Learn to playChop Suey!as made famous by System Of A Downon drums
The drum beat in Chop Suey! by System of a Down is fast-paced and dynamic, featuring rapid double bass kicks, syncopated rhythms, and explosive fills that drive the song's intensity.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Chop Suey! We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Chop Suey!
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
Play the one shot on hi-hat and kick in the guitar intro, before moving to the tom groove. Keep pulsing 1/4 notes on the kick, and repeat the one bar pattern 7 times, before building up on the low and mid toms.
Verse
Move to 1/8 notes on the open hi-hat, with a 1/16 note pattern between kick and snare for 8 bars. Play the hits between kick, snare, and open hi-hat, and return to the 1/8 note groove. Move into the chorus with a fill using a flam on the snare and toms.
Chorus
Move to a half-time groove for the chorus on the ride.
Verse 2
Return to the regular time groove for the verse, and watch for the blast beat in bar 5.
Chorus 2
Return to the chorus groove, and repeat the chorus again, this time adding more kicks.
Bridge
Start the bridge with a double time version of the verse groove, before returning to the regular verse groove, and then moving to ride on the crash.
Outro
Return to the half-time feel from the chorus, this time with added crashes. Finish with hits using kick, snare, and crash.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to perform the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Chop Suey!
with Melodics
Behind the track
Chop Suey!
by System Of A Down
"Chop Suey!" by System of a Down showcases a complex musical composition, blending elements of heavy metal with progressive and alternative influences. The song features abrupt tempo changes, intricate guitar riffs, and dynamic shifts between aggressive and melodic passages.
The vocal performance is equally versatile, with Serj Tankian delivering a mix of intense, shouted verses and hauntingly melodic choruses, complemented by harmonies and backing vocals from Daron Malakian. The interplay between chaotic energy and structured melody creates a unique and captivating listening experience.
Tips for learning Chop Suey! on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of Chop Suey! 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 "Chop Suey!" on drums is considered challenging due to its complex and dynamic nature. The song features rapid double bass patterns, intricate fills, and sudden tempo changes, requiring advanced technical skills and precise timing.
- Chop Suey! requires a range of advanced drumming skills, including double bass drum technique, strong timing across complex rhythms including syncopation, and some fast fills and transitions.
- 128 bpm
- 4/4
- G Minot
- 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.