Learn to playBuddy Hollyas made famous by Weezeron drums
Weezer's "Buddy Holly" features a steady, punchy drum beat with crisp snare hits and a driving bass drum, providing a tight, upbeat rhythm that complements the song's energetic feel.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Buddy Holly. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Buddy Holly
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Learn the verse
Start with a basic groove, adding a 1/16 note kick on beat 3-a in bar 4.
Learn the pre-chorus
Move to the crash and ride for the pre-chorus. Move your right hand between the cymbals, and finish this section with a build up leading into the chorus.
Learn the chorus
Move to the open hi-hat for the chorus, and end this section with a flam on the snare
Learn the 2nd verse
From the chorus, move into a short instrumental section before the second verse and pre-chorus, the same as the first.
Learn the 2nd chorus
Move back to the chorus groove, with a slight variation on the snare at the end of this section before moving to the bridge.
Learn the bridge
Step up the dynamic level here, moving to the crash. Watch for the 1/16 note kick on beat 4-e every second bar here. For the guitar solo section, move back to the open hi-hat and watch for the crashes. Finish this section with another buildup.
Learn the outro
The outro is an extended version of the chorus, finishing with a 1/16 note snare fill. Make sure to use Practice Mode to get the sticking and rhythm right here.
Combine and perform
Now combine the sections to perform the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Buddy Holly
with Melodics
Behind the track
Buddy Holly
by Weezer
The musical composition of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" features a catchy, power pop structure with crunchy guitar riffs, dynamic bass lines, and a tight, punchy drum beat. The song blends upbeat tempos with a melodic sensibility, creating an infectious, radio-friendly sound.
Rivers Cuomo's vocal performance is distinctive and emotive, delivering the lyrics with a mix of earnestness and playful confidence. His vocal tone is clear and engaging, enhancing the song's nostalgic yet fresh vibe. The harmonized backing vocals add depth and complement the energetic instrumentation, making the track a standout hit.
Tips for learning Buddy Holly on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Buddy Holly' 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
- Playing "Buddy Holly" by Weezer on drums is relatively straightforward, making it accessible for beginner to intermediate drummers. The song features a steady tempo and a consistent, driving beat with clear snare and bass drum patterns. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- Timing and Consistency: Ability to maintain a steady tempo throughout the song, ensuring each beat is played precisely. Snare Accents: Mastering the use of accents on the snare to capture the song's characteristic feel. Dynamic Control: Managing the intensity of your playing to match the energy of different song sections, especially transitioning smoothly between verses, choruses, and fills. Basic Fills: Knowing how to play simple but effective drum fills and incorporating them seamlessly into the main beat. Coordination and Independence: Developing hand-foot coordination to play consistent patterns, especially when incorporating hi-hat, snare, and bass drum together. Stamina and Endurance: Building the physical endurance to maintain the song’s energetic pace without losing precision.
- 121 bpm
- The time signature is 4/4
- A♭ 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.