Learn to playThe Sweetest Tabooas made famous by Sadeon drums
A smooth, syncopated groove with a steady hi-hat, rimshot snare accents, and a relaxed bass drum, creating a laid-back yet sophisticated rhythm that enhances the song's sultry vibe.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind The Sweetest Taboo. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
The Sweetest Taboo
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Learn the verse groove
For this lesson, the cross-stick will be mapped to the hi tom.
Lay down constant 1/8 notes on the hi-hat. Play a 2 bar repeating groove with the kick and cross-stick snare.
Add the snare
Now add the full snare. In the first bar, bring your right hand down from the hi-hat to play snare on beat 4-&, and in the second bar, use the left hand to play the two snares. Make sure to utilize Practice Mode to slow down and lock the pattern in.
Learn the B section
The B section moves to a backbeat driven pattern on the snare, with a clave-like pattern on the kick.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections and play the full arrangement, playing 20 bars of the verse groove, followed by 8 bars of the B section, and returning to the verse groove for 8 bars.
Learn to play
The Sweetest Taboo
with Melodics
Behind the track
The Sweetest Taboo
by Sade
"The Sweetest Taboo" by Sade features a sleek and polished composition blending elements of smooth jazz, soul, and soft rock. The arrangement includes smooth saxophone lines, warm bass, and subtle keyboard textures, creating a lush, atmospheric soundscape. Sade Adu's vocal performance is effortlessly smooth and sensual, delivering the lyrics with a breathy, intimate quality that perfectly matches the song's romantic and sophisticated mood. Her voice floats over the instrumentation, adding to the track's serene and seductive feel.
Tips for learning The Sweetest Taboo on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'The Sweetest Taboo' 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
- Playing "The Sweetest Taboo" by Sade on drums can be moderately challenging due to its syncopated rhythm and need for precise dynamics. The beat is not overly complex, but maintaining the song's smooth, relaxed groove with accurate timing and subtle accents requires good control and finesse. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "The Sweetest Taboo" on drums, you need to have a good understanding of syncopated rhythms and smooth jazz drumming techniques. Control over dynamics is crucial to maintain the song's laid-back, sophisticated feel. Mastery of rimshot snare accents and a relaxed bass drum pattern is essential. You should be able to play with a light touch and maintain a steady tempo, ensuring that the groove remains smooth and consistent throughout the song. Attention to detail and a sense of timing are key to capturing the track's nuanced and refined rhythm.
- 97 bpm
- 4/4
- B 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.