We're an American Band Intro

[sugarjoe50]

I ALSO have problems with that intro; my right foot seems to freeze up every time so I've been compensating with a slightly different fill which unfortunately doesn't have the same effect! I saw Grand Funk on their reunion tour--Don Brewer still kicks ass!

[331paradiddle]

How did you develop that right foot speed. I have always struggled with that fill.

[makes123]

@331paradiddle

Many moons ago, I learned the Led Zep song called "Good Times Bad Times", and I struggled for hours and hours trying to do what Bonham did with his foot in that song,if you just break it down between the hands and foot "snare kick kick" in a triplet feel, you will eventually build it up to speed. NOTE: I play heel up so I kinda slide my foot from mid pedal to the front part as Im doing it. Ill do a tutorial on it, check back! Thanks

[lynsuefa]

Ruben ,over dub or not -your breakdown of the intro is right on the money and sounds just like the record .I'v been saying for 35 years Don Brewer has about the fastest right foot in history.

Hope to see future videos from you of more historic drum beats and intros.

[919denver2008]

ruben,your the man for putting this up.

[BONHZEPPELIN]

GR8 post! Yeah, I always thought the intro was 'engineered' ! Double tracking is prolly it! Txh for the insight! I remember 1st playing this in a band, & I couldn't get the beat down. I never used a cowbell before then & it was messin me up! I was always too slow, & the lead guitar would spin his arm 'round n 'round, motioning faster, faster! Lol! I hated that song! ^__=

[JPDADDIETUBE]

Thanks Ruben this was a help. It seems like he is hitting the snare straight through the triplet feel part though. I listened closely to the record and I watch a live playing link on Youtube. It's a bit hard to see, but seems he is hitting snare and one hand going around toms. The link is entitled Grand Funk Railroad - We're An American Band and runs 3:58 seconds

[makes123]

@JPDADDIETUBE Yeah, I noticed that on the video as well, I play it like that now, but for the past 20 years Ive been playing it all on the toms! Anyway, glad you stopped by. All the best!

[lawnenforcement11]

That helped me a great deal Thank you very much for taking the time to explain it through . Is there anyway you can do Cities On Flame By Blue Oyster Cult . It sounds like a fairly easy beat ,

[makes123]

hey man thanks, glad it helped indeed! Wow! Cities on Flame, what a great tune, Albert Bouchard was fabulous drummer, every BOC song he played on was stellar. One of the greats for sure! I just got a new camera co Ill try that suggestion out, thanks!

[gnrledzep4eva]

this is great, you've got it dead on

[seventiesgetsome]

Interesting and informative. I've always wondered how Don played this with only a few movements of his hands. Thanks!

[babysnakes24]

these are NO triplets, but sixteenth-notes in groups of 3.

[makes123]

yes you ARE correct! Thanks for pointing that out, I said they were triplets, I should have said they were a triplet feel, for those paying attention, the fill around the toms are 16th's in a "3" or Trip-A-Let feel.

[airforcekid95]

thanx alot i've been trying to figure this out for awhile

[makes123]

thanks for the relpies, glad it has helped.

Im gonna post some other stuff soon so check back.

[killfroggy26]

Thanx this video answer everthing!!!

[PetPiv]

Nice...you got it down pretty good !

[zacate3]

Extremely helpful, particularly as you broke it down to us:  "triplets-bass drum-toms-snare."

thanks.

[richchupp]

Great job - thanks!

[BetaSP]

thanks, saved me some time second guessing myself on how to play this.