Punk drum rhythms

Because of the off beat double bass drum hits, power chord laden timbre, and fast tempos, punk drum rhythms are often hard to learn. However, there is normative beat cycles that a large portion of punk songs are based on. Punk bands like The Offspring, The Ataris, and Bad Religion use it extensively.

I discover the core beat cycle by listening countless Offspring songs and realizing their drummer, Ron Welty, isn't all that creative when it comes to playing rhythms. This one core drum beat that he uses and slightly adjusts is found in about 75% of The Offspring's music. However, the repeating beat he uses was very difficult to pick apart and reproduce. A revelation occurred when I heard The Strokes' song, Last Nite: Its drum beat is remarkably similar to The Offspring's, only at about half the tempo. Thus, I was able to figure out the two measure cycle- Straight eighth notes on the hi-hat, bass on 1 and 3.5 for the first measure and 1, 2.5, and 3 for the second, and snare on 2 and 4 both measures. It sounds almost like bluesy, professional rock beat while the tempo is slow and the Hi Hat is closed. However, sped up with a slightly open Hi Hat, it becomes perfect accompaniment to a grungy, three note power chord anthem.

Tab Key:

• Hh- Hi Hat
• Sd- Snare drum
• Bd- Bass drum

Hh|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| | | |x| | | |x| |
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bd|x| | | | |x| | |x| | |x|x| | | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

The two measure cycle can even be cut into individual measures to play. For example:

Hh|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|
  | | | | | | | | |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| |
  | | | | | | | | |
Bd|x| | | | |x| | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

And

Hh|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|
  | | | | | | | | |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| |
  | | | | | | | | |
Bd|x| | | |x|x| | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Another punk rhythm, used by some classic punk bands like The Ramones, is boring and simple at low tempos. In fact, it is one of the most first drum beats people learn to play. However, when increased to superhuman speed, it's packed full of energy:

Hh|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|
  | | | | | | | | |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| |
  | | | | | | | | |
Bd|x| | | |x| | | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Note that the Hi Hat eighth notes sound good ride cymbals and crash cymbals as well as on those respective cymbals' bells.

Source: Listening to various punk CDs

There are two kinds of punk rhythms: slow and fast. You'll definitely notice the difference if you hear them; one sounds like noise produced by psychotics, and the other sounds like noise produced by hyperactive psychotics. I'll focus on the fast ones here.

It's pretty simple. The basic rhythm is bass on the downbeat, snare on the and, and high hat on all eighths. Typically, only the bass line is embellished. Consider a pretty dang fast tempo to be 220bpm. Yuri Ruley is said to play beats like this at 250bpm. I don't have my verification hat on today (nor any MxPx albums nearby) so I will rely on Internet hearsay.

Here's a version with typical basswork thrown in. Each column is a 16th. Play it at around 150bpm and you've got the basic feel.

Hh|x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| | | |x| | | |x| |
Bd|x| | | |x|x| |x| |x| | |x|x| | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + * + 2 + * + 3 + * + 4 + * +

The bass line is usually played with only one pedal. I recommend adjusting your pedal for bounciness. If you want to take it up to extremely high tempos, a double bass pedal will help keep the bass part tight and accented. At these speeds it becomes harder to consistently elaborate on the bass part, so it's often reduced to the simpler:

Hh|x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |x| |
Sd| | |x| | | |x| | | |x| | | |x| |
Bd|x| | | |x|x| | |x| | | |x|x| | |
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
   1 + * + 2 + * + 3 + * + 4 + * +

If you don't play the bass part on this line extremely tightly, then (when you become a famous punk drummer) prepare to be derided on web forums the world over.

Thanks be to: my lack of drum skillz, Lagwagon, BeerBong, Black Flag, Anti-Flag, MxPx, Bouncing Souls, and many other crazy-ass punk bands.