Mr. Brightside - The Killers (DRUM LESSON) Ronnie Vannucci

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

A song breakdown from one of my fav rock drummers, Mr. Ronnie Vannucci. Snag the sheet music in the video description and leave me a comment to let me know you were here!

[@uhhh_danny]

Thanks Man It Actually Really Helped Me

[@sylaslarson1299]

Todays mission!

[@bans5]

One of the most underrated drummers in the industry.

[@larid1069]

grew up in Vegas with ronnie. I remember them forming the band then hitting it years later. I didn't see Ronnie again until the Killer played the Super Bowl halftime show back here in Vegas 2020. I was one of the cameraman on the shoot and the only guy on the crew they knew. it was glorious catching up with him and hanging out with them all day. Rob W My old friend/drummer from the Marz Music days has been Ronnie's tech for 15+ years now. They all have wonderful lives outside of the music. Ronnie is so down to earth and slick. I love he loves vintage everything

[@jesusdavilam]

The accents in the hihat during verses are mimicking the arpeggio in the guitar. That is his genius. How well he listens to the other instruments and understands the arrangement to create interesting rhythms to the songs.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yea...Dave Grohl and Will Champion are two other rock drummers that do this very well. They think like song writers.

[@staciepaul]

Missed that, great ear Jesus.

[@grayk02]

the high hat accents also work with the vocals - the open hat matches the syllables in the verse and give it extra emphasis - "just fine", "kiss/this" etc etc - a drummer that really listens and works in with the song is priceless

[@PowuhToSeven]

I love that about avenged sevenfold. Nice catch. I never heard it until now.

[@paxtonsingleton2317]

I wish you knew how much i appreciate this lesson. Ronnie is a true genius but he is very underrated. He's my biggest influence (i also play in a new wave-post punk synthpop band) and you're my favorite teacher so this is as good as something can get. Thank you Stephen!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Brandon Robert James Mosby you’re more than welcome Brandon. I think the same, such a musical and underrated drummer.

[@edwardpetersii6276]

Ronnie Vanucci is Awesome! The mistake some people make is that Ronnie is an average drummer and his playing is uncomplicated! This is so untrue! He’s a wonderfully ‘dynamic’ drummer with complex grooves and like you mentioned, a drummer that ‘moves’ things along! His groove is incredible!

[@LousyBlowfish]

Stephen Taylor's intros and explanations are part of his style and play into his strengths as a teacher. Slowing things down with explanations is very insightful, especially for beginner and intermediate drummers. Showing us a slowed down version reinforces his own tip of learning new material at slower bpm. I understand the critiques about the long winded intros; it's not always clear what is going to be in the video until a quarter of the way through. It would be awesome to start most videos with a full bpm example, followed by the intro. He already does this for a lot of videos, but some that are technique heavy, e.g. his series on the benefits of good grip, don't always have them. This style of video is a good example of an exception to that. It's expected that anyone looking for a specific song break down has already, you know, listened to the song. All in all, thanks for the great videos!

[@cheeseless]

This is extremely helpful for learning the song, thank you so much man!

[@RaggingRogo]

Thanks for the breakdown! I’ve always struggled with the accents on the hi-hat for this and I’m making some real progress now. Much love Stephen, what you do is appreciated!

[@ZooK_Studios]

Best breakdown of this song on the net.

[@ricmarkson660]

For years I've looking for some tutorial like this. Thank you so much!!!!!!

[@noobclips1570]

lol when I was only a couple years into drums I learned this song and learned to do the build up on the snare while holding 8th notes on the hi hat at a consistent volume. it was so hard lol but it blew you high school away when I did it haha. good times.

[@johnkeating5292]

Another great lesson, not played for a while but your lessons are just the inspiration I need to get back playing, thanks Stephen

[@corv3tte695]

The killers are the best band ever! The drums in mr bright side have always been my favorite

[@shampoodles-asmr]

This is a FANTASTIC tutorial. Thank you!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You're welcome! So glsd it helped!

[@mrmicromanager]

Thanks for these types of videos. I'm a guy who 'learned' drums old and thus play very hacky approximations of what I hear. Seeing the actual breakdown of the parts is really helpful not just for the specific song but for my playing in general.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Makes my day to hear it Mike...glad they help!

