Ilan Rubin Teaches John Bonham's "Fool In The Rain" Shuffle | Reverb Learn to Play

A note from Ilan: "It was brought to my attention that a bass drum note was omitted before the snare hits in the verse groove. This is correct, I oversimplified it. Rather than redoing the video, I figured I could direct your attention the second groove on the ride cymbal where the bass drum precedes the snare hits. That’ll give you an idea of where the missing notes should’ve been. The rest of the video should do a good job of explaining the different parts to this groove. Thanks!”
Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves) is a John Bonham devotee...what drummer isn't? Today, he spent some time teaching us the drum shuffle popularized by Bonham in the Zeppelin classic "Fool in the Rain."
Read More on Reverb: goo.gl/fzgUBq
More from Ilan Rubin: goo.gl/dngBJd
Browse Zeppelin on Reverb LP: goo.gl/uLQmxE
Browse Q Drums on Reverb: goo.gl/WgQngy
Ilan's Setup:
Drums: Q Drum Co. Galvanized Steel in 13", 16", and 24" shells.
Cymbals: Zildjian Avedis
Heads: Remo
Hardware: DW
Sticks: Vater

[@kevsnyder]

Ilan is a great teacher. He has a knack for breaking down the complexity of the beat without boring the advanced players while keeping things simple and clear for beginners. As an intermediate drummer, myself I really look forward to these.

[@bjornmichels1174]

Your right. I as an advanced drummer could listen to him play the beat in its simplest version for like an hour

[@davidgreen4084]

But no one plays the hi-hat with their left hand...

[@danielludmerer4936]

Some guys can play , others can teach. This guy does it all. Best break down of this song I've seen. Kudos.

[@mocoyotzi11]

I personally love these lesson by Ilan Rubin, because he breaks down the entire structure and explains the difference in the sound - which is very important. Keep these videos coming! Thank you

[@mattryan6886]

Ilan is such a cool guy, absolutely love his open handed play style. Really like his work with NIN

[@toynazi]

This guy is a natural teacher. It's no wonder really, The dude can play ANY type of music and be right at home.

[@ripitsympatico5843]

Since my brain is seemingly incapable of getting the Rosanna shuffle...I'm going to start with this - thank you very much from Ottawa!

[@drumfanatik316]

I hear ya! I still am working on the Rosanna shuffle. I’ve got this one pretty much down. Got the Purdie shuffle down. The problem with the Rosanna shuffle for me, is the kick drum pattern. There’s a video of Jeff Porcaro doing it and explaining it, but it’s just a coordination thing!!!

[@AnKlMa]

I find this one way harder than rosanna... especially the second part is insane

[@mb7196]

I've got the Rosanna shuffle down but not quite to song tempo yet, and I haven't internalized it enough to do fills etc...but it's getting there. There's an asian guy who has the best drum lesson break down of it I've seen. I just started this one. It's a little tricky but coming from the Rosanna one it's pretty relatively easy.

[@skyreadersociety6183]

to me that's a groove you could play forever, it never wears out.

[@littlepacificstudios]

What an awesome drummer! Thank you! This beat evades me and I have been playing for many years. I live for the day I can play it with ease. Thank you for helping to see how amazing it really is.

[@g.spencerdrums]

This is the best, most comprehensive lesson I have seen on the Bonham shuffle. Thanks Ian for helping take my playing to the next level!

[@nevets0910]

I love these videos! And I’m a guitarist!! Keep em coming!

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

Scrolled down to add this exact comment...

[@pauldavies5030]

I agree... as a bass player and a Zep fan, this is my fave shuffle! I love all of the shuffle beats. Retro... Gene Krupa or Buddy Rich. "Swing it, baby!" ~ Curly Howard

[@glengamble526]

This guy is an incredible drummer and does things on the kit I can never hope to do. His success is fully deserved and he’s got nowhere to go but up. I’ve been binging his videos today and I’m wickedly impressed. That said... He’s not playing this right. Close, but not exact. And for the record, YES, Purdie was the inventor and first to use it/record it. Then Porcaro did his version with ROSEANNA, and then Bonham.

