The Drumming Of “Nevermind” | Nirvana Album Breakdown

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Check out drum-less versions of all these songs (and 5000+ more) with the all-NEW Drumeo: www.Drumeo.com/new-year/ 💪

[@gitar-adam]

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[@jgreen2015]

i swear if you listen to the isolated drum track for in bloom, the intro flam section...the first tom flam isnt done solely on the high tom, but between high tom and floor tom!

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

Tool

[@vikinglife6316]

Is there any possible way you could get Domino Santantonio to do Code of Silence by Grip Inc on the drums like you did with Slipknot? I have been trying to find a drummer to cover this as a challenge for years and yet to find one. At the very least listen to Dave Lombardo play that song its got this drum roll that is off the chain. Thanks for any response.

[@mr.blonde66milkyway66]

David hated Kurt Cobain and then he wrote composed and preformed His own album shortly after Cobain's demise...he then became the lead singer and guitarist....(?!)... Dave helped k I l l Kurt.

[@shanesawyer5103]

You realize Dave is truly special when other skilled drummers (like this guy) play his parts and it’s just not the same…

[@Lekter]

Thank you. I feel the same way. It's just not the same.

[@caprise-music6722]

Exactly. Nowhere near the same. I heard a story about some band recording with Steve Albini(who recorded In Utero) the drummer asked if he could make the drums a bit louder. Steve’s answer: just hit the drums harder. Haha, and that’s one of the many great things about Dave Grohl.

[@nogrecords]

​@@caprise-music6722hahahhaa I didn't know that story! Thanks for sharing it

[@Driver8takeabreak]

It was really fun to hear what Dave could really do when he played with Queens of the Stone Age. Clearly he was much more subdued in Nirvana (as far as fills, etc. He still had the power of course).

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks for watching! Any other album breakdowns you want to see?

[@carloscaiado7320]

Would be brilliant to have We Like it Here! The breakdown of what Larnell did during those sessions would be amazing!

[@BrandonToews]

@@carloscaiado7320 - ooh good choice.

[@wadewilson335]

Abbey Road!

[@argeo7240]

Any album from Tool. You are the man to pull it off Brandon!!

[@mikecrover7157]

Siamese dream, Matt Chamberlain..

[@audionmusic2787]

Nobody talks about how Dave pushes the beat and then backs off so perfectly. Swing, feel, whatever you wanna call it. He is great at it.

[@joefx69]

Exactly. He’s essentially playing SLTS wrong

[@krisfrederick5001]

Rick Beato does 🤘🏻

[@asharpbflat7179]

This!

[@davidofpiano423]

I try to talk about it, but I never know quite how to describe it beyond saying that he’s got the Bonham swagger, which literally only a couple of other drummers I can think of have. Matt Cameron and maybe Jimmy Chamberlain are the only two I can really think of who have that half swing, half straight time feel.

[@objectforever]

Exactly, for about 3 minutes 50 seconds in this video he puts emphasis on Dave's kick drum "What Makes This Song Great? Ep.90 Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

[@hurt.cobain]

It’s always blown my mind that Grohl has made so many great parts with only 3 rudiments. I’ve only heard him play singles, flams, and in rare cases, hertas. Never even heard the guy play doubles except on the bass drum. Pretty cool imo

[@o0Donuts0o]

I’m almost certain that the the album version of School has double bass in it and then was adapted to be played on the toms by Dave in later years.

[@galetinm]

Yes, but most of these parts weren't made by Dave. It was Chad. Dave plays it much cleaner though.

[@jebj1]

@@o0Donuts0oYes - listen to live versions of Blew, Negative Creep, School played by Dave and you'll hear his double bass adaptation on the toms.

[@o0Donuts0o]

@@jebj1 Grohl’s is the better sounding one imo. Those triplets on the toms just give the song the balls it needs.

[@jebj1]

@@o0Donuts0o Yup, agree 100 percent ! It's almost as if Grohl's rack tom and floor tom are tuned to the same pitch to give them the same flat, "rolling thunder" sound that duplicates double bass. Have you seen the size of Dave's rack tom? It's almost as big as a floor tom! I actually bought an extra floor tom and I use it as a rack tom when I play Nirvana songs on my set. I tune both toms exactly the same and it sounds great! I have a Tama Rockstar Dx. Not as good as the Artstar that Dave used but good enough for me lol !

