Ringo's drumming is just oozing with melody. In the old days of Chuck Berry, Elvis etc the drummers were keeping time and embellishing a little but Ringo weaved these kind of ambient, melodic compositions around the other instruments and the vocals and he was incredibly gifted at doing so. I can't sing songs like A Day in the Life, Strawberry Fields, Come Together etc without also signing the drum fills. It's great to see people explaining and appreciating his work. Abbey Road is a masterclass in how to compliment songs and navigate changes perfectly.
Ringo isn't only simply drumming, isn't only simply bringing the rythm, perfect timing what you expect from regular drummers; he is playing the song on the instrument called drums; like the others do on guitar, piano, flute or any other kind of instrument; he simply fills the space in the song and is matching with others; That it is why we do not see frontend, amazing solos all the time but plenty of those small pearls that are complementary to have great Beatles songs; one more time he is not drumming, he is playing; this is very valuable
I loathe it when some claim that Keith Moon could drum circles around Ringo...Oh, yeah? Can anyone name one Beatles' song that Keith could have actually pulled off pleasingly and competently? That guy always had to be out front and even John Entwistle would sometimes cease playing because Moon was covering all the notes and drowning his bass work out. Ringo and Moon were two unique drummers who were meant to play for the groups they did.
Moon was Moon . My Keith Moon was spot on in ONE day . what? do a solo on cymbals ... sure , start a fill or roll on cymbals? yeah . why not . Now try subtle playing "Something" , "While my guitar.." "Rain..." Even the intro to "It don't come easy.." you better be a god damn metronome. Moonie . ah fuck timing I'm blowing up the kit. An example of how AMAZING Ringo was .... Zak Starkey has been taught by EVERYONE . Zak Starkey is a thorough percussionist, and Zak does not even come to up to Papas, hem.
Yeah, Mick...I love Zak. He is his own man and has never attempted to play "Ringo's son" or protege. Your reference to Rain reminds me that this is still among my top ten favorites of all time for one simple reason...Ringo. I believe Keith Moon's distinctive style derives from him following Pete Townsend and not locking into the bass line as has been convention in rock. And, you know, whenever someone says, "So and so can drum circles around whomever", I simply say...so what...can he keep time? As a drummer, I've always been judged by my timing and not my frenetic drumming circles shit.
Funny part .. I am a LOT more satisfied by melodic drumming than my balls to the wall drumming. Like a perfect placed cymbal cup "ping" to me is AH I GOT that one ! .. But I always got complimented as a WOAH DUDE THAT WAS AWESOME by playing CREAM or the WHO.. never by doing a perfect "Love my way" by The Furs or a perfect. "Walking on the Moon." The audience really judges your drumming based on how much you're sweating. What ya gonna do. ? I also respect Zak for being his own man , he's a technically perfect drummer but it was Ringos clever and unexpected "Okey let me throw a towel on the snare , shove a pillow in the bass drum and just do rudiments and VOILA "GET BACK" is born . And NO matter what Ringo says HE IS a percussionist if you ever see him play piano you get it.
You and I have something in common, Mick. I too like melodic drumming and so tired did I get of those ten minute drum solos at each concert. It seemed for a few years there that this was becoming a staple and many of my buddies couldn't understand why I'd take a break whenever one came on. I love Carmine Appice and John Bonham but, the solos really wore on me after a while. Instead, I always prefer the type of work done on I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin. Something about that Muscle Shoals crew that brought it all out in a particular talent. Can't recall the drummer's name off hand but he was so damned smooth and I invested a good deal of time in studying the tracks upon which he was present as well as Steve Gadd and most of those hired to work with Steely Dan. You know, the only time I'd break a real wet sweat when playing was outdoors in 90 degree heat. I always like my fills but never, never did I work the stage alone doing a long solo. It just bored me to think of doing it. I was only happy when playing with my various brothers and make it all cook.
Carmine was a neighbor and as a kid i'd see him jamming in garages etc . really dedicated really technical but went into the WATCH ME NOW. Gadd?. Play Gadd's "50 ways to leave your lover" and you have my full respect. NOT difficult or original (it is root Samba) but the absolute precision and delicacy is just Tasty... Again, if you had SOME chops Bonham was one day to nail so was Moon. Now Ringo and Copeland I am still perfecting.
That was great. Thanks so much for this. I love all of Ringo's drumming - and I play guitar! I remember as a 12 year-old really noticing the drumming on the verse of 'All I've Got To Do', and feeling that it was so musical. That was the thing about all of them - they all were so musical, and played exactly what was right for the song (even when they did not like the song!).
Yep, always reckoned every corner of the Beatles was absolutely genius, ringo has such incredible sense for drumming and awesome versatility... inspiration.
people who dis ringo star as a drummer are just ignorant of what makes music work where the tire meets the road. once you actually bother to try to learn the songs and get the feel right thats usally a big eyeopener. the guy just doest play like regular people
YES... I sure agree with you. They are know nothing fault finders from a Classical Accordionist. I make an accordion sound like no other even using my pinky finger on he base out of necessity. Same for Ringo's Great and unique drumming.
thank you rockhard...its true, people who say how simplistic his playing is usually omit any sense of swing, play straight 8ths instead of shuffling, etc. They are so worried about technique and in the end skip TECHNIQUE AND FEEL
I agree completely. I recently got into an argument with a guy who claimed to be a great drummer yet dissed Ringo because he wasn't versatile.His point was that a great drummer has to play every kind of music under the sun but my point was that Ringo was a great drummer because he knew what NOT to play.
