Van Halen · 1984 · drums by Alex Van Halen
Jump
From 1984. Beginner · Straight · rock
Tempo
130BPM
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Feel
- Straight
- Tempo band
- 120–150
- Difficulty
- Beginner
"Work up to it" opens the tempo trainer at 100 and climbs to 130 in steps of four every eight bars. Members get the climb; everyone gets the click.
What the drums do
A simple pop-rock backbeat under the synth riff with the kick doubling the bass and a crash on the downbeat of each section. Alex keeps it plain so the keyboard can be the hook.
Beginner: A steady beat and a fill or two — first-gig material.
Alex Van Halen
- Read the Alex Van Halen feature →Who they are, how they play, and what to listen to next.
- Alex Van Halen's drum rig in the Rig Vault →The kit, snare, cymbals and hardware, era by era — look for the 1984 setup.
- Log the sessionNote the BPM you got it clean at, and next time starts from there.
More Alex Van Halen songs
Songs at about 130 BPM
Practise these together: one click, several songs.
- Best of You130
- Fool in the Rain130
- Lingus130
- Easy Lover129
- Limelight131
- Turn It On Again128