[@heftyalan1152]

I hadn't paid too much notice of him as more likely to be listening to the Foos than Killers but the Killers released a new song not so long ago, few month's maybe, and I had to do a double take on one of the fills and thought this guy is better than your average standard pop drummer as the fill was tasty.. A little like when I heard a Paramore song Still into you and also had to do a double take on the fills until I realised it was Ilan Rubin who I had seen a few years before with Lostprophets. Talk about quality. I will have to listen to more Killers tracks.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Hefty Alan Ilan KILLED that entire Paramore album. Insanely tasty drumming on it.

[@heftyalan1152]

Stephen Taylor I completely agree. I saw him with Angels and Airwaves too. Name a band Ilan Rubin hasn't played with. That nice Killers fill is on The Man about 2.35 in.

[@Thorley666]

ilan is boss. check his solo stuff with new regime. but yeah vannucci has changed quite a bit through every album but hot fuss particular is tasty as fuck

[@alexg585]

I love you lol. You're way showing and explaining to "US" is a blessing thank you.

[@gabrielkrupaz]

Hey Stephen, Ronnie has been a major influence for me as well, can you do Somebody Told or Sam's Town? Great lesson.

[@corv3tte695]

Gabriel Krupaz Sam’s town is such a fuckin good song I would love that

[@christianfraude4517]

Apart from another "Killer" lesson love the fact you're promoting the great outdoors & your pre-ad vids elaborate this very well !

[@kyleblair]

RONNIE!!!!! Already have played this a couple times on gigs and it is always one of the most energetic songs on the set. Thanks for the fill idea at the end. My favorite killers song though is still either "when you were young" or "all these things." Super musical and fun to play. Love you brother. God bless.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

It's really fun to play...not my fav though but always goes over best for some reason. Love you bro!

[@barriewhipp4030]

That's really helpful thank you. I really like the way you don't try to show how good you are, concentrating on teaching the drum lesson Thanks again

[@drzoidbergmd3200]

I'm just learning this for our covers band. Great video, thanks.

[@Milesherrington9172]

thank you so much for this. it’s so easy to follow along

[@ZooStation42]

Ronnie is one of my favorite drummers. Thanks for posting this! My favorite Killers song is Sweet Talk.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet

[@Isosceles1]

I was just about to sit down and transcribe this song as I do with all our covers, then I found this. Video lesson AND sheet music? I feel like I'm cheating! Thanks, Stephen!

[@brushmg]

such a helpful vid, those cymbals sound amazing dude!

[@chrisdayley6228]

Nice. I was in marching band with Ronnie at UNLV. Cool guy.

[@hardikbhate6543]

Thank you so much it’s one of my fav songs. ❤️❤️ hope you reach greater heights and more and more people get to know. Much appreciated ❤️

[@TehVolts]

Very helpful video! Was having trouble with the hit-hat lick and this totally helped me get it. Thank you!

[@TKrakowski1]

Awesome. Thanks Stephen! I need to play this song in 2 weeks!

[@fergalconway]

Thanks Stephen, very helpful 👍

[@timbranigan]

Thanks for the lesson. Sorted everything out for me.

[@ThomMillsDrums]

Good breakdown of the song, got to say though the most interesting and key part of this groove that makes it stand out is the kick patterns he does. It isn't just 1, 2, 3, 4, 4+ throughout, its where he drops the last kick of the bar that makes it stand out and give it the crazy feel.

[@ZeeDahktah]

My band plays this one. Fun song and it’s always a hit with the crowd.

[@stuartburke6757]

Excellent video. Great production and drums sound sweet. Cheers 👍

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Stuart

[@emontzka]

Long time wedding band drummer here - we're suddenly playing this on almost every gig because people go NUTS at wedding for this song! It's a pretty physical workout, but fun.

[@Powerserg-dx5kk]

Yes I agree great song. Thx for the break down and download material!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Powerserg 5000 you bet!

[@blondeboy5582]

I want a Stephen Taylor drum cover of Mr. Brightside!!! His drum tone and playing is spot on.

[@derekpink]

Great timing for a three-year-old video to pop up for me. The band I play with are just about to add this to the set. We already do “Somebody Told Me”.