[@joacequeira9909]

This is the first album that I learned the drum parts of each and every one of the songs (or at least tried). Definitely a huge influence on my playing. Great video guys.

[@BrandonToews]

Love it

[@DrumeoOfficial]

That's great Joa! 🙌

[@Nacnud92]

I think Breed may be my favorite song to play from this record. Those crash accents in the chorus are so fun.

[@hard_top]

It's a mad song

[@riiidhoo3824]

@@hard_top im dead serious rn .. endless nameless is the mad one

[@Nacnud92]

@@MadMalikBand I never said anything about who originally wrote the songs, but thanks for the info. Lol

[@Nacnud92]

@@MadMalikBand Grohl has credited Chad many times.

[@hard_top]

@@riiidhoo3824 They'd both be mad songs - endless more so

[@FozzieOzbourne]

As biased as it may be, I would love to see this deep dive into In Utero as well! So much strength and variety is in the drums throughout the album

[@MundoDragon]

Better yet, Incesticide. That was a truly great, diverse drumming album.

[@etherealdog]

On a Plain, of course. One of Kurt's most ingenious tracks and my favorite from this album.

[@Clumpfy]

Holy shit guys, genius move showing what your page can do. I have a drum teacher and have been playing for over a year now, but I think I might fork over some cash in your direction to learn that whole fucking album! I mean, at 37 years old, Dave was THE inspiration for me to start learning the drums. I have a Nirvana Tattoo for years, every album... I basically have to do this now :D

[@BrandonToews]

Glad you enjoyed this one!👊🏻

[@Clumpfy]

@@BrandonToews Your guys and what you put out on your channel for free is insane! I love it! Already bought the 30 day drummer course back in september last year. I really hope you do something like an davanced course with Domino - she was a fantastic teacher and a lot of fun. Liek i said, I'll definitely have to get a subscribtion to your website for Nevermind. Maybe you could do "In Utero" too? :) That is my favourite Nirvana album to date.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Amazing! It's never too late to learn more!

[@BrandonToews]

@@Clumpfy - Love it! "In Utero" would be a great one to cover, too :).

[@coreyknight924]

Breed was my favorite song on the album to play. It's a rocking song and so fun to play on the drums! 👍🤘

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Nice choice!

[@DenEz_TV]

I think Nirvana's Nevermind became and always be no1 in rock music ever! What a masterpiece!

[@Christopher-md7tf]

Simple, but powerful, effective, and very musical drumming.

[@mladyavery9138]

Drain You's drum part was actually written by Dale Crover from the Melvin's and early Nirvana! on the early demo Dave was playing bass and Dale was on drums

[@saulgoodeguitars]

That was on the with the lights out box set 🤘🏾

[@stephanmarcouxdrums4877]

That's some amazing details, thank you.

[@PanteRan]

Chad deserves more for his part in this album!!!

[@anapoda3081]

who cares?

[@BeersAndBeatsPDX]

He got song writing credits and royalties.

[@sensationaldenny]

Nevermind has to be the most air drummed album in history!

[@wendydomino]

Drumming looks like something that someone needs to be pretty smart and skilled to do properly. Much respect.

[@SlimRhyno]

This was awesome! I appreciated every single second 🙏

[@swedechef9628]

So many great songs on this album, start to finish.

[@georgelorence1089]

Absolutely great job on the video! Detailed, factual, spot on! I hear it better now. Also thanks for letting me see drumeo. Can’t wait to check that out.

[@BrandonToews]

Awesome!

[@ajevans4802]

I could listen to his bass drum footwork all day.

