Led Zeppelin · 1971 · drums by John Bonham
When the Levee Breaks
From Led Zeppelin IV. Intermediate · Straight · rock
Tempo
71BPM
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Feel
- Straight
- Tempo band
- Under 90
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
"Work up to it" opens the tempo trainer at 41 and climbs to 71 in steps of four every eight bars. Members get the climb; everyone gets the click. "Play the groove" opens the beat itself in the Groove Lab.
What the drums do
The most sampled drum beat ever recorded: kick, kick, snare, with the second kick pushed late, recorded in a stairwell at Headley Grange with two mics. The beat is simple; the sound and the placement are the whole point. Play it huge and slightly behind.
Intermediate: Needs independence, a feel, or fills you have to learn.
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 71 BPM
Practise these together: one click, several songs.