The Beatles Drumming

fnpt · October 2015

Now that we have an appropriate section, here goes:

sticker · October 2015

Great drumming , wrong kit , wrong sounds spoil it for me.

fnpt · October 2015

I think this video clearly shows the complexity of Ringo's drumming and how it always fit the songs. I reckon if he was a flashier drummer/ personality he would get more recognition.

stickyfiddle · October 2015

Good concept, and well played, but agree the heavy-rock-kit sound was a bit distracting

octatonic · October 2015

Not just the kit- his technique is much more rock than Ringo.

Cool thing to do though.

Sassafras · October 2015

On being told that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, John replied that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

octatonic · October 2015

Sassafras said:

On being told that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, John replied that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

It is generally viewed that this is apocryphal.

Apparently comedian Jasper Carrot made that joke in the 1983.

There is no evidence John said it.

Cirrus · October 2015

Cool vid and nice touch doing it on the roof! I agree wrong kit sounds and the playing was too hard and often pushing the beat where Ringo would have sat back behind the groove a little.

Maybe this guy started off with the perfect sound but a gust of wind blew the towels off the roof?

)

Of course so much of Ringo's sound is hard to get now or simply has fallen out of favour and hence sound old - the dampened drums, presumably calfskin heads, big studio room, the lack of close miking, mono overhead, Fairchild limiter etc...

stickyfiddle · October 2015

Thing is, whatever you think of Ringo technically (and for sure he's no Bonham, Peart or Grohl), he was the PERFECT drummer for the Beatles. I'd certainly have in my band!

Sassafras · October 2015

octatonic said:

Sassafras said:

On being told that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, John replied that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

It is generally viewed that this is apocryphal.
Apparently comedian Jasper Carrot made that joke in the 1983.
There is no evidence John said it.

I apologise unreservedly. I didn't know we were in a court of law. Ringo, I'm very sorry if I caused you any distress.

I just thought it was quite funny and it could easily have been something John would've said.

not_the_dj · October 2015

QI should have that as an alarm bell question....it's such a widely known quote....but I shall now take great pleasure in correcting people if they quote it.

Good ol' Jasper.

octatonic · October 2015

Sassafras said:

octatonic said:

Sassafras said:

On being told that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, John replied that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

It is generally viewed that this is apocryphal.
Apparently comedian Jasper Carrot made that joke in the 1983.
There is no evidence John said it.

I apologise unreservedly. I didn't know we were in a court of law. Ringo, I'm very sorry if I caused you any distress.
I just thought it was quite funny and it could easily have been something John would've said.

I think you're reading more into my response than what I said.

Beatles Bible has a bunch of threads about it.

No-one knows 100% either way and yes it is something John might have said.

Teetonetal · October 2015

RIngo is a much, much better drummer than people ever give him credit for. The definition of playing for the song. Always love the drums to come togehter.

Jalapeno · October 2015

I enjoyed that- yes a mite too thumpy - but a superb advert for the chap's abilities.

octatonic · October 2015

Teetonetal said:

RIngo is a much, much better drummer than people ever give him credit for. The definition of playing for the song. Always love the drums to come togehter.

I think the problem is he was in a band with two geniuses and by all accounts wasn't that confident of his own abilities.

Brize · October 2015

octatonic said:
I think the problem is he was in a band with two geniuses

I'm not sure I'd describe George Harrison as a genius.

octatonic · October 2015

LOL

Drew_TNBD · October 2015

Very strange hihat technique... quite swishy...

monquixote · October 2015

Drew_fx said:

Very strange hihat technique... quite swishy...

I think he's deliberately trying to ape Ringo's hihat technique as he tended to do that.

EricTheWeary · October 2015

not_the_dj;837074" said:
QI should have that as an alarm bell question....it's such a widely known quote....but I shall now take great pleasure in correcting people if they quote it.

Good ol' Jasper.

And proof that Brummies are funnier than scousers. :-B Edit : feckin auto correct ! Now corrected...

|)

Paul_C · October 2015

Fretwired · October 2015

Sassafras said:

On being told that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, John replied that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

Sarcasm .. talk to drummers and you'll find plenty of respect for Ringo. Just listen to the songs ...

Chalky · October 2015

Watched a good documentary that examined Ringo's drumming for a selection of Beatles songs. The message was simple. Ringo is not the best drummer in the world by a long shot. But how he played drums on those songs, where he put the accents, pauses, fills and stylistic motifs all served to make the song much better than it might have been. His choices in his playing often seemed odd or out of fashion but they turned out to be the 'right' choices.

redrighthand · November 2015

Enjoyed that. Surprised Tomorrow Never Knows and anything more complex from Rain never made the cut as those tend to be hailed as examples of Ringo's better work. Impressive stuff all the same!

thomasross20 · November 2015

VERY cool. Not that it was "simple" but you know what I mean when I say "simplest is best" ... or basically, make it serve the song!! Totally amazing.

ICBM · November 2015

The proof that Ringo was the best drummer in the Beatles is the songs Paul played drums on. Technically more flashy - but lacking the feel that made Ringo so good. Ringo may not be the 'best' technically, but what he played made the songs and the band sound the way they did.

If John ever did say that it was either his usual barbed humour or wrong, both of which are quite likely with him…

dogload · November 2015

I always thought that it was McCartney who said that about Ringo. More controversy for the grist mill!

It's funny though how for years Ringo has had such a bad press from musos, I doubt anybody could have done Thomas The Tank so well!

english_bob · November 2015

stickyfiddle said:

Good concept, and well played, but agree the heavy-rock-kit sound was a bit distracting

What's interesting is that when you listen to The Beatles playing covers of 50s rock & roll stuff the contrast between the original versions' drum sounds and the Beatles' is almost as stark as it is here between Ringo's "modern rock" sound circa 1963-70 and the 21st century "modern rock" kit sound.

I wasn't there, but I can imagine that hearing Ringo's "big beat" style and Paul's close-miked, cranked up bass for the first time in the early 60s must have sounded pretty flippin' heavy.

thecolourbox · November 2015

Agreed the vid is a cool idea, but what put me of even more than the heavy handed playing was that many of the song snippets did not play to the end of the bar when switching to a different song, it almost destroyed my foot tapping session

joeyowen · November 2015

sticker said:

Great drumming , wrong kit , wrong sounds spoil it for me.

I thought that was the point.

Playing it on a modern sounding kit to prove that it can sound good (not that it was bad)

If he was just drumming like that in a modern band people would praise it

I might be wrong

JezWynd · November 2015

Teetonetal said:

RIngo is a much, much better drummer than people ever give him credit for. The definition of playing for the song. Always love the drums to come togehter.

Absolutely. He's a very tasteful player, never flash, always serving the material.

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The Beatles Drumming

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