[@extraordingary]

Even though he didn't really cement his status as one of the GOAT's until Songs for the Deaf was released, there are more than enough reasons to grant him that based on Nirvana alone. In Utero is a landmark album for rock drums, sound and performance / composition wise. But another landmark in pop music is that 4 bar Teen Spirit intro. It still sounds so menacing and arresting. The guitar is iconic in its own right, but that single bar of drums was pure brilliance. Cobain is often (correctly) compared to John Fogerty in that he gets so much out of so little. That's true of Dave as well and that was an absolutely inspired decision from a 22 year old. Don't get me started on In Utero. Sophisticated aggression. Probably his best work as a drummer.

[@hldrums333]

Thanks for Mentioning Chad Channing! respect.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

🙏

[@stab180]

This is one of, if not THE, only person I've seen get close to Dave's drumming style (Before anyone attacks me, I said 'close to', not exactly replicate. Dave is too good a drummer for anyone to do that). Anyone else I've seen quite literally doesn't hit hard enough, and it sounds emotionless. That's not the case here. Amazing video!!

[@theadamblock]

Territorial pissings was my favorite song on this album growing up.

[@owenmichaelroberts5517]

Dave literally just re-recorded in bloom with a few tweeks the drum pattern is literally identical to the 1990 single sub pop release which includes Chad Channing not Dave.

[@AntoineADubai]

Haaaa, nostalgia.... The pure joy when I realized that the fills in In Bloom where played with a leading left (that's what you get you play by ear!)

[@setankredit]

Wow it gives me chills, I've played all the drums part of their albums almost 20 years ago and i still remember it in my head 😂. I need to buy a drum kit

[@JaceHuntley]

They really are my favorite band since the age 15 now I'm 33 and nothing has changed. Lol I'm in a gigging cover band own 15 guitars. Love your channel btw Chad Smiths video was awesome!

[@danejurus69]

Probably the most covered drum tracks of the last 30 years. So influential.

[@EasyENG4U]

To me, Dave Gröhl is one of the greatest drummers in the 90s because of the things we weren't used to listening to in that decade, those fillers and the emotion he played with, defined the potential of oa great drummer we really.

[@DirectorMeems]

The drums sound perfect on Nevermind

[@fbeegle]

He def does Teen Spirit with 8ths and ghosts the "and"s. You can see him doing it in a relatively recent solo live performance as well as clips from him playing it way back in the heyday of grunge! It's still a fucking hard beat even then.

[@kakigoreng83]

The timing of this video is perfect

[@BrandonToews]

🙏🏻

[@youcallitacid]

You really prepared all the drum parts very well! I know nailing this can take a lot of work. Especially with all the intricate details...

[@mikecrover7157]

Thanks a lot man. I love Breed and Territorial P. Take a look on Dale Crover from Melvins

[@badumtss89]

Hey Brandon, thanks for another awesome video! My favorite track from this album is "In Bloom" 😄🤘

[@BrandonToews]

Nice!

[@tamactijudv]

I love drum part of All apologies

[@gameplayti2909]

Great video editing and content guys. Thanks for sharing.

[@BrandonToews]

Appreciate it!

[@DrMustafaArk]

I needed this video 20 yrs ago 🥲

[@slayabouts]

I’d love for yall to do a video like this on Refused’s The Shape Of Punk To Come. David Sandstrom’s drumming on that is unreal

[@teugene5850]

this entire video just teleported me back to high school... sort of sad.. sort of happy...

[@drkndn]

I taught myself how to play drums with this album over a weekend back when I was younger. Been a huge Dave Grohl fan ever since.

[@vnanyzapatv6274]

You guys need to do video like this, with "White Pony" by Deftones.

[@curcovain2010]

Finally! someone how plays the drums just like Nirvana!!!

[@bollewillem1]

The illusion that Nirvana’s succes was not expected is, well, is an illusion. They practiced a lot to get the raw sound right. They changed drummers to step up to the next level. When Dave Grohl was approached he already had a manager. The producer they worked with was a top notch producer in those days, and still is. And the publicity campagne behind the album was massive. It is a great band , and the songs are timeless, but it was not an unexpected happening that this band made it big.

[@jaydeem1264]

They were looking to match Sonic Youth, decently big for the scene and genre, but Sonic Youths biggest commercial successes actually comes from Nirvana. They knew it could be big, just not the biggest band in the world

[@DrumNBassMC]

AWESOME VIDEO!!! Thanks Nirvana for those masterpieces!

