Friday 23 November 2018


It was probably when my daughter started playing the drums that I began to appreciate the significance of the drummer at the back (but the heart) of any band. There was a lot more going on than just providing the beat.
Well I've been catching up with the Sky Arts series 'The Art of Drumming' and it's claim that I'll never listen to music the same way ever again, couldn't be more true. Aside from a greater knowledge I have a whole new vocabulary. From the rudiments, rolls, fills and paradiddles to back beat, shuffles, one-drop, swing and ghost notes, it's whole new world of discovery. Plus lots of 'stickmen' I'd not known previously. 
You may not know Hal Blaine, but you sure have heard him play. As a session musician in the 60's he played on all the Beach Boy's hits and countless others also. (A brief list)
Here's the very cool Jeff Porcaro of Toto on the opening beats of 'Rosanna'
The drum pattern is known as a "half-time shuffle", and shows "definite jazz influence", featuring ghost notes and derived from the combination of the Purdie shuffle and the Bo Diddley beat. The Purdie shuffle can be prominently heard on Steely Dan's track "Home at Last" from Aja, which Jeff Porcaro cited as an influence. 


⏩ Drums > harmonies > chorus > horns > & solos (synths, guitar, piano & guitar) - it's got the lot.
And if all that isn't to technical then check this out: 'What makes this Song Great' with Rick Beato (watch and listen, as he dissects the song in 16 minutes)...   You might want to play the complete song again, once you're done !

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