The best drummers are the ones that listen.

"Forget all that fancy shit. Play like Ringo." John Lennon to Andy Newmark while recording Double Fantasy.

He's right. Don't overplay.

True skill is the ability to be creative and come up with something that complements the music well.

Bad drummers don't call their mom on Mother's Day.

An immature drummer plays drums. A good drummer plays the song. Loved this video!

Well said! I hate when amateurs think that playing everything fast and complicated makes them better musicians.

I love how he just trusts that playing the Beatles will prove his point, and he’s absolutely right too. Ringo’s clear, open sound is obviously wonderful and requires no explanation; it’s simply perfect.

this man has something to say. awesome

"All she does is keep the beat" Yeah, that's what a drummer has to do first and foremost. I remember Copeland saying something along the lines of "and now I'll show you something only a select few contemporary drummers can actually pull off anymore". And he played down a very simple but VERY precise 3 minute drum bit. And that's the sad truth: A lot of drummers today simply can't hold down a beat without a metronome plugged into their ears.

Hey guys. 6 years on and I’m happy that this video is being shared and judging from the comments, there are many points of views. I appreciate all the comments and opinions. Some agree and some don’t agree, but this is exactly why music is so awesome, everyone’s approach and views are different. Imagine if everyone had agreed, this art form would be boring. Keep me coming guys. Love it!

a good drummer keeps the entire bands beat with the ability to know when to be simple and when to go nuts. Nobody likes a show off

With all that's being said guys, all I'm saying is serve the music to it's genre. If I'm playing a Pop song, I'll lay the 2s and 4s and serve it as it is, if I'm playing a prog metal song, I'll serve it as it is too. I'm not saying fast chops is bad, neither am I saying "just playing the 2s and 4s" is bad. All I'm saying is to serve the music. I hope everyone can focus on the positive side to this video rather than bite each other's head off. Let's all agree on working towards being better musicians in whichever instrument we play, I have personally taken a few steps back to review my own approach to my own playing many times in my career, and each time I point out something in my playing that I don't like and try to better myself, but in the midst of it all, I try to create my own style, identity and voice. Our musical journey lasts a lifetime and never ends. So please continue to work towards being better. :-)

Anybody who is capable of keeping a good beat is a good drummer.

This is a $1000 lesson. For free. Thanks, Brandon.

A good drummer is one that carries his own gear without fucking moaning about it!

Damn, I wish the world had more musicians like you, *to play what the music requires*, specially in heavy metal, I'm so tired of the "I play as fast as I hold in bed", and I feel I'm alone in this, everyone around me love it...

Where are the "not quite my tempo" comments?!?

Ringo kept it so simple in some songs he just held an umbrella.

Ringo is the Tim Duncan of drumming. The casual fan doesnt think much of Duncan but those who appreciate basketball know that his greatness in simplicity puts him as an all time great.

The best drummers are the ones with cowbell

The best drummer is the one that gets the most snatch.

Excellent way of explaining drummers.

I just ran across this video quite by accident. I must say I could not agree with this guy more. Whether you like the Beatles or you don't; whether you like Ringo Starr or you don't, I've always professed that there is not a better drummer who could play Beatles music better than Ringo Starr did on every single song on every one of their albums. He was a master at coming up the with most stylistic drum parts for every one of their songs. No one could have done it better. Many people know he was not the most well-schooled drummer around and left a lot to be desired in the chops department. But every single measure he played was perfect for the song he was playing on at the time. He was one of the most creative participants and underrated musicians of the time even as he was playing with the other three virtuosos who comprised the Beatles. I don't know Brandon Khoo and I've never heard of him, but he hit the nail on the head squarely by making this analogy. I would imagine he is a superior educator who knows more about drumming than most of the big powerhouses who we all think so highly of. When he started to answer this question by mentioning the Beatles, I hoped he was going to make an example of how Ringo should be rightfully mentioned as one of the great drummers ever, solely for his work with the Beatles. To be clear, I'm not a huge fan of Ringo, but I'm a fan of all the great drumming he left for the world in conjunction with the Beatles. Hats off to Brandon Khoo, a master educator who knew exactly how to answer this question and did so while quietly exalting a master drummer of his time, Ringo Starr!!

I don't know anything about drums I'm just here

This guy knows what he's talking about. Good music is in the air. It's in the atmosphere. It stays there until a great musician hears it and plays it. Great musicians don't create music; They simply filter it out of the air that surrounds them.

I can't play a drum solo for shit, can't do rudiments if my life depended on it, my drum rolls are uneven and Brandon Khoo is a thousand times better than I will ever be.......but I always seem to find the right groove for my bands songs. " It's better to be a good drummer in a band than a great drummer in your basement "........My eighth grade music teacher, Mr. Morton.

