Music Lesson: Cameo's "Word Up"

Here we're looking at Cameo's "Word Up", a track featuring a slightly unusual drum part. We aim to replicate what was programmed on a drum machine, resulting in a distinctive hi-hat pattern that moves between playing quarter notes and eighth notes.

Hi-Hat Pattern

The hi-hat pattern consists of:

• Beats played:
  • Beat 1
  • Beat 2
  • Beat 3 (end of)
  • Beat 4

Thus, the hi-hat pattern is:

1, 2, 3, 4.

A broken pattern like this is quite unusual in a drum groove. You'd normally have something a little more consistent, choosing either the quarter note or the eighth note. However, this is the challenge for drummers: replicating parts that were originally played on a drum machine.

Basic Pattern

For the most part, the basic pattern includes:

• Backbeat on beats 2 and 4
• Bass drum on beat 1 and the end of beat 2

Let's try that alongside our broken hi-hat pattern.

Intro and Section C

During the intro and Section C, we introduce some 16th note movement on the bass drum, where we play the last 16th note of the bar. This creates a two-bar pattern.

Here's what it sounds like:

That pattern is quite challenging because we don't have an eighth note reference on the hi-hat to frame those 16th notes on the bass drum. As you're playing, it's helpful to maintain an internal feel for the 16th notes:

1e and a, 2e and a, 3e and a, 4e and a

Even if we aren't playing all of them, this internal counting can aid in precision.

Variations and Fills

Heading back to the basic pattern (which does not include the 16th note at the end of the bar), the bass drum plays just beat 1 and the end of beat 2.

End of the Bar Variations

Throughout the piece, we have variations at the end of the bar:

• Occasionally play additional snare drum notes
• Open the hi-hats
• In bar 8, crash the cymbal on beat 4

Let's take a closer look at a few of these variations.

• Bar 8: Hit the crash on beat 4
• Bar 16: This example appears multiple times throughout the track, sometimes including an open hi-hat.
• Bar 24 and Bar 32: Open the hi-hat on the last beat of the bar and close it on the downbeat of the next bar.

Fill Opportunities

At several points in the piece, we have the indication to play a fill, which is shown over the time slashes.

• Some fills require a two-beat fill.
• Others span an entire bar over all four time slashes.

These fills are at your discretion. Aim to play something that complements the music rather than flying around the kit.

Examples of Fills

1. Two-Beats Fill: I'll show you a couple of ideas that might work.
2. One-Bar Options: I'll play a full bar of time and then a bar that includes suitable fill ideas.

Conclusion

This brings us to the end of the piece, where in the final bar, we play the first four eighth notes of the bar accented on the snare drum. To lead into that, I'll take us from four bars before the conclusion, here are the last four bars:

That's all the parts from "Word Up." As mentioned, it's a unique drum pattern that takes some getting used to, especially with the broken hi-hat pattern.

Watch out for the subtle changes within the piece, including:

• Snare drum variations at the end of the bar
• Possible open hi-hat notes
• Fill opportunities where you can add your own ideas

Have fun playing along to the track!