Learn to playAvant Gardeneras made famous by Courtney Barnetton drums
The drum beat in 'Avant Gardener' by Courtney Barnett features a steady, mid-tempo groove with a prominent kick-snare pattern, accented hi-hats, and occasional fills, creating a relaxed, driving rhythm.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind 'Avant Gardener'. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Avant Gardener
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
To start the song, build up between kick, snare, and low tom, ending with an anticipated crash on beat 4-&. Move to the ride and play a basic groove as you head into the verse.
Verse
Hold the basic ride groove for 24 bars through the verse.
Pre-chorus
Continue the groove for another 7 bars, and return to the buildup, finishing with an anticipated crash leading into the chorus.
Chorus
Pick up the chorus on beat 1-&. Play a straight four groove, playing 1/4 notes together on the kick and snare. In the last bar, catch the syncopated guitar riff hits on the -& beats, and end with open hi-hat and snare together on beat 4.
Outro
Strike the crash and move to play a basic groove with 1/4 notes on the low tom to finish the song.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Avant Gardener
with Melodics
Behind the track
Avant Gardener
by Courtney Barnett
'Avant Gardener' by Courtney Barnett features a laid-back indie rock composition with a minimalist arrangement. The song's guitar riffs are simple yet catchy, supported by a steady rhythm section that includes a relaxed drum beat and a subtle bass line. The overall sound is raw and unpolished, enhancing its authentic, garage rock feel.
Barnett's vocal performance is conversational and deadpan, delivering witty and narrative lyrics with a distinctive Australian accent. Her vocal style is marked by its casual, almost spoken-word quality, which complements the storytelling nature of the lyrics. This combination of musical simplicity and unique vocal delivery creates an intimate and relatable atmosphere.
Tips for learning 'Avant Gardener' on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Avant Gardener' individually for precision mastery. With Melodics, you can slow the pace of the song and work up to full speed.
Tip 2: Review your performance
Identify growth areas: Listen to playback of your performance to learn where you need to develop your timing, technique & rhythm. Melodics provides instant feedback on your performance.
Tip 3: Practice makes perfect
Stay consistent: With regular, focused practice you'll see rapid progress when learning the song. Even a short session each day will make a huge difference.
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FAQs
- Yes, 'Avant Gardener' by Courtney Barnett is relatively easy to play on the drums, making it a good choice for beginner to intermediate drummers. The song features a steady, mid-tempo groove with a straightforward kick-snare pattern and consistent hi-hat work. There are occasional fills, but they are simple and not overly complex, allowing drummers to focus on maintaining a steady rhythm and groove. The relaxed, laid-back feel of the song means that precision and timing are more important than technical complexity. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play 'Avant Gardener' by Courtney Barnett on the drums, you'll need the following skills: Basic Rhythm and Timing: The ability to maintain a steady, mid-tempo groove is essential. Practice with a metronome to ensure consistent timing. Kick-Snare Coordination: The song features a straightforward kick-snare pattern, so being comfortable with alternating between the kick drum and snare is important. Hi-Hat Control: Consistent hi-hat work is key in this song. You should be able to play steady eighth notes on the hi-hat, with some variation in dynamics for subtle accents. Simple Fills: The song includes occasional fills that are not too complex. Basic fills involving the toms and snare, played in time, will suffice. Dynamics and Feel: The relaxed, laid-back feel of the song requires good control over dynamics. Being able to play softly and with a sense of groove will enhance the performance. Stamina and Consistency: Since the song maintains a consistent groove throughout, you'll need the stamina to play steadily without losing tempo or energy. These skills will help you capture the essence of the drum part in 'Avant Gardener' and play it effectively.
- 115 bpm
- 4 / 4
- E major
- New songs are released every week on Melodics! And we love to take requests - the best place for this is within our Discord community where you can also connect with other music learners around the world. Check out https://melodics.com/info/community.