The Sound of ZZ Top | Recreating Iconic Drum Sounds

Great Gift Ideas for Drummers imp.i114863.net/Gjzq5r
ZZ Top have been rocking huge stages all around the world for more than 50 years. In all that time since the 1970's, their drummer has been Frank Beard. Besides his extravagant and very stylish kits, what really defines him as a drummer is his distinct sound and his groove. Since ZZ Top is a trio, his grooves have a huge share in the music and play a big role in their arrangements. It's about time we honor their work by taking a closer look at Frank Beard's outstanding drum sound.
The songs we picked are La Grange and Gimme All Your Lovin'.
If you want to use our Recreated drum sounds in your own project make sure to check out our "Sample & Loop Packs" available at shop.artofdrumming.com.
00:00 Intro
00:23 History of ZZ Top
01:41 La Grange (Original)
03:22 Recreation
06:45 La Grange (Performance)
09:07 Gimme All Your Lovin'(Original)
10:31 Gimme All Your Lovin' (Performance)
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Drumming and mixing by Pascal Thielen
Instagram: / pascal_thielen
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Equipment used in this video:
Check out our video and audio gear and support our channel with this affiliate link: www.amazon.com/shop/artofdrum...
Drum Kit:
Pearl President Deluxe
imp.i114863.net/ORg54z
Finish: Ocean Ripple
Bass Drums: 22x14, 20x14
Toms: 12x8, 13x9, 14x10, 16x16, 18x16
Snare: 14x6 Sonor AQ 2
Cymbals:
Zildjian
14" Hi-Hats A New Beat Top (top)
imp.i114863.net/4ebKoM
/ Avedis Top (bottom)
20" K Ride
imp.i114863.net/mgAbZq
16" S China
imp.i114863.net/x9WbQd
16" K Dark Crash Thin
imp.i114863.net/QOoe4M
18" A Medium Thin crash
imp.i114863.net/P0Xk4X
18" K Dark Crash Thin
imp.i114863.net/9W5jmY
6" Zilbell
imp.i114863.net/e49BgD
19" K Sweet Crash
imp.i114863.net/Ao9a2x
20" Oriental China Trash
imp.i114863.net/GjeqGr
Microphones:
Beyerdynamic www.beyerdynamic.de/mikrofone...
Bassdrum: Sennheiser MD421
imp.i114863.net/gbjNqO
Snare: Shure SM 57 (top)
imp.i114863.net/zaEqPe
/ TG D 57 (bottom)
imp.i114863.net/EamVOe
Overheads: MC 740
Hi-Hat + Ride: MC 930
imp.i114863.net/2rEYyg
Toms: M 201 TG
imp.i114863.net/RyBaZa
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#ZZTop
#drumsound
#frankbeard
#drums
#artofdrumming

[@vincentbadger6920]

Frank Beard is soooo underrated!

[@oneanddone7992]

You can def say this about Frank. His phrasing is brilliant, timing is flawless. A great drummer.

[@ifgwelf]

He's a rock like Phil Rudd in ACDC. Only inserts fills when the music calls for. Keeps that Texas shuffle steady.

[@Twotontessie]

He killed it on all that 70s stuff. It was sad when they kind of replaced him with a drum machine.

[@ziolouschannel7922]

you hater hiw can you hate mr beard

[@ganderstein3426]

You hit the nail on the head by stating that ZZ's "groove" is one thing that has always been so distinctive about them.

[@brigi7020]

The entire Eliminator album is an Oberheim DMX. It's impossible to get that sound with real drums. I was blown away the first time I realized this and listened to all the tracks and said "holy crap", there are no real drums on this whole album! That is quite the testament to the drum programming and arranging. I believe there are some hi hats and crash cymbals overdubbed here and there. Part of me thinks Frank was still struggling with the drugs quite a bit at this time, and the "wanting to sound modern" use of the programmed drums was really just cover for Frank so they could complete the album. What an iconic sound though, the way they programmed and processed that DMX and made it fit right in with the real guitars and bass (and mostly synth bass!).

[@tomnaumann2104]

I read an interview with the engineer of that album who said the programmed drums were layered in the mix with real drums played by Billy G so that the mixed drums didn’t sound totally sterile. I don’t recall how much editing was performed for Billy’s drum tracks specifically, but he described the album as a whole as being the product of lots of tedious editing. Apparently the guitars would start feeding back as soon as Billy stopped playing, so there was a lot of splicing performed. The engineer sidestepped why Frank and Dusty weren’t on the album (I think Dusty was there a bit, but Frank not at all), but for what it is worth, my read on the situation is the same as yours. But still, at the end of the day the end result is pretty awesome, a testament to hard work and good songwriting!

[@nikolaiplotnikov7243]

No way! I've always wanted to have the ZZ top drum sound! Do the Van Halen drum sound! Keep the videos coming!

[@AdvancedLiving]

Justin over at 65 Drums did an exceptional vid about Alex’s set ups through the years.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Absolutely yes to Van Halen!

[@soulslaveone]

keeping both bassdrum and left hand going like that REALLY requires some stamina! And it really grooves, too! Great work!

[@carlasker9285]

I loved this! Frank has always been one of those cool less-is-more drummers from the classic rock era.

[@fudgeboy2165]

And Phil Rudd from AC/DC too!

[@SteveTheDrummer]

Sooo… I absolutely love this series you’ve created and Frank Beard is one of my favorites… you guys did a great job differentiating between their 70s sound and their 80s sound. Keep up the great videos… can’t wait to see what you guys do next

[@ganderstein3426]

I've always been a Billy fanatic. I've always loved Dusty and Frank and knew they were pure ZZ Top, but I've just recently really realized how rock-solid Frank and Dusty have been over the years. Respect to Elwood too. He's doing fine.

[@Jonas-sf8ml]

Your recreation of both song is so amazing!!! Especially the "clicks" on the rim of the snare in the La grange intro sound so clean, just 100% percision of your drumming🔥🔥🔥

[@_salvadorr]

You got me when sayed "pascal did his best to grow a moustache" 😂

[@Sharing13]

God finally someone talks about frank beard!!!!!!!

[@iwasdozer]

I would love too see your recreation of John Dolmayan’s sound from SOAD!

[@derekpink]

Somehow, I wasn’t expecting this one at all. Incredible job as always. Love that Texas shuffle.

[@chasefogleman343]

Frank Beard is my favorite drummer, his creativity on the first 5 albums is amazing

[@danv8717]

Frank Beard and Phil Rudd are two of my favorite drummers.

[@AlbertMoyerJr]

I love the sound of natural drums. This video shows how to capture that. Thank you for this.

[@ganderstein3426]

I'm glad to see a young guy appreciating fine music, and playing as well too. Good work.

[@harveyludlow9907]

Fantastic as always. Pascal aced this 🫡

[@bgp4923]

Jose Pasillas from Incubus, Tim Alexander from Primus, or Jimmy Chamberlain from Smashing Pumpkins? You guys are great, one of the best series ever created for drummers/musicians/engineers!

[@InzidenzPanik]

Herb would be rad.

[@BlueHopi144]

@@InzidenzPanik love to see all those drummers description + Herb as well + Danny Carrey from Tool

[@bigsweep3603]

Jose!!!

[@matthenekk]

lol right as I was starting to think you guys had done most drummers by now I remembered just how many bands there are out there. You guys will be going for a loooong time and I’m here for it.

[@jao_banana779]

Brazil here!!!! I love zz top!!! I love this channel

[@jhonnicolalde7939]

3 genios de la música❤......ZZ TOP

[@InzidenzPanik]

I know Frank Beard had no beard but... it is a bummer Pascal did not go full Gandalf in this one.

[@victordelmondi]

Amazing as always! Next one, Larry Mullen Jr. from U2. The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby have very different drum sounds and both are very interesting to explore.

[@chris_d_r_u_m_s]

You guys always blow me away with how well you make these videos. Great job!

[@Vin-nx1pb]

Frank uses a lot of "four on the floor" style in many of their songs, creating that move-it-along rocking Texas blues-rock sound that people can dance to. By adding the extra kicks it creates that 'wanna get up and dance" feel which people love.

[@EZMusicman]

This channel should be called MasterClassOfDrumming. A must for any drummer. Great job as always. 😎

[@Pabloyelgroove]

GREAT JOB GUYS!!!!!! Fantastic videos!

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Siiiiiiick ! Pascal did a really good job.... to be _Frank_ .. 😆

[@patdeniston3697]

I don't care what you guy's do next just don't stop! I'll watch every drum sound you want to recreate.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

We won‘t stop!! Thank you so much :)

[@dftns]

@@ArtOfDrumming please 🙏🏼

[@buriedsecrets6210]

The rhythm section in" I need you tonight "is so sick!!

[@pawelmorrison]

Perfection once again! Great work guys :)

[@CodenameCuervo]

ZZ Top Tube Snake Boogie, Right On

[@dconsmack]

Nice work. Frank Beard is underrated. By the way, the correct sticking for the rim click part in La Grange is LLR R FLAM.

[@kirkcinnamon8467]

Shut it...

[@jcsk8]

Kudos for making one of my favourite bands. Perfect sounds, as always. Really wanna see you guys doing Maiden´s Nicko justice.

[@JesseOnThaDrums]

Do Mitch Mitchell!!!!

[@samnzdrum]

Pascal nailed this.

[@pascal_thielen]

Thanks, man!

[@jde9095]

really enjoyed this, thank you

[@coreygalletly723]

Great job. Kick sounds great. Going to buy blankets today

[@aerotube7291]

I love the zz rap stuff, viva loss Vegas through mescalero...some great bests on rhythm Meen

[@scottvignere3518]

Didn’t get the name but the guy who played here absolutely nailed it. Awesome. I was around when LaGrange first came out. Cranked up up on my 8 track in my 73 LeMans sport coupe. Excellent work you guys

[@747rotate]

Damn son you NAILED IT! Great job!!!!

[@liamfitzdrums]

The 3 rack toms and 2 floor toms immediately makes me think of Keith Moon.

[@camerondean6804]

As mentioned elsewhere on this post, Billy Gibbons re-did, with the help of Bill Ham, all of the instruments on Eliminator. Dusty Hill and Frank Beard's instruments were replaced with drum machines and synth bass. Unfortunate, but done to achieve the sound Billy Gibbons was looking for on Eliminator.

[@tanneryordan]

There are a lot of lies told in the process of recording the album. Firstly, Linden Hudson had a ton of input both in the writing and recording of the album, and was refused credit completely, which ruined his close friendship with Gibbons. Because of this BS, I have a huge feeling that even Bill ham had little to nothing to do with the recording, and isn't really someone to trust when it comes to his recollection of the album. Terry Manning, the engineer (should be producer!) billy, and Hudson basically recorded the whole album together. Terry went in depth on the recording in a forum somewhere. When people say they "redid" the instruments on the album, it likely means they started from scratch, starting with electronic drums and building everything on top of that. All of this using the original versions of the tracks recorded with the other guys as reference. In 83 it would have been a lot easier to just start from scratch rather than somehow replace real drums with drum machines and hope everything lines up on tape.... doubtful.

[@camerondean6804]

@@tanneryordan Thank you for the excellent info and clarification.

[@johnmartel6192]

👍 Great Job!!

[@jean-pierrethouin2404]

Outstanding set- up and performance... Lot's of work on the unison Shuffle of left hand with the Kik drum. Better than Drumeo. Congrats!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thank you so much!

[@TempoDrift1480]

Im really digging those drums.

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

combined examination of front and back sides of 'FANDANGO' album cover has him with exactly four rack toms, exactly two floor toms, and exactly one bass drum.

[@theactualdice5865]

Can we get a Pearl Jam or Soundgarden vid next. Matt Cameron’s an insane drummer.

[@charliejamz.]

Frank Beard had some really kick ass drum patterns in the 70’s. Tejas about sums up how phenomenal he can be. Not a fan of the Eliminator stuff. “If I Could Only Flag Her Down” is about the main song I like on that album, just for the shuffle. ZZ Top had brilliant shuffles.

[@robertredford4332]

this drum kit has balls, ...the feeling is unreal

[@ChiliPhili]

Do system of a down drum sound next please

[@smalllicks]

Great job Man ....

[@ClusterOfAtoms77]

Awesome job! Can you do Ray Luzier?

[@paulshaum3421]

You gotta do Mitch Mitchell and how his sound changes across the 3 albums

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Yes!!!

[@ctfair]

Always was a fan of Frank and the band. Most of Frank’s work on “Illiminator” was much more basic than albums prior. I believe that was in part due to the commercialization of their music at the time.

[@oneanddone7992]

4:11 amazing.

