Learn to playHoly Diveras made famous by Dioon drums
The drum beat in 'Holy Diver' by Dio features a powerful, steady rock rhythm with a driving kick, sharp snare hits, and dynamic cymbal crashes, creating an intense, energetic backdrop.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind 'Holy Diver'. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Holy Diver
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
Start with an 1/8 note groove on the ride. In bar 4, play double stops between hi and mid toms, then mid and low toms. In bar 6, use alternating hands to move between the snare and cymbals, playing the crash with your non-dominant hand.
Verse
Heading into the verse, use the non-dominant hand to fill in the 1/16 notes on the hi-hat, bringing the dominant hand to play the snare. In bar 8, use alternating hands to move from the snare to the hi tom, and move into an 1/8 note groove, before playing the syncopated fill to lead into the chorus.
Chorus
Move between hits on the crash and the 1/8 note hi-hat groove. Watch for the pedal hi-hats at the end of this section before filling into verse 2.
Verse 2
Return to the verse groove. For the fill in bar 4, play hertas around the kit, and in the next bar, watch for the extra kick 1/16 notes, using alternating hands at the end of the bar. In bar 7, lead into the fill with 1/16 note triplets on the snare.
Bridge
Follow the guitar rhythm for the hits here. In bar 13, watch for the shift in the groove, and in bar 17, use the sticking R - L - L - R - L from the hi tom to the snare.
Verse 3
Return to the verse groove once more. In bar 4, play the fill across the toms, ending with your non-dominant hand on the crash. Finish this section with a build up on the kick and snare.
Outro
Return to the intro groove for the outro, adding extended fills in bars 4 and 8. Finish on a crash.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Holy Diver
with Melodics
Behind the track
Holy Diver
by Dio
'Holy Diver' by Dio showcases a powerful blend of heavy metal instrumentation and dynamic vocal performance. The composition features driving guitar riffs, a prominent bass line, and precise, energetic drumming. The song's structure is tight, with a memorable riff that underpins the verses and choruses. Ronnie James Dio's vocal performance is commanding and intense, marked by his signature powerful delivery, wide vocal range, and emotive phrasing. The combination of these elements creates a dramatic and engaging listening experience that is quintessentially metal.
Tips for learning 'Holy Diver' on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Holy Diver' 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 'Holy Diver' by Dio on drums is generally not considered easy, especially for beginners. The song features a steady, driving beat with precise timing, powerful kick and snare patterns, and dynamic cymbal work. Drummers need to maintain consistent energy and control throughout the track, particularly during the fills and transitions. While it may be more manageable for intermediate players with solid rock drumming skills, beginners might find the coordination and stamina required to play it accurately quite challenging. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play 'Holy Diver' by Dio on drums, you'll need to develop several key skills: - Timing and Consistency: The song has a steady tempo that requires precise timing. Practice with a metronome to ensure you can keep a consistent beat. - Coordination: The song features intricate patterns between the kick, snare, and hi-hat/cymbals. Work on coordinating your limbs to handle these patterns smoothly. - Stamina and Endurance: 'Holy Diver' is an energetic song that requires maintaining high energy throughout. Build your stamina to keep up with the pace without losing power or precision. - Dynamic Control: The song includes varying intensities, so you need to control your dynamics, playing both loud and softer sections with appropriate power and finesse. - Fills and Transitions: There are several drum fills and transitions in the song that require accuracy and fluidity. Practice these separately to ensure they are clean and well-executed. - Double Bass Pedal (optional): While not always necessary, some drummers use a double bass pedal for certain sections. If you choose to incorporate this, ensure you have the technique down. By focusing on these skills and practicing diligently, you'll be well-prepared to tackle 'Holy Diver' on drums.
- 92 bpm
- 4 / 4
- C 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.