The Roots · 2002 · drums by Questlove
The Seed (2.0)
From Phrenology. Intermediate · Straight · hip-hop
Tempo
111BPM
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Feel
- Straight
- Tempo band
- 90–120
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
"Work up to it" opens the tempo trainer at 81 and climbs to 111 in steps of four every eight bars. Members get the climb; everyone gets the click.
What the drums do
A rock-funk groove with a fat, dry snare, the kick working under the guitar riff, and a hi-hat pattern that opens on the "and" of four. Questlove plays it dead straight and slightly behind, which is why it feels so big.
Intermediate: Needs independence, a feel, or fills you have to learn.
Questlove
- Read the Questlove feature →Who they are, how they play, and what to listen to next.
- Questlove's drum rig in the Rig Vault →The kit, snare, cymbals and hardware, era by era — look for the 2002 setup.
- Log the sessionNote the BPM you got it clean at, and next time starts from there.
More Questlove songs
Songs at about 111 BPM
Practise these together: one click, several songs.
- Dr. Feelgood111
- Immigrant Song112
- Bleed115
- Schism107
- Vicarious115