5 Blues Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know

Blues drum beats are bout more than playing shuffles. This video shares five blues beats, including a 6/8 blues, Bo Diddley beat, money beat, and rumba.
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Notes on Blues Drumming
2:27 Texas Shuffle
5:13 6/8 Blues Drum Beat
7:17 Rumba Blues Drum Beat
8:12 Money Beat
10:09 Bo Diddley Beat
// Patreon - access to Lesson PDF Library
⭐ / rhythmnotes
// Lesson Transcriptions
"Learn to Play 6 Blues Drum Beats - Shuffles and More"
🌐 rhythmnotes.net/blues-drum-be...
// Article
"Shuffle Beats Every Drummer Should Know - Blues and Beyond"
🎵 rhythmnotes.net/shuffle-beats/
"What is Clave?" (Bo Diddley beat reference)
🌐 rhythmnotes.net/clave/
// Video
▶️ "Money Beat" • Basic Drum Beats You C...
// Demo Songs (play-along tracks) via Epidemic Sound
"Beg Borrow or Steal" (Texas shuffle) by Martin Carlberg
"Condor" (6/8 Blues) by Dust Follows
"Desert Blues" (rumba) by Don Syke
"Easy To Entertain" (money beat) by River Run Dry
"Cookies and Cream" (Bo Diddley beat) by Chester Malone
CLICK HERE for one month FREE trial of Epidemic Sound
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// My Gear
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Website: rhythmnotes.net
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// Drum and Cymbals // [ ... the main characters, at least]
🥁 Pearl 14" Sensitone Snare Aluminum amzn.to/2YMSH0Y
🥁 Zildjian Constantinople 20" Medium Thin Low Ride amzn.to/2KkoimR
🥁 Zildjian K Custom 17" Dark Crash Cymbal amzn.to/2YPX8Z4
🥁 Zildjian A Custom 14" Hi Hat amzn.to/2A0kjG9
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
Drums, Percussion, and Cymbals:
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- Zildjian, Bosphorus, and others
- Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets
- Remo, Evans, Aquarian drum heads
- LP congas, bongo, timbale

[@RhythmNotes]

Subscribe to the email list at rhythminsider.com. Then, email me at [e-mail]. Include in the email subject which video sheet music you want. I will confirm your subscription and send you the sheet music for the video.

[@iansullivan9738]

I learned most of my shuffles from sitting in with a bunch of waaaay older musicians and having them scat stuff out for me to play, in the middle of the song. I highly recommend this style of learning. You'll learn as many different approaches to music as there are musicians in the group, and then some.

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for reinforcing that point. ... and I also like your point about different approaches to music ... it's sometimes the best musicians who are the best at appreciating the uniqueness of an individual's style or technique. ... Love your wisdom, Ian!

[@iansullivan9738]

@@RhythmNotes Thanks! I just discovered your channel and love the content.

[@NeoIrani]

Thanks, I'm trying to learn Cajon, I borrowed some Blues idea for Cajon, great lessons and nice contexts

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm actually working on some cajon content, and you have a really good idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@J.M.Stigner]

Not a drummer, but this was great to learn from as a blues harpist

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm glad you found it valuable.

[@ArtemGrushin]

Hello! You play the drums great! And thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with us! This is very very valuable! Thank you very much!

[@RhythmNotes]

You are very welcome! I'm glad you found it valuable.

[@anixxdriller9033]

Man the Segmentation of the different styles on the bar, the links and all the info you put in, the details youre describing and a hell of a lot more! Man youre great, you love what youre doing and i cann feel that, i love music too and the dedication is great, keep hustling!!Till you reach a mil and beyond that!

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for the encouragement. It really helps a lot.

[@maxshedcustomrecreation6948]

I love the way you play and teach ! Thanks a lot it give me a lot of motivation and inspiration !!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm so glad!

[@FairweatherBlues-Band71322]

I just came across your drum Lesson 🥁 video. It’s the best out there bc you don’t get lengthy on explaining it’s short and to the point… Love it you got me hooked! 👍🏼

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for the feedback, Roberto. It means a lot!

[@markielinhart]

Thank you sooo much for this vid‼️Great breakdowns, love the way you play mate. Saved and subbed✌️🇦🇺

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks Markie! I’m glad you like it.

[@olexyiklymenko8155]

I play drums for a year and started to delve into drum beats, the video is so valuable and inspiring, Thanks a lot! It would be cool if you provided a playlist of songs featuring in your video or your album and song recommendations to get into the genre and practice along.

[@RhythmNotes]

The songs used in the video are at the end of the description … as for a song list, I started listening to the blues through Stevie Ray Vaughn albums. These days, I look for playlists on streaming apps. Demo Songs (play-along tracks) via Epidemic Sound "Beg Borrow or Steal" (Texas shuffle) by Martin Carlberg "Condor" (6/8 Blues) by Dust Follows "Desert Blues" (rumba) by Don Syke "Easy To Entertain" (money beat) by River Run Dry "Cookies and Cream" (Bo Diddley beat) by Chester Malone

[@martimasvidal]

Thanks. Great lesson!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm glad you found it valuable.

[@RPM1776]

Great lesson, thank you!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you liked it!

[@edwarddilegge4307]

Kevin you are a great musician, that plays as though it’s effortless for you. Of course I understand and give you all the credit for the misconceptions for all the hard long work that goes into playing and sounding like you do. I am actually a guitar player and your my go to drummer when I need a great drummer to play along with. Thanks for being there Kevin. . AND A

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for the kind words! ... I've been thinking about doing more playing stuff, even starting another channel to fill up with just drum beats (3 minutes of each groove at three different tempos.

[@massimoa2361]

Well done. A lot to learn.

