Play flawless TRAIN BEATS in 3 steps

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If you’re working on a train beat like Folsom Prison Blues or The Devil Went Down to Georgia, we’ve got you covered today. But more specifically, if you’re running into a fast and syncopated rock train beat like Ballroom Blitz by The Sweet…well that’s the challenge we’re really digging into in this lesson.
What usually happens with train beats is we get them going, but we feel stuck and constrained to a very simple kick pattern. You feel like you’re trapped in a box, unable to break out and deviate from what you’re doing as you hold on for dear life (you can probably guess I’m speaking from experience!).
So follow these 3 steps to unlock your right foot and build the coordination you need for freely & smoothly nailing fast train beats with syncopated kick patterns - or whatever else you want to play for that matter. YOU CAN DO THIS!
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[@AldeanLeger]

In New Orleans they call that swing playing in the cracks. Johnny Vidacovich talks about a lazy left hand. Play along with Zigaboo Modeliste on The Meters' Hey Pocky Way

[@jeffsr8300]

By far Sweet, Ball room blitz, playing since the 70's it was one of those songs you had to be able to play. Thnx👍👍

[@michaelquaglia4156]

You should have been mentioning Mick Tuckers name throughout the video. Was one of the best rock drummers on the planet. RIP Mick Tucker. Sweet Rules.

[@scottbrower9052]

100%

[@josephgurzynski1053]

@@scottbrower9052 Absolutely! Fantastic drummer and he left us way too soon. Damn leukemia.

[@stevewilding1]

Couldn't agree more!!!!!!

[@zikandgroovefr]

Yes, I think so too.

[@edwhite7475]

'Radar Love' might be a good one.

[@calumpearson8471]

I can’t believe the synchronisity with this lesson. This is exactly what I’ve been struggling with this week, starting with trying to play Ballroom Blitz. Thank you.

[@Madewithmice]

I saw The Sweet at a gig near where I live in Bavaria, Germany, in the summer. They still put on a great show. Timeless classic tunes. Thanks for breaking this down.

[@michaelduthie264]

As a HUGE fan of Sweet's Mick Tucker (now sadly passed) and having seen him play this live on more than a few occasions I can say the most important thing Mick seemed to deliver in this deceptively tricky song was by adding a really cool 'swing'. I've got my own theories and my own sticking. Stephen's lesson and tabs come as close as I've seen on the 'net, but I'm pretty certain there's still room for argument. (The track was recorded 11-12 June 1973 in London, btw. Mick played a Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 snare. The band was struggling to give the Mike Chapman-written song the lift it needed. Producer Phil Wainman, himself a session drummer of some repute was a big Sandy Nelson fan. Phil brought in his '61 Ludwig snare into the studio and they routined the song- and the rest is drumming history...)

[@billbradleymusic]

Way more pertinent information.

[@wolfumz]

Sweet is really under appreciated IMO

[@taekwanlew]

Mick Tucker was a fabulous but under-appreciated drummer. A very early influence for me

[@spamwagon]

OMG... thank you Soooo much for saying "under-appreciated" instead of the ridiculous KZbin go-to "underrated"..!

[@felipejotz7054]

Great video Stephen. Even for an intermediate drummer this lesson is quite valuable.

[@homerinchinatown2]

Good stuff. I think taking things to another level involves experimenting with the swing (as mentioned) and then loosening up the dynamics beyond just loud/soft so things can flow differently.

[@TargetHHH101]

Thank you for everything you do I am mainly a guitarist but ive been learning drums the last couple of years and your videos have helped out tremendously

[@zikandgroovefr]

Keep up the momentum ! Playing drums are the most fun.

[@claystaggs8908]

I can remember the first time I heard this song. It was on Waynes World , and I was just a kid and thought that Cassandras band Crucial Taunt actually played it lol.

[@nicholasbell9017]

Never heard the term "train beat" before. Hard to play, I do it by double parallels, it sits naturally for me with the bass drum/right hand. But you're right to emphasise separating arms from legs , you difficult boy! I am 66 and learning. Fave train beat song: Radar Love. All the best mate. Nick

[@jouninenonen467]

My favorite train beat is from the finnish rock band Peer Günt and their song “Train, train”. Their drummer is combining the snare beat with double bass drum beat. Thanks a lot, this was a great lesson.

[@davidmckaig8134]

Great instruction and great socks too

[@michaeldaum1811]

Two songs that we play at church. “This Is the Day”and “Today is the Day” both lend themselves to a train beat. I really needed this lesson today as I get boxed in and was looking for ways to make it more interesting. Working on the kick to land on the 1 and 3. I admit that it’s a bit of a challenge. As you mentioned, my right foot wants to follow the right hand. So much to learn and I thought I had this figured out! 😂🤔

[@slestage5725]

This is gold thank you!🥁🙌

[@avons7]

Thank you so much for this lesson Stephen! My band has a song with a train beat that I'm still working on being able to play. Slow but steady wins the race!

