A few things I would add to the conversation...

Is there a specific genre of music you typically do, or predominately are shooting for? That makes a difference on multiple fronts.

I personally love rototoms, but I wouldn't go into this thinking a ton of songs use them. I guess another way of saying that is, by far, most songs don't have rototoms. Just thought you should know, so don't get hung up by that.

You might want to watch a complete starter drum video on youtube. Pick like a 10 minute one that walks through what the parts of the drum set are. It might make you feel a bit more confident. Don't spend a bunch of time here. I know you well enough to know you'll pick up on it really fast.

I would also recommend, rather than studying BIAB drum styles (which are not custom to a specific song), buy a few midi's from a place like karaoke-version(.com)[I have no affiliation with them] and study things like how the drums work with the bass. Especially the bass and kick drum (the one that uses a foot pedal). Those fills will be specific to what's goin on in that specific song. It gives you an idea of the how the puzzles fits You will also see see things like where the hi-hat is when. When the ride cymbal comes in. How to accent on a cymbal. There are other professional midi sites as well. I just wouldn't go for the free midi stuff. It's usually poorly programmed; so you would be learning how someone else did it wrong. wink

Hope it helps.

Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.