The Drum Sound of Hamilton | Andres Forero

Join us for an exclusive look at the gear behind the performances of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony- and Grammy-Award-winning musical Hamilton, guided by ensemble drummer Andres Forero. Here, Andres brings us backstage of the Richard Rodgers Theatre and into the orchestra pit for a glimpse of his set-up and the drum sound that fuels the rhythm-driven score of Hamilton.

[@arothmanmusic]

That Schuyler Sisters opening lick is one of my favorite parts of the show.

[@aegar8389]

I've been playing that song on drums for years and this is the first time I've seen the actual guy play it. It is completely different than what I thought it was lol

[@rnjesus9950]

Same! Never anticipated him playing it one-handed.

[@djxxxplicit]

Yup the intro was baller

[@moreblack]

I think another music channel did a whole tour of the band pit and they show an overhead view of him doing the intro too.

[@ridesharebiz5317]

Wow I'm a former pit musician for him to describe the different types of snare drums was totally awesome.

[@DevinEsleck]

This guy’s beats are mad tasty

[@gustafsone]

Yep, he's a beast. When he's playing during an actual performance, he uses a click track to stay in perfect sync with the other percussionist and the rest of the orchestra. He did a workshop for Vic Firth in 2017. You can look up the video in their channel, it's pretty awesome. He plays 2 or 3 songs from the musical and you can actual hear the music while he plays, unlike this video where it's just him.

[@dinospumoni5611]

I assume the composer or arranger wrote the parts. But I'm just guessing.

[@filipjonathan]

Just the fact that this guy is SO humble is mind-blowing to me

[@bs.music.kyi9]

I love how he says “I use 5 snare drums” 100% unironically

[@austincox1709]

that 6:22 groove is insane

[@frankiepineda5649]

3:10 🔥

[@annekedebruyn7797]

Definitely the right guy for the right job

[@davidgpeterson]

3:09 Good God what a groove! Such a refreshing change to see a drummer who can still play one. Amazing.

[@teodorwenno8547]

My dude we’re living in the golden age of kickass drummers.

[@davidgpeterson]

teodorwenno - are we though? I think the groove is a lost art. Granted we have drummers that are much more musical than ever before. It’s the evolution of drumming. But I miss the precision, simplicity and structure of a good groove like this. So much jazz influence. Rare today I think, or am I missing something?

[@drdre4397]

@@davidgpeterson Check out snarky puppy, tool, there are technically amazing metal drummers. A lot of the best drummers just aren't mainstream anymore. But thw drummer for snarky puppy is a monster, vulfpeck has grooves on end.

[@davidgpeterson]

Themightyinvader can’t argue with Vulfpeck. Those guys are monsters. Unreal talent. Have you ever seen Juliaplaysgrooves? She’s a self taught bass player here on KZbin. Unreal. A while back she did a great cover of Captain Hook by them. Watch her stuff. She’s insane.

[@drdre4397]

@@davidgpeterson Thanks for turning me onto her, that's unreal!

[@jpjordan90]

So glad they put 3:10 in there, best part

[@3mo2007]

There’s nothing rich folks love more

[@creeperkiller9795]

@@3mo2007than going downtown and slumming it with the poor

[@frogs4678]

two of my favorite things together in one video drums and musicals damn i love this-

[@Arnytet1]

Andres Forero eres un ejemplo a seguir, felicidades. Saludos desde Puerto Rico y gracias por tan grande musical.

[@jmobass]

Stunning interview and inside information Andres Forero - thank you for sharing!!!

[@Dlwinborne]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. The music and especially the drumming just add such an amazing texture to the story! THANKS!!!

[@jmp_fr]

after having heard the live show i appreciate this guy so much more. the playout? fucking gold man

[@dwightfontenot9064]

That kick sounds incredible!

[@davidcurtis4478]

Really enjoyed watching this video 🎶🥁😎DC

[@garyrynar3308]

Awesome ❗️ feel, sound, chops, explanation.. sounds very sincere.. great groove 5*****

[@Grayham4]

What a great groove

[@RedCymbals]

Super cool video! Awesome tight drumming and set up

[@chrisvalleqatsi]

We should all have a patch labeled "Burr Sir"

[@fesandri]

The 3:11 fill, insane!

[@richsackett3423]

If your drummer can't do that, you should fire him.

[@SC4RRL3TT]

@@richsackett3423 agreed it's just a R-R-K triplet

[@theo1807]

Nick W Neil Peart could play that, don’t disrespect the dead

[@usererror2572]

There’s nothing rich folks love more than running downtown and slummin it with the poor...

[@lukebs1212]

Would have been nice to actually hear the gut snares on that deeper drum

[@yourdrummer2034]

I thought the same!

[@MaxxMcGeePrivate]

It's always weird when people talk about the sound of something that is right next to them.

[@keithveale]

He owes the drum maker too much money to use it in such an interview. Pay Calderwood man... it’s the right thing to do!

[@yourdrummer2034]

@@keithveale Calderwood makes some beautiful drums!

[@bernettamorton2646]

Brilliant! ✨✨✨

[@jeremyburd20021]

Wow that stack sounds beautiful. Anyone know what it is?

[@mateogarcia2847]

Jeremy Burd if you mean the one below the ride, then its an Ozone crash with a bunch of stuff on the bell, kind of like the stuff on the hats, Anika Nilles does similar stuff... hope it helps!

[@gustafsone]

@@mateogarcia2847 Anika uses Meinl cymbals, I think.