John Shannon, You hit the nail on the head. I am sure the chumps on this page talking Ringo down aren't worthy of even carrying his sticks . Ringo was a great musician. Trumps being a fancy drummer any day.
The tea towel. I've seen pictures of Ringo's tea towels and I remember seeing that type of a tea towel growing up but you can't find those tea towels any longer. So I switched over to what they call flour sack cloth and you can find that at Walmart in the kitchen section. It's called flour sack cloth they cost about a buck per or maybe it's a dollar for two I can't remember...but it's real thin and it's a natural fiber. I think the tea towels that Ringo used and that were very often used by most households back in those days were of a thinner material then what you find today and what may be called a tea towel. So, look around for the flour sack cloth and I think the consistency is about the same as tea towels used to be.
At 1:09, what you're asking regarding the sound source, it is what you played later on the rims. Anyway, thanks for highlighting Ringo's drumming patterns on this song. What you played in the fills was closer to the original than what I played on my cover.
Thanks Rich for your work. I sing and drum on Something always felt the bridge was empty, then I was filling in too much. I'll work more to "economize".
Hey Rich..firstly - FANTASTIC insight into some very important drumming and sound. GREAT research and attention to detail! My understanding of the tom pattern in Come Together differs slightly. Your LH lead is right on..however, I think that Ringo's orchestration of the last 3 notes of the fill has his RH playing the last and 3rd-to-last note on the floor tom with his LH playing the 2nd-to-last note on the middle tom. To my ears, the depth of the floor tom seems evident. Again, great work!
How? Ringo invented some of the best drum beats of all time. And they were all amazing. If you had ANY musical talent you would appreciate their contributions.
Great job on Ringo's playing Early days and later... I don't have the heart to tell the "Professor - Critic -Ham moto" (below) that you're not in a studio with any mics and more than likely using the mic on the video camera and probably in a basement with varying amounts of humidity and fluctuating temperatures. Gezzzzz Again great job ! Joe
Holy shit! When you see someone actually play it, it makes you think Ringo was fucking tremendous! It's not in the chops, it's in the groove and the voice. Wow.
Wrong on Come together, you would think that a Beatles imitator would have checked how Ringo really did it. It was a reverse roll from the floor tom up. Tune those drums for god sakes.
Joe Cap I've seen a video where he does as you say from the bottom to top, but you can hear on the record he goes from the top to bottom (in a way that can be achieved left handed) I guess his memory was a bit foggy
I listened to 'Guitar Gently Weeps' and the clicking is seperated from the drums on a different channel. I would assume it was an overdub and it sounded like it was being played on wood. But I don't know what they actually did. Also, it's not very prominent so I wouldn't worry too much about playing it live. JMO
none of the books (i've read em' all) mention specifically what that gallup is but the tom rim sounds like as good a possibility as anything. john lennon does not appear on this nor any of george's other 3 songs on the white album at all.
AWESOME! Thanks so much. Just a tip... if you could balance (Some how) the level of your voice with the drums. But otherwise. I learned a lot. Thanks again.
Do you know what kind of drum heads Ringo used during the recordings of the later Beatles albums? Also, which is the first album that his Ludwig Hollywood kit is featured on? Seems like the Ludwig Downbeat was used on the majority, right? What about snare drums? He seemed to get so many different snare sounds (and I'm not just talking about using tea towels on the heads vs not using tea towels). Do you think this was the result of tuning it differently for certain tracks? For instance, "Strawberry Fields" has a lower (pitch), heavier sound than the snare on "Penny Lane". Any thoughts? He definitely altered the tuning of his toms for recording "A Day In the Life". They are *so low* to the point where the floor tom sounds slightly timpani-ish! It can be heard clearly when he makes his intro into the song with that fantastic fill. Keep up the good work.
Late reply, but Ringo pretty much always used the stock Ludwig heads, never changed them out, and was always experimenting with tuning them differently. The first album to use the 5-piece Hollywood Kit was the White Album, though we're not 100% sure all the the songs that feature it (I for one think most songs). From 63-64 he used a Downbeat (20" bass), from 64-68 he used a Super Classic (22" bass, now called a Fab outfit), and from 68 on he used his Hollywood 5-piece. He always used the same snare, a Ludwig Jazz Festival. Check out Ringosbeatlekits.com loads of info there.
