5 Steve Gadd Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Download the sheet music here: bit.ly/2lTudoX Subscribe or I'll steal your cymbals: bit.ly/2AyH1Fb Steve Gadd Late in the Evening. Steve Gadd 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover. Steve Gadd Aja. Steve Gadd...ok, ok, you get it...I could go on and on. Few names in drumming inspire such awe, such reverence, such admiration. Steve Gadd's drumming and drum career speak for themselves...he's drummed on more albums than most of us have listened to in our lifetimes. He's created some of the most iconic pop music drumming out there, has been a major player in the jazz and improvisational music scene, and has inspired countless drummers to follow in his shoes. In this drum lesson I break out my all time favorite drum beats by Steve Gadd: Late in the Evening, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Lenore, Just the Two of Us, and Aja. These are MY personal all time favs...what's your all time favorite Steve Gadd drum beat? Like this lesson? Here's some more you might dig: 3 John Bonham Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2XahZuNrqd7fZI 3 John Bonham Drum Fills Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKa5aomLpdqfd5I 3 John Bonham Intros Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZm9oZytgN95pJo Top 5 Stewart Copeland Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6jSm6VjZpergZY Top 5 Stewart Copeland Drum Fills Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX3NeIqEadiVY5Y Top 5 Steward Copeland HiHat Licks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moi7oWxopM6ipJY 3 Neil Peart Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnuQgXaCnqp1j7s 3 Amazing Neil Peart Drum Fills: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJureaGGjsSLnqs 7 Josh Dun Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2q9ZWqVrNB6rsk 5 Travis Barker Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6vHinunn9d8orM 5 Dave Grohl Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3doqOdhr6Jjrc 5 Dave Grohl Drum Fills Every Drummer Should Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIitdX2IaauEe5I

[@tdrum21]

Stephen Taylor great stuff. I love Sicily off Chick Corea Friends album. Also love the B section groove on Lenore too

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

tdrum21 for sure, that B section is insane as well

[@aaronreeves8376]

Still have not received the sheet music Steve ??

[@gsmith207]

Awesome! Thank you and hats off to your hard work. You make it look easy. Keep rolling these vids out! (No pun intended. ha!)

[@muada666]

great content. but sadly the sheets link doesn't work for me.

[@Meatman8089]

Gadd is the reason I fell in love with linear drumming grooves. That and his sweet curly mullet he rocked forever

[@donf3877]

I don't even play drums. I clicked it because all of Eric Clapton's great live videos have Steve Gadd playing. I love to watch Steve really getting it... he can't sit still jumping off the throne and his entire body working. And Clapton said of Gadd that he drives him, pushes him, to really reach for it with his playing. An amazing drummer. And I never knew of his other works. A true artist!!!

[@samuelwreed6366]

Steve Gadd is the man. We had groups of young drummers in high school listening to his tapes. Blew my mind away when youtube/internet came out and I could see what he did. Made me fall in love with the paradiddle all over again.

[@jazzpianoman01]

Gadd is ultimate groove player

[@WorshipKingJesus]

I cannot say enough great things about how you’re giving to the drumming community! Great content, superb talent, giving heart! Such encouragement!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

James JJ Stokes thanks so much James. That means a lot

[@calvinpham5547]

I can feel your dedication to your art and teaching. I watch your videos quite often. Kudo to your effort. Many likes @ love from Vietnam by way of Houston TX

[@bennoschlachter368]

great lesson there Stephen! doesn't get any better groovewise than Steve as we all know. love the detail on how to approach 50 ways. touch being number one. the buzz at the end also makes the fine difference to a lot approaches teaching doubles - which won't get the same result of course. lovely. thanx a lot - 50 ways being my favorite Gadd groove plus probably my favorite groove period.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Benno Schlachter you bet Benno! And you’re right...the correct inflection in the 50 ways groove is what makes it pop

[@JeffWald]

Good stuff Stephen. Gadd is my top influence and you did a great job of capturing the vibe as well as the techniques. The one thing that I've noticed about everything Gadd is that everything he plays has the slightest swing to it. If you slow down "Just the two of us" the "ah 3" on the kick has a very slight swing. I think that's part of what makes that groove so magical as well as the driving hi-hat that you demonstrated. Keep it up!

[@nickavenoso7851]

Steve is one of my favorites. He always came up with cool grooves. Love all the grooves mentioned. Some of my favorite Steve Gadd drum work is on Al Di Meola’s Electric Rendezvous album. But, there’s a lot of great stuff that Steve has played on.

[@kanouseizero]

Japanese KZbinr「ABURA SOFT 」good　！

[@das4yyz887]

Omg, I immediately gave a thumbs up after your comment about using the side of your drum “don’t worry everyone it’s going to be okay. We’re all going to make it through this” 😂. The way us drummers are OCD about our gear.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Very cool lesson Stephen. I had done a breakdown of Late in the Evening for Vic Firth’s channel back when I first started doing video lessons. (It’s definitely a little rough when I look back at those early lesson videos.lol)... but I love to watch other drum teachers break down these grooves, and you always do a fantastic job. Super clear and expertly broken down! Kudos and much respect.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

thedrummersalmanac thanks man!

[@albitcapinigro1107]

Thanks for taking the time to figure this stuff out.. great work.

[@fweddyfwintsone4491]

Very nice demonstration Sir and your drums sound awesome.

[@slimchance7748]

Wow! This video makes me super excited to play my kit right away! (sneak in to band practice early?!) Never thought I’d be able to grasp GADD. Thanks🙏🏻

[@romancastro_]

Great detail with the buzz roll in the second bar of 50 ways. it really cleared things up for me.

[@chadsafrit5605]

Love that you did a Steve Gadd lesson. He’s my all time favorite bc he is always in pocket! So musical. Would love some Steve Jordan lessons too!! Love what you do have learned so much and get great ideas from your lessons!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Chad Safrit Thanks Chad!

[@iseeolly9959]

Amen...Gadd is on another level!

[@PATHFINDER4001]

You and rdavidr , have to be the coolest dudes on KZbin, thanks for sharing so much knowledge.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@vkiperman]

- Late in the Evening - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Lenore - Just the Two of Us - Aja.

[@asmith6454]

thanks steve

[@zannezarow3901]

You're a great teacher! I love Steve Gadd. I look forward to wood shedding these grooves. Thank you!

[@rossrinkenbaugh4005]

Love it man. The 50 ways Groove number is something I have wondered about how to articulate correctly for years. I've also noticed Carter Beauford use similar rhythms for DMB. Thank you Stephen for taking the time to break them all down

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ross Rinkenbaugh you bet Ross. And yes, Beaufords entire style is built around that style of groove and open handed playing.

[@anchinkan]

Very well explained Stephen. Your drumkit sounds great as well. One can see/notice that you can put yourself also in the opposite´s (learner´s ) shoes. Keep it up🥁

[@pjw73nhgmail]

Yes... The drums sound fabulous! Thanks for this GREAT vid.

[@bigdawg7703]

Amazing drummer. Listen to river of tears on the Clapton one more car one more driver album set. It brought a tear to my eyes. Some of the best. In the video after the song was finished you see Clapton look up at Steve with a smile as to say "That was fing awesome"!!!!!! Getting that reaction from Clapton who has played with so many of the best drummers on this plant. His acknowledgement of Gadd on that tune says it all.

[@randycassidy198]

Dude... your Tom’s sound amazing! Thanks for the lesson!

[@RubenvanRoonDrumChannel]

Wow man great youtube channel, great hommage tot the Master, there is so much to choose of,but really inspiring!

[@joseph-ow1hf]

I recently took my first in-person drum lesson. Knew I found the right guy when I saw he had a Gadd poster on wall of teaching studio. I'd already bought K custom session crashes because Gadd designed them w/ Zildjian. Quite of few of my favorite drummers were session guys primarily.

[@sampowellmusic]

I always loved his groove on quiet afternoon Stanley Clarke

[@classixdrummer]

“Don’t you do it, don’t you hit the side of that floor tom!” Okay, you talked me down. Everything goin’ be okay. Thank you for this, Stephen. Gadd has always been one of my biggest influences. Pocket to burn.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

classixdrummer LoL you bet

[@richardhall6762]

Hit that shell! It’s a “Cascara” groove.

[@dinodeluca6210]

As always, so well explained and so flawlessly executed. Great Stephen...

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you so much my friend

[@bcdigiart141]

THIS IS KILLER.... U are breaking down the rhythms perfect.. and I really appreciate you posting this ..... Gadd is one of my favorite drummers his Rudimental background and his FEEL is amazing...

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Bruce!

[@noahpaul400]

Love it ! My fav video by you this far. Make a part 2!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Noah Paul I’ll see what I can do Noah. Glad you dug it man!

[@n-dog9325]

You're correct; Just The Two of Us was by the late Grover Washington jr, with Bill Withers on vocals. 😁

[@charliecontrino1626]

AWESOME! My all time greatest influence!!