[@GingerDrums]

erm nope, close but not exactly XD Porcaro says in his DVD that his Rosanna shuffle was inspired by fool in the rain and the bernhard perdie shuffle. Perdie Bonham Porcaro in that order of recording half time shuffles on massive records... in between hundreds of other half time shuffles in many genres.

[@TransDrummer1312]

@@GingerDrumsNicko McBrain from Iron Maiden also did his own iteration of this in Alexander The Great, and it’s my favorite version.

[@taz9609]

lol - maybe you need to be able to listen better

[@alejandrodiaz1289]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH6saWSvftGHZrM @@GingerDrums exactly!

[@RKTologist]

don't forget the ghost note kicks on the four

[@L.-433]

Purdue and Bonham’s versions are great. Each one with their own unique and subtly. Great examples on how to experiment with that groove. Create your own .

[@julioalvarez3788]

Best breakdown of that beat I’ve ever seen. Thanks for that.

[@JamesBos]

Ilan has a incredible talent of breaking things down in order to teach. Awesome!

[@scotturban54]

If you have never looked into this guy absolutely insane drummer

[@MilesTippett]

If you listen to the isolations, there is a clear kick JUST before the snare hit as well.

[@adamhumphrey8310]

Correct Miles. It adds to the trickiness of it. This guy here is missing it out making it easier on himself really lol.

[@lwlakksjd]

Proper, no nonsense teaching ❤

[@Ash_Hudson]

Absolutely love Ilan and his playing and almighty Bonham as well but he's missing one extra bass hit on the verse on the 2 and.

[@michaelbrown3128]

Thank you! I commented the same thing?

[@michen667]

Love this guy, and the confidence he's playing with. It's emanating every single note.

[@ViaticalTree]

I have an MP3 of an isolated track of Bonham's part and enjoy listening to it as much as any full song.

[@commonman317]

Love that track!

[@toritovalenzuela]

“Forgive my open handed playing” low key flex

[@bak1386]

Fuckin awesome teacher Ilan is. Me and him gotta lot in common apparently. Fool in the rain has always been one of my favorite drum parts. It's a good measurement to show where u are on drums. This is a tricky tricky part and seeing him break this down to such simplicity is downright amazing to me. Yes I ramble too much when I could give a simple compliment lol. Gotta be me tho lol

[@Diggerdog2nd]

I've been a guitar playing sometimes drummer for 40 years now. Getting back into drums now & the weirdest problem I have is my hi hat hand & bass drum foot hitting at the same time. Its hard to keep them separate. Great lesson !!

[@GingerDrums]

try working through some rudaments with kick on all 4 and hh on 2 and 4. Often the independence issue is actually a different limb! always remember to breath deep and easy whilst practising, this is a habit you cannot afford to miss out on!

[@jeffdowler9130]

Mine favorite personally, is Jeff Porcaro.

[@commonman317]

I still have trouble playing that ride pattern. It seems simple, but when everything else is added in, I mess up the ride pattern for some reason.

[@rick3747]

While I have loved Bonham's playing since 1978, I have felt that Porcaro was more skilled with shuffles and silkier hihats and cymbals.

[@njdrummer7120]

PHENOMINAL teacher...thank you this is hard...

[@andym28]

Purdie Bonham and Pocaro. Great drummers.

[@rafaelpretto292]

And Mitch Mitchell

[@reannas8853]

Andy M Bonham is 100 times better

[@theburn966]

Yep

[@user-eu5in1gw2h]

Brilliqnt lesson! Thank you so much

[@jaredmeit6127]

I don't even play drums. I just love how this guy thinks about the different components of what he's playing.

[@jamisbillson4872]

Jared Meit...he’s a special drummer alright. Saw him with NIN recently in London. Nuclear is the word I use when describing his style with NIN. I’m a full time drummer and its drummers like IR who make me think that talent does exist. Hard practice is a given. But the way IR flows is something I’ve been trying to learn...I’m also open handed. It’s near impossible.

[@sphere5282]

@@jamisbillson4872 yeah you're a 1000% right I saw them last month twice at Radio city music hall & Brooklyn Kings theater & I could feel his drums in my chest, both shows were insane.

[@jamisbillson4872]

sphere 528...He’s something else isn’t he. Between his kit and his style I can’t think of a drummer I’d rather watch or listen to.