[@mateogarcia2847]

@@gustafsone yep she does! i was referring to the way she does stacks, with not just cymbals but also throwing on those chimes etc

[@gustafsone]

@@mateogarcia2847 Yeah, it's a similar looking setup. Maybe Anika subs for this guy when he needs a break? ;)

[@canterburyaudio5836]

awesome, what a cool drummer!

[@daisykid3]

Such a cool video!!!

[@KmelBeatz]

Dope set up

[@moreblack]

Loooove the opening riff of the Schuyler Sisters theme 3:10

[@BrianMasek]

Loved it!

[@Someone-jp1xt]

Look at this mad lad

[@dinospumoni5611]

I didn't even realize the music was played live.

[@hgbitner8486]

Wait how many snare drums does he have? Idk if he mentioned it

[@louielaraiscool]

5

[@Aliketr]

@@louielaraiscool woooosh?

[@verse5981]

Jayden Lombard stfuuu?

[@Aliketr]

@@verse5981 ok but I will 'cause I want to not because you told me to

[@kupopuffs420]

@@Aliketr 5

[@danielclee1]

Superb 👍

[@steinblitz1506]

This dude looks like Andy samberg lmao

[@JiNKA]

You’ve never seen Andy have you

[@c.williams99]

i literally clicked on this video just to comment this

[@lucybremridge5666]

Ratpasta absolutely not Andy Samberg is fire

[@schnozz87]

@@c.williams99 same

[@noohamusic3393]

Naw he looks wayyy more like Fred armisen

[@cooperhoffman4421]

On Disney+ the extra crash during the chorus of Wait For It is 😍😍

[@Jamminjared]

Exactly!!

[@alexquinn3148]

What a drummer

[@michelevitarelli]

This guy drums!

[@johnnymitchellcollier]

yep, he does. he definitely hits those drums.

[@wolfbournethefirst5055]

I'm glad they used real drums. Instead of lazily using drum loops for every single song.

[@phoenixhandyman4597]

Crash on the left? WTH!! Amazing

[@kisterdrums]

What’s that kick beater? Looks pretty vintage

[@gravemaster_8879]

*Mr. Samberg, that’s for coming to your performance review.*

[@tylerrae3302]

I love the song my shot cause I like all of the the cross sticks in the whole song

[@pasty_film_journey]

Anyone know what is the snare right to his right? The high pitch one?

[@sgeekmc8530]

Pretty sure it’s a custom piccolo snares made for the show by Calderwood

[@kadenbrunner4238]

Anyone know what cymbals he’s using here?

[@joshuachung6624]

that kick is crisper than my rice krispies

[@WalterPavlikII]

I find it hard to believe he hasn't memorized the music for the whole show by this point.

[@drdre4397]

Often times yes you have it completely memorised. To the point that you are relying on muscle memory not what you're eyes are reading... BUT a lot of times the conductor during rehearsal will add little embellishments or change certain parts and the orchestra or musicians will correct their charts with a pencil. It's also just good to know exactly where you are. So you can see the teucky part in bar 8 for example.

[@drdre4397]

But that's just from what I have heard from friends in orchestra. I just play guitar.

[@koyzumie]

This guy looks so much like Andy Samberg

[@jacobh9344]

Are we gonna ignore the bell on the ride cymbal?

[@JBmusicart]

Fred armestin

[@tianli8172]

This guy feels like the gus fring of drums

[@rigo9inchnails]

First time seeing Andy Samberg being so serious 😉

[@shearer595]

In b4 woooosh

[@daylight1908]

He looks like andy Sandburg's more serious brother!!

[@SPaquette2480]

This individual did not pay the custom designer of the drums for the equipment.

[@bpaboyce]

Yeah, bums me out that he ripped off a small business custom drum builder, especially for a drum he calls the “voice of the show.”

[@joshuajones2511]

Dang he’s doing ghost notes cross sticked

[@MongerOfStrings8222]

To call him a human metronome would be an insult to the amount of soul he brings to every show he's done. I don't know if he writes his own parts but they are Neil Peart level stuff.

[@timboleo]

I was surprised to hear him say he still needs to read the music.

[@abrilurrestarazucampo8557]

he is god

[@JBmusicart]

Concert drummers always have some angle that they use to set themselves apart from allllllll other drummers.

[@Marreroortiz]

That ride is way too far...

[@elliotmanthey3404]

Perhaps, at some point, I suggest you reach for a cymbal as opposed to a laptop. This guy clearly has...

[@jmp_fr]

maybe that's his preferred set-up? idk. I'm not one to question a pro.

[@Marreroortiz]

@@jmp_fr You are very right my friend! Have an amazing day!

[@jmp_fr]

@@Marreroortiz where do you like your ride?

[@JackMihoff6969]

Great job, Andy Samberg 😬

[@JBmusicart]

I'm surprised he doesn't go on a rant about "touch".

[@esthershih5575]

he kinda looks like andy samberg

[@keithveale]

This guy owes a lot of money to Calderwood Percussion in Massachusetts for some of those drums. HE STILL HASN’T PAID! A local business that he stiffed... real cool of this fraud.

[@serbadork]

How do you know that? Do you personally know the people at Calderwood?

[@boydenhingston-muir3907]

How do you know that?

[@bpaboyce]

It’s true…and I know the owner of the business

[@kpkp42]

"use" not "utilize"

[@Shane-gn9yf]

They mean the same thing

[@VeryScaryBiscuits]

Hmm...how about the double standard in the beginning though?

[@mahockey3]

It's a double standard to those who are ignorant of the racial tensions and divides in the US.

[@VeryScaryBiscuits]

@@mahockey3 Okay...I appreciate the reply, even though we might not be fully in agreement.