Learn to playThe Messageas made famous by Grandmaster Flashon drums
The drum beat in The Message by Grandmaster Flash is iconic, featuring a steady, syncopated rhythm with crisp snares, deep kicks, and a driving hi-hat groove that underscores its urgency.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind The Message. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
The Message
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Basic groove
Lay down the 1/4 and 1/8 note foundation of the groove.
Add 1/16 note kicks
Now add a 1/16 note kick on beat 1-e in bar 1, and beat 2-a in bar 2.
Practice fills
Practice the 3 fills that occur throughout. In bar 4, add a snare on beat 3-&. In bar 8, add hi-hats on beat 3-e and 3-&. In bars 12 and 16, add a hi-hat on beat 3-e.
Play the track
Start with just kick and snare, before launching into the full groove. Watch for the fills throughout.
Learn to play
The Message
with Melodics
Behind the track
The Message
by Grandmaster Flash
The musical composition of The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five is minimalist yet impactful, built around a steady, looping bassline, sharp snares, and a funky keyboard riff that creates a sense of urgency. The beat’s unchanging, hypnotic groove reflects the gritty reality of its lyrical content.
The vocal performance is raw and direct, led by Melle Mel’s commanding delivery. His verses are packed with vivid imagery and a powerful narrative about urban struggles, delivered with passion and conviction. The conversational tone and call-and-response hooks make the song engaging and memorable, solidifying it as a cornerstone of socially conscious hip-hop.
Tips for learning The Message on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'The Message' 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
- Instant feedback on your performance and tracking of your progress
- The fun and effective way to stick to your drum kit
Other popular songs available in Melodics
Easy - Commodores
Lay back with this breezy swung groove from Lionel and the gang.
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
Get those toms galloping up that hill with this viral cult classic hit.
Chop Suey - System of a Down
Move between half, regular and double time in this heavy rock hit.
FAQs
- The Message is an intermediate level difficulty song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need command of syncopation and a strong sense of time.
- 101 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.