The drumming Ringo came up with on that song fit that song and complimented the whole of it-it was "simple" but creative by leaving holes in spots-IE he accented it with spaces and gaps instead of fills-as most drummers do.

ive played drums for over 11 years now ,and the one thing i say to EVERYONE who wants to start playing drums is Its not hard to play fast (blast beats,double pedal etc) its hard to play slow,with alot of feelings and precise. you have to go through the same thing when learning how to drive a car.. its REALLY easy to just press down the gas and steer the car on the freeway, but when you have to go from stopping to 50kmh constantly ..its actually alot harder. remember this,

Following the music is definitely the first priority. That's something every musician needs to know. That's why when i learn or write a new song I start out with simple beats. doesn't mean you can't play the complicated stuff. It can add value to the song, but only if you know when and where to place it. Don't overdo it.

Meg White's seemingly telepathic connection to Jack White was incredible to witness live. Simple as the beats were, Jack is not a simple person to play with. Pretty incredible stuff.

Bad drummer drowns everyone and crashes every half a beat.

Any time someone tells me Ringo sucks, I ask two questions. 1. Do you like the Beatles? 2. What could you have done on drums to make their music better?

Despite playing fairly 'simple', Ringo has some crazy ass drum fills on some songs.

A good drummer doesn't overwhelm the song with a beat.

The best drummers are the ones that can get the most possible amount of extra beats, strikes, fills and cymbal crashes in the shortest period of time. Here are some other helpful tips: Play as loud as you can. Especially in real small, echoey rooms. Be sure to play extremely fast whenever possible. Speed always adds energy to a song. Constantly change your beats. Add that variety, because the same beat gets boring after a while. Be sure to drink a lot, or get plenty of drugs in your system before playing. The old saying "I play better drunk or high" is true. Never take any criticism from you band mates or the audience. You are the drummer, and you know best. Try to play as many different fills and chops as you can. You want to show everybody possible how good you are. Never practice or prepare before playing a song or a gig. Half the fun is figuring out spontaneously what to play. Try to come up with a different drumbeat or style sometimes just before you play a song live. You will impress your band mates and the audience with your creativity. Never be consistent. Speed up, slow down, play loud, then quiet, skip a beat or go out of time, even during the same song. Variation is what makes you sound better. Make sure you have an attitude about your playing. Never take any crap from anybody. You are the professional drummer, and pros know what they are doing. Nobody is as qualified as you are in what your are doing... If you follow these steps, you will be inundated with more bands and gigs than you can handle... Maybe not...

yea. a drummer who can keep the beat like a metronome is a hard find

That's easy: 1) Anyone: good drummer. 2) Lars Ulrich.

Best drummers are the ones with Humility...like Brandon Khoo

A good drummer leaves after you pay him for the pizza.

A good drummer knows how to serve the song, not himself.

Also for those saying ringo or Meg white aren't "good," you're out of your mind and I'm thinking you're not getting a lot of session gigs. Take nick mason of pink Floyd. He admits himself that he's not the most technically proficient drummer. But can you imagine anyone else playing on dark side of the moon? He plays for the song.

a good drummer knows the word GENRE..

What was the point of drums to begin with? They were primarily a military instrument, for maintaining rhythm, i.e, to keep the beat. Everything beyond that - as marvellous as it can be! - is an added bonus.

When I first started I use to think to be a good drummer was all about the speed and complexity, with age & wisdom now I come to realize that it is yeah mainly what the guy said; appropriateness Is key. not to be a show off but having the capability to know that you can and add that flare into the song with.. appropriateness

So wait, he's saying Ringo is good right? Cause that guy has such perfectly fitting drum lines

I really enjoyed this, Thank You. As a Percussionist it made me think out of the box.

If you really think about it, it takes a lot of finesse to play that beetles song on the drums, and I am not being sarcastic. there is a reason as to why Ringo is so successful! Have a look at my drumming idol Steve Gadd, same thing. He does the same thing over and over again, but dammit it work and it's really all you need!

So true and an excellent example of drumming that fits the song. Ringo did well at playing what his songs required. Music is sometimes best when it is simple.

"What separates a good drummer from a bad drummer is how they approach the music" Amazing quote. Great words to follow to be a true good drummer.

This was a lesson I started to learn as a guitar player. I found that the best guitarists knew how to serve the song. They could be technically proficient but could also do it in a way that serves the song as well as knowing when to back off. From what I learned, you have to find that balance to know when to play simple and when to play complex.

Spot on explanation. I'm a professional trumpet player and you have given excellent advice and definition of what a "good" musician is to be. It's not about us.

I like Ringo as a drummer. He may not have the best abilities in the world to play crazy fast stuff but he has always a steady beat and knows how to play good fills. The example with "In My Life" showed his inventiveness, a nice drumsample that doesn't sound boring and serves excellently the song.

The best drummers are the ones that put out.