[@arturofernandez6088]

Great break down of all the grooves!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Arturo Fernandez thanks Arturo!

[@harrymiram5562]

FYI....Read somewhere that when Gadd was drawing up 50Ways pattern, he drew inspiration from his early days of rudiment drumming. Thus, & this is where memory gets fuzzy, he built the pattern around 5 & 7-stroke roll OR 7 & 9-stroke roll. When I started playing, learned basic rudiments, so when hearing 50 Ways intro, my ears perked Up!-lol. But ended up, mostly, playing by feel, so I could be wrong. Nice breakdown, tho....

[@jedidrummerjake]

Fantastic as always! I think I can get these down once and for all! Thanks a million, Stephen!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet Jason

[@anthonyverrico8421]

Steve I am wicked pumped you added the Gadd. From a learning perspective I have a lot of success with your lesson breakdowns and am lovin the artists you've chosen to highlight keep up the strong work brothah!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Anthony!

[@glenngiordano8286]

The thing about Gadd is if the touch and feel is right you can vary the sticking somewhat to make it your own. My cousin owns Hudson Music , and i have watched him demo those grooves a little different each time, but the feel always there. He is still the ultimate session player.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

He’s the GOAT for sure

[@ivanalfonsocorderogutierre7498]

Thanks Stephen, it’s the first time I understand the “enda”🎉

[@user-xe6gx6wh4g]

Beautiful drumming. Great demos brother.

[@jcrawford068]

This is great. Thank you. Steve is a drum corps guy, so grooves like 50 ways with the 32nd note right hand diddle are a nice rudimental touch, that call back to his roots.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

For sure

[@anthonymedd8718]

Great lesson... a great break down of some masterful grooves with amazing feel... brilliant job Stephen 👍🏻.... and your so right you need to listen to the songs for the right feel! awesome buddy🙌🏻

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks so much Anthony

[@markpitre7332]

I basically could never play this style but I love it. I’m just a back beat steady drummer. I do some fancy rolls but I mostly subscribe to the less is more mantra. I’m like the guy who only serves burgers but they are some of the best you will ever eat. I was born with rhythm that had to come from the gods. No one in my family tree has a lick of rhythm so I’ve always been accused of selling my soul to the devil. I just wish I would have tried harder to be more professional. I always have played with so many talented musicians that made my simple talent sound better. A lot of them just want a normal back beat. Less is more for them too. As a timekeeper I’ve never felt like a real musician. I love playing and love listening even more. I’m enthralled with what you are doing. Not envious just fascinated.Really love Charlie Watts and Max Weinberg.John Bohnam Neal Peart Keith Moon and so many others are great but those two guys are my guys.

[@richardburrows8044]

Thank you another brilliant video 👍🏼

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Pretty sure HH is played with the tip of the stick for 50 ways. You sound great on it! Key is to play as quietly as possible while still making everything swing. Off beat 8th tambourine in the tune has that mid 70's funky offbeat feel. Groove follows it.

[@brandonkain9231]

Cant wait for the paraddile groove breakdown...that one is my favorite

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Brandon Kain it’s so good

[@sickofthebulldodo1461]

For the love of God those freaking drums the Tom everything beautiful warm tone Jesus absolutely unbelievable

[@markpitre7332]

John Fortuna Jr. been playing for 40 years and have never tuned a set that nice. If I even get close my tune never holds.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks so much John

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

🙏🏼

[@IansDrumsandBass]

SG has the Hihat going all the time. If you listen, it actually doesn't stop. And that's all off beats too, which makes it even funkier.

[@b.please2986]

I watched a lot of instructional videos from you and many other drummers and this 50 ways seems to have a bunch of dislikes on each instructors videos, more than most videos and I was wondering why? I think you do a great job and others like Bonzoleum do a great job on this and I can't understand why some woiuld dislike it?

[@chezchezchezchez]

Lived my first 35 years in Rochester NY. Where Gadd, Foreigner, Kodak, Xerox came from. 👊🏻 Thx!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Jim Cheseborough 👊🏻

[@yambu007]

Hey there boss, great list! I would like to humblely add a few more in case people want to check them out: - Friends (Chick Corea) - Love castle (Chick Corea) - Night Streets (Chick Corea) - Chuck e's in love (Rickie Lee Jones) - Way back home ( The Gadd gang)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I ALMOST included Chuck E’s in Love. There were several that didn’t make the cut. These are great

[@angelaallen6334]

Thank you for throwing in the rickie lee jones

[@mauriceclemens3286]

Steve is one of the greatest drummers America has ever had.

[@xxstrawxx]

This a really great video. Thank you for making this kind of content. Your skill is apparent, as is your love of drums. I will definitely continue to follow your content from now on.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@drummershort]

Really easy to follow the way you breakdown each beat. I'll have to mess around with some of these today.

[@krioni86sa]

My favorite drummer!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Chrioni Sta Ana he’s so great

[@brandonkain9231]

100

[@dagconst1]

Great video Stephen ! Ty

[@DennisYamaha1985]

Beautiful Stephen! Don’t forget on beat 1 of bar 1 in Late in the Evening, it’s a left flam. Great work, as always!

[@patricestewart1255]

Probably has already been said, but this is the best online demonstration of 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover that I've seen, even taking the Gadd video into account. And you're right on about the inflection thing. Thanks.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Patrice Stewart thank you Patrice. I really appreciate the kind words

[@alexbaum2204]

I think my favorite of all Steve Gadd’s grooves is from Bob James’ “Tappanzee”. God, I love that song.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Great cut

[@cafekiva7892]

Nice stuff, mate. I just snagged an old Peal snare that sounds like this one in its original cloth case for $25 at a thrift store. Lenore is best groove for me.

[@ChrisMezzolesta]

Not sure if you're hip to it because it wasn't released in US, but Gadd's work on Eddie Gomez' first album GOMEZ (Japan, 1984 w Chick Corea) is beyond. Just beyond. The track Mez-Ga is just the two of them with Gomez overdubbed; Gadd has the entire first 8 bars to himself and the groove he lays down is otherworldly. He flits between off-16th accents throughout the groove with 32nds sprinkled in, at one point returning from double-time feel back to a simpler solid groove with Gomez landing squarely on "1" that seals the matter shut once & for all, it is one of the heaviest landings I've heard in recorded music (as an example of what I mean, Vince Guaraldi "Linus and Lucy", the 2nd bridge, he leads in with 2 stabbed solo quarter notes & the rest of the trio crashes in with nothing but quarter-note time, it is rock frikkin solid. Great moment.). Another fabulous groove on this LP is (what I think is the first recording of 'Silver Palace' aka) 'Ginkakuji'. Nobody has or will play a jazz waltz like this, not even Weckl. (Bass player & school-era-ex-drummer here, just a major music fan :-) ) Also, shoutout for The Leprechaun, one of the first batch of jazz albums I ever heard, thanks to my HS band teacher & my local public library. Blew my mind apart at the time (~'79, I was 15 or so)...

[@MegaLJ3]

Once again Steve you've made it all happen.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Robert Delich Thanks Robert

[@baranaltun2019]

These top 5 series are my favourite drum series in youtube☺️ you should make for vinnie colaiuta and jeff porcaro

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

baran altun Thanks! And don’t worry...more comin’

[@tmatheson54]

Love it. I really like Steve... favorites? Gee, most everything! 50 ways to love Steve Gadd?

[@georgevtorres960]

Excellent video Stephen!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

George V Torres thanks so much George

[@JulianFernandez]

so cool. Gadd is one of OG. Thanks!

[@TheGenebeats]

Listening to this - no matter how good it is - just tells you how difficult and impossible it is to sound like the master.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I totally agree. There is only one Gadd.

[@arame29]

Fantastic Educational and entertaining

[@kevincady5613]

Excellent drummer! Johnston, Elise....you are right up there my friend.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend 🙏🏼

[@gsmith207]

Stumbled across this in the rabbit hole of KZbin geeking out..I’m glad I did this is great! I love free lessons! Thank you! Great vid

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@mariamadrid2508]

Thanks for the breakdown of Gadd beats! (One of my favs). Self taught here so demo with drummer lingo helps. Please consider a video on tuning with ratchet.

[@nolanbooker2121]

Which album should I look to to find Gadd’s funkiest, most soulful, stuff? His work on Aja is awesome and I want to hear some more simple, yet groovy as hell, stuff.

[@bucksmusic]

Any of his recordings with Stuff. If you're into Jazz then all his work with Chick Corea. He's recorded with so many people. Check out his discography on Wikipedia if you want more ideas.

[@Jellybeantiger]

The first beat my teacher taught me here in Australia,50 Ways.

