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Thread: Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

  1. #1

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    Default Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

    Hey everyone,

    I'm teaching at a few different rock schools, and most of the kids I'm teaching are pretty young, like less than 12 years old. Many of them are also complete beginners. I'm looking for some good popular songs that I can assign them to play along to that fit a few criteria:

    • Contain primarily a very simple groove, like the basic eighth notes on the HH, 2 and 4 back beat, and only 1 and 3 on the bass a la Billie Jean
    • Pretty slow - for these kids the coordination is very difficult and it takes them about a month before they can start speeding up
    • Doesn't have any offensive or questionable language in the lyrics


    That last one is actually a lot harder than I thought. I was using a great John Mayer song that was a perfect speed and groove until I realized in the last chorus he changes the lyrics and swears, which most of the parents aren't OK with.

    So, currently, these are the only songs I have that are anywhere close:

    John Mayer - Vultures
    Green Day - 21 Guns
    Weezer - Beverly Hills (and a few others off the same album)

    Can anyone think of any other songs that fit these criteria that I can use in my lessons? I'd really appreciate your input.
    "Guys, if you wanted Superman for this gig, you should have hired Superman. Instead, you got Batman." - Donny Gruendler

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  2. #2

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    Default Re: Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

    Its not 4/4 but Metallica - Nothing Else Matters.

    Anything by AC/DC.

    Not sure what else.

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  3. #3

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    Default Re: Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

    Quote Originally Posted by Aaaidn View Post
    Its not 4/4 but Metallica - Nothing Else Matters.

    Anything by AC/DC.

    Not sure what else.
    I'm no expert, but I'm not sure AC/DC is considered family friendly, not by a long shot in my book.
    Especially when taking a look at the lyrics to some of their songs.

    One would be 7 Nation Army by The White Stripes. Here are the lyrics so you can judge for yourself if they are suitable.

    I'm gonna fight 'em off
    A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
    They're gonna rip it off Taking their time right behind my back
    And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget
    Back and forth through my mind behind a cigarette

    And the message coming from my eyes it says leave it alone
    Don't want to hear about it every single one's got a story to tell
    Everyone knows about it from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
    And if I catch it coming back my way I'm gonna serve it to you
    And that ain't what you want to hear, but that's what I'll do

    And the feeling coming from my bones it says find a home

    I'm going to Wichita
    Far from this opera forever more
    I'm gonna work the straw, make the sweat drip out of every pore
    And I'm pleading, and I'm pleading, and I'm pleading right before the Lord
    All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will think no more
    And the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home


    It's pretty straightforward.
    Cake has a good one, but I forgot which one.. I'll post it if I remember.

    Also, check with the parents to see if they are ok with their kids learning songs that sound a little raunchy and so on, I know some parents who wouldn't want their kids learning Led Zep songs, so always double check so you don't land in any hot water.

    Let us know how it goes!
    -DrumRookie

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  4. #4

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    Default Re: Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

    How about some classic stuff?

    Joe Walsh "Turn To Stone"

    Rainbow "Stone Cold" or "Street of Dreams"

    These are just simple straight forward rock beats. The beats, fills and accents are easy to pick up. I still play them, usualy for warm up.

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  5. #5

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    Default Re: Suggestions for songs to use while teaching

    Quote Originally Posted by jafo View Post
    How about some classic stuff?
    Those are good and thanks for the suggestion, but I'm trying to be as modern as possible. The kids that come to the rock school are rarely interested in classic stuff, they just want to be on stage and rock out as soon as possible.


    DrumRookie, 7 Nation Army is a great idea I'll probably use that one.
    "Guys, if you wanted Superman for this gig, you should have hired Superman. Instead, you got Batman." - Donny Gruendler

    "You always think you have more problems than you actually have." - Dave Elitch

    Instagram: @bringerofthud
    Twitter:@davetilove

  6. #6

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    How about some old Beatles or Beach Boy tunes

  7. #7

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    any of the disco era songs, michael jackson (beat it), some nirvana stuff.
    Too Much Stuff.

  8. #8

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    Classic Country. It's slow, easy and very family friendly. Most are session style and the fills are easy to figure out.

  9. #9

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    Someone mentioned The White Stripes earlier. An even easier song of theirs is "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground."
    "...it's the Paradigm Of The Cosmos!" Stewart Copeland on Youtube

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  10. #10

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    One route would be to check out the song lists for the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games that have been released. Younger kids typically haven't come into a mature appreciation for music, on average, but most will instantly connect to something that they've been exposed to via one of the popular video games.

    Good luck!

  11. #11

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    Ground Pounder makes a great point. Also you can find a lot of these tracks DRUMLESS because people rip the audio from Rockband/GH
    Too Much Stuff.

  12. #12

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    I agree with AC/DC - although the lyrics might not exactly be family friendly, they are very well known and very straight ahead rock tunes.

    Aside from that, have you considered looking into some contemporary Christian rock? Some of the stuff I've played, particularly things that I played early on in my time as a worship band drummer, is very straight ahead and would definitely be family friendly. Aside from that, working those tunes with your students might give them some future performance opportunity if they attend church where contemporary Christian rock is played.

    Some artists to consider, especially stuff that was released around 2003-2007 but still used a lot today are Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche, David Crowder, Charlie Hall and Matt Redman. There is a lot of other great stuff out there such as Hillsong United, Gateway Worship, Lakeside Worship, etc, but those songs tend to be a bit more difficult - very anthemic in nature with lots of build ups, break downs, grooves involving a lot of tom work...the congregation responds well to them, but musically they are much more difficult to play well - my opinion of course.
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  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by DrumRookie View Post
    I'm no expert, but I'm not sure AC/DC is considered family friendly, not by a long shot in my book.
    Especially when taking a look at the lyrics to some of their songs.

    One would be 7 Nation Army by The White Stripes. Here are the lyrics so you can judge for yourself if they are suitable.

    I'm gonna fight 'em off
    A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
    They're gonna rip it off Taking their time right behind my back
    And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget
    Back and forth through my mind behind a cigarette

    And the message coming from my eyes it says leave it alone
    Don't want to hear about it every single one's got a story to tell
    Everyone knows about it from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
    And if I catch it coming back my way I'm gonna serve it to you
    And that ain't what you want to hear, but that's what I'll do

    And the feeling coming from my bones it says find a home

    I'm going to Wichita
    Far from this opera forever more
    I'm gonna work the straw, make the sweat drip out of every pore
    And I'm pleading, and I'm pleading, and I'm pleading right before the Lord
    All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will think no more
    And the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home


    It's pretty straightforward.
    Cake has a good one, but I forgot which one.. I'll post it if I remember.

    Also, check with the parents to see if they are ok with their kids learning songs that sound a little raunchy and so on, I know some parents who wouldn't want their kids learning Led Zep songs, so always double check so you don't land in any hot water.

    Let us know how it goes!
    This was one my drum instructor had used. What about Hard to Handle by The Black Crows? I can remember off the top of my head if the lyrics are sketchy. Holiday by Green Day?

  14. #14

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    I can't believe Eye of the Tiger by Survivor hasn't been mentioned yet. Easy, fun, motivational.

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