Learn to playSelf Esteemas made famous by The Offspringon drums
The drum beat in "Self Esteem" by The Offspring features a driving punk-rock pattern: steady eighth-note snare backbeats (2 & 4), and punchy kick drum accents. Simple but energetic, with fills on tom rolls. Classic ’90s punk groove.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Self Esteem. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Self Esteem
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
After the pick slide, come in with the syncopated 1/16 note groove, keeping the 1/8 note hi-hat smooth and grooving. Buildup into the crash hits with the guitars.
Verse
Move to the closed hi-hat for the verse, switching up the groove to mimick the bassline. Play the hits in bar 4, and again in bar 12.
Chorus
Return to the intro groove for the chorus. Use alternating hands to play the fill between snare and hi-hat in bar 4.
Bridge
Move to the ride for the bridge. Use alternating hands on the snare to play the fill every 4 bars. Build up and play the hits once more for the last verse.
Verse 2
Return to the verse groove once more, holding it down for 20 bars.
Chorus 2
Play the chorus for the first 8 bars. Then return to the bridge feel on the ride, with the snare fills every 4 bars. Finish on the tom build up into the hits one last time.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Self Esteem
with Melodics
Behind the track
Self Esteem
by The Offspring
"Self Esteem" blends punk aggression with catchy, melodic hooks. Built on a grungy E minor riff, it follows a verse-chorus structure with power chords (Em-C-G-D) and a driving rhythm section. The mid-tempo groove contrasts the band’s faster punk roots, adding a sarcastic, anthemic quality. The bridge features a gritty guitar solo and dynamic shifts, emphasizing the song’s tension.
Dexter Holland delivers a nasally, defiant vocal style, alternating between deadpan verses and a hooked, shouted chorus ("Well, I guess I should stick up for myself!"). His tone balances self-deprecating irony and raw frustration, amplifying the lyrics’ themes of toxic relationships and low self-worth. The layered backing vocals in the chorus add a punchy, sing-along quality.
Tips for learning Self Esteem on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of Self Esteem 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
- Self Esteem is an intermediate difficulty song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need command of syncopated 1/16 notes within grooves and in fills.
- 105 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.