[@luckylarry88]

It would have been so cool if some of the 90s grunge bands came together and made a few bonus songs

[@JTJ92]

Would love to see a Drumeo of Dave playing this whole album!

[@jeremybrandt5779]

Dave is probably the best drummer of all time

[@commondog3956]

Chad always had a beautiful slouchiness I will always love. I wish he was my bands drummer.

[@HonoluluBlue81]

This album was the soundtrack of my high school years.

[@eddiebowles3]

Dave really loves flams

[@towmater7081]

I've bought this three times and wore it out . Still listen to this day

[@deaneawilliams2272]

The greatest group

[@iputuedysupartha7091]

Beautiful drumming

[@danielfurmage4381]

Had no idea about that fact re: Endless Nameless! Did wonder if you might look at the heavier version of Something in The Way, which was a BBC session which I've always absolutely loved and know they played live.

[@MrTommydrums]

Whole album is so 🔥

[@Christopher-md7tf]

One subtle, but crucial detail to get right about e.g. the Teen Spirit chorus is the slightly delayed 1. Really gives it that extra Oomph.

[@DrummerGAS]

Its so hard to do that correctly without dragging the whole part… No one will ever play it like Dave

[@claudestuder4199]

Agreed. It's almost as if it's not done on purpose but extremely effective.

[@JothamBilly]

Drummers are just so cool This is not a bias statement

[@slimjim1104]

I loved Dave's drumming. One of the albums I learned to play drums to and I didnt even know the drummers name at the time.

[@jimsteele2072]

Daves comments at the ceremony felt like him slagging off Chad, in essence it is a huge compliment. as previously stated in the video, that beat was the coolest beat on that album and could not be replaced. Dave had to play it. Thanks Chad Canning.

[@luciferdzhugashvili]

Chad Channing is underrated.

[@ajevans4802]

Not even the slightest lol

[@kevenrowe2958]

Chad sucks he wasn’t a good drummer watch any nirvana show in the bleach era, he couldn’t keep time for shit he was either rushing or dragging like I’m so I’m tired of you chad Channing fanboys he sucked why can’t y’all accept that he was fired for a reason never mind wouldn’t been shit with him

[@julianbobasso4142]

he wrote some nice hooks behind the kit, but in general he was a bit limited as a musician. Grohl added a lot of depth on Nirvana´s songs

[@blastar9872]

Dude your TH shirts!!! amazing

[@CiscosDisco22]

Love these….awesome breakdowns 👍

[@america_is_a_myth]

There’s not one single song that these guys made that I wouldn’t listen to and enjoy..👍🏿

[@krisfrederick5001]

You should cover Incesticide next if you really want to get nasty, 3 drummers on one album. Everyone would watch it. 👀

[@ProbablyNot1121]

Your shirt 🥹🥹 Did you happen to make it to the tribute show?

[@BrandonToews]

I was at the LA show!

[@uncarbonatedcola9190]

A thing many people don’t bring up about Dave Grohl is that he rarely used a click track. If you try to pinpoint an exact bpm of Smells Like Teen Spirit you’ll come up empty handed, he could just keep time that well.

[@krisfrederick5001]

“Practice makes perfect, but nobody's perfect, so why practice?” -Kurt Cobain "A band needs to practice in our opinion at least 5 times a week if the band ever expects to accomplish anything." -Also Kurt Cobain

[@superblondeDotOrg]

I use precise tablature videos like these for rhythm motifs in my formal music compositions. Grohl's drumming and Channing's drumming will become trumpet or trombone parts in my next scores.

[@sukyuppal4680]

Also thw size and kits were different back then i find them so much betyer and cooler

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Solid. Thanks!

[@batnest5]

It has to be surreal for someone like Dave Grohl, someone who can't even read music, intellectualize and study and pick apart his drum work. That said, I loved that album and Grohl's work was awesome on it.

