Time Keeping Patterns: Country Train Beat / Brian Ferguson

Excerpted from Brian Ferguson's extensive drumset lesson series on vicfirth.com, this video covers some basic train beats on the drumset.
For more video lessons from Brian, please visit:
www.vicfirth.co...
About Brian Ferguson:
Currently, Brian performs with Texas based country artist Aaron Watson. He has toured throughout the US and Canada, and has played in Europe several times.
Brian's knowledge and respect for the history of the instrument has given him the ability to authentically blend into a wide variety of styles including jazz, rock, country, soul, blues and gospel. Brian is most at home playing the right part for the song and supporting the musicians around him.
This approach has enabled Brian to perform/record/tour with a wide variety of great artists: Country/Americana artists Eleven Hundred Springs, Soul Singer Curtis Salgado, Blues guitarists Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Jazz organist Red Young, Songwriters such as Hope Cassity and Jon Christopher Davis, and Gospel artist Quinten Hope and Prestonwood Baptist Church to name a few. While with Curtis Salgado, Blues Review Magazine called Brian's playing "...totally on the money rhythmically, while keeping the loose feel that soul music requires."
Brian resides just outside of Dallas, TX where he maintains a busy performance and recording schedule.

[@colinfairhurst8949]

As a guitarist, the more that you explain this, the more I’m convinced that it’s all black magic!

[@amyjograves1016]

Got drums for my bday, I’m in my 40s. I’m a singer, guitarist and cellist (among other instruments), and I’ve never had more fun playing an instrument in my life than I do with the drums. oMG!! So much fun I love love love them!!!

[@jimmienahas4156]

Train beat, perfect. Clear concise and free.

[@GriZeldaDaley1956]

Ballroom Blitz! Love that beat!

[@firepants20]

Ballroom blitz YEAHHH haha! Great job! Keep them coming!

[@midnightraiin4035]

that was excellent.

[@valandres9869]

Great class. Learned a lot! Thanks

[@jeffhagerman7810]

Are you ready steve nick alright fellows lets goooooooo

[@campma55]

Great job!

[@BrendrumJones]

great playing

[@djrphotography]

are you ready steve?

[@teddidlio3182]

uh huh

[@p.aaronjones4174]

Good informative video.

[@colinmicheller.f.c.5655]

👏👏

[@DrRchannel71]

cool video

[@rwoods2k]

nice video, thanks for uploading

[@fedorkalinin1165]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@Yojata]

thumbs up!

[@cpf383]

I never knew how to do the high hat splash. Does anyone have suggestions for tuning of the snare for a classic country band? I’m usually high on the bottom and medium/high on the batter.

[@jakemitchell1671]

Why do pop/rock drummers struggle so hard with this? I often encounter drummers with 20+ yrs experience who can 4/4 their butts off, tons of chops, good meter, but then when I call out a Vince Gill song they fall apart. Why is that?

[@Campusanis]

I've been wondering the same thing. For our drummer the problem seems to be the accents on the "and" (when played in a 16th feel). It's literally impossible for my pop/rock combo to play songs in this beat.

[@excell123]

But when would u play the train beat. wat timing do u need as in 3/4,4/4,2/4?

[@BrianFergusonMusic]

Typically, train beats are 4/4. Very fast tempo, playing 8th notes with an accent on 2&4. However, it can also be thought of in a slower tempo (4/4) as 16th notes with accents on the '&'s. Some songs do have 2/4 measures. I have also played songs which go to 3/4. Does this make sense?

[@gronkinator1]

Randy?

[@AnimalHouseVetVideos]

I want youuuuu to want meeeeee

[@neillukewich-pheaton8966]

AnimalHouseVetVideos Dwight Yokam!!

[@AndrewKonkey]

Uh-huh.

[@timhurst72]

ringy snares don't sound good.

[@whatischampion]

All snares ring dumbass