I think THE most important observation missing regarding Ringo's playing....is he "lays back" the snare...meaning he comes down "late". Same with Charlie Watts...to name a few. This technique adds a "swing" feel and "anticipation" and "fattens" the beat. A dominant slow example is Penny Lane. A fast steady example is I Saw Here Standing There. Can you hear it? ua-cam.com/video/dYdr3wT7kHA/v-deo.html or paperback writer ua-cam.com/video/yYvkICbTZIQ/v-deo.html but is everywhere. It's even causally mentioned here in an interview about his drumming ua-cam.com/video/vl9188EPdLI/v-deo.html and turns a boring droning metronome beat into a dynamic interesting energetic swing beat.
i think ringos genuis is the ability to craft parts that are super effective in terms of contributing to the arrangement and sound, not focusing on trying to impress with chops i think every drummer would benifit from contimplating ringos approach more often many, many drummers have chops to burn how many have a style and sound? the drummers of the world need to take some ringo lessons
One of the things that I never understand is Ginger Baker's criticism of Ringo, and George. He called George "a musical moron" simply because George could not read and write musical notation, and therefore could not talk in the 'traditional' language of Western music (I would love to tell Baker than being able to build and realize the vision he had of 'Within You, Without You' was a supreme example of George communicating in ways that few others could - it even impressed George Martin). And Baker 'approves' of Charlie because he has a jazz background, but not of Ringo, or Moon, or Mitch Mitchell.
check on you tube ,a band called Brand X..Collins drums on most of the albums. listen in particular to "Livestock" album..you will be surprised how good he is if you are basing your opinion on his solo stuff
That trotting in my guitar gently weeps, is added percussion most likely a guiro on a SLOW down stroke, it is not at all as emphatic or fast you you played it. Ringo keeps saying he's not a percussionist but a drummer but the man has a great ear and facility to pull a Bolero on "And I love her" and I've locked on a few latin percussion figures on various songs.
Rich, something I’ve noticed with Ringo is he would splash the hi-hat a lot and then close it during a middle eight then splash again with the returning verse. Is that something you notice, too?
This has been interesting. I have to admit I never warmed to the Ringo sound. I think it is something you like or you don't. I was listening to people like Bill Ward so for me Ringo sounded so pedestrian in comparison so it was difficult for to go back and appreciate. The only drummer from that era, as in 60's, I really like is John Bonham. His sound better suited my ears. I will therefore not say Ringo is a bad drummer as he did what was required for the song which is a drummer's job but listening to him did not make me think and want to understand what he is playing unlike when I was listening to John Bonham. I think it is just a preference and we all have them.
+Bill Perri I really do struggle with Ringo's style. I like In My Life but then I found out later that he acquired that from another drummer. I think he is a good basic drummer but there isn't anything in his playing that makes me want to revisit in the way I do with Bonham, Ian Paice, Bill Ward etc. I think I have grown up listening to too many great drummers so once one understands the basics we tend to move onto more interesting drummers. Ringo is not someone I could listen to for too long whereas the hi-hat and rimshot work on Walking on the Moon by Stewart Copeland I could listen to again and again. There is no doubt we inspired many but he just does not excite me in the way some other drummers do.
The comment about Paul playing the drum solo on "The End" on Abbey Road I'm afraid is utter nonsense.Any body who knows Ringo's (and Paul's for that matter) drumming will know it's Ringo playing .I have read many books on the subject . All "experts" confirm its Ringo. If you have a link to information proving otherwise , I'd invite you to share it here - because I've never seen it...
ALL the Beatles solo work required ONE thing of drummers PLAY LIKE RINGO ! You cant ? NEXT! Paul thinking of himself as a drummer (and he does have impeccable timing but knows ONE beat) always tries to sound like Ringo. Those sweeping LOOOOOOONG Htoms fills . Once Ringo wrote the chart man , even Abe can not deviate without a Paul frown.
rhythmantic - Sal D'Amato Ryth my bro! - Last night I am doing some research on the "Paul" vs "Faul" shit (which I got down to a visible provable fact ... Paulie has a physical defect and so does Sir McCartney . exactly the same syndrom and it is VISUAL Someone is helping me to do the video. And I get to how much of a Pain "Free as a bird was" (which I think I already discussed) but there was an asterisk on a reference to Ringo... which again pointed out HOW underrated Ringo had always been ... and it goes into Ringo's history in Liverpool and how not only as a drummer but as a musician he was considered a god damn genius . Little is ever said of his piano and guitar playing and although his timing is legendary his pitch is god damn near McCartney perfect and that is clear on his studio drum tuning but HOW did he do it live!? You never saw him re-tuning drums. NO tuning keys cause there was no pauses between songs (think about it) so how was he so pitch perfect on the kit ???? As my first drum teacher used to say ."USE THE WHOLE DRUM" Three pitches rim, mid, center . On an early Ringo kit he sucked the life outta the HH again 3 pitches in an infinite open close position , the buttering attack etc add 3 pitches per drum that 3 to the 3rd . He was playing a small piano ! Damn close to the Buddy Rich HH solo miracle. It closes with "Being the 5th BEST drummer in history (which included the variety of percussion , rhythms, etc) Ringo Starr belongs on that rarified atmosphere of the Buddy Rich pantheon" So as a closing the articled ended with " It has been sadly overlooked that Ringo Starr was the second BEST musician within The Beatles with huge contribution to classical Beatles songs like "Eleanor Rigby" (apparently a lot of the lyrics were Ringo's) WHO KNEW!?
mickavellian Well stated Mick and a very fascinating breakdown of the piano concept on a kit. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of Ringo's drumming. When I read that Ringo is underrated as a drummer, it only reveals the person's ignorance of drumming and pop music in general who make such a statement. On another matter, I'm really bugged to hear & read that Ringo was a "left-handed" drummer. No he is not! Whatever hand is used on the ride, either hi-hat or ride cymbal, determines the designated hand. Ringo rides with his right hand, and further more, plays a right-handed kit using his right foot on the kick and left on the hats. Now, he does use, from what little can be seen in videos, his left-hand to lead the drum fills, but this doesn't make one a left-handed drummer and an example of one is Lenny White, though he plays on a left-handed kit. Phil Collins on the other hand is a left-handed drummer because he not only leads with his left, but his kit is set up for left-handed drumming.
rhythmantic - Sal D'Amato Ryth - Typical of people who have NO CLUE of terminology. I have had that argument here. To US (drummers) is like someone kicked us in the balls, BECAUSE one of his innate extraordinary abilities was being a left handed person playing a right handed kit. But OF course how many people who ARE NOT drummers understand the concept of rudiments or of a drum chart ? It really means little where in hell you position your kit (although a HH on the right will give you a REALLY fast clue. :) but we ALL know Ringo IS left handed but his playing is RIGHT handed and even for the amateur this is clear in , let's say "ALL my loving" in YOUR /watch?v=o70DKFzxSIc video .. RIGHT hand riding the HH LEFT hand on the snare. A LEFT handed drummer would ride the HH with the LEFT , Snare with the right. SIMPLE. The "leading" on a fill has nothing to do with being R/L handed ... I usually lead with my left on a fill that starts on the snare or double up with my left on a roll and close with a crash with my right. Once you get out of the ROOT rhythm whatever the hell you do does not define you as a R/L handed drummer. The IDEAL percussionist should not favor either hand because in an orchestra (where it is where your stones really count) you don't have the option to go ... "Ok I want the High timpani on the Right and the Low timpani on the left. You Read the music sheet and hit the goddamn note. A really good example of this is Latin Music. When you play Timbales you better be as accurate and fast with BOTH hands cause a timbale set up is standard in any Latin music group.
How is Ringo overrated? For that matter, how are The Beatles overrated? None of their albums have 10/10; which most (excluding Yellow Submarine) of them deserve.
I don't like to be critical, but that has to be the worst-sounding drum kit ever to appear on UA-cam. Try tuning the bass drum. Or is a joke that I'm not getting?
Even though I'm a guitarist, I really enjoyed learning about Ringo's drumming. Thank you for making this video. It was super fantastic.
+1971SuperLead I agree 100%.
same goes for me. though i play more bass
Ringo is truly one of the best drummers in history to me! Very underrated! Thanks for doing this!!
When you started talking about 'The End' and Ringo's solo, the hairs on my arms stood up.
I would be happy to sit through an 8 hour workshop on this! Really interesting stuff - thanks.
Ringo's drumming is just oozing with melody. In the old days of Chuck Berry, Elvis etc the drummers were keeping time and embellishing a little but Ringo weaved these kind of ambient, melodic compositions around the other instruments and the vocals and he was incredibly gifted at doing so. I can't sing songs like A Day in the Life, Strawberry Fields, Come Together etc without also signing the drum fills. It's great to see people explaining and appreciating his work. Abbey Road is a masterclass in how to compliment songs and navigate changes perfectly.
Absolutely wonderful. The drumming on THE END is THE greatest!
Ringo isn't only simply drumming, isn't only simply bringing the rythm, perfect timing what you expect from regular drummers; he is playing the song on the instrument called drums; like the others do on guitar, piano, flute or any other kind of instrument; he simply fills the space in the song and is matching with others; That it is why we do not see frontend, amazing solos all the time but plenty of those small pearls that are complementary to have great Beatles songs; one more time he is not drumming, he is playing; this is very valuable
I loathe it when some claim that Keith Moon could drum circles around Ringo...Oh, yeah? Can anyone name one Beatles' song that Keith could have actually pulled off pleasingly and competently? That guy always had to be out front and even John Entwistle would sometimes cease playing because Moon was covering all the notes and drowning his bass work out. Ringo and Moon were two unique drummers who were meant to play for the groups they did.
Moon was Moon . My Keith Moon was spot on in ONE day . what? do a solo on cymbals ... sure , start a fill or roll on cymbals? yeah . why not . Now try subtle playing "Something" , "While my guitar.." "Rain..." Even the intro to "It don't come easy.." you better be a god damn metronome. Moonie . ah fuck timing I'm blowing up the kit. An example of how AMAZING Ringo was .... Zak Starkey has been taught by EVERYONE . Zak Starkey is a thorough percussionist, and Zak does not even come to up to Papas, hem.
Yeah, Mick...I love Zak. He is his own man and has never attempted to play "Ringo's son" or protege. Your reference to Rain reminds me that this is still among my top ten favorites of all time for one simple reason...Ringo. I believe Keith Moon's distinctive style derives from him following Pete Townsend and not locking into the bass line as has been convention in rock. And, you know, whenever someone says, "So and so can drum circles around whomever", I simply say...so what...can he keep time? As a drummer, I've always been judged by my timing and not my frenetic drumming circles shit.
Funny part .. I am a LOT more satisfied by melodic drumming than my balls to the wall drumming. Like a perfect placed cymbal cup "ping" to me is AH I GOT that one ! .. But I always got complimented as a WOAH DUDE THAT WAS AWESOME by playing CREAM or the WHO.. never by doing a perfect "Love my way" by The Furs or a perfect. "Walking on the Moon." The audience really judges your drumming based on how much you're sweating. What ya gonna do. ? I also respect Zak for being his own man , he's a technically perfect drummer but it was Ringos clever and unexpected "Okey let me throw a towel on the snare , shove a pillow in the bass drum and just do rudiments and VOILA "GET BACK" is born .
And NO matter what Ringo says HE IS a percussionist if you ever see him play piano you get it.
You and I have something in common, Mick. I too like melodic drumming and so tired did I get of those ten minute drum solos at each concert. It seemed for a few years there that this was becoming a staple and many of my buddies couldn't understand why I'd take a break whenever one came on. I love Carmine Appice and John Bonham but, the solos really wore on me after a while. Instead, I always prefer the type of work done on I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin. Something about that Muscle Shoals crew that brought it all out in a particular talent. Can't recall the drummer's name off hand but he was so damned smooth and I invested a good deal of time in studying the tracks upon which he was present as well as Steve Gadd and most of those hired to work with Steely Dan. You know, the only time I'd break a real wet sweat when playing was outdoors in 90 degree heat. I always like my fills but never, never did I work the stage alone doing a long solo. It just bored me to think of doing it. I was only happy when playing with my various brothers and make it all cook.
Carmine was a neighbor and as a kid i'd see him jamming in garages etc . really dedicated really technical but went into the WATCH ME NOW. Gadd?. Play Gadd's "50 ways to leave your lover" and you have my full respect. NOT difficult or original (it is root Samba) but the absolute precision and delicacy is just Tasty... Again, if you had SOME chops Bonham was one day to nail so was Moon. Now Ringo and Copeland I am still perfecting.
Rich Pagano of the wonderful world famous Fab Faux. Great stuff thanks!
Great stuff. You're a lucky man being able to capture the feel of Ringos style. Thanks for sharing.
That was great. Thanks so much for this. I love all of Ringo's drumming - and I play guitar! I remember as a 12 year-old really noticing the drumming on the verse of 'All I've Got To Do', and feeling that it was so musical. That was the thing about all of them - they all were so musical, and played exactly what was right for the song (even when they did not like the song!).
Yep, always reckoned every corner of the Beatles was absolutely genius, ringo has such incredible sense for drumming and awesome versatility... inspiration.
people who dis ringo star as a drummer are just ignorant of what makes music work where the tire meets the road. once you actually bother to try to learn the songs and get the feel right thats usally a big eyeopener. the guy just doest play like regular people
With all due respect, if you don't like it ¿what are you doing here?
DhangoMicheli he was defending ringo lol
YES... I sure agree with you. They are know nothing fault finders from a Classical Accordionist. I make an accordion sound like no other even using my pinky finger on he base out of necessity. Same for Ringo's Great and unique drumming.
thank you rockhard...its true, people who say how simplistic his playing is usually omit any sense of swing, play straight 8ths instead of shuffling, etc. They are so worried about technique and in the end skip TECHNIQUE AND FEEL
I agree completely. I recently got into an argument with a guy who claimed to be a great drummer yet dissed Ringo because he wasn't versatile.His point was that a great drummer has to play every kind of music under the sun but my point was that Ringo was a great drummer because he knew what NOT to play.
John Shannon, You hit the nail on the head. I am sure the chumps on this page talking Ringo down aren't worthy of even carrying his sticks . Ringo was a great musician. Trumps being a fancy drummer any day.
Ringo liked the sound of Ron Bushy's drums from Iron Butterfly and wanted to capture it for a lot of Abbey Road.
He also liked Carl Palmer and bought Palmer's drums
Your attention to detail is admirable. Cool stuff.
This was a very interesting video. Watching him breakdown those sounds was great
Thanks for putting up this video man..... It is very informative and you really show why Ringo was so cool.
I'm not even a drummer, but this is so cool! I love the background info....
The tea towel. I've seen pictures of Ringo's tea towels and I remember seeing that type of a tea towel growing up but you can't find those tea towels any longer. So I switched over to what they call flour sack cloth and you can find that at Walmart in the kitchen section. It's called flour sack cloth they cost about a buck per or maybe it's a dollar for two I can't remember...but it's real thin and it's a natural fiber.
I think the tea towels that Ringo used and that were very often used by most households back in those days were of a thinner material then what you find today and what may be called a tea towel.
So, look around for the flour sack cloth and I think the consistency is about the same as tea towels used to be.
At 1:09, what you're asking regarding the sound source, it is what you played later on the rims. Anyway, thanks for highlighting Ringo's drumming patterns on this song. What you played in the fills was closer to the original than what I played on my cover.
