Learn to playImagineas made famous by John Lennonon drums
A soft, steady drum beat with light hi-hat taps, gentle snare hits, and a subtle bass drum, creating a calm, reflective groove that complements the song's peaceful tone.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Imagine. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Imagine
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Verse and chorus
Come in in bar 2 with a tom fill, playing on beats 3-&, 3-a, 4-e, and 4-&. Move into a basic beat on the hi-hat, playing an extra kick on beat 3-&. After 3 bars, play the crash and rest.
Verse and chorus 2
Continue the groove into verse 2. In bar 8, play a fill moving from hi tom to low tom, leading into the chorus. Crash, and play the chorus once more, ending on a crash.
Outro
For the outro, add a 1/16 note kick on beat 4-a. In bar 7, repeat the fill from verse 2, and finish on a crash.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement. Note that there is an extended intro of 7 bars before the fill.
Learn to play
Imagine
with Melodics
Behind the track
Imagine
by John Lennon
"Imagine" by John Lennon features a simple yet profound musical composition, primarily driven by a gentle piano melody. The arrangement includes understated bass and drums, along with delicate string accompaniment. Lennon's vocal performance is heartfelt and sincere, delivering the song's hopeful and idealistic lyrics with clarity and emotion. His voice carries a sense of warmth and earnestness, making the message of the song resonate deeply with listeners.
Tips for learning Imagine on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Imagine' 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.
- Get access to 100s of interactive lessons and popular songs
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FAQs
- Playing "Imagine" by John Lennon on drums is relatively easy due to its slow tempo and straightforward beat. The primary focus is on maintaining a soft and steady rhythm that supports the song without overpowering it. The simplicity of the beat makes it accessible for drummers of varying skill levels. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Imagine" on drums, you need a good sense of timing and the ability to play with a light touch. The song requires control over dynamics to maintain a gentle, steady beat without overwhelming the other instruments. Familiarity with basic drumming techniques, such as light hi-hat taps and gentle snare hits, is essential. The key is to support the song's calm and reflective mood with subtle, nuanced drumming.
- 76 bpm
- 4/4
- C 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.