Steve Gadd’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”….Breakdown and Explanation for Drummers! (2 ways)

Post # 2024-107
May 3, 2024
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Steve Gadd’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”….Breakdown and Explanation for Drummers! (2 interpretations)

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Drums By Liz lesson!
Thank you for all the continued support, subs, comments, likes and shares!!
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In this week’s Drums By Liz lesson, I demonstrate and explain two different ways to play the iconic drum groove to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon.
Steve Gadd’s impeccable timing and feel make this groove a timeless classic in the world of drumming.
Gadd’s hi-hat work is distinctive for its precision and subtlety. He employs a tight, crisp sound, often playing a “chick” sound on the hi-hat with the foot pedal.
It’s an unusual pattern that takes some patience to coordinate.
Once you have everything coordinated and consistent, these subtle concepts can be used in other genres/styles of play. Always take the skills you are crafting and find creative ways to express them. Have these skills forefront, at your recall and command, ready to employ.

So diving in, we have two ways to approach and play this iconic groove. The first way I go through requires some patience learning the unusual HH foot pattern. Go slow, be patient and let your body accept the feel of the new coordination.
The second way will be easier and does not require any unusual HH footwork.
When listening back, both patterns will sound almost identical.
So we have some options. I think it would be advantageous to be authentic and try to do it exactly like Steve Gadd does it, along with the easier way. So please challenge yourself to learn the original and authentic, harder way. As you study and learn both ways, you will develop wonderful and unique skills to creatively utilize. It most likely will lead you to more insight, especially when it comes to ways of implementing your HH foot into grooves. Oh boy…. another skill to develop!….lol

Pattern Particulars:🥁⭐️ (X is HH foot)

(K/X) L R X L R L K (K/LTT) RR L R L

(K/X) L R X L R L K K (LTT/LTT) RRLL

Easier Way: (w/o HH intricacy)👇

K L R L L R L K (K/ LTT) RR L R L

K L R L L R L K K (LTT/LTT) RRLL

COUNT:
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 4e& & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 4 4e&a

I would also highly recommend Steve Gadd’s challenging book “Gaddiments”.
The book delves into Gadd’s signature style, offering insights, exercises and drumming techniques. I love when a pro writes insightful books and shares their knowledge with us. A wonderful way to leave a legacy and give back!
Thank you Steve Gadd!!😍🥁⭐️💯🙏🏻

Best wishes and please let me know how you made out in the comments!

Thanks again for tuning into another Drums by Liz lesson!

As Always,

Happy 50 Ways of Drumming!😊🥁⭐️💯😍