T
ool & D
ie page 29
T
ool & D
ie page 29
THE MATHMATICAL APPROACH:
4 groups of 3 plus 2 groups of 2 or 3+3+3+3+2+2=16
You could say 123 123 123 123 12 12 while playing just the number 1 each time it appears.
TRY THIS EXPERIMENT (even the non-drummers):
1) Say it out loud: 123 123 123 123 12 12
2) Now say it while tapping on every other note (tap on the underlined numbers while saying them in order without stopping: no
rests): 1231231231231212 you should be tapping 8th notes (every other 16th note).
3) Now emphasize or accent the word "ONE":
1
23
1
23
1
23
1
23
1
2
1
2.
CONGRATULATIONS! You just performed two rhythms simultaneously while reciting words. Not only that, but your brain has just
figured out where to play each of the 6 notes of the rhythm
Now let's try a similar rhythm based on two very popular drum breaks: Either "Going The Distance" by Cake or "In the Air Tonight"
by Phil Collins. They are slightly different but the same rhythm occurs in both drum parts:
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
1 E & A 2 E & A 3 E & A 4 E & A
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
It's the same pattern but now play the first two notes of each 3 note group: 123 123 123 123 12 12
[Other examples of this rhythm include: Pantera's "No Good" in the verse (guitar/bass parts) and "This Love"
has an extended version that crosses over the barline; Lenny Kravitz uses a variation of this rhythm as a drum
fill in "Are You Going My Way". He extends it over the barline in the second verse (Lenny recorded the drum
tracks himself); AC/DC's "Back In Black" displaces part of this rhythm and starts it on beat 2; Jimi Hendrix's
"Crosstown Traffic" also has a two measure version of this rhythm.
I could sum up this entirely verbose, overly explained, series of paragraphs with this: