers one at a time. Example: Starting with a hi-hat rhythm, then adding snare, then bass drum patterns.

Mimicking sounds from the environment or other instruments. Example: Using a snare and cymbal to imitate the sound of rain.

Adding extra notes or flourishes to a basic rhythm. Example: Including flams or drags before a snare hit.

Using tuned percussion to create melodies. Example: Crafting a solo on a vibraphone using scales and arpeggios.

Taking a simple motif and evolving it throughout the improvisation. Example: Taking a rhythm and modifying it incrementally over a solo.

Altering the loudness of playing to add interest. Example: Playing a passage progressively quieter (decrescendo) or louder (crescendo).

Changing the pulse of the music based on a subdivision. Example: Using triplets to transition into a new tempo where the triplet becomes the new beat.

Changing the tone color during a piece. Example: Playing on different areas of a cymbal to produce various shades of sound.