[@sphere5282]

@@jamisbillson4872 yeah my favorite drummer is Jimmy Chamberlain from Smashing Pumpkins I also saw them at Madison Square Garden back in August. these past couple of months have been incredible first I get to see Pumpkins again last time I saw them was in 1998 when Jimmy was out of the band so seeing, hearing & feeling his drums was incredible & then I got to see Ilan & NIN twice in 4 days. again his drumming was crazy I couldn't believe they did the perfect drug & the solo at the end was........lol.........I didn't know if that was my heart or his kick drum........lol....when I have a chance I'm going to post it to my channel. both JC & IR are rare gems.

[@jamisbillson4872]

sphere 528 Brillaint. I saw SP with the Rage drummer at Glastonbury a long time ago. I haven’t really taken much notice of JChamberlain. Even though I have a KZbin recommended “Jimmy Chamberlain,” thing! I’ll post the name of it.

[@mcinty12]

Isn’t Bonham playing a ghost note right after the snare hit on 3 ?

[@jamisbillson4872]

mcinty12...yes he does. This isn’t a perfect tutorial. I saw NIN again a year ago in London. Blown away by his drumming. He’s gone from me not liking his style...I said he drowned out the electric sounds of NIN...to being totally converted. His drum offs are brilliant too. But he does get this wrong. And says as much I think. But he did learn 40 NIN songs in three months. It’s only taken me 20 years!

[@mcgrup]

Great job best breakdown of this groove I have yet to come across!

[@roberttaylor2251]

Steven...he's also a guitar player.bass player.and singer.played on one of his own albums

[@jsmed07]

That is so badass

[@PintsofGuinness]

that fucking kit sounds outstanding

[@navajooo22]

Excellent.

[@bradnelson2637]

Thanks for posting this….Awesome!

[@FredKokaska]

Excellent info and description! Thanks!

[@costamesa22]

Great 😊 video. Now please do the same but for the Wonton Song 🎵…… get those ghost notes 🎶 on the bass drum.

[@gastrein11]

always love your lessons,very straight forward,can you ever supply a PDF,so helpful after seeing you demonstrate

[@thomasnappo6309]

Well done...😊

[@solitudeparade]

One key for me learning any half time shuffle was playing a ghost note immediately after the backbeat. Almost like an echo of the backbeat. For whatever reason it helped keep my right hand in check. At first, once I hit the backbeat I would end up losing my place and playing LRR with my hands instead of RLR. Gave it a really cool sound though despite being a mistake.

[@johnniedelonghi473]

Good Job Dude... 🇨🇭🤘

[@zangetzu70]

Give us more Ilan!

[@zakirmachmud3104]

Love the lesson....

[@SpaceJockey805]

10:44 is the correct kick drum pattern, played throughout the entirety of the song. Ilan still isn’t playing the beginning correctly, but kudos to him for even playing this song in the first place

[@deffcutz5060]

first person in almost 30 years of playing that plays lefty on a righty set up like myself.

[@dennisthacker9995]

Excellent job breaking it down in English!

[@LiamLovegrove]

All I can think about whilst watching this is how much he moves his hair during the course of a day

[@skyreadersociety6183]

hahaha! - was thinking kinda the same

[@jainiajackson3216]

+1 it was driving me nuts. The lesson was so good I had to keep watching.

[@bishlap]

It is a great groove, definitely inspired by priddy purdy, but Bonham's grooves always scream out - B O N H A M !!! Thanks, Ilan.

[@mattguzda1427]

Hey great job MOP top. Love that ride. What is it? I want it. Sounds great and is just so beautiful aesthetically. Keep on rock in dude! Duuuuuddddeee!

[@nihilisthetic]

couldn’t believe it when i saw it in my feed

[@soundknight]

I'm going to learn this

[@nixdapogs]

Thank you🙏🏻

[@michaelbrown3128]

You do it when your hitting the ride! Missing it on the hihat shuffle?

[@acadianr2leger]

nice lesson

[@stuartcarswell2815]

You Ilan are an unbelievable player! I believe you were from Redditch in a past my friend 😊

[@felixd.4150]

"Home at Last" has the better Purdie shuffle and not just because Purdie plays on it. I think the rhythm sounds better with more subtlety than what Bonham chose.

