Drum Lesson: The Bo Diddley Beat

Get Your Free DRUM! Mag Pack ► pro.drummagazine.com/free-dru... Get Your Free DRUM! Mag Pack ► pro.drummagazine.com/free-dru... As a working drummer, you want to make sure not to take any style of music for granted or look past certain grooves just because they may seem easy or irrelevant to your particular goals. One common groove, especially on bar gigs and jam sessions, is the Bo Diddley beat. This beat is basically a 3/2 clave pattern played on the floor tom with room for many variations.
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[@jesussings3]

I played the beat for Bo Diddley himself to see if he approved of it. He didn’t correct me, he said it was right. I wasn’t exactly sure but I was pleasantly surprised to hear him say it was good. I’ve seen him correct most drummers including the drummer from U2. I know I wasn’t the greatest drummer in the land but this was one of the beats I play well. Thank you Bo, I’ll never forget you.

[@stewartjean2066]

That’s awesome.

[@GabrielGarcia-eu6vr]

That's sick bro!

[@Argeaux2]

Larry Mullens Jr. is an experienced drummer, who Bo knew would respond to feedback. He would treat an unknown differently.

[@user-qs3im2sb9v]

Cool that you start reminding everyone that this is basically a clave beat, which you find all across Caribbean music as well.

[@luckydog-287]

Too amazing that you can even play that. Awesome!

[@michaele.8960]

Thanks for the lesson. I've heard it played many different ways through the years. Very cool to hear how Bo Diddley saw it. Many thanks!!

[@rickhirsch4330]

Very clear explanation, solid demos. Thank you, sir!

[@shinitaisenpai9057]

trying to teach this to my niece, so I looked for a video reference that helps her along when I'm not there and I found a proper one. good job Sir. I also didn't know Bo played the drums and that beat himself, you never stop learning. thanks for this video!

[@bluesbenders]

Great! Many thanks! I´ve seen Bo Diddley 2 times live. I love this groove!

[@JohnnyMacTahoe]

Wow … You're story about being corrected by the man himself is a revelation to me. Because like you, myself and everybody else I know has been doing it wrong since day one. Whenever working with the BD beat either live or in the studio, I would apply the classic 123-45 pattern to; the kick drum, the bass line, the guitar, and anything else making noise at the time! But, if we want to properly honor Bo, and get the impact we're after, we could start by … doing it correctly. This certainly affects the feel of the groove and it's important to lay it down the way Bo intended. Thank you for sharing this : )

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

You had a private lesson on the beat from Bo Diddley himself?!! I am so jealous!

[@stewartjean2066]

Tombstone Harry Studios on stage during soundcheck before performing with him. Surreal.

[@crollkunkel8127]

That's a great Story about Bo Diddley teaching you how to play that song. Thanks for showing us the right way you rock.

[@alisous6037]

Thanks for this Lesson!!! So grooove!!!

[@rweisburger]

Thank you!!! This has been so helpful!!!

[@matthewfrancisandersen7036]

I have posted this to Facebook. I am not a drummer, but this is sooooo interesting, even for people who aren't musicians.

[@Aditiyan]

Excellent lesson

[@BrettSherman]

Love it

[@stevepethel6843]

"Clave" learned from the man himself*** Bo. Diddley...i thought that was it and you confirmed it. Wow love the story of the drum consult by the boss No Diddley himself...thats a beautiful story I love it

[@125southernnh2]

Intro to 'She has Funny Cars' by the Jefferson Airplane uses this beat.

[@sadhvacman7238]

Got the good time music and the Bo Didley beat.

[@ajaychoudhary9817]

you had the knowledge from the legend himself!!!!!

[@marshallemmet1366]

Whenever I hear the snare variant, it reminds me of Hyperventilation by The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

[@davidmmulcahy7860]

Thank you much!

[@FLAMANGO12123]

Awesome

[@Buccarado]

primal scream, and U2 had some great idols!

[@asharpmajor6740]

The chap at my local music store in New Zealand told me the story of how he played in a supporting band for Bo Diddly when he came over, and how Bo asked the drummer to play the beat and then corrected him as to what he wanted. I guess Bo did this with every backing band he played with.

