Van Halen · 1978 · drums by Alex Van Halen
Runnin' with the Devil
From Van Halen. Beginner · Straight · rock
Tempo
96BPM
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Feel
- Straight
- Tempo band
- 90–120
- Difficulty
- Beginner
"Work up to it" opens the tempo trainer at 66 and climbs to 96 in steps of four every eight bars. Members get the climb; everyone gets the click.
What the drums do
Car horns, a bass pulse, and a slow, heavy backbeat that leaves space for the guitar. The kick has to sit exactly with the bass's quarter notes. A first Van Halen song for anyone.
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 1978 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 96 BPM
Practise these together: one click, several songs.