Learning songs.

**Aaaidn** · 04-01-2012, 04:08 AM

Hey guys, this is a weird one.

I've been playing for a year next week, but I've yet to learn a full song. I've recorded several covers of songs from the charts (trying to keep my musical taste open) but I've learnt nothing song wise, I've learnt no songs of my personal taste at all.

This is mostly because I primarily listen to Five Finger Death Punch, Amon Amarth and Lamb Of God (All metal bands). I cannot at all get double bass to work for me, I can't seem to do any of the methods (slide, heel toe ect.) So I decided to strip back my double bass pedal and walk before I can run.

So my question is, what songs did you guys learn to play with a single bass pedal? I'd prefer metal/rock but I'll play anything from blues to jazz and back again. If you know a song I can learn that has sheet music up online that'd be fantastic, but if not I always need oppurtunity to learn by ear.

Thanks again,
Aiden.

**jafo** · 04-01-2012, 11:12 AM

Hmmm. Grab a few Led Zepplin songs off Itunes and just start getting the bass beat down and go from there adding snare and accents. Zepplin songs are a blast to play and every body knows them when they hear'm. Playing alot of Zepplin will also help in speeding that one foot pedal up alittle too. But in all, Bonham beats are just fun to play. Zepplin songs are ageless........ I like playing "When the Levy Breaks" and "Kashmir". I'm still working on "The Immigrant song".

**Russ** · 04-01-2012, 03:25 PM

How are you going to learn metal that requires a double bass pedal without using one? I would try a metal song that uses less double bass or else slower speeds of it, like One from Metallica. You can still use the double, just take baby steps with it. Try out some drills and exercises from an instructional dvd too if you have one.

**drumsetsnide** · 04-01-2012, 03:59 PM

For something double bass and simple try Red Hot by Motley Crue. Just straight 4/4 with 8th notes on the bass drum. For something fairly basic in the rock genre, mostly 4/4 and simple straight forward timing and changes try some AC/DC.

**Aaaidn** · 04-01-2012, 04:14 PM

@Russ. I'm practicing double bass, just don't want to stick it into songs just yet because I'm mauling them (not in a good way) So playing single pedalled stuff.

**concrete Building** · 04-01-2012, 09:41 PM

Hm.. I agree with drumsetsnide on here as far as simple songs go. AC/DC are very easy to play to. Guns n Roses, as well. Then Possibly Nirvana should be fun to play to.

**trickg** · 04-01-2012, 10:04 PM

Looking back on my experiences as a drummer over the last 8+ years, I can't think of too many songs I learned simply for the sake of learning them - probably fewer than 20. Most of the time if I learn a song it's going to be because I am going to perform it at some point in the near future so I need to know it in order to be able to successfully execute it and fulfill my role in the band.

Occasionally I'll find a song I like and learn it though, but without knowing where you are as a player it's tough to give any advice about that. 1 year is not a long time on an instrument, but some drummers go a long way in that time while others are still struggling with some basic concepts like time and tempo, structure, dynamics, etc.

My advice would be to listen to some old AC/DC and find something in their catalog of stuff you like and learn that. While some of the drum parts are pretty simple, they are nicely structured and are great for the songs, so you could do a lot worse for things to learn. A cool one to approach is the old tried and true "Back in Black."

**Ground Pounder** · 04-16-2012, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Aaaidn

Hey guys, this is a weird one.

I've been playing for a year next week, but I've yet to learn a full song. I've recorded several covers of songs from the charts (trying to keep my musical taste open) but I've learnt nothing song wise, I've learnt no songs of my personal taste at all.

This is mostly because I primarily listen to Five Finger Death Punch, Amon Amarth and Lamb Of God (All metal bands). I cannot at all get double bass to work for me, I can't seem to do any of the methods (slide, heel toe ect.) So I decided to strip back my double bass pedal and walk before I can run.

So my question is, what songs did you guys learn to play with a single bass pedal? I'd prefer metal/rock but I'll play anything from blues to jazz and back again. If you know a song I can learn that has sheet music up online that'd be fantastic, but if not I always need oppurtunity to learn by ear.

Thanks again,
Aiden.