[@CCMDrummer]

Ilan, you don't need to apologize for playing open handed.

[@steve4321able]

Bonham played 4 kicks before the snare.

[@crackedblackpepperandrocksalt]

I Wana know how to do the Tom's, the bit where it breaks it all up, no one ever seems to explain that bit. 11 mins 28

[@xionico3317]

Great video, but "it's the most popular one"? I'm pretty sure Bernard Purdie's Perdie shuffle has been played on more records and sold more records than Bonham's variation ever did.

[@activitiesofdust]

What's up with the Q on the kick?

[@spaceburger80]

Oh, bay-bay!

[@lunchroomstudio]

One of the best explanations I've seen - well done!

[@cedjazz]

That’s a Purdie shuffle. Not debatable. From the ghost notes to the swing feel, it’s all from Bernard himself. He invented this groove. Bonham and Porcaro have used on signature tunes, but Without BP there’d be no groove.

[@jamisbillson4872]

cedrock what utter crap. Purdie didn’t invent the half time shuffle. He made it famous and added heaps of style. Your “Not debatable”isn’t just Nit debatable. You’re wrong. It’s been around for centuries. That is “Not debatable”. As for you saying “Without BL there’s be no groove”!!! So someone else wouldn’t have put the groove (a simple shuffle) to a straight half rhythm? Is that what you’re saying? Seems your whole comment mate is extremely debatable. At best.

[@cedjazz]

1. Uhh, why’s it called the Purdie Shuffle in the first place? 2. Do your history and you’ll see that nowhere was this groove ever recorded before BP. Just like Hendrix, Parker, etc. These cats invented a language. Bernard is no different. Porcaro would’ve said the same thing. Just because you can take time and break it down is meaningless. 3. Please work on your spelling and punctuation. It makes for an easier read. Thanks

[@jamisbillson4872]

cedrock...1. Don’t tell me to work on my spelling. Maybe I should work on my typing skills. But being wrong seems like a character trait of yours. Seeing that I typed “BL” instead of “BP” should have told you that genius. I type fast. Luckily the word doesn’t stop for a typing error eh! 2. You are bullet pointing me...why? Make it easier for you to keep track of your nonsense? You also say that without BP “There would be no groove”. What are you on? Suppose without reggae there’d be no rock! Or without blues there’d be no rap. Your just about making clever sounding words into fact that is isn’t factual aren’t you mate. 3. Go away. What’s with KZbin commenters who have this need to tell everyone their opinions?...irrelevant of fact! What’s that about? Words just don’t seem to mean shit anymore. Just say stuff. Whether it’s correct or not...who cares eh.

[@cedjazz]

Jamis Ins , I don’t know what your anger is all about, as mainly we are talking artistry. Why you feel compelled to not acknowledge Bernard is beyond my comprehension but BP’s contribution is as undeniable as is Clyde Stubblefield’s, or Larry Graham’s, or even Prince; They created a groove/sound/feel that was never heard before. Bonham was a good drummer but he never invented that shuffle!!!Haaaa...Come on!... Some guy in England or Europe invented a groove that funky?? Funk, blues, gospel,,,,, all have their roots here! Find one pre-Purdie song that employs his swinging funky groove, otherwise you’re just in denial my friend. As a matter of fact, your research will reveal to you that prior to Bernard’s swinging funk feel, funk cats played straight 8ths. WASN’T NOBODY SWINGING THE FUNK BACK THEN, let alone some rocker across the pond. The combination of ghost snare notes and the hi hat shuffle; that is why they call it the PURDIE shuffle. The technique may have existed but only on paper. BP breathed life into it like no one ever heard before. Haaa, sorry mate. Nice try.

[@jamisbillson4872]

cedrock Sorry mate. Had a terrible day.

[@Hontonoki]

i'll be the one to post another Rubin to Tommy Igoe comparison

[@wrzkace1]

what a bad ass !!

[@norwegiansniper9713]

I’d be happy if you could include your recording equipment in the description.

