Learn to playRideas made famous by Twenty One Pilotson drums
A laid-back reggae-inspired beat with a steady hi-hat pattern, off-beat snare hits, and punchy bass drum, creating a relaxed yet driving groove throughout the song.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind 'Ride'. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Ride
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Step 1 - Learn the 'Ride' intro and first verse
Learn the 8 bar groove that comprises a big part of the song. Use one hand to play the 1/16 note hi-hats, staying relaxed. In the eighth bar, watch for the 1/8 note kicks followed by snare on beat 4-&. Break for the first four bars of the verse before heading back into the groove again.
Step 2 - Crush the epic chorus
Start with just snare backbeat for the first part of the chorus, before hitting the crash and returning to the verse groove.
Step 3 - Follow the 2nd verse into chorus
Come in on beat 4 of verse 2 with the snare. In this verse, add another snare on beat 4 throughout. For the fast 1/32 note hi-hats, use the sticking R - R - L, and play the following snare with the right hand. The fill in the eighth bar also adds a slight variation so remember to use Practice Mode to slow down and loop any tricky parts.
Step 4 - Learn the 'Ride' bridge
Start the bridge with the snare backbeat before launching into a new, more laidback groove, using 1/4 notes and 1/8 notes on the hi-hat. Watch for the syncopated 1/16 notes and drags on the snare, as well as the low tom. Finish this section amping back up into the last chorus with the fill from verse 2.
Step 5 - Build up on the last chorus
Build up on the hi-hat and play 1/8 notes on the kick. Use the left hand to fill in the 1/32 notes on the hats. Watch for the flams on the snare in the fill, and watch for the fill variation in the chorus groove.
Step 6 - Bring back the bridge parts for the outro
Return to the bridge groove in the outro.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Ride
with Melodics
Behind the track
Ride
by Twenty One Pilots
Twenty One Pilots' song "Ride" combines rock, hip-hop, and reggae elements. A laid-back, syncopated rhythm beat, appealing bass lines, and delicate guitar accents are all present in the musical piece. The song has a dynamic structure that alternates between quiet verses and louder choruses. Tyler Joseph has a very flexible voice that can switch between fast-paced rapping and mellow, melodic singing with ease. The single gains depth and emotional resonance via his expressive delivery and reflective lyrics, making for a unique and captivating listening experience.
Tips for learning Ride on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Ride' 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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Other popular songs available in Melodics
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The drums in Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc. are tight and minimalist, locking in with the bass to create a smooth, head-nodding groove.
Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots
The drums in Twenty One Pilots’ Stressed Out are laid-back yet crisp, blending hip-hop grooves with alt-pop vibes for a chill, catchy beat.
1901 - Phoenix
The drums in Phoenix’s 1901 are sharp and energetic, driving the song with tight hi-hats, punchy snares, and a vibrant indie-pop rhythm.
FAQs
- Playing "Ride" by Twenty One Pilots on drums can be moderately challenging due to its syncopated rhythm and off-beat snare hits. While the beat itself is not overly complex, maintaining the relaxed, reggae-inspired groove with precise timing requires good coordination and control. The song’s tempo and variations in dynamics also demand attention and consistency from the drummer. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Ride" on drums, you need to have a solid understanding of reggae and syncopated rhythms, with the ability to maintain a steady hi-hat pattern and off-beat snare hits. Mastery of basic rock and hip-hop beats is also helpful. You should be comfortable with tempo changes and dynamic variations, ensuring a smooth transition between different sections of the song. Good coordination and timing are crucial to keep the relaxed yet driving groove consistent throughout the track.
- 75 bpm
- 4/4
- E 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.