Learn to playSmooth Criminalas made famous by Alien Ant Farmon drums
Start with the offbeat hits behind the riff, then add the snare fills. Finish with Cosgrove’s paradiddle grooves and explosive fills.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Smooth Criminal. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Smooth Criminal
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Verse
Pick up on beat 4-&, and continue to play the offbeat hits with the guitar riff. Watch for the 2 handed hi-hat part in the middle, and fill into the chorus.
Pre-chorus
Play offbeats on the open hi-hat for the pre-chorus, and play a snare fill to lead into the chorus.
Chorus
Start the chorus on the ride cymbal, playing the hits with the guitar riff every 2 bars. Move to the offbeats on the open hi-hat for the second half.
Break
Begin on the verse feel, before opening the hi-hat, and swapping to a syncopated 2-hand hi-hat groove. Watch for the 2 bar fill that goes over the barline at the end.
Outro
Return to the chorus feel for the outro. Watch for the tricky fills in this section. Move to the verse feel, and finish on beat 3-&.
Combine and play
Now combine the steps to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Smooth Criminal
with Melodics
Behind the track
Smooth Criminal
by Alien Ant Farm
Alien Ant Farm had been playing a loose version of "Smooth Criminal" in live warmups for years before anyone outside their crowds heard it. When they recorded their 2001 debut Greatest Hits, they buried a rough take as a hidden track under the alias "Slick Thief" - a knowing nod to borrowing from the King of Pop. The official release peaked at #1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached #3 in the UK, making it one of the biggest rock covers of the decade. The best plan, it turned out, was the one they weren't supposed to show anyone.
Tips for learning Smooth Criminal on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of Smooth Criminal 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
- GSmooth Criminal is an advanced level song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need advanced independence and dexterity to play Smooth Criminal.
- 127 bpm
- 4/4
- A 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.