DRUMMER CAFE

Steve Gadd's drum groove on Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" Still Crazy has stood the test of time and has earned the status of legendary drum groove. 

Here's a transcription of Steve Gadd performing this fantastic linear groove; stickings are based on Steve's own performance. Notice that the left hand plays the HiHat and that there's a three-note grouping between the HiHat foot, HiHat and Snare drum. The performance tempo is 100 bpm.

"'Fifty Ways' was just a result of sitting at the drums and playing the HiHat with my left hand. When playing Be-Bop, sometimes the HiHat will in four, or in different places, rather than just 'two and four'. So 'Fifty Ways' was a result of using the HiHat in different places and using the left hand on the HiHat." 

For more great Steve Gadd grooves, check out his DVD, Steve Gadd - Up Close, as well as the supplemental book with all the transcriptions from the DVD.