#15: The Spirit Of Radio

Moving back to Neil Peart, this groove from “The Spirit Of Radio“ utilizes Neil’s signature ride cymbal figure. It is important to practice this ride cymbal figure first before adding the snare and bass drum. Try and practice getting the phrasing of the cymbal right as this really helps to convey the groove’s message in the song. I play the entire figure on the bell of the cymbal, but you can fool around with different bell patterns in the figure, such as playing all the long notes on the bell and short notes on the body. See what melodies you can come up with. The bass and snare drum parts should be solid and right in the pocket and should really anchor the whole band and song. Make sure to catch a nice rim shot with the snare drum for a solid back-beat. Be sure to have lots of fun here!! Check out more at my website: