Nicko McBrain "Where Eagles Dare" Lesson

Get Your Free DRUM! Mag Pack ► pro.drummagazi... Onlinedrummer.com's Nate Brown breaks down the finer elements of Nicko McBrain's 12/8 drum part on the classic track "Where Eagles Dare" from Iron Maiden's 1983 album Peace Of Mind.

[@wirikuta14]

THE INTRO!!!!!

[@ombredraco1234]

Thank you! Exactly what i was looking for since a while! Very well done!

[@RektorMcQuack]

Nicko McBrain doesn't play the song like this :P

[@jackclements2163]

Before looking at the thumbs down I knew there'd be plenty. Nobody can play a thing based on this!

[@home37]

What the hell?! No mention of the intro? And "Peace"? It's "Piece", dude!

[@reginaldstampe3753]

Man! Forget the hate below please and leave it to where it’s devoted to go😉 No artist should never be insulted! Coming from other people proclaiming themselves artists it makes no sense! Cheers 👍

[@872andy872]

It can be either. Writing a triplet or 6/8 or 12/8 groove is usually done with the two latter options because it's easier to read.

[@Voitcu]

Ok so as if my last comment wasn't enough to piss us off, never mind leaving out the absolute coolest part of the drumming, the Intro! Its the fact pg. 52 of the 2012 Issue of drum Magazine transcribes the Notation as an "Open Hi-Hat" not a Ride. Hells Bells are they going out of their way to compete for worst Drum Mag of all time, or did they earn it fair and square? 1. Again, It's not like they're transcribing the entire song. They're even leaving out the coldest part, the Intro. 2. Its just 2 friggin bars. I don't think 2 measly bars would denote attention to detail. 3. They dont even know their own Drum Notation Symbols, otherwise you'd think they'd know the difference between a Ride and Hi-Hat. 3. Whats even worse is its not even a regular closed Hat symbol, which wouldn't require a circle circumferencing the head, and since Rides get no circles at least you can say it was a simple mistake. But no, they went out of their way to add the circle which wouldn't make sense in either case. Nicko doesn't play double bass, so what better place for his left foot to rest than on the closed hat pedal? There is literally no one that plays this piece on the Hats. Including the drummer in this video, who apparently is reading directly from the magazine by the looks of it. You know its stuff like this that gives merit to all those cruel stupid drummer jokes. Like this one: What do you call a guy that hangs out with musicians?

[@animal1064]

Wrong... Learn the part before you teach it....

[@drewper73]

At the beginning you say it's a 12/8 groove. I've always thought of that type of groove as being in 6/8. I guess it just depends on what time signature you write it in. Writing it in 12/8 makes it a little more like 4/4 I suppose. I also suppose that it could be written in 4/4 & it would be full of 8th note triplets. So, can u tell me why you chose 12/8 over 6/8 or 4/4? I'm assuming you wrote the article.

[@drewper73]

By the way, it's "Piece of Mind" not "Peace of Mind." Do some homework. Iron Maiden doesn't sing about peace. lol...

[@Voitcu]

The pg. 52 of the 2012 Issue of Drum Magazine only shows the groove. Literally 2 bars. In fact, unlike guitar magazines, this Drum mag contains zero full songs. Really???

[@bencollins3636]

This is not how you play where eagles dare lmao

[@Residentombraider1000]

Dude you didn't play it correct and for posting drum lessons that's very bad and of course i mean no offence !!

[@DrumFuckerFr]

How about the intro?

[@sethscurlock8963]

Wow, way to suck the life out of brilliant song,one of maidens best. No energy, no feeling, no passion. Im sure hes a great instructor, but lets face it, if you cant just play the song, counting aint gonna help

[@danieleciaodrummer]

the pattern is of course right, but the feeling is just the opposite ....it isn't the feel that iron maiden song wants to give, especially in the last lines of snare, they are not ghost notes, softly, but accents

[@drummerwax]

+1 I agree!

[@GaryCantonDrums]

The name of the album that "Where Eagles Dare" is on is called Piece Of Mind,not Peace Of Mind. This does not sound anything like the intro to it. At least do your research.

[@drewper73]

Well, he said it was a 12/8 groove. So, if you're looking at the music in 12/8 they wouldn't be triplets. They'd just be 8th notes. 12 of 'em to a measure. I prefer to think of it as being triplets. You'd have to write it in 4/4 in order for the 8th notes in 12/8 to be equal to a 8th note triplet in 4/4. I'm glad I could make things even more confusing. hahaha...

