The Winstons - Amen, Brother
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Max SedgleyMax Sedgley breaks down 'Amen, Brother' by The Winstons - likely the most sampled drum break ever - focusing on its constant ride cymbal and ghost-note snare.
What's in the course
19 lessons (0h 56m) · 2 free
01. Practice tips for drum breaks
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02. The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark
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03. The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark (top view)
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04. Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You A Little Bit More
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05. Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You A Little Bit More (top view)
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06. Skull Snaps - It's A New Day
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08. Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Substitution
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09. Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Substitution (top view)
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10. The Winstons - Amen, Brother
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11. The Winstons - Amen, Brother (top view)
1:20
12. Banbarra - Shack Up
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13. Banbarra - Shack Up (top view)
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14. Marva Whitney - Unwind Yourself
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15. Marva Whitney - Unwind Yourself (top view)
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16. Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip
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17. Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip (top view)
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18. Steve Miller Band - Take The Money And Run
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19. Steve Miller Band - Take The Money And Run (top view)
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Lesson transcript
Understanding the Amen Brother Break
And that was a version of a break from a track called "Amen Brother" by a band called The Winstons from about 1969.
Overview
It is possibly the most sampled drum break in history. This break has been used in all kinds of different styles of song, with a lot of hip hop. However, it has become most famous for its use in drum and bass.
The beat has been:
- Speeded up
- Chopped
- Rearranged
But it's really the sound created by the drums and the cymbals that stands out. The constant ride cymbal is the main characteristic of the break and is a key reason why it's so popular.
Breakdown of the Break
Let's slow it down and look at what makes up the break.
-
First Two Bars
These are kind of the same and repeated:- The ride is constant, playing the eighth notes.
- You have a few ghost notes on the snare that you might want to bring out.
- The two and four are accented, but the ghost notes should be a bit quieter to fill out the groove.
-
Double Kick Feature
There's a double kick on the three of the first bar. This feature distinguishes this break from others. Loop these two bars to get that groove feeling. -
Bars Three and Four
In these bars, the drummer plays around with the beat:- The snare is moved off the four and comes a little later.
- This change gives it a "push" into the final bar of the phrase.
In the third bar, the drummer hits a cymbal, don't think it's a china cymbal, on the kick of the final bar on the three and also hits the four and snare.
Practicing the Break
If you loop the second two bars, you'll have the following structure:
- Looping and practicing this break is essential for mastering it, especially for drum and bass.
Tips for Mastery
- Start slow.
- Focus on making everything sound tight.
- Pay attention to coming down in the right places.
- Work on your speed by repeating the loop until you can increase your tempo to match drum and bass speeds.
And that's the Amen Brother break by The Winstons. Happy practicing!
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Max Sedgley is a British producer, drummer and DJ with a degree in classical music. His compositions have featured on numerous TV programmes and adverts, including the series Six Feet Under, and he was the drummer for drum & bass producer Roni Size. He also records under the name Cadien.
In his courses he teaches drumming from the ground up - sticking, core grooves and the eight-note rock pattern - and the iconic 60s and 70s drum breaks that have been sampled into countless modern records.
