50 ways to leave your lover


So, decades ago a bunch of drummer friends and me — well before the interweb — struggled to figure out this classic drum riff and none of us got close.  Years later I saw a local band play it and I knew right away the drummer had no idea what he was doing and was just mailing it in and it pissed me off because it’s such an integral part of the song.  Right after the “performance” I went home determined to learn how to do it right.  After consulting the Google machine I learned how to do it — it’s not all that hard but it ain’t easy, and the amazing thing is that Gadd even came up with this and how it ultimately ended up defining the song.  The drummers out there will especially appreciate this I think, and I challenge you to learn it because it’s pretty rewarding to be able to play.

https://youtu.be/Ou70vvjE8k4?si=2yfPiHB4Oems22-C

soix

This is how I eventually learned how to play the beat.  I felt like a total idiot because he made it sound so simple.  It’s not.  He’s just an effing genius and I had to eventually shovel it through my thick head.  

https://youtu.be/uen-A3VIpDI?si=fO10e8qy1KqeE1_i

You didn't have access to sheet music? I learned that from sheet music in the early 80's when I had my first drum set, a Ludwig.  The drums for that song sound awesome when turned up loud on a good system!   

You didn't have access to sheet music?

It's amazing how many musicians can't read music notation. Paul McCartney! Go figure.