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobkurmis5347]

Awesome very easy to understand

[@RhythmNotes]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@vagnermateus]

Great Job, man!!!!

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks!

[@PramodRaiK]

Beautifully explained and taught. Thank you so much. I learnt lot of beautiful playing❤❤

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@doyouknowmydad1]

Thank you for this video! Been drumming for over 20 years, including Blues. But I’ve never actually learned. Excellent tutorial, excellent playing, excellent drum sound, and excellent music! Cheers from KC!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it was helpful! And thanks for the kind words.

[@gudi2516]

Great！

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for watching!

[@LSchulz1414]

This was very helpful and inspiring. Thank You very much Sir!!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm glad it was helpful

[@Dnaliaht]

WOW I like your teaching style... You make it sound fun and easy.

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks! That’s nice of you to mention it.

[@osagie2]

Thanx!😍

[@RhythmNotes]

You're welcome 😊

[@rbjax2001]

Fantastic video!

[@RhythmNotes]

Thank you very much!

[@Lucky_Chuck]

Good stuff. I subscribed. Where I have trouble is figuring which beat goes with a song. Particularly old blues songs where the drums are buried in the mix. Hearing the kick, even discerning what sounds like a fairly simple groove can be daunting.

[@RhythmNotes]

I totally agree. Half of the fun is trying out what you think it is and coming up with something that sounds good whether it's perfectly authentic or not.

[@edjavas]

Thanks, I think I might pick up drums again.

[@RhythmNotes]

That's great to hear!

[@AndyVermeulen]

Great.

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks!

[@F-15_Crew_Chief]

Thank you for posting this. I recently heard Billy Gibbons mention the monkey beat, and I had never heard of that before. I found your article on Rhythm Notes.

[@RhythmNotes]

Richard, where did you hear Billy Gibbons mention the monkey beat? I thought I was going crazy all those years in Dallas playing blues gigs and hearing band leaders call it the monkey beat. Now that I’m in Boston, people think I’m nuts … and I might be. But hearing it from Billy Gibbons would be great.

[@dustindiven3406]

Texas blues is awesome brah!

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for mentioning it!

[@Abos_Studio]

He’s feeling that 🔥

[@RhythmNotes]

Right on!

[@mainstreetsocialclub]

Your Texas shuffle is great. Another trick for low down dirty slow Blues is to use the ride or hi hat on 1/4 notes and let the swing be implied. , sometimes a perfect ride 6/8 pattern is too sterile or punchy

[@RhythmNotes]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@Manumanunitomidri]

NICE........

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks!

[@noams210]

great - thank you. Only - missing 'flat tire' beat

[@RhythmNotes]

You're right ... good call!

[@offswitch1]

Cant eait to check out this channel!!!! Hopefully still jamming!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm still gettin after it.

[@emircansac5373]

cool, cool, cool

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you like it

[@echilders4u]

Can you translate this lesson for congas? I play in church and the gospel beat at times sounds like the blues. I just want to have a few more tools in my toolbox. Thank you. Chili-D

[@RhythmNotes]

For sure, Ernest. Conga patterns for blues is on my list. I'm trying to get it out in the next couple of months.

[@gabrielsson2005]

what kind of blues were u playing in the first half? or can you recommend a song close to that one?

[@RhythmNotes]

The very first song? That was from a gig. It’s “Hoochie Coochie Man” by Muddy Waters

[@gabrielsson2005]

@@RhythmNotes Thank you for responding!

[@sixstring896]

Great lesson! What's the name of the last song with the Bo Diddley beat?

[@RhythmNotes]

“Cookies and Cream” by Chester Malone

[@sixstring896]

Thanks!!

[@Shroomz18]

what bpm is the texas shuffle played in?

[@RhythmNotes]

The demo tune in this video is about 120 but the Texas shuffle is played at different tempos.

[@kevinmoore4237]

I'm really curious about the pattern you call the *"money beat"* but the link in the description doesn't link to anything. I used to call the beat you play here - Ko So KK SK - the "Ringo beat" since he used it more than any other, but later I found many 1962 and 1963 examples of it on Stax and Motown tracks released prior to when Ringo first used it (on You Can't Do That and I Call Your Name, both from the Spring of 1964). I'm also trying to understand it in terms of other rhythms. For example, the offbeat kick hits at the end are kind of same as Changuito's "bota" pattern - but songo didn't kick in (no pun intended) until later in the decade. Anyway, then I start searching youtube and google for "money beat" but on other channels "money beat" always seems to be associated with Ko So Ko So instead of Ko So KK SK. Can you give us a link to a video or article where you go into depth about that pattern? Thanks, and thanks for all these great videos.

[@RhythmNotes]

I don’t think there’s an official name for it. I played with this one band leader who would call out a tune and turn to me and sing the kick and snare pattern in the tempo he wanted. … this is the video linked in the description kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4GUg4aeabaUsJI … I once thought someone was calling it the “monkey beat” … maybe that’s what it is. Regardless, it’s music, so it just needs to sound good.

[@kevinmoore4237]

@@RhythmNotes Ah thanks! I checked the Monkees just for a laugh it looks like Hal Blaine didn't use that beat as much as Ringo and Motown/Stax. I'm sorry for the dumb questions (I'm not a drummer - just studying this stuff), but that Motown beat where you play 1 2 3 4 on the snare and the kick plays 3& and 4& ... that's very similar right? I also found a super cool one by Linda Griner on Motown where the pattern is twice as long and the first time the kick does this pattern but the second time he plays it on the snare! And the Changuito thing - he says his favorite drums was the guy from Blood Sweat & Tears, but his bota pattern seems like he also like Benny Benjamin.

[@chadraddish8435]

What song was that? At the intro

[@RhythmNotes]

Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters