Learn to playHard Timesas made famous by Paramoreon drums
The drum beat for "Hard Times" by Paramore is upbeat and punchy, featuring syncopated rhythms and crisp, driving patterns that give the song a lively, danceable energy.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Hard Times. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Hard Times
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Verse 1
Kick off with a 1/16 note snare and low tom fill on beat 4. Move into the main, 4 bar repeating verse groove, using the right hand to play the toms, and watching for the snare flam.
Chorus 1
Move into a two-handed hi-hat groove in the chorus, opening the hats on the -& beats. Bring the left hand down to play the snare on beat 3-a, and watch for the two different fills around the toms.
Verse through Chorus 2
Return to the verse groove for a short instrumental after the chorus. The next verse and chorus are built upon the same patterns, with some fill variations and orchestrations (maintaining the same rhythm, but moving the hands around different parts of the kit). Make sure to use Practice Mode to go into detail and nail these variations.
Bridge (pt. 1)
The bridge encompasses a linear-like groove, with hi-hat played on the -& beats. Use the right hand to play the hi toms on beat 3-a, and end this section with a simple fill to lead to the second half of the bridge.
Bridge (pt. 2)
Move to a straight ahead two-handed hi-hat groove with some fills along the way. Open the hi-hat to build the tension at the end of this section, and build up in dynamic with 1/16 notes on the snare to lead into the outro.
Outro
Return to the chorus groove for the outro, with fill variations. At the end of the second round of chorus, introduce crashes on beats 3 and 4. Play these crashes once more before one last fill to end.
Perform the track
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Hard Times
with Melodics
Behind the track
Hard Times
by Paramore
"Hard Times" by Paramore features a vibrant musical composition with a mix of pop-rock and new wave influences. The song includes upbeat, syncopated drum patterns, catchy guitar riffs, and bright synths, creating an infectious, danceable sound. Hayley Williams' vocal performance is dynamic and expressive, delivering the introspective lyrics with a blend of urgency and playfulness, perfectly complementing the song's energetic instrumentation.
Tips for learning Hard Times on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Hard Times' 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 "Hard Times" by Paramore on drums can be moderately challenging, especially for beginners. The song features syncopated rhythms, quick hi-hat patterns, and some intricate fills that require good timing and coordination. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Hard Times" by Paramore on drums, you need to develop skills in syncopation, as the song features syncopated rhythms requiring comfort with off-beat accents. Hi-hat control is essential for the quick and precise patterns, necessitating good hand speed. Proficiency in fills and transitions is important for clean, well-timed fills and smooth section changes. Additionally, good endurance is required to maintain the song’s energetic tempo and drive consistently.
- 120 bpm
- 4/4
- F Minor
- 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.