[@af7119]

You should do a tutorial on how you play the intro to your videos!

[@silvanoolalla]

This series you’ve been doing are amazing!! Why don’t trying to replicate some jazz legendary sounds, such as blakey, williams or roach? Nice work, love the channel!

[@wyrlismike]

as a classic rock guy, im gonna have to try that tom micing trick

[@alexlogan124]

Y’all should do Bill Ward next

[@PRSRECORDS]

Yes

[@TheDirtyLicker]

Big part of the sound of that era is the compression and the tape and whatever else the signal went through. Nice vid I was entertained.

[@blakedmc1989DrumsHD]

great video! i wonder would y'all also cover The Payback by James Brown if it's possible?

[@eternalinfestation]

Abe Cunningham from Deftones PLEASE!!!

[@smallbeans702]

Would love to hear you all do Abe Cunningham (Deftones)

[@ChristopherT1]

JMHO but the rim part in Lagrange is easier if you use a left hand diddle instead of straight sticking. The left hand work on that song is tough but you nailed it.

[@pascal_thielen]

If you listen closely, you can hear some flams in there. The single sticking made it easier for me.

[@001GAC]

Eliminator was recorded with a drum machine and samples, not acoustic drums as Frank was taking time off.

[@NEALBABBITT]

Reverse dot is what remo refers to with the coated version with the dot on the bottom instead of the usual top. What you have are regular CS (controlled sound) or "black dots" with the dots on the top NOT Reverse dots, dots on the bottom.

[@tanneryordan]

it’s definitely an accomplishment to recreate the eliminator sound with real drums. frank basically didnt even play on the album. it’s almost entirely Oberheim DMX drum machine and other samples, and then sequenced with a fairlight. there may be a rare cymbal/tom overdub by frank, but essestially billy gibbons did the whole album alone

[@MortonLuvz2drum]

Yeah. I think you are right. I was just sitting here thinking "That snare needs some compression on it, or something." But, you can also tell because of how square everything is. Very straight. No dynamics.

[@Cpayne30]

This exactly right. I think Beard may have recorded live tracks for a lot of the album, but they didn't use them. The tom fills are what they did keep however.

[@tanneryordan]

@@MortonLuvz2drum the producer terry manning went pretty deep into how they did it. to the point where terry jokingly claimed he was the drummer on eliminator because he programmed the drum machine lol

[@tanneryordan]

@@Cpayne30 from what I read, Frank would "come in to record his parts, and then leave". the same went for dusty. The process was very similar for one of producer Terry Manning's mentors Mutt Lange. Def Leppard's Pyromania and Hysteria were almost entirely drum machines as well. Cymbals were typically the only real element because it was really hard to recreate any kind of dynamic inside the drum machines.

[@tanneryordan]

@@Cpayne30 maybe, I think it makes a lot more sense that they just re recorded Frank style fills for the songs. Terry Manning never mentions Frank in the recording of the album. When people say "they replaced his drums with drum machines" it's very likely they don't mean that the songs were just done and they just replaced them with machines. They probably took the demos and songs with Frank and started from the ground up with drum machine tracks, with billy recording everything on top of that.

[@YeetYeet-sg9mp]

Pascal crushed “la grange” the shuffle with the feet is deceptively tricky

[@spencerlawrence8318]

Curious about why at 2:43 it shows the hi hat stand linked to the bass drum hoop?

[@ArtOfDrumming]

When you have two kick drums there is not enough space to place the legs of a regular hi-hat. Thats why almost every drum company offers one of those clamps to keep the hi-hat pedal in place and sage even though you dont use the legs at all 👍

[@mhsandifer]

Frank is a badass

[@HarryBambarry]

The album "Rhythmeen" is so much underrated in my oppinion. It's so powerful in terms of recording, mixing, mastering and the resulting sound. One of their best ones - check it out!😉

[@TigerLima1]

Next Setup and Sound Terry Williams (Dire Straits) ? ☝😉

[@emillench2766]

I seen them in bugertoen for thetthert 50 years xxx cellent covert shoe time opened up for them with cheep trick. It my Band is always Z ZTOP I'm a life Time member the band is so great by joining the club I got tickets for every show in Pittsburgh miss dusty Boone can fill your shoes R. I. P. D. U. S. T. Y. /LIME

[@sigma1217]

Jon Fishman - the Wedge

[@singerAOR80]

Please, reecreating Rough Boy and Whitesnake - Is This Love? Drum sound

[@jonathancant2031]

Do a drum sound video on Larry Mullen Jr

[@brentharmonmusicproduction]

That's because Frank Beard probably based his drum kit around the Late Ginger Baker of Cream.

