HUSKER 37
New member
Strange..I've been trying to play those videos all day from this thread, but my computer keeps locking up...My computer is probably trying to protect itself after falling for that M&M crap I had it play yesterday...No problems with some other threads I've tried tonight.Nobody's arguing that Bonham isn't a great drummer, or that Led Zeppelin wasn't a great band, or that "Don't Give It Away," isn't a great song. It is a great song, and it's got some very cool rhythmic stuff in it.Oh YEAH?
You're probably right..That's NOT really the Toyota Guy in the instructional videos..
You sure seem to know what you're talking about though.
Your description of the timing of that song is really unique but I kinda like it..It's a lot simpler than what/how I vaguely remember those other "Music Educators" describing it..The switch from 4/4 to 9/5 might be an exaggeration but what they were debating seemed just as implausible. (Wish I could still find their discussion..it was more than a little entertaining)...I doubt it will help me any better to hit the drum head at the right time though...
Beginning in the fifth? bar, The time signature in the breakdown which occurs after Verse 2; one measure of 4/4, one measure of 2/4, two measures of 4/4, then one measure of 2/4. But then he throws in a "Pause" as you put it, which totally throws me off if I haven't heard the song in a long time (And I'm tapping along on my steering wheel).
For the longest time I thought it would be impossible for Bonzo to play that thing live without headphones or at least ear plugs..and the videos I've seen of him playing it, he plays it a little different IIRC.
Simple rhythms aren't always bad just as complex rhythms aren't always good, it's just that I think I finally understand why so many rap/hipty hop songs employ drum machines in their "songs?" or rants...Few human drummers could stand the boredom of playing it.
But it's flawed to think that because a drum part may or may not be complex, the song or genre as a whole may or may not be complex. In Hip Hop, the drum beat serves a different function than in other genres - it has to groove, it has to have some vibe, and it has to stay out of the way. Since vocals in rock aren't as rhythmically active as in hip-hop, a rock drummer has a little more freedom, they don't have to be as minimalist.
Here's Hip-Hop drummer ?uestlove, playing with D'Angelo. Is what he's doing complex? No. But there isn't another drummer in the world who can play this beat and groove that hard.
"Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen is a really really simple ditty...And considered by many as one of the greatest R&R songs ever..But it's also so simple I don't know of any starting garage band that didn't learn that one first or second...And part of you will also naturally wonder if the band could play anything that's more difficult or complex.
No Way am I saying that "Hip-hop drummers (Cannot be or) aren't good musicians or are beginners"...It's human nature to try to improve yourself and I'd hope that at least SOME of them WOULD try more complex genres..But I hope Herbie Hancock whom I thought was dead would have more respect for his music that to try to "rapify" it...When KISS tried to sell out and do Disco, I thought it was hilarious, but some of the better artists trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator just to make ends meet is just more than a little sad.
And that's a good point about the rapping being the focus of the "rhythm" rather than the percussion section, but it's pretty obvious that there's very little variation in that rhythm and the only main reason for it's success is the lack of a need for actual musical talent to be successful.
And as for your statement, "Is what he's doing complex? No. But there isn't another drummer in the world who can play this beat and groove that hard "
Are you sure you really want to exaggerate that way? I'm really looking forward to hearing it after I wipe my hard drive again or switch computers, but already, I'm thinking I could teach even somebody like Ringo Starr to play it in a few decades, or even play it myself if the swelling ever goes down on my arthritic fingers...My 12 year old was just upstairs playing a recognizable Alice In Chains drum part that I can't hear the rest of the music to because he's wearing headphones..I bet HE could pick it up even faster than I could if it didn't bore him...
I hope I'm wrong about your video, but after listening to what you either consider "sophisticated" or just don't know about how to use that sarcasm thingie...I don't know what to expect.
And "Giveitaway" is just a partly fair song..with a good Flea.