[@rayboreham2648]

A great, even faster (or it seems it) train beat is on Billy Joe Shaver's "I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train". It's all in the title. Great lesson. Thanks.

[@jeffbrown8821]

The train beat was always a challenge. Today our band plays Ballroom Blitz, Folsom Prison Blues AND Radar Love! Practicing slow is the key to the train beat. Now it feels natural to me and I’m able to add the left foot on the hi-hat into the mix. Ballroom definitely needs that swing. Love the video!

[@mikeelliott4898]

Thanks Stephen, great lesson.

[@dannymaes7709]

Great lesson! Many thanks Stephen!

[@arboclimber]

Thanks for this I'm relearning after 40 years away one year in left handed, its hard to find left handed videos but you made it possible 😅 just by explaining I've learnt this awesome beat thanks again.

[@paulsmusic861]

Seeing the sweet next week, can't wait!

[@rob-442]

Stephen, thank you so much for this!!! I learn so much from your videos. Yes, it would be great to dive a little deeper into the swing vs straight feels as I do struggle hearing it. I do feel it, but difficult to apply it. Thanks again, Rob

[@ajparr5585]

this was great . I was really struggling with what I ,erroneously , thought was an easy beat . I'm going to work through all of these steps . Lay down Sally is what I've been working on

[@josephandrachick1774]

thank you stephen. this really helped

[@neieodnsnak4902]

youtube crazy cuz i was thinkin about this channel today n i got reccomended this a few hours later

[@neieodnsnak4902]

they be listenin to our minds now

[@drummermomcjs]

Great lesson Stephen. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and The Waves either is a train beat or very similar to a train beat. "Without precision (time and dynamics) at the slow tempos, it will never groove at the fast tempos." That is going on my studio quote wall. Thanks for the great lesson Stephen! I think this shall be my focus for the rest of the month in my morning drum practice. I can already see a lot of opportunities to apply this in 16th note grooves and other grooves as well so I look forward to seeing how this will improve my playing overall.

[@markazinker3212]

Great Advice!!

[@toddshook1765]

After viewing your video I found Steven Taylor showed train beats with Brad Paisley “ The World.” Good country train beat. Thanks for your lessons. I like the way you break down every aspect of a technique or sound. Helps me much.

[@PabloJ1968]

Thanks!

[@LukeFoust]

One of my favorite train beats is Mrs. Train by They Might Be Giants. Good for practicing at ever increasing tempo

[@zikandgroovefr]

Fantastic tips and vidéo! Mick tuckers is incredibly talented.

[@bigl6322]

I found if I think of it as ghost note practice, and start by adding 1 ghost note after the snare accent in a groove, then I add 2 ghost notes after, then 3 ghost notes and it’s rolling. Seemed to mentally set me up for grip and tension better. If my dynamics get out of hand, I keep rolling but quit the accent und focus on a “rolling ghost” and once that’s smoothed back out I bring the 2 accent back in for a couple measures, then do the 2&4 accent

[@MrBoblangan]

Good stuff

[@oreoandoz7723]

"more precise grip needed" - not if you play traditional grip :D Seriously, though, love this vid, thank you for all the great content. You're like, half my Saved playlist!

[@billbradleymusic]

Decent lesson for beginners.

[@RicCrouch]

“If you haven’t heard ‘Ballroom Blitz,’ that’s okay…” No. No, it’s not. What’s WRONG with those people?!?!? :)

[@CatabductionsAnoym]

It does sound like a Queen song, the band queen to me...

[@kenfox9447]

I learned this as double strokes on the snare which gave me that shuffle feel

[@mattpurcell3369]

The coordination element of 2 & 4 being the right hand - opposite of the kick is the trickiest for me

[@LoweCommotionStudio]

Mick Tucker played some of the insanely fastest snare rolls ever.

[@stuartsarson1015]

A train beat song I've been trying to nail is "That's What I Like About You" by Trisha Yearwood. I really needs the dynamics to be spot on and has a couple of places in the chorus where you need to hit a couple of crashes that really test out the co-ordination stuff you are working on here - right hand and right foot need to be able to hit those and then return to the normal groove. Not easy - at least for this drummer!

[@Kostis_playsDrums]

I think "End of the Line" by the Traveling Wilburys is also a train beat groove. Slightly swung with brushes.

[@stevesoldwedel]

This is a bit afield of your question, but I think that there's at least a hint of a train beat in Mastodon's "Dry Bone Valley".

[@davidmilkes385]

I sometimes try out Rude Mood by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Never heard the term train beat but once you highlighted "the Blitz" I realized Rude Mood was another one.

