Lesson Four: New Orleans Drumming

Hi, and welcome to lesson four of New Orleans drumming!

Overview

We talked a bit about second line playing, and now we're going to see how it incorporates into rock and roll. In fact, it can be said that second line rhythms were the basis of rock and roll.

Key Example: Fats Domino

There's a great recording by Fats Domino called I'm Walking, which actually starts with a bass drum pattern played by Earl Palmer, a great drummer. Then the whole thing kicks off, and when it does, it's very much like a train.

• Bass Drum: Always think of it as the lead instrument.

• Other Instruments: The rest of the band is playing:

  "Boom boom boom boodoo, Boom boom boom boo doo."

Characteristics of Rock and Roll

Another important element in these rock and roll records, especially those featuring Earl Palmer, is what happens after a few verses. When he goes into the saxophone solo, usually a sort of rocking saxophone solo, he'll play some septuplets, or "Nelly, the elephants," as I like to call them, which are groups of six.

• Example: He might play a big "naily elephant bosh" and perhaps a big bosh on the end as well.

Tips for Playing

• Crash Cymbals: Don't worry too much about playing a crash at the beginning or doing big fills around the drums.
• Keep it Clear: Always think of it as second line, like a marching band. Focus on the bass drum and snare drum with the occasional cymbal.

The 128 Groove

Fats Domino also brought the 128 groove into rock and roll. He made a lot of records with this sound. Some famous examples include:

• Blueberry Hill
• Blue Monday (which is a bit faster)

Recognizing the Groove

You'll recognize it when I play it. It features:

• 12 triplets in the bar with the bass drum playing the same riff as the whole band, which is often:

  "Boom boo doo doo dee doo doo dee doo dee doo."

• Snare Drum: Plays on two and four.

Playing the Groove

• I'm sticking with a little cymbal here to recreate that second line vibe, but on the recordings, it would typically be a ride cymbal.

• It's a very simple groove, stick to it!

  Sometimes, when there's a simple groove, people want to play out and do other things. Just stick to that groove!

• If the rest of the band is playing that bass line, which they should be, it creates a fantastic sound when everyone is really "in the pocket."

Snare Drum Rolls and Saxophone Solos

There's usually a massive snare drum roll going into a saxophone solo, similar to the previous example with the Nelly Elephants.

• Listen for: It comes out of the blue and creates a very powerful sound.

Conclusion

I've written everything down in the PDF, which you can download. That's basically everything you need to know about this rock and roll period that draws from the second line.

I'll see you in lesson five!