Led Zeppelin's 'Rock and Roll' Drum Intro. The Count.

[damedoodie]

That intro is so easy to count if you know where the "1" is. It doesn't start on the 1. as in 1-2-3-4 BAH BAH BAH BAH... The first 3 hits start at "3 and" before the 1 as in...

1-and-2-and-3- BAH BAH BAH 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4  1-2-3-4

[lynsuefa]

Hey Kirk, thanks for posting- your video was informative as well as intertaining.

Don't listen to all those people who say what's the big deal i'v seen hundred's of drummers attempt that entro and none of them are correct except for one guy his name is Fraiser youtube name phase.

[arlo4823]

Why is this all such a mystery? Jason Bonham spelled it out in a drum video he released years ago. He'll tell exactly how it was done.

[ajc296]

The main point of this video is that the drumming starts on the & of 3 like with many Chuck Berry (and Little Richard?) intros. Most less educated musicians count the 1st strike of the drums as beat 1 and typically a cover band will therefore join in with the drums half a beat later than on the original in order to start on (what they think is) the beginning of a bar

I can see why there is so much confusion as it is difficult to listen to the original without picking up the timing from beat 1

[MrBustape]

I'm never recording in your studio. Leave drumming to drummers who know how to count! I don't understand the big deal about this intro, it's so easy. Rhythmically it's the same as Johnny B. Goode. And apart from a few different accents, it's also the same as Keep a Knockin. It starts with a pick up bar on the & of 3, then goes for 4 bars, then the band comes in on 1.

[jdrum12]

Why wouldn't it start on the "and of 4 if it is the last beat of that measure? You're saying "and 3 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 ....."

[2ndAsstJizzMopper]

jdrum12, beat 4 hasn't arrived yet if you're still on the 'and' of 3. the first note of the song starts before beat 4 -- on the 'and' of 3: [one and two and three] AND FOUR AND ONE

[itgoez211]

You're all wrong it's actually the intro to Little Richard's "IKeep a Knocking" and It does start on the & of 3....

[atozofpop]

Afraid this is all technical BS, the session cat was right! The intro is Johnny B Goode...

[2ndAsstJizzMopper]

atozofpop, damned straight. no idea how someone could say it's not Johnny B. Goode and then pick this song as definitive. the key to understanding the intro is in the first three hits -- hits Johnny B. Goode provides clearly, unlike in this vid. and Keep A-Knockin' is NOT superior to Johnny B. Goode here, for a few reasons.

[technobeat]

Genius!! I was just about to write the part out to work it out ..... now don't have to! Great vid!!

[fionnessy]

great video! cheers man!

[ironman5454]

BTW, credit goes to 'bonzoleum' for bringing this to my attention. Couldn't remember exactly how he spelled his nic...anyhow, he gives credit to a dude in Texas and so on and son on LOL !! Just wanted to give him his props - he has some GREAT drumming tutorials on here...

[ironman5454]

Try it with Little Richards 'Keep A Knockin' and you will have it. One variation thats here on youtube is the one with Hendrix and Richard in the picture - its a recording of "Knockin' with Hendrix as Richards axe man. I didn't grab the link but just search for the song and you'll see it/find it, no problem. You'll be re-doing this example/video, guaranteed !!

[davetheguitarplayer]

Great idea! But why not cue up and compare the drum intro with the lead guitar intro to "Johnny B. Goode" - the song in question in the first place?

Granted, it doesn't match up perfectly with the lead guitar intro accents, but it does fit/start better than this example. Especially since "Run Run Rudolph" is missing the signature 3 lead-in notes.

But again, great idea! I gotta try it with "Johnny B. Goode" when I get some time.

[davetheguitarplayer]

And I agree - I've never played with a drummer who's played the Zep intro correctly. (And I've played with A LOT of solid drummers). Even Alex Van Halen didn't play it the Bonham way.

[joc868]

lol

[SolarMoth]

Hahaha, nice discovery!