Love your band mate!
Thanks Rich for your work. I sing and drum on Something always felt the bridge was empty, then I was filling in too much. I'll work more to "economize".
Ringo was(and is) a true musician.
That trotting sound in While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a pair of castanets being played, if anyone is curious.
Impressive. Especially your approach to Something. Thanks. Big fan.
The "No Hats" thing is a Phil Spector thing , later continued by Brian Wilson.
Your good . Ringo is Iconic
Hey Rich..firstly - FANTASTIC insight into some very important drumming and sound. GREAT research and attention to detail!
My understanding of the tom pattern in Come Together differs slightly. Your LH lead is right on..however, I think that Ringo's orchestration of the last 3 notes of the fill has his RH playing the last and 3rd-to-last note on the floor tom with his LH playing the 2nd-to-last note on the middle tom. To my ears, the depth of the floor tom seems evident.
Again, great work!
No hats started with "She Loves You". All floor & flam on the intro. No one had ever rode the floor tom b4 that song as a intro I thought.
Fab Faux.
Brilliant name for a Beatles tribute band!
Such an underrated drummer
Superb
How? Ringo invented some of the best drum beats of all time. And they were all amazing. If you had ANY musical talent you would appreciate their contributions.
Thanks for talking about that section in "Something". It's been bothering me for years.
No, Come together Ringo goes snare , floor tom . He shows this in the video , " Ringo's Solo's " with Dave Stewart .
If you listen closely on Cone Together, the tom part of the groove is actually ascending.
Great job on Ringo's playing Early days and later...
I don't have the heart to tell the "Professor - Critic -Ham moto" (below) that you're not in a studio with any mics and more than likely using the mic on the video camera and probably in a basement with varying amounts of humidity and fluctuating temperatures. Gezzzzz
Again great job ! Joe
Holy shit! When you see someone actually play it, it makes you think Ringo was fucking tremendous! It's not in the chops, it's in the groove and the voice. Wow.
He even SINGS it in pretty much the right key!
Brilliant Drumming !!
Ringo Starr ..one of the BEST beneath John Bonham
If you listen to the very beginning of "While my Guitar Gently Weeps", Ringo does the bass and hi hat combination.
awesome thanks!
Paul played the drums on DEAR PRUDENCE, THE END is absolutely a Ringo'sdrumming
If anything he is underrated cuz even fans of the Beatles say that. Good drummers now how important his contributions were
Wrong on Come together, you would think that a Beatles imitator would have checked how Ringo really did it. It was a reverse roll from the floor tom up. Tune those drums for god sakes.
+Joe Cap Agree with you on the tuning. You must be a drummer/musician.
Nope. If you actually listen to it he starts up, dips down quickly, back up, and down again for the main thumps.
Joe Cap I've seen a video where he does as you say from the bottom to top, but you can hear on the record he goes from the top to bottom (in a way that can be achieved left handed) I guess his memory was a bit foggy
The sound you are hearing in the background is Ringo drumming on castanets.
I listened to 'Guitar Gently Weeps' and the clicking is seperated from the drums on a different channel. I would assume it was an overdub and it sounded like it was being played on wood. But I don't know what they actually did. Also, it's not very prominent so I wouldn't worry too much about playing it live. JMO
Great job on "Something". Nice compromise.
none of the books (i've read em' all) mention specifically what that gallup is but the tom rim sounds like as good a possibility as anything. john lennon does not appear on this nor any of george's other 3 songs on the white album at all.
AWESOME! Thanks so much. Just a tip... if you could balance (Some how) the level of your voice with the drums. But otherwise. I learned a lot. Thanks again.
Do you know what kind of drum heads Ringo used during the recordings of the later Beatles albums?
Also, which is the first album that his Ludwig Hollywood kit is featured on? Seems like the Ludwig Downbeat was used on the majority, right? What about snare drums?
He seemed to get so many different snare sounds (and I'm not just talking about using tea towels on the heads vs not using tea towels). Do you think this was the result of tuning it differently for certain tracks? For instance, "Strawberry Fields" has a lower (pitch), heavier sound than the snare on "Penny Lane". Any thoughts?
He definitely altered the tuning of his toms for recording "A Day In the Life". They are *so low* to the point where the floor tom sounds slightly timpani-ish! It can be heard clearly when he makes his intro into the song with that fantastic fill.
Keep up the good work.
Late reply, but Ringo pretty much always used the stock Ludwig heads, never changed them out, and was always experimenting with tuning them differently. The first album to use the 5-piece Hollywood Kit was the White Album, though we're not 100% sure all the the songs that feature it (I for one think most songs). From 63-64 he used a Downbeat (20" bass), from 64-68 he used a Super Classic (22" bass, now called a Fab outfit), and from 68 on he used his Hollywood 5-piece. He always used the same snare, a Ludwig Jazz Festival. Check out Ringosbeatlekits.com loads of info there.
Fab!!!