[@shaneorrison956]

So good! Thanks Stephen! This song and When You Were Young would be guess for most recognized Killers intro.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

That's a great one as well

[@craigspink2907]

From the first couple of minutes of the video I could tell I was watching someone who knew what they were talking about, honestly great video!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Papa_ Burgundy Thanks so much!

[@markcopeland1011]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@jacobmacbride9727]

Always enjoy the content. Thanks for the awesome videos!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet Jacob

[@LittleDrummerChannel]

No doubt, The Killers are no slouches...awesome video! Way to cover up that click...love it!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Little Drummer Channel thanks!

[@tdrum21]

Very nice. Good tune & parts!

[@learnngwell]

Well done, sir. Beside teaching so well, you also consistently make me laugh, Southern Man.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Lol, thanks so much Stephen

[@drummerboyatharva1562]

You are the best drum teacher! And I was here :)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Drummerboy Atharva Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@jamesczajkowski4239]

Great instruction

[@meekoloco]

I. WAS. HERE. Great vid and work as always man!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

meekoloco Lol, Thanks. Always great to hear from you my friend

[@richardalfonsorodriguezdel8947]

It's an awesome lesson!! I got a lot of new techniques from this!! Thanks a lot Stephen Taylor. Just one request : Could you please Slow down in the last part. I'd appreciate it!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Hey Richard...glad you got so much out of it! And I'll try to include slower examples in the future.

[@thomasjthehuman]

The roll at 14:50 is something I practiced early and often over and over. It paid dividends quickl!

[@barrydrocknrail2231]

Great tutorial, I shall simplify the fills though, (I do that a lot).

[@stinkbud2]

This is brilliant been looking at how to play this for a while, many thanks brilliant lesson. Oh can’t give a favourite track the Hot Fuss Album is like a anthem here in uk,so anything from the album is awesome. Thanks again mate 👍👍👍👍

[@sammysabbah6118]

Nice video!!!!!!! I saw the killers live and they are awesome!!!!!!!! I am from the same town as them

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

They are insane live. Saw them at the Opry here in Nashville...just killed

[@nukeystik]

Hey man as usual THANKS! Can u imagine an ol head (62 in May) like me getting this tune for a wedding gig? The amazing thing was I actually copped it by ear very close to the product as you explained it. It’s funny that long tom incorporated fill (not the hemiola) I used double kick instead of the tom between the snare hits. Lol. But your breakdowns are ALWAYS helpful. I wish (please, please, Puh-leeeze) you could breakdown Will Kennedy n da Yellowjackets Freedomland similarly. I believe I can play almost anything with practice n repetition. The problem is I’m old school and I cop off the record. Charts are cool too because it’s fascinating to see how things are written out vs how they’re played. But sometimes it’s hard to pick stuff out when the production is tight. Thanks for all you do!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

nukeystik Glad it helped! Got to see Will play with the Yellow Jackets years back. Insane pocket.

[@Azzthedrummer]

Such a good drummer

[@badowski99]

Great lesson. Can't seem to get the sheet music though, any gremlins at work? Saw The Killers in Glasgow a few years back, I was really close to the front and gawped at Ronnie for almost 3 hours - he's totally awesome to watch. Damn me was looking down at my camera when he threw the sticks and the girl right in front of me caught one of them - there's a lesson right there!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Sorry you're having trouble with that sheet music...email Grant at [e-mail] and he'll get you sorted shortly

[@paravervideos]

Gracias Grettins from Colombia

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Right back at ya from Nashville!

[@paravervideos]

I love Nashville, many years ago, more than 25 years ago, I met a group of missionaries from that city, good people

[@tdrum21]

Hot Fuss is a great album! On Top is one I really dig but there’s so many on there. Sams Town had some jams as well but Hot Fuzz is their pinnacle

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Hot Fuzz was just amazing for me at the time. Sam's Town I enjoy as a full album experience. I think they just did a great job putting that one together.

[@zabbolampitelli4532]

thank you

[@andrewjackson5704]

Thanks Steven loved learning this high H groove.And so much easier and fun than the Swingtown Steve Miller beat I was struggling with(which is sort of similar)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

andrew jackson I know that Steve Miller Tune. Good luck with it! Glad the lesson helped

[@ronirony2122]

Major nostalgia..🤤

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

VeronicaDay indeed!

