Led Zeppelin · 1971 · drums by John Bonham
Black Dog
From Led Zeppelin IV. Advanced · Straight · rock
Tempo
81BPM
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Feel
- Straight
- Tempo band
- Under 90
- Difficulty
- Advanced
The pulse the drums keep. Some databases list 161, the eighth-note count.
"Work up to it" opens the tempo trainer at 51 and climbs to 81 in steps of four every eight bars. Members get the climb; everyone gets the click.
What the drums do
The riff turns round and seems to lose a beat, and the drums keep a straight four through it — which is why the band sounds like it is falling over and never does. Play the beat, ignore the riff, and let the turnaround resolve on its own.
Advanced: Fast, odd, or both; the part is the reason the song is famous.
John Bonham
- John Bonham's drum rig in the Rig Vault →The kit, snare, cymbals and hardware, era by era — look for the 1971 setup.
- Log the sessionNote the BPM you got it clean at, and next time starts from there.
More John Bonham songs
Songs at about 81 BPM
Practise these together: one click, several songs.