This is a brilliant demonstration. It has the same enlightening effect that Victor Wootens video on "wrong notes" had on me. It's insane how obvious the advice sounds and yet many of us never thought about it that way.

I think that in his entire career with the Beatles, Ringo took one drum solo and that was on the last side of the last album they ever made - Abbey Road. Technically, Ringo seemed like a fish out of water, a lefty playing a right-handed kit, but he was, without a doubt, the best (and perfect) drummer the Beatles could have ever asked for. Paul McCartney has said that from the first time he sat in on drums for them, they knew he was the perfect fit. His focus was always making the song better, period. Cheers....

I suppose its about finding that middle ground - that sweet spot between serving the music and tastefully inserting your own character into the music :)

How do you know a drummer is at your door? the knocks keep getting faster.

You hit the nail on the head Brandon... sometimes restraint is harder than blasting away!!!

Im pleased he said meg white is a good drummer cos she really is

Problem is though: Meg White can't hold the fuckin beat

There are bad bands with good drummers, but no good bands with lousy drummers.

"Serve the song, serve the music." I love this! As a (VERY) amateur drummer myself, this is exactly how I've always felt about it. "Good" drumming is neat every now and then for a solo, but not when it's overkill. I also consider Ringo one of the greatest around - and not because of his flash. Ringo served the song. And so many of The Beatles' songs would not be the same without him.

Technical ability =/= skill

I personally think Ringo is one of the most underrated drummers in history. Listen to the drummers of the 50's, then listen to Ringo's drumming on the early 60's Beatles stuff such as "Please Please Me", "She Loves You", "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" etc. IMHO He's the real father of solid rock drumming. Keith Moon was soon to follow, but he was on the complete opposite end of the field than Ringo.....Moon was much more wild, and showey, and sometimes IMHO overplayed. Then about 5 years later came John Bonham, and he revolutionized, not so much solid rock drumming, but technical power rock drumming. Then about 5 years after Bonham came AVH with "Hot For Teacher", and that began the whole double bass, speed playing style drumming, then after that started coming the double bass thrash metal drumming, along with a resurrection of the Bonham style power drumming with the Seattle Alternative/Grunge music.....I know there were countless other amazing drummers during that timeline, but I'm mentioning the ones that really left a mark in the different generations of music. Neil Peart is definitely a mention, but I don't see where he created a certain style, he was just so fucking quick and right on the money with his fills and beats. I haven't yet really seen a drummer who plays like Peart.....Peart is one of a kind. Same with Steward Copeland.....he was amazing at his off meter reggae style drumming. Both Peart and Copeland are absolutely amazing, but they're on their own because I've not really seen anyone else copy their style too much.......Then Meg White came out, and everyone puked lol

When I was a young drummer (10-25 or so) I used to emulate Neil Peart. And I couldn't get a gig. Now - I do my best to keep it simple, lock in with the bassist and play groove and feel... I now have my pick pf gigs in NYC. don't be a hero.... just play a tasty part that fits the music and you'll always get a job as a drummer

Ringo could do whatever you asked him on the Beatles. And he could do it perfectly. He easily could have been a lead drummer on another highly successful band and be the vocal point of the music, that’s how good he was. But the Beatles asked him to be the anchor for their music, and he obliged and is a key reason they are so amazing all time

I don't know why but I still go back so much and re-watch this because it's such a good point and message

Best answer ever. Too many young drummers think it's all about who can play the loudest, the fasted or has the best chops....sad.

Ringo star's not even the best drummer in the beatles!

This guy is totally on point. I really love how he explains that the job of a MUSICIAN is to play what the song requires. If I were to point out an example, I'd choose the song Californication by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. You have this very mellow-chill vibe and style kind-of-song. Now someone that thinks a "good" guitarist is that playing like a virtuoso with exotic scales and techniques would think that a good solo is fast and exotic blah blah blah. But this song's solo is considered one of the best in rock-funk history for a reason. IT MATCHES THE SONG.

The drums for White Stripes is perfect.

I love your video! It says it all!!!! ALSO, what kind of snare is that, specifically?

A good drummer plays in the pocket. Thats the most important thing. Period.

Well said, you don't have to do blast beats every two seconds to be a good drummer

One of the most helpful videos I have ever seen on KZfaq related to improving your playing.

Bold statement "The singer will try and make you think that they are the most important part"... they are important because they have the lyrics, but they are are one part of the whole picture. Very well said.

Beautifully presented and said, Brandon! And with fun humor as well.

Still coming back to watch this - the lesson here is pure gold.

Good drummers don't shit up the music with their bullshit.