[@sebbe91]

This song is for sure a killer song :)

[@mikecroom3791]

Great video - surprised I haven't seen the song anywhere else in this detail. Suggestion for another Killers song is "When You Were Young". One tricky bit is working out the intro - so maybe covering how you work that out as a band. You have the opening chord and chopping guitar then the drums. How do you set about working that out?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Mike Croom I’ll see what I can do Mike. If I were to play that one live, I would put that intro to a click so that the guitar chord happened on a downbeat, then the guitar muted stroke, then the Drums. Would just try to space it out as close to the recording as possible but so that the entire band knows what beat everything happens on.

[@Strellock]

Awesome lesson sir, pay no mind to the naysayers, slowed down beats is the best thing for anyone wanting to actually learn, and the 4 count is a sync tool, I can't understand how someone/anyone would not find that absolutely... necesary. I only wish there were more lessons done this seriously on songs I've struggled with. I guess some people have no idea what it was like to learn pre-internet, when a drum DVD was like a UFO, we were just in awe at the littlest nuggets of information, plus it was so rare. I guess we've all become a little spoiled.. Now, selfishly, sure, I'd only want more, maybe even a playthrough of the entire song with backing audio, which would be dope, but I know what that would entail. So, for a free lesson, this well organized, with transcription too, I mean it's a ton of useful information. Alright, let me get to a lick of (hopefully) useful criticism: love your kit sound (with one exception): toms sound lovely, cymbals sound lovely, bass is good too but that snare.. That snare goes - ping, ding, ching - sorta that territory. Never - thoof, phoo, bwoo. It's too high pitched and too overtony, also too tin like and thin. Say, you're hitting it on it's own, no other action around, it' a bit less noticeable, but with hats or crashing or floor, it really gets into that kind of annoying territory. Look, if you like it, sure, why not, whatever you prefer. But if I could tune that bad boy, I'd definitely take the top head down a notch or two and do some serious dampening to cut those ringy overtones. I dunno, maybe in the room it sounds completely different. But in audio technica 40x es and even more so in 50x es (audio out of laptop and a bunch of smart phones, no pres, no fancy) it's...not the most pleasant snare to listen to. Anyways, if you could look into it a bit, I swear, there won't be any more complaints from me this whole year! :) Loved the lesson, thanks for all the work that goes into these vids!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

The snare...it's in process. I've had the same drums for 15 years. I'm not a fan of switching gear (not a gear guy). But, I love these drums. That being said, there's been a bit of a process getting the sounds I want. The kit is close to where I'm happy with it. The snare I'm still tweaking. Since this lesson (this was actually filmed a month ago) there have been a lot of changes...new strainer (new type of head, new muffling product, new studio mix, and new tuning configurations for bottom and top heads). I'm much happier with the sound. It's not as thin as it was before and I'm getting some good beef out of it without the annoying overtones. I've told people this before but they just don't believe me...I'm not a gear guy. I don't enjoy the process of tuning or working in a new drum. I like playing. But rest assured, I'm on it ;^)

[@Strellock]

Alright! Can't wait to hear more recent videos! All you gear head deniers.. pff! hehe! :)))

[@iansullivan9738]

How hard is your grip on those sticks?

[@brandenbright457]

Do you learn songs from sheet music first or do you play it from ear and use the sheet music for parts you're having trouble with?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I typically learn by ear first. Otherwise, I wind up reading the chart every time I play it instead of internalizing the song.

[@jamiegmtb4819]

What snare do you use

[@DWBubinga]

Similar song that moves is “run to the hills” by Iron Maiden.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yes!

[@rickycook6881]

Two GOOD drmrs

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Ricky

[@mattj7416]

How do you have that snare tuned? Roughly

[@waynegiggins1266]

How do you get the dry sound coming from snare & toms?

[@troyjohnson9731]

Where is the sheet music I can’t find it?

[@alxluthor]

I'm in a cover band and this IS in fact a Challenging Song

[@Grey-sq7dy]

Good luck with your playing, hope your band does well, and obviously, have fun.

[@alxluthor]

@@Grey-sq7dy thanks bro! 😬

[@privacyIsKing]

It would be lovely if you were to make a Sam Fogarino study, just saying

[@christschinwon]

Well broken down Sir! I was in an indie band around the time of Hot Fuss and our second demo had a few Ronnie'isms in it. I was more influenced by him than I even realized at the time when I listen back!

