How To Play Long Road To Ruin - Foo Fighters - The Drum Ninja

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Ninjas! In this lesson we'll be learning how to play Long Road To Ruin by the Foo Fighters which was the second single from their 2007 release (sixth studio album) Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. The single topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for seven consecutive weeks and reached number two on the Mainstream Rock Tracks in late 2008. It peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Verse – After a seven bar rest Taylor plays a two note fill on the last two sixteenths of bar eight. He then lays into a driving eighth note groove played on dirty hi-hats. The snare plays on two and four while the bass drum plays on one, three and the and of three. Notice the eighth note fill played between the tom, snare and bass drum that leads into the pre-chorus. This acts as a nice transition into the next groove. 

Pre Chorus – The right hand moves over to the ride cymbal for the pre-chorus to lift the track up a notch. A new pattern is introduced between the snare and bass drum to accentuate what's happening in the song - 1snare, +bass, 2bass, +snare, 3bass, +bass, 4snare, +bass. You may need to practice this a bit slower to get all your limbs working together.  

Chorus – During the chorus Taylor rides heavily on the crash to give it that massive sound and drive. The snare is back to two and four while the bass drum plays on one, the and of two, the and of three and the and of four. A brilliant example of Taylor's signature high-energy drumming.   

Now Kill It! DN