I think THE most important observation missing regarding Ringo's playing....is he "lays back" the snare...meaning he comes down "late". Same with Charlie Watts...to name a few. This technique adds a "swing" feel and "anticipation" and "fattens" the beat. A dominant slow example is Penny Lane. A fast steady example is I Saw Here Standing There. Can you hear it? ua-cam.com/video/dYdr3wT7kHA/v-deo.html or paperback writer ua-cam.com/video/yYvkICbTZIQ/v-deo.html but is everywhere. It's even causally mentioned here in an interview about his drumming ua-cam.com/video/vl9188EPdLI/v-deo.html and turns a boring droning metronome beat into a dynamic interesting energetic swing beat.
Any "Prisoners" gigs coming up Rich.Not even sure if that project is still going ?
Great stuff not easy either
we use castanets for that clippity-clop part.
i think ringos genuis is the ability to craft parts that are super effective in terms of contributing to the arrangement and sound, not focusing on trying to impress with chops
i think every drummer would benifit from contimplating ringos approach more often
many, many drummers have chops to burn
how many have a style and sound?
the drummers of the world need to take some ringo lessons
One of the things that I never understand is Ginger Baker's criticism of Ringo, and George.
He called George "a musical moron" simply because George could not read and write musical notation, and therefore could not talk in the 'traditional' language of Western music (I would love to tell Baker than being able to build and realize the vision he had of 'Within You, Without You' was a supreme example of George communicating in ways that few others could - it even impressed George Martin).
And Baker 'approves' of Charlie because he has a jazz background, but not of Ringo, or Moon, or Mitch Mitchell.
check on you tube ,a band called Brand X..Collins drums on most of the albums. listen in particular to "Livestock" album..you will be surprised how good he is if you are basing your opinion on his solo stuff
Always wondered...never got towling
of course it is
I read somewhere Paul did some drums in the studio too,and that some tunes are played by studio drummers-Bernard Purdie for example-
That trotting in my guitar gently weeps, is added percussion most likely a guiro on a SLOW down stroke, it is not at all as emphatic or fast you you played it. Ringo keeps saying he's not a percussionist but a drummer but the man has a great ear and facility to pull a Bolero on "And I love her" and I've locked on a few latin percussion figures on various songs.
please what size sticks are you using
Rich, something I’ve noticed with Ringo is he would splash the hi-hat a lot and then close it during a middle eight then splash again with the returning verse. Is that something you notice, too?
Yeah in the early and mid days like on I Want To Hold Your Hand he did that. but not so much in the later days
@@beatleszilla a lot of earlier songs he did that. “It won’t be Long” too.
Did Ringo lead with his left for every lick?
I watched Ringo on a Conan O'Brien show and he stated that he always leads with his left.
Why does not One person say the drum Solo is straight iron butterfly Ron bushy
Wrong, I believe Paul drums on Back in the USSR and a few others on The White Album, but The End is definitely Ringo.
This has been interesting. I have to admit I never warmed to the Ringo sound. I think it is something you like or you don't. I was listening to people like Bill Ward so for me Ringo sounded so pedestrian in comparison so it was difficult for to go back and appreciate. The only drummer from that era, as in 60's, I really like is John Bonham. His sound better suited my ears. I will therefore not say Ringo is a bad drummer as he did what was required for the song which is a drummer's job but listening to him did not make me think and want to understand what he is playing unlike when I was listening to John Bonham. I think it is just a preference and we all have them.
+Bill Perri I really do struggle with Ringo's style. I like In My Life but then I found out later that he acquired that from another drummer. I think he is a good basic drummer but there isn't anything in his playing that makes me want to revisit in the way I do with Bonham, Ian Paice, Bill Ward etc. I think I have grown up listening to too many great drummers so once one understands the basics we tend to move onto more interesting drummers. Ringo is not someone I could listen to for too long whereas the hi-hat and rimshot work on Walking on the Moon by Stewart Copeland I could listen to again and again. There is no doubt we inspired many but he just does not excite me in the way some other drummers do.
didn't they just say Paul played the drums on While My Guitar Gently Weeps? That's when Ringo left for a while.
No, Ringo plays on While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Paul played drums on Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence, which is when Ringo was gone.
The comment about Paul playing the drum solo on "The End" on Abbey Road I'm afraid is utter nonsense.Any body who knows Ringo's (and Paul's for that matter) drumming will know it's Ringo playing .I have read many books on the subject . All "experts" confirm its Ringo. If you have a link to information proving otherwise , I'd invite you to share it here - because I've never seen it...
damn the mic used to record these drums needs to be much further away.
what is up with your kick sound? is that your mic distorting?
Why does the bass drum sound like a giant snare?
They way you play come together is going up the toms, not down
Knight Ringo. And do it now!
nice shirt
seriously!
WOW ! WHY DO HIS DRUMS SOUND LIKE SHEET MON ?
those might have been castanets on While My Guitar...
john bonham didnt run with that Flat tea toweled sound.
Who'd want to ????
I'd say plenty considering any covers band all over the world would cover The Beatles and would like to nail the drums like Ringo. .
cool video! all the way up until you mentioned Phil Collins.
