Learn to playRosannaas made famous by Totoon drums
The drum beat in "Rosanna" by Toto features a distinctive shuffle groove, characterized by a syncopated pattern with ghost notes and accents.
With our step-by-step Rosanna drum tutorial you can recreate the epic beat behind one of the greatest pop songs. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Rosanna
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Step 1 - Learn the 'Rosanna' Intro
Start with a fill on beat 2-&. Move into the triplet shuffle with a clave-like pattern on the kick. Watch for the extra middle triplets that continuously creep in on the snare.
Step 2 - Learn the 1st Verse
Start the verse with a crash, and be weary of the extra triplets being added on the snare as this section progresses.
Step 3 - Nail the Pre-Chorus: Smooth Transition Groove
Bring the dynamic down and move to a straight 1/4 note groove. For the fill leading into the chorus, use the sticking R - R - L, accenting the left hand (the last triplet).
Step 4 - Rock the Chorus: Triplet Groove in Full Swing
Return to the triplet groove for the chorus, this time with a kick pattern that follows the riff. Play the middle triplet on the snare continuously now.
Step 5 - Follow 2nd Verse into the 2nd Chorus: Add Dynamic Variations
Now move through Verse 2 - Pre-chorus - Chorus, with some slight variations, including continuous snare triplets and fill variations.
Step 6 - Conquer the Solo: From Hi-Hat to Ride
Start the solo section with the verse groove on the hi-hat, before moving to the ride.
Step 7 - Final Chorus: Epic Fade-Out Performance
Repeat the chorus as the track fades out.
Step 8 - Put it All Together: Full 'Rosanna' Playthrough
Now combine the sections to perform the full arrangement. The form is: Intro - Verse - Pre-chorus - Chorus - Verse 2 - Pre-chorus - Chorus - Solo - Last Chorus. Remember to make use of Practice Mode to slow it down and isolate any tricky parts.
Learn to play
Rosanna
with Melodics
Behind the track
Rosanna
by Toto
Toto's "Rosanna" is a powerful pop, rock, and R&B song with complex instrumentation, memorable hooks, and close vocal harmonies. The catchy grooves, catchy guitar riffs, and sumptuous keyboard textures define the composition. The vocal performance exhibits a spectrum of emotions from celebration to longing, all delivered with a smooth and deep delivery. The backup voices give the song more depth and texture while lead vocalist Joseph Williams conveys the words with charisma and emotion.
Tips for learning Rosanna on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Rosanna' 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
- Rosanna is very difficult to play in its original form due to the unrelenting shuffle and ghost notes. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Rosanna" by Toto on drums, you'll need a combination of skills including: - Groove and timing: Mastering the shuffle groove and maintaining consistent timing throughout the song is essential. - Coordination: Coordinating different limb movements to execute the intricate drum patterns, particularly with the hi-hat, snare, and bass drum. - Ghost notes: Incorporating subtle ghost notes to add texture and groove to the rhythm. - Dynamics: Being able to play with varying levels of volume and intensity to match the dynamics of the song. - Independence: Developing independence between your limbs to play complex rhythmic patterns simultaneously. - Listening skills: Paying close attention to the original recording to accurately replicate the nuances of the drum part. - Technique: Ensuring proper drumming technique to maintain control and prevent fatigue during extended playing sessions. - Musicality: Understanding the feel and style of the song to infuse your performance with the appropriate emotion and energy. Practice with a metronome and gradually build up speed and accuracy to master the drum part of "Rosanna."
- 82 bpm
- 2 / 4
- G 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.