So, if you know me at all, you know that one of my favorite concepts to talk about is the QUARTER NOTE PULSE. This clip provides a fine example of how we can find that pulse in many styles of music, including hard rock.
Witness a young Led Zeppelin, seen here playing "How Many More Times" on a Danish television show in 1969. They had just burst on the scene and were quickly establishing a reputation as the hardest rocking band alive.
Play close attention to John Bonham's right hand on the ride cymbal, especially at 00:06 and 00:26. Notice how his stick moves - in a continuous flow of "pulse notes." I refer to this kind of motion as "throw-up"- it reveals an influence of jazz and swing. Indeed, Bonhams's biggest influences were drummers like Gene Krupa, Max Roach and Earl Palmer. Remember, when Bonham was a lad growing up n the 1950s in the Midlands of England, there was no such thing as a "rock drummer" or "rock technique." Everyone was listening to shuffle grooves and you can see the obvious influence here.
Bonham maintains the technique when the band kicks into a much harder groove at 01:10, and he moves to the hi hat at 01:25 (switching from the French to the German grip in the process).
The upshot is this: A great pulse is not something that is particular to a style, era or grip. If you know how to create a great pulse, you will be more successful as a drummer, no matter what style of music you play.
Second: If you love Bonham, then do some research and learn about the music that influenced him. You'll discover some intricacies in rock that you never realized, and will improve your playing as a result!
For a deeper discussion of Bonham and his influences, check out my podcast Five Things You Didn't Know About John Bonham.