[@johnrobinson8323]

Thanks for the video Stephen! I've been playing the 50 ways to leave your lover groove wrong all these years. Oops. I learned it by ear a little different. But the correct way sounds much better. Thanks!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

John Robinson you bet John

[@sirockk]

Awesome! Top 5 Darren King Grooves would be rad!

[@robert-zr6vo]

You make it look easy

[@XHuntinatorX]

That Aja beat is pure wicked!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

It’s so good

[@xband]

Your toms sound awesome!

[@danieljaburg2021]

I've loved Aja since it came out and is still one of my favorite albums of all time. The drum corps I was in back in the ...well along time ago played aja as our "concert piece" and I've loved Steely Dan since that time. Actually before that, but I hadn't focused on them until then. Only now (in the last decade as I've started playing drumset) did I realize how many epic session/pro drummers were on their albums. Well done Stephen, always love your videos and I've taken many of your lessons and incorporated them in my "toolbox" of licks and such and have even been complimented on my "touch" around the kit despite only having played drumset for about 4 years after playing marching percussion for a number of years during my LONG life.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks so much for the kind words Daniel

[@zabluoc4549]

What a voice!!! You should be on Radio or do some voice over!

[@sicktodeath0_0]

Love the “50 Ways” opening.

[@J0intV3nture]

TOP 5 Tower of Power grooves next please!!!! I still haven't figured out Ebony Jam until this day :(

[@TheZooNinjaS]

It's in Rick lathams advanced funk studies! A full transcription.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Joint Venture I’ll see what I can do

[@chezchezchezchez]

Spijkmusic how’s that book? 👊🏻

[@angelaallen6334]

Marvin McFadden on your horn

[@jasfan8247]

Like video like Stephens. How do you like Gadd playing reggae on 10cc 'feel the love' ?

[@MyBackyardStudio]

Great clear instruction! Thanks!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet!

[@lorisf3882]

Been waitin’ for this one -thanks Stephen 👍👍

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Loris F you bet my friend

[@funkygh]

Nice overall. Steve plays Late In The Evening with the backs of the sticks, and you have some extra notes on Lenore. Most of the way through it's simpler than that. On "just the two of us" the bass drum is a Linn drum. Steve's only playing the hands for some reason.

[@andygray1670]

Hi Steve, thanks for the instructional - very helpful. I've left my details a few times in order to get the transcription but no luck.....Can you help? Many thanks ;)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Hey Andy, so sorry you had trouble with the email being sent with that sheet music. If you could contact Grant at [e-mail] he can get you what you need!

[@andygray1670]

@@StephenTaylorDrums Thanks for your help Steve! Much appreciated. Keep up the good work 👏 😎

[@ritmo113]

Nice! Thanks Stephen. Lovely sound. Out of interest, what are those mics?

[@marclabelle8964]

Great great great lesson Stephen. A keeper. Thank you.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Marc Labelle Thanks Marc!

[@anthonykiley2396]

Great stuff mate.

[@joselugo_6]

Thanks Taylor

[@flightstyx]

Love your vids!!! When referencing certain songs, it would be great to hear them, in the background....or have you play to them, as would add to the experience!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Well, there’s that whole copyright issue. I agree, it would be cool

[@ronnyyyb3454]

Finally a lesson on the ending of Aja

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ronnyyy B 👊🏻💪🏻

[@zvensabri2533]

Thank you good lesson

[@debralynnpaxton5238]

Fantastic demonstration / lesson, Stephen :D

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Debra Lynn Paxton thanks so much Debra

[@graememcdonald1547]

Great work as always Stephen. Many transcriptions I have seen (in the Past) of '50 Ways' were wrong. By that I mean the 'stepped' Hi Hat was not written in. Also, I have, over the years worked the 'Late In the Evening' beat to death in many various ways. VERY useful.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

graeme mcdonald Thanks Graeme!

[@gregwilliams2764]

Awesome Steve. He’s my fav. Thanks for the sheet

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet

[@BabbleBebble]

What about the drum on Take it Away by Paul McCartney? I don't know how can it be simple, but it's so cool... I've always wished to have that tempo clearly in mind.

[@boeliewinter7492]

And, one trick pony, and Rickie Lee Jones made me feel the real deal! Love fore this great heroe, Steve Gadd!!

[@pepmunoz8619]

Stephen, your are amazing..., we have a problem..dont's get de sheet music in email box...can you check pl???

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Email Grant at [e-mail] and he'll get that to you asap. Sorry you had an issue getting it sent to you. We'll sort it out shortly for you though!

[@juliusgonzo7527]

Wow...great....just subscribed...