[@68Bards]

That’ll help with my groove-squashing poor dynamics in Rosanna H/T Shuffle - thanks

[@thbahr]

Great demo, Stephen. As for a possibly helpful song on the way to 220, I like to practise to "Baby likes to rock it" by The Tractors. A strange song and a strange band with noone else but Jamie Oldaker on the drums who, in my opinion, is a master of the mentioned swung feeling in his drum parts.

[@nockianlifter661]

Radar Love by Golden Earring.

[@wibblywobblytimewarp3180]

Loved this video! Mick Tucker is one heck of an amazing drummer 😎 I would love it if you could go through the song fat bottom girls especially that smooth quick drum roll near the end by Roger Taylor ☺️

[@andycharlton6798]

Surely the simplest right hand technique is just the Moellar upstroke followed by the Moellar accent. At least that's how I play it.

[@lauraroberts2250]

Thanks for this, Stephen. Great lesson. Regarding favourite songs with a train beat: I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen.

[@jasonmelkus2603]

I watched this as I can do this song pretty good, but want to tighten it but a but. But the one I'm really working to get down is She Got Me by The Masters of Reality.

[@cafe.cedarbeard]

Locomotive Breath, Jethro Tull!

[@christopherbassett8585]

I want you to want me-Cheap Trick- Steven, l am pretty sure you missed a bass drum beat that Mick throws in with the snare pattern. Bom chic Bom chic Bom Chic Bom ba bom. Loved this video LOVE the song-had the single (45) You Ready Steve uh huh 🥁🤩 CB 🍁

[@992ras]

You should do teenage rampage which has very similar feel

[@MJWPub]

Status Quo - Lonely Night, next level train beat. How does Coghlan do that?

[@bealestreator8940]

Sounds like what Earl Palmer :-) laid down on "Hang Tough" :-) with Allen Toussaint :-) on the Crescent City Gold album :-) Me no drum, just here trying to pick up on something to make my "Mystery Train" more train-y! on guitar!?!?!?!

[@sonntagsninja5956]

Thanks for another great lesson, Stephen. 🤘 My favorite song with a train beat is "Radar Love" by Golden Earring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZywZmSupLl2aLc

[@DDandrums]

As Nike would say: Just do it!

[@jrhguitarbassdrums]

but wait, what about the Hi Hat part of the train beat? is that on 2 & 4 or on all of the Ands?

[@jimwallace8117]

I think this is the best video I have watched from you (not that others are bad all good) I am just a struggling wanna be teaching myself,

[@rodjewell2300]

Golden Earing - Radar Love

[@randyrask]

Radar Love

[@CatabductionsAnoym]

What about the Led Zeppelin song called, "Hot Dog", check out the beat on it.. The song also has some interesting controversy with it.

[@lichkrieg4898]

My 2 dynamics are loud, and not as loud because I'm playing faster. I can't play soft, but I usually play live punk and I'm starting to learn some metal. Is this habit from playing live (so all drums can be heard), heads cranked too much or just lack of technique? How do I start to fix or it?

[@jimfritz9503]

Suggestion . Listen to and play other types of music . And get some Hot Rods sticks. Force yourself to play slow and quiet. The more styles you can play , the greater your horizons/ opportunities . Let me know. Thanks (58 years this month 🥁).

[@perryfisher3373]

Can I have 2 favorite Train beat songs? Yes? Thanks! The Maverick Choir - Amazing Grace Guy Penrod - Victory In Jesus

[@Baker504]

Great lesson.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

👍

[@superdave1964]

howdy yall! great day in the life!

[@michaeljames9811]

Brilliant lesson Stephen. Absolute gold. Here's an example of classic train beats played by Jimmy Karstein on drums: JJ CALE AND ERIC CLAPTON LIVE (AFTER MIDNIGHT & CALL ME THE BREEZE) kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4i4loJ7oNFlbZI

[@gurnblanstein9816]

So many words to say so little

[@anonymousb-mr4qw]

I din't know if it's my favorite train beat but this one is played by one of my favorite drummers. Perfect dynamics and tempo. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXuki3-XrKmegMk

[@_MoSo]

Favorite train beat: Chemical Calisthenics - Blackalicious. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6OtiX6od7mbeMU

[@ricklord7144]

A whole lot a chitchat and still no mention of Mick Tucker! Love your vids but way too long!!!

[@rubytuesday1345]

Yep. Mick Tucker was a horribly-exposed drummer. Should have garnered far wider notoriety in the drumming world. A sad loss.

[@philipmccann2358]

Get on with it and show us how to play it…you can’t half bang on before you get to the point , !

[@jefftalbot5407]

Get to the point!

[@DisposableEgo]

Breh...u talk too much

[@meh1943]

You didn’t start the actual lesson until over three minutes into the video. Please stop ….less intro….more content…….