[@jongallardo8006]

True Capricorn

[@TheStijg]

I am impressed and I learned a lot. Is the backing track at the end available?

[@misfit2022]

I hear this and the snare intro pattern from Two Princes springs to mind

[@korenmoscovich4681]

This is the basis beat according to the band's drummer

[@misfit2022]

Koren Moscovich Cool I didn’t realise

[@dirtdeputy]

Just starting to learn this Beat to work on my dynamics. What would be the recommended sticking? RL all the way through? Thank you.

[@stewartjean2066]

Yes, alternate RL sticking throughout but adding flams is always an option?

[@JaneRoseDrummer]

Ive always just played the accents, so this helps and adds a layer of complexity (for me) to the beat.. question: when you go to the snare are you accenting a left beat that wasnt previously accented (for the snare hit)or changing your sticking to 2 lefts on the snare hit? it feels like that snare hit should be on the right hand? I feel like i am overthinking it wayyy too much

[@stewartjean2066]

Whatever works for you, at this tempo either hand can comfortably strike the snare.

[@Buccarado]

e.g. U2's "desire" and Primal Screams "movin' on up"

[@boomer1579]

...and bass drum pattern in "Rosanna".

[@peteytwofinger]

cover request Bo Diddley Roadrunner !

[@stewartjean2066]

petey twofinger ooh ok I’ll get on that

[@sammygartner6513]

When I played for Bo, the first thing he told me was........."whatever you do, don't play no f'n BoDiddly Beat"!......I SWEAR that's a true story......I SWEAR i is!!!

[@stewartjean2066]

I believe it.

[@user-tq2rd5gc2b]

rack tom to floor tom is good..

[@KaiStraussBlues]

Out of all of Bo Diddley's repertoire I think only the song "Bo Diddley" has this kind of drum groove. So drummers please don't play this on every song just because Bo Diddley wrote it or it is supposed to be in his style. Listen to his albums. Thanks. BTW check this out. Bo Diddley playing drums himself: (41:00) kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKnUpqCXnrmsmcU

[@selbeeeztrigg9722]

Hi what is the count for this beat

[@thebiglebowski9849]

If you want to play Rosanna, the Bo Diddley beat is not irrelevant lol.

[@Argeaux2]

I am 55 years old! Not all new players are young.

[@Breakbeats92.5]

I guess if anyone has the right to show you how to properly execute the "Bo Diddley Beat" its Bo Diddley!

[@QueenFan12]

IF anybody reads this comment, I am interested to know. Can you use this Beat in your own song and release it without having to go through any copyright ordeal?

[@stewartjean2066]

Yes, a beat cannot be copy written. Only lyrics and melody can be copy written.

[@nuke2625]

Came form Mr brownstone

[@gabrielstaniecki]

Great drummning but very poor sound of your acrylics..

[@keithmoon3190]

Does this have ghost notes?

[@stewartjean2066]

Not really but there is constant RLRL action while the pattern gets accented. The dynamic difference between unaccented notes and accented notes is up to the player.

[@user-tq2rd5gc2b]

Sounds better without the snare here

[@JohnnyMacTahoe]

Wow … You're story about being corrected by the man himself is a revelation to me. Because like you, myself and everybody else I know has been doing it wrong since day one. Whenever working with the BD beat either live or in the studio, I would apply the classic 123-45 pattern to; the kick drum, the bass line, the guitar, and anything else making noise at the time! But, if we want to properly honor Bo, and get the impact we're after, we could start by … doing it correctly. This certainly affects the feel of the groove and it's important to lay it down the way Bo intended. Thank you for sharing this : )

[@JohnnyMacTahoe]

Wow … You're story about being corrected by the man himself is a revelation to me. Because like you, myself and everybody else I know has been doing it wrong since day one. Whenever working with the BD beat either live or in the studio, I would apply the classic 123-45 pattern to; the kick drum, the bass line, the guitar, and anything else making noise at the time! But, if we want to properly honor Bo, and get the impact we're after, we could start by … doing it correctly. This certainly affects the feel of the groove and it's important to lay it down the way Bo intended. Thank you for sharing this : )