The drums on "Whoa" provide a heavy, driving feel.
Behind Paramore's signature brand of emo/pop rock was the drumming of Zac Farro before he left the band in 2010. Farro's drumming is displayed in the song "Whoa" from Paramore's debut album, "All We Know is Falling," released in 2005. The song shows off his typical style of short, staccato hits with a driving beat. To best learn the drum part, listen to the song as you follow along with the steps.
Instructions
1. Play a half-time beat during the introduction that features heavy tom hits. Strike both toms at the same time, while hitting the snare drum on count three. Combine a quick, open hi-hat hit with a snare hit to accent the fourth count at the end of the fourth and sixth measures of the drum part.
2. Continue a similar style during the first verse, but instead of the heavy tom hits, play quarter notes on the hi-hat and snare drum on count three and the "and" of four.
3. Play a driving beat during the chorus, hitting the snare drum on count two and four and steady quarter notes on the crash cymbal. This beat will sound double-time after the half-time verse. During the parts where vocalist Hayley Williams sings "Whoa," accent the "and" of four on the crash cymbals.
4. Repeat Step 2 for the second verse.
5. Repeat Step 3 for the second chorus.
6. Pause for a few measures after the second chorus while the guitar part and vocals are featured.
7. Play a heavy half-time beat, hitting the snare drum on count three and quarter notes on the crash cymbal.
8. Play a slightly different half-time beat after Williams sings, "I don't want to start over again." Keep the quarter notes going on the crash cymbal, but hit the snare drum on the "and" of three and then count one, the "and" of two and count four in the following measure. Repeat this two-measure beat three more times.
9. Pause for a few measures while Williams sings, "We got everybody singing," and then return with four measures of heavy accents and fills.
10. Repeat Step 3 for the third chorus.
11. Repeat Step 8 for the bridge following the last chorus. Continue playing this beat until hitting a downbeat on the crash cymbals at the end of the song.
Tags: snare drum, drum count, quarter notes, Repeat Step, snare drum count, count three