[@Ariaeditzzzz]

Stephen Morris- Joy Division/New Order

[@CCMDrummer]

👍👍👍

[@jaiden5990]

can you do abe cunningham of deftones??? i need that snare!!!!

[@Tackattack11]

Recreate the the drum sound of korn next

[@jono6794]

Hey, I think what this channel needs is inviting the actual drummer to come and play and talk about how you've recreated the sound. Even if it's just a special episode from time to time. (You deserve more views)!

[@MrTijoloVoador]

Primus drummers for sure!

[@antisocialite927]

What's the sticking on the rim intro?

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Watch out for the lesson coming out soon

[@jacknewton5961]

Please do a nick menza drum sound! Preferably rust in peace!

[@boristomakic5995]

What after that? In next ten years Beard change his drum sound 100% and things from a drummer standpoint got very interesting...that is the most creative Frank's period...you should make an effort and show that too...together with samples, drum machines...

[@tanneryordan]

I wouldnt really call it "Frank's period" given that he had almost zero input in the recording/mixing of the electronic drums. It may have been a creative sound, but after the 80s albums, he totally simplified his drum style and got kind of boring IMO. In the 70s he was a god of ghost notes and grooves, and after that he could have drummed for ACDC.

[@boristomakic5995]

@@tanneryordan you obviously didn't listen to albums I did

[@tanneryordan]

@@boristomakic5995 creative or not, it wasn't frank. it was Billy/Terry Manning who did the drums.

[@boristomakic5995]

@@tanneryordan listen to "Made into a movie"

[@Hbgblin-pw5lc]

Can you please do Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins?

[@WalkerMasuda]

I'd need to confirm by listening on better speakers- but doesn't it sound like the drums are doubled on Gimme All Your Lovin? Like he's either playing over a drum machine (most likely) or even doubled the snare? I've noticed a couple of mixes for this song. Maybe they were unhappy with the original sound and straight up recorded over elements. Some guitar fills are different between versions too. Same with Legs.

[@WalkerMasuda]

Yeah, the snare is doubled for sure

[@tanneryordan]

the entire eliminator album is almost entirely an Oberheim DMX drum machine, with other drum samples, programmed by a fairlight sequencer. the only real drums are the occaisional cymbal or tom overdub. afterburner has even less real drums. dusty didnt even play bass on the album either. it’s basicallly a billy gibbons solo album

[@camerondean6804]

@@tanneryordan Spot on. Unfortunately.

[@WalkerMasuda]

@@tanneryordan That makes sense, but listen to the flams on the snare. It's the sort of inconsistent sound of a real drummer overdubbing. Pretty tight, but still. So yeah, seems like a real snare over a machine sample. Not sure if two samples overdubbed makes sense.

[@tanneryordan]

@@WalkerMasuda it was complicated stuff back then. now you can sample and trigger in a matter of seconds. frank would come in and play some quick parts and leave, that’s what i read. tom fills, and assorted overdubs. generally, it’s all drum machine because it meant billy could basically do it all alone with terry manning. the other guys had some input in the writing stage, there are demos featuring the other guys playing. billy even played bass on eliminator, sometimes doubling with a Moog bass

[@KucingGemukSekali]

Do Polyphia!

[@msb8013]

I thought eliminator was done on a drum machine. Not that it matters. In fact I thought this video would go into that.

[@Aceandbob23]

Try out Alex Van Halen's drum sound!

[@diegomontenegro9759]

What kind of sticks are those tho

[@angelofrago3096]

Day 3 of asking for George Daniel's (the 1975) drum sound

[@jonathancant2031]

Neil Peart please

[@kaceecruson9532]

He didn't need a beard... his name was Beard!

[@F3PIZZA]

All you’re missing is the bad posture 😂

[@F3PIZZA]

I always thought the first time the shuffle is introduced, he’s using a loose hihat shuffle and not the ride.

[@fly7775]

Тащусь играть LA GRANDE

[@miniwy01wyatt70]

Stan lynch next