[@AgentFour]

Jesus christ, play it like you mean it.

[@ocho611]

why didn't he ever actually play the parts to 'Where Eagles Dare'?

[@dk-p3248]

His name is not Neeecko. It's NICK-o.

[@djanubi]

Ok give us the link of your cover,i think that everyone want to see how easy it is.

[@DizGuys]

Play it full speed

[@suggoz]

Bell? When do Nicko play the bell?

[@Scholsey01]

SuGGoz nicko always plays the bell

[@sirusyes5833]

That was fuckin horrid

[@mullaway5746]

Where's the fills

[@fear666dark]

This is eightnote triplets not 12/8s... get it right

[@jamesbargar4469]

Yeah cept it's like double that speed and your ride part is wrong.

[@007stopjockin]

I don't know, it sounds different to me when Nicko plays it. Maybe I'm wrong. 007

[@davideciurleo1089]

Ma che cazzo fai!! tu non sai proprio come si fa where eagles dare!!

[@TheEternalWayfarer]

Di sicuro ha capito tutto

[@jagdawg67]

U shouldnt b allowed to play Maiden.Not even close to how the song goes.IMO

[@rikuperhoniemi8639]

Why all this anger? We all learn songs different way. and Im sure this is helpful to a lot of people. Personally I just listen to the maiden songs and go for it. doesnt matter to me if its not exactly the same. But also respect all you people who learn it note for note. Cheers Nate!

[@jmdrummer7]

+Riku Perhoniemi Agree, even Nicko said he changes it up. He recorded it w/ the ride on all 3 notes w/ the kick but said he will play ride, snare, ride w/ the kick from time to time. Nicko is Nicko, it's never good to be so obsessed w/ copying someone else you never develop your own style. Listen how Nicko plays the Clive Burr parts, he doesn't even try to play that stuff note for note.

[@MellanieBlast]

uhhh, I need to learn the intro dude ...

[@winstonsmith-ministryoftru1609]

Nicko looks different...

[@drumshot80]

God damn.... there is a lot of anger in the comments sections.... ooooffff

[@jaymahony]

start of the song? maybe in time you will learn the full song

[@angelodoreto683]

Podia ter tocado um pouco

[@apestasguey]

too buzy counting....

[@allmetaliswelcome]

isn't it just triplets?

[@virgoaries7768]

zzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzzzz.wake up its over. oh good

[@policello1980]

I don't play the song like this...

[@djanubi]

ok about the rithm but the difficult to this song is the intro!!

[@merlijn1998]

sounds like a jazz song this way, haha

[@fearedlegend]

try to match nicko lol.good luck with that one!

[@ravendrummer66]

The groove is wrong! Listen again the song with more attention and look the video named "Nicko McBrain: "Where Eagles Dare" on Tichy's kit!"

[@xXmovingshadowXx]

But it's true. He IS playing it wrong.

[@SpiralDream]

Wrong

[@x6s6]

Great lesson. A lot of mongrels complaining that it isn't PRECISELY the way Nicko plays it. A good drummer would be able to get the gist from this video and adapt it to the way Nicko plays. You shouldn't need to be spoon-fed.

[@mikestrutter7400]

YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNN for fooks sake just play it as it is. passion?

[@hifinphoto]

this is Not how it's played on the record.

[@unclesam7064]

This guy can't even play the intro

[@vinceadams6814]

nope...nice try, but you made it more difficult than it is....but everyone hears differently, kinda like lyrics...

[@MrLukeimurdad6]

its not...this guy is american...

[@factotumrock2958]

horrible

[@KillDozer44]

you ARE NOT nick Mcbrain.......

[@carpediem4752]

there's no groove. Nicko wouldn't approve !!

[@bobdoyle5945]

this is not it buddy!

[@black76]

Buuuuuuuuuuu..!!

[@unorthodoxnormie4940]

Awful; groove, timing and feel - all totally wrong, no need to try and imitate Nicko he is on another level to this guy, who just sounds and looks silly in this video.

[@jessebarr4681]

Where the hell is the drum intro which is the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE SONG!!! the drummer is so LAME, he can't even play it and left it out.

[@kickupurple]

seven years ago, were you purposely being a clown, because it's not funny bro...not even close to the intro, and peace of mind? cmon man