Learn to playLast Christmasas made famous by Wham!on drums
The drum beat in "Last Christmas" by Wham! is a simple yet driving rhythm, featuring a steady backbeat with occasional fills, fitting the song's pop groove.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Last Christmas. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Last Christmas
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Learn the A section
Start with the 8 bar long A section. In bar 4, use alternating hands - R, L - to play the 1/16 note snare hits. In bar 8, keep the kick playing 1/4 notes for the syncopated snare fill. Use the sticking - L, R, R, L to play the last four snare hits.
Learn the B section
The B section is another 8 bar phrase, repeated twice. Play a double backbeat on the snare in bar 4, starting on beat 3-&, and in the next bar, delay the crash by a beat, striking it on beat 2 with the snare. Use the fill from bar 8 from the previous section to round off the phrase, and repeat again.
Play the song
Now combine the sections in the form: A - B - A - B - A - A to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Last Christmas
with Melodics
Behind the track
Last Christmas
by Wham!
"Last Christmas" by Wham! is a timeless holiday classic with a catchy melody and a bittersweet narrative. The musical composition features shimmering synths, jangly guitars, and a pulsating rhythm section, creating an infectious pop sound that captures the festive spirit. George Michael's vocal performance is heartfelt and emotive, conveying the longing and regret of the song's lyrics with sincerity and warmth. His smooth and soulful delivery, combined with the memorable chorus, makes "Last Christmas" a beloved seasonal anthem that continues to resonate with audiences year after year.
Tips for learning Last Christmas on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Last Christmas' 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 "Last Christmas" by Wham! on drums is relatively easy, as the song features a simple and steady drum beat. The rhythm primarily consists of a basic backbeat, with occasional fills to add variation. The tempo remains consistent throughout the song, making it accessible for drummers of varying skill levels. With practice, most drummers should be able to learn and perform the drum part for "Last Christmas" comfortably. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Last Christmas" by Wham! on drums, you'll need to have a grasp of several fundamental drumming skills: 1. **Basic drumming techniques**: Familiarize yourself with proper stick grip, hand and foot coordination, and basic drum rudiments like singles, doubles, and paradiddles. 2. **Steady tempo control**: The song maintains a consistent tempo, so practice with a metronome to develop a steady sense of timing. 3. **Backbeat groove**: Focus on maintaining a steady backbeat rhythm, typically played on the snare drum and bass drum, to drive the song forward. 4. **Hi-hat control**: Pay attention to the hi-hat pattern, which often plays a consistent eighth-note or sixteenth-note pattern throughout the song. Practice opening and closing the hi-hat for dynamics. 5. **Fills and accents**: Although "Last Christmas" features a relatively simple drum part, there are occasional opportunities for fills and accents. Practice incorporating these fills tastefully to add variation to the groove. 6. **Dynamic control**: Pay attention to the dynamics of the song and practice controlling the volume of your drum strokes to match the overall feel of the music. 7. **Listening skills**: Listen closely to the original recording to understand the nuances of the drum part and how it fits within the context of the song. By honing these skills and practicing regularly, you'll be well-prepared to play "Last Christmas" on the drums with confidence and proficiency.
- 107 bpm
- 4 / 4
- D 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.