[@conorreedR2C]

At 11:50, you say they overdubbed an open hi hat. I'd have to disagree. One of biggest Vanucci-isms I've picked up is his constant stomping of his hi hat, which he lets ring out. I believe this is really what the sound is, not an overdub. Ik they had hi hat & mouth hi hat overdubs on both Hot Fuss and Sam's Town; but I don't believe this is one of those moments. Also, face Killers track has gotta be Battle Born for me.

[@Thorley666]

knew about vocal overdubs on sams town. where did you hear about hot fuss?

[@kaskade5909]

When this song came out, I told another drummer friend of mine that Mr. Brightside is a hard song to play. He laughed and told me it was a simple groove. I can listen to the album track now and still hear Ronnie’s hi-hat work on the verses. The hi-hat accents are different in EVERY verse. It’s simplified on this lesson, but not accurate - no offense. To be fair, there isn’t a single drummer on KZbin that has covered this song to the T. Especially the hi-hat work exactly like the record

[@apolloeliascreed82]

Nice video 👍👍😎😎

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Apollo

[@apolloeliascreed82]

Stephen Taylor 🤩🤩😎

[@elcraigito]

Is the sheet music still available? I've entered two separate emails and haven't received anything. :(

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

So sorry about that...please email [e-mail] and Grant will get you what you're looking for

[@elcraigito]

@@StephenTaylorDrums Thanks man!

[@secaboy]

@@StephenTaylorDrums awesome thanks just sent through an email.

[@genistgn853]

The true challenge of this track is the Tempo, you must have an strong technique to hold the beat at 148 at 16ths

[@harrisonmyers1572]

I never knew that three-over-two pattern was called a hemiola. I’ve played it so many times before and never knew there was a technical term for it.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Two groups of three beats can be replaced by three groups of two beats or the other way around. Both would be considered hemiola's (in my opinion).

[@siddhantwangkhem3154]

Anyone knows the name of the song at 0:11 ??????😮😮 plz help

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll

[@АлександрПчелин-е4и]

Nice... Make Rosanna by TOTO pleeeease

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I did...it's just on my website ;^)

[@theicnot]

Very nerdy lesson,,,,,I do not think people would appreciate everything you've given. While not a big fan of the Killers music, they are OK and people love them. From the drumistic perspective it is not hard to see that major influence on all these indy drummers stems from 80ties. And that particular fill starting on the snare with RH, that is the same one done by Omar Hakim on the Bowie's son "Neighborhood Threat", same sticking. Omar Hakim, Tony Thompson, Jeff P, Manu and Vinnie, Stewart Copeland; these guys made an incredible artistic contribution to the understanding of backbeat and groove itself,,,,,My musical growth is deeply indebted to these guys,,,,

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

theicnot Couldn’t agree more. You can trace a lot of modern rock drummers back to specific periods in time and see who their influences were. That’s one of the things I love about music.

[@theicnot]

I miss those incredible groove statements,,,,some where sampled, but most of them have been played by live person. Another point, your room looks good, what kind of soundproofing/insulation you have there in the walls?That could be another worthy video,,,

[@Big_C_4205]

He looks so much like Krist Novoselic

[@pulselasvegas1409]

The way it was by the killers

[@privacyIsKing]

Man...your wrists! EDIT: I take that back...it's your whole arm!

[@geeza1200]

It's incredibly clear how much you're influenced by Ronnie Vanucci, you can see aspects of his playing being put into play by yourself in your Gigging Drummer videos

[@SaytamSup]

I don´t know why I thought Ronnie Vannucci will teach this lesson. Lol silly me

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

We all wish...

[@carlostorres1171]

Ableton click!

[@troyjohnson9731]

Nvm I found it

[@billythemanroldan1]

Awesome Stephen!! This song is part of our song list on the majority of my bands gigs and though I was close this definitely helped especially with the Hi Hat barks and that one fill after the drum build up on the snare, Thanks! Hey If you are interested in checking us out in action this is the bands website: Slammband.com

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Glad it helped Bill! Love the band as well. No Diggity and Blurred Lines were great!

[@guillermotd]

Clickbait

[@JesseENew]

Dude that fackin beard has to go!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Nah