[@DemonSlide]

Classy move wearing that Taylor Hawkns shirt. Represent. 🤘

[@RMPalm2000]

Dave isn't the most technical drummer but God his parts are so well thought out.

[@daveyboy8907]

Great video

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks!

[@frankthefran]

Dave was a f... Metronome, so good

[@bklyncrook]

Shout to the Gap Band and Cameo for inspiring a young Dave Grohl.

[@heamorhoid]

Hi, my favourite song from Nevermind changing through time. Like young newbie to this album it was SLTS. When I was older I liked CAYA than Lithium. When growing it wa Terr.Piss. Then Polly. My favourite to this day is Drain You. But the most favourite song is Pennyroyal tea from In Utero.

[@clarafleur7990]

I'm glad Chad Channing was mentioned!

[@dennystodorov5270]

Epic video as always! Such an awesome kit too! What's the specs on it Brandon?

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks a lot! The kit is a Gretsch USA Custom (24/13/18) with a ‘70s Tama Imperialstar snare. Cymbals are all Istanbul Agop - 15” Mantra hats, 19” Xist Crash, 20” Mantra Crash, 22” Xist ride!

[@dennystodorov5270]

Thank you!

[@wombo6788]

Damn it.... Now I want a pair of drums

[@broke602]

Man I remember spending a whole hot ass summer in my garage/bedroom learning this album lol.

[@jejealin]

Excelente video. Muchas gracias por reconocer el trabajo de Chad!!! Dave es una bestia en la bateria!!!amo a Nirvana!!!

[@DrumeoOfficial]

De nada! Esperemos te haya gustado el video, Saludos!

[@lewisbiggs8014]

Love this video a video on the drumming on bleach would be cool

[@Anson120]

I wonder how he tuned his drums officially. I seen videos on how people say he tuned slack batters and medium tight resos. Did he really though? It does sound like it and dave does love bonham. That is how I tune my drums. On dave's hard hits. If you wanna hear a drummer that hits the hell out of his drums, research Brain St Clair from Local H. I was in a band that opened up for them three times ,and let me tell you what. you with flip out on his drumming.

[@BradyA1124]

2:15 you were pushing and pulling the hell out of the beat lol

[@TimLuke-u3g]

extrem good drumming

[@luketuchscherermusic]

This isn't a criticism at all, because it's so widely believed, but he actually doesn't play quarter notes all the way through the chorus of Teen Spirit. I first noticed it watching the Hall of Fame induction, then again when he did his Storyteller tour, but even if you go back to Live at the Paramount, he actually plays eight notes around the syncopated bit. It actually makes it far easier to play, so if anyone's struggling, try that!

[@loombaron]

thanks for this! great video!

[@mfranchi82]

the website is awesome 😱🤯

[@rhythmista7707]

Great video on a great band, drummer, and drum sound. By the way, is that a vintage T- badge Tama snare drum used in this video ? Cheers ! 👍💪

[@christopherjohnson5748]

Dave’s drumming was criticized when the record came out? Where? I remember people pretty instantly recognizing his power, precision, and brilliance. Not saying you guys are wrong. I just didn’t know that part of the story.

[@SammyWarmHands]

Where can I read about these drum magazines who criticized the playing in 1991? I can’t find anything on Google

[@futureshock7425]

Chad Channing created many of those famous drum fills Dave was able to play them very heavy and accurately

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Be cool to hear some studio recordings with Channing…

[@chrissirhc7337]

original nevermind demo . chad drums on In Bloom, Breed, Stay Away, Polly, Dive, Lithium, Sappy, and Here She Comes Now despite grohl getting credited kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabFind3bKtpfsU

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@chrissirhc7337 thanks SO much!!!

[@ajevans4802]

Why? It’s lackluster compared to Dave

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@ajevans4802 well, I wouldn’t know that until I heard it would I?!besides Dave rated BLEACH highly, and it Chad’s drumming was good enough for some of the tracks on, Nevermind… So…

[@BoxOfCurryos]

Today is Dave’s birthday!

[@xeniaadaeva3429]

Awesome! Thank you for the video. Love it! 🔥

[@DrumeoOfficial]

You are welcome! Glad to hear!