ALL the Beatles solo work required ONE thing of drummers PLAY LIKE RINGO ! You cant ? NEXT! Paul thinking of himself as a drummer (and he does have impeccable timing but knows ONE beat) always tries to sound like Ringo. Those sweeping LOOOOOOONG Htoms fills . Once Ringo wrote the chart man , even Abe can not deviate without a Paul frown.
mickavellian You tell it Mick!!!
rhythmantic - Sal D'Amato Ryth my bro! - Last night I am doing some research on the "Paul" vs "Faul" shit (which I got down to a visible provable fact ... Paulie has a physical defect and so does Sir McCartney . exactly the same syndrom and it is VISUAL Someone is helping me to do the video. And I get to how much of a Pain "Free as a bird was" (which I think I already discussed) but there was an asterisk on a reference to Ringo... which again pointed out HOW underrated Ringo had always been ... and it goes into Ringo's history in Liverpool and how not only as a drummer but as a musician he was considered a god damn genius . Little is ever said of his piano and guitar playing and although his timing is legendary his pitch is god damn near McCartney perfect and that is clear on his studio drum tuning but HOW did he do it live!? You never saw him re-tuning drums. NO tuning keys cause there was no pauses between songs (think about it) so how was he so pitch perfect on the kit ???? As my first drum teacher used to say ."USE THE WHOLE DRUM" Three pitches rim, mid, center . On an early Ringo kit he sucked the life outta the HH again 3 pitches in an infinite open close position , the buttering attack etc add 3 pitches per drum that 3 to the 3rd . He was playing a small piano ! Damn close to the Buddy Rich HH solo miracle.
It closes with "Being the 5th BEST drummer in history (which included the variety of percussion , rhythms, etc) Ringo Starr belongs on that rarified atmosphere of the Buddy Rich pantheon"
So as a closing the articled ended with " It has been sadly overlooked that Ringo Starr was the second BEST musician within The Beatles with huge contribution to classical Beatles songs like "Eleanor Rigby" (apparently a lot of the lyrics were Ringo's) WHO KNEW!?
mickavellian Well stated Mick and a very fascinating breakdown of the piano concept on a kit. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of Ringo's drumming. When I read that Ringo is underrated as a drummer, it only reveals the person's ignorance of drumming and pop music in general who make such a statement. On another matter, I'm really bugged to hear & read that Ringo was a "left-handed" drummer. No he is not! Whatever hand is used on the ride, either hi-hat or ride cymbal, determines the designated hand. Ringo rides with his right hand, and further more, plays a right-handed kit using his right foot on the kick and left on the hats. Now, he does use, from what little can be seen in videos, his left-hand to lead the drum fills, but this doesn't make one a left-handed drummer and an example of one is Lenny White, though he plays on a left-handed kit. Phil Collins on the other hand is a left-handed drummer because he not only leads with his left, but his kit is set up for left-handed drumming.
rhythmantic - Sal D'Amato Ryth - Typical of people who have NO CLUE of terminology. I have had that argument here. To US (drummers) is like someone kicked us in the balls, BECAUSE one of his innate extraordinary abilities was being a left handed person playing a right handed kit. But OF course how many people who ARE NOT drummers understand the concept of rudiments or of a drum chart ? It really means little where in hell you position your kit (although a HH on the right will give you a REALLY fast clue. :) but we ALL know Ringo IS left handed but his playing is RIGHT handed and even for the amateur this is clear in , let's say "ALL my loving" in YOUR /watch?v=o70DKFzxSIc video .. RIGHT hand riding the HH LEFT hand on the snare. A LEFT handed drummer would ride the HH with the LEFT , Snare with the right. SIMPLE. The "leading" on a fill has nothing to do with being R/L handed ... I usually lead with my left on a fill that starts on the snare or double up with my left on a roll and close with a crash with my right. Once you get out of the ROOT rhythm whatever the hell you do does not define you as a R/L handed drummer. The IDEAL percussionist should not favor either hand because in an orchestra (where it is where your stones really count) you don't have the option to go ... "Ok I want the High timpani on the Right and the Low timpani on the left. You Read the music sheet and hit the goddamn note. A really good example of this is Latin Music. When you play Timbales you better be as accurate and fast with BOTH hands cause a timbale set up is standard in any Latin music group.
mickavellian Yes, I agree.
How is Ringo overrated?
For that matter, how are The Beatles overrated? None of their albums have 10/10; which most (excluding Yellow Submarine) of them deserve.
I don't like to be critical, but that has to be the worst-sounding drum kit ever to appear on UA-cam. Try tuning the bass drum. Or is a joke that I'm not getting?
+Teffy Louis Hey, it's Teffy. Small world here on YT.
naaaaaaah this drum set sounds awful.
Sounds like a fucking shotgun but it’s probably a steel garbage can
Because that is what an undamped bass drum sounds like live.
When it comes to pop and rock n roll, there’s only Ringo and Bohnham. And Ginger also. Every drummer since has copied those guys.
The sound on your drums is not good.
No wonder why he plays drums, his voice is a bit rusty...
Ringo is one of the most over-rated drummers in perhaps the most over-rated pop band ever.
And what planet did you come from.