I think people missed the point of this guy's answer. A good drummer is someone that does not show off their skills or tries to be the star of the song. A good drummer is someone that will lay off the throttle and play stuff the song calls for. Simple grooves lock down a beat which is always important. If you have a drummer that tries to play complicated and fast beats, the whole band will be thrown off and the attention goes to the drummer's skill, not the song. It is the same thing for the vocalist, guitarist and bassist. Having a guitar player that tries to show off during a song will shift focus from the song to the guitarist. Simplicity is key to making memorable songs, progressions and grooves.

Having done the band thing, I can 100% emphatically agree with this. Drummers, in my experience, have a tendency to serve their ego rather than the songs. I've gotten bored playing dropped D rhythm power chords, but it was what the song required. Every drummer I've played with always had to play the damn songs like they were expecting Danny Carrey to be listening for a critique post-performance.

How to tell a good drummer and a bad drummer? One played in The Beatles and made the world as we know it today. The other one doesn't do much more than write shit about the first one on the internet.

Thank You Sir. Well said. As a drummer, I think people have a misunderstanding of what my job is: I'm a time keeper, and a compliment to my fellow musicians. The band isn't built around me.

Nicko McBrain. The perfect combination between skills, technique, and approach. Though I'm not going to say he *is the best*.

well said. another perfect example would be john densmore

I’ve been watching KZfaq videos for 14 years or whatever it is, and this is my favourite video. Perfectly explained how to not “over drum” a song. Many drummers should take this advice!

Great lesson. It's not about speed or tricks, it's about the music, the song. If you can't accomplish keeping time, you're not a drummer.

Phil Rudd..great drummer...Ringo Starr..great drummer...Dave Grohl..great drummer..they all play what is right for the song! They don't play to impress other drummers.

Thank you Brandon Khoo...You are exactly right.

Nicely put. You always serve the song. If it needs to be busy, fine, but if needs to be simple, you do it.

It's really easy, ask the drummer to bring a basic (Ringo-Steve Jordon) type kit to the audition, if they won't go to the next guy, IMHO the larger the kit the worse the drummer, double bass drums and a wall of Cymbals and toms is usually a red flag that the guy just want's to make a lot of noise,Of course there are fantastic drummers with huge kits and they REALLY know how use them but those type of players only do lucrative studio work or play on tour with big artists for $ thousands a day.

Yup, I knew you were going to say this, and I agree 100%. This lesson was taught me by a mentor of mine. Serve the music, not your own ego. This is especially true for us rhythm section players (I'm a bassist). Our FIRST duty is keeping time, the fills and fancy stuff is dictated by the needs/wishes of those in charge of the music. Could be a producer, vocalist, whatever - serve the music. Worst drummer I ever worked with absolutely dominated everyone, and worse, he sped up when he got excited.

Best way to explain the point of the video: The best ways to tell a good one from a bad one? Technique. Technique is EVERYTHING in the drumming world. Yes playing fast is a plus, but that doesn't make you the best drummer out there. Speed means nothing if there is no technique to it, meaning double bass is nothing without a good beat to follow, so don't go and believe someone who plays double bass is a god. Some out there think "Oh well Joey Jordinson is nothing but speed and should watch this video". Not true. For those who REALLY know about Joey, know that his speed may be what he's known for, but Joey actually has TONS of technique and was also a percussion instructor for a while. Why he doesn't show it more often? Slipknot's riffs. The way Joey plays is basically the only way to match up to Slipknot's songs, even though Joey shows a lot of technique in a good bit of their songs. Why people assume otherwise is idiotic. Trust me, I thought the same thing before. Main point is don't waste your time trying to be a really fast drummer. Practice technique over EVERYTHING in drumming. Playing style and technique is the absolute number 1 thing.

Brandon makes a very good solid point. As I was beginning to drum I learned that the difference between a good drummer and great drummer was knowing when to "shut up" (not play) ergo... play for the music.

"In spite of all things, the Beatles could really play music together when they weren't up tight, and if I get things going Ringo knows where to go just like that and he does well.", Lennon, 1971. Brandon Khoo is giving a tremendously important advice on this fine video. The drummer must be a musician that serves the song and that knows how to 'glue' the drums into it.

Aww man, I was curious what your answer was going to be to the Meg White question. (Although I'm pretty sure it was going to be the same answer you gave for Ringo). I'm not a huge White Stripes fan by any means, and I can understand why people might consider her a "bad" drummer if they only focus on her technique and simplicity. But I think she is fantastic and I admire her approach. She plays with a unique, child-like, primal, almost reckless energy that I think serves their music beautifully.

I never have paid attention to Ringo's beats but watching you play this made me realize how genius the drum parts on this song are. Assuming Ringo actually played them. You know the Beatles and guest musicians who were never credited on the albums. But your message is solid and very well spoken. Everyone should learn this one point. No single part is better than the sum in a song.

I just watched another video which said, one of the most important things a musician can learn, is when NOT to play. It made me understand a great deal about how great songs were made.

This couldn't be said any better!