2 minute read
McMillan...........The “Money Beat”
It’s one of pop music’s most popular beats. It’s the first drum beat many drummers learn. It’s the “Wonderwall” of drumming. Having said that, if you were going to only learn to play one beat, you’d play this. Some people think it’s bland, but I personally think it’s great and deserves a little tribute: the Money Beat.
What is it? 8th note hi-hats, kick on the 1 and 3, and snare on the 2 and 4. Think “Billie Jean” or any early Talking Heads song.
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Why I love it: It’s economical. It lays down all the fundamental notes to set up the “feel” of the song - snare on the 2 and 4 (to “drive the beat”), kick on the 1 and 3 (to “ground the beat”), and 8th note hi-hats to set up the rhythmic framework of the song. However, it’s simple enough and leaves space for the other instruments. This is why songs with these beats are often “danceable” or “groovy” - again, think “Billie Jean” or early Talking Heads. Obviously, the Money Beat isn’t ideal for all songs. It’s not the “best” beat, and there are plenty of other beats that are also groovy and danceable. You may want busier/more innovate beats, or beats that better match the rhythm of the other parts. However, when used moderately, it can really make a song “groove.” This is probably why it’s used more often in pop and rock music for a nice “bumping-my-head-to-this-phat-beat” feel. It also sounds fresh - out of the way of the other parts, it creates space to make the other parts stand out.
More cool things: The Money Beat is also great because its simplicity allows room for nuance and personalization. Of course, you can add nuance to complex drum beats, but for sloppier drummers like me, adding some spice is easier and more noticeable with simpler beats (or maybe I just need to practice more). Wanna phatten your beat? Accent the quarter notes on the hi-hat! Wanna make it funky and dance-able? Accent the offbeat notes on the hi-hat! You could even throw in some crazy shit like half-swinging the hi-hat notes. Since there are less notes, every note is important - levels and hitting technique matter a lot.
Like with all drum beats, this leads to cool unique styles of playing the Money Beat. You’ve got Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) with his mechanical style where each note is consistent. Or Phil Rudd (AC/DC) whose downbeats are emphasized on the hi-hats. Or Tommy Ramone (the Ramones) with his fast punk open hi-hats.
Tips for fast $$$: I haven’t yet addressed its name: the Money Beat. Yup, if you want to get rich quick, forget stocks and learn this beat. Okay not really, but pop producers really love drummers that can play beats well and in time. Being able to play crazy fills and patterns doesn’t matter as much. If you can play the Money BeatTM and make it snap, crackle, and pop, you can probs make it in the music world.
