Drummer Jaki Liebezeit's E-T system

Although Leibezeit never considered himself a teacher as such, he became the centre of the Drums Off Chaos collective, a group of fellow drummers who gravitated towards him, attracted by his system.

It was one the group's members, Gero Sprafke, who transcribed the system, making it a matter of record. Leibezeit's system, which is roughly analagous to Morse code, is referred to as E-T, the E and the T coming from Morse code to represent the dot and the dash. It has four basic rules:

• Dot means a hit with one hand. Dash means two hits with one hand, with the duration of two dots.
• Dots and dashes are always played by alternate hands.
• The second hit in a dash is always quieter than the first, even to the point of silence. It can be almost as loud as the first hit but never as loud or louder.
• Accents are only possible after a dash.