[@michaelbrown3128]

Your missing a bass drum beat right before the snare hits??? WTF? How can you not hear it during the song?

[@GamalielRios]

…???

[@timhenderson6473]

Yeah he's missing the kick b4 the snare

[@Sundaydrumday]

Ya u should watch the entire video next time before commenting

[@CanIGetaGame134]

First, any real musician doesn’t care how it’s played, as long as it’s good. Save your judgement for somebody who gives a shit.

[@drumsofviolence]

Any real musician doesnt care how its played ? Are you serious ? The video is titled how to play fool in the rain. Not how to play a song similar to fool in the rain. And yes missing the most dominate kick note

[@SamuelGarcia-jt4rg]

Ok i think everybody has its own way of playing a shuffle if it sounds good it sounds good... i hate it when people are like “!Youre not doing it like John Bohnam!” Does it SOUND good that is the question...

[@TransDrummer1312]

Iron Maiden used this groove on Alexander The Great

[@soundknight]

Less gate in snare Mic, can't hear ghost notes

[@jamisbillson4872]

Brian Cullen Well clean your ears out. Everyone else can hear okay...except one other expert.

[@paulforrest6000]

Agreed...ghost notes are hard to hear

[@JackNiles]

LM402?

[@bishopoftroy]

Sorry for open handed? This is the natural position of the body and the only one that should be taught.

[@chuangtsu]

Missing one kick beat before the snare hit as someone pointed out below. Bonzoleum teaches it as well with the missing beat - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5fTgJScrrF6b6s

[@amoterocreative]

Love how his bass drum sounds. Is it completely open, or does he muffle it at all? If so, what does he use?

[@napatora]

there's all sorts of compression on the mics. you can tell when he starts talking and they switch to the uncompressed vocal mic and the snares ringing out. definitely not the natural sound of the kit/room

[@od_muziki]

1:35 is it the clip on mic picking that up? That drum sounds fat and mean

[@VeryScaryBiscuits]

Fool in the Rain beat? No. But it sounds great. If you want to hear it perfectly, listen to Bonham play it (if he played it "perfectly"). The point is a lesson for kids to learn from Ilan.

[@vreil5386]

I have a question: im not a drummer, im a guitar player. Is it possible to learn only this beat nearly as perfect as he plays it?? Thats the only beat i want to play on drums xD !!!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

You could learn it but it sounding like this is negligible. You're going to sound like you at some point.

[@centsmith6121]

well rosanna shuffle is the best for me :p

[@zacharybaranek9492]

Bro, you woke me up today. Wtf

[@TheBonhamesque]

Are those cotton wool balls in the floor Tom.

[@michaelbrown3128]

Bonham actually hits the bass drum twice before the snare hit.

[@michaelbrown3128]

Yrs, with spacing though, I'm talking about right before the snare note.

[@michaelbrown3128]

The bass beat is in the middle of the open hihat, and snare hit!

[@thedayones4918]

This is not it. He is a gd drummer and i love the Copeland lesson, but this is lacking my g.

[@Sticks1680]

Tune that damn snare

[@wlcrutch]

You’re a great drummer. Love your work with NIN. BUT…..it ain’t the same playing “open” with left hand on hi hat..doesn’t sound nearly as groovy

[@zacharybaranek9492]

You still does rule, hence!

[@ronaldfuhrer]

You'd think if your a Bonham fanatic, you'd know how to play it right.. There's a bass drum on let of two.

[@AnKlMa]

Is it just me or is the second part rediculously difficult :D

[@rockdfunk]

100+ thumbs up and no thumbs down?!!!! faith in humanity is restored

[@anshpatel7171]

Didn’t know he was left handed

[@gianlucadiaz5244]

No cordino lpm

[@stevek758]

its not correct

[@keith1r]

It’s wrong. Supposed to be a bass drum hit before the snare bbbs bbbbs

[@jamisbillson4872]

Keith Roland...if you watch how kick pedal you’ll see he is playing the first kick. Quiet accent and I can’t hear it either. But I can see it.

[@goosefuck]

Keith Roland wtf are you doing here Professor Snape?

[@Underoath85]

Nope

[@PervertedPodcast]

Great lesson...but bro!!! Get a fucking hair tie!!! lol