Learn to playNineteen Hundred and Eighty Fiveas made famous by Paul McCartney and Wingson drums
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five drives with firm snare backbeats, buoyant kick pulses, and bright hi hats fills that lift its grand, piano led rock feel.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Verse
After the piano intro, come in on the kick. Watch for the kick variations and open hi-hats throughout.
Chorus
Hit the crash and play 1/8 notes on the hi-hat to start the chorus. Add the kick, then return to the full groove. Hit the crash to lead into the break.
Break
After the vocal break, the piano returns. Bring the kick in followed by the full groove.
Outro
Continue the groove with open hi-hat, kick, and crash variations. At the end, play the hits with the orchestra.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
with Melodics
Behind the track
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
by Paul McCartney and Wings
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five by Paul McCartney and Wings is a grand, piano-driven rock closer built on bold chords and sweeping dynamics. The composition opens with a commanding piano motif that anchors the harmony, while layered guitars, bass, and drums expand the sound into something theatrical and expansive.
The arrangement steadily intensifies, using rising chord progressions and orchestral touches to create a sense of forward motion and drama. Its structure feels almost symphonic, moving through contrasting sections before surging into a triumphant, full-band climax that reprises earlier musical ideas.
Vocally, McCartney delivers one of his more powerful and impassioned performances from the era. His phrasing shifts from melodic smoothness in the verses to gritty, belted lines in the choruses, pushing his upper register with urgency and emotional weight. The result is both romantic and explosive, blending pop sensibility with arena-sized rock drama.
Tips for learning Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five 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
- Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is an intermediate level song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need a steady groove and command over the open hi-hat.
- 112 bpm
- 4/4
- 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.