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
Growing up with so much great music, it’s easy for me to realize how difficult it would be to play anything! I’m the guy who’s left hand doesn’t talk to the right hand and who’s feet dance to a different drummer! Having said that, I would have never known that 50 Ways was so hard to play, especially for someone with ccoordination.😁 All the best. |
@soix what a cool thread! I learned some really interesting things. This is one of a handful of go to! albums for me, personally, that I find myself listening to cover to cover prob on average once a month. I love it for a number of reasons, one of them being, during my early teenage years my Mom used to listen to it frequently on the cool console stereo my folks had in our living room, which was sitting on the most beautiful blue shag carpet you’ve ever seen, ha ha ha. But actually I’m not kidding about any of that. I remember so distinctly how she would crank it up so loud and it’s no wonder it became one of my favorite songs to jam out to. That drum riff is beautiful. And the way all of those musicians vibe off of each other creates such a wow factor. Very soulful music. @ellajeanelle I’m not sure how familiar you are with the rest of that album, but something tells me you can also appreciate how cool the song Silent Eyes sounds on a nice system. Especially one that has rock solid and grounded bass. The lower registers of the solo piano sounds so amazing. Such an awesome presentation. It’s right up there with Christine McVie’s Songbird. |
@clydeactor Maybe, but this is played by one drummer coordinating 16th notes between his left foot and left hand while playing other stuff with his right foot and hand. If you don’t understand the genius of that, you just don’t get it at all. I’d suggest you try to play it yourself and then just dismiss it as an “Army funeral drum pattern, only played at a faster tempo.” You’re sorely mistaken, sir. Again, forget the fact that you would’ve never, EVER been able to come up with this iconic riff, you can’t even play it. Leave your uneducated armchair quarterbacking at home please, because it adds nothing here. |
