Studio Drummer – Another example of a ‘time flip’

October 30, 2022

As another studio drummer addition to the last post here is another very clever ‘time flip’this time by The Eagles.
It’s very subtle but is such a clever songwriting twist that adds an element of interest. And I have more examples of this to come!

TAKE IT EASY by The Eagles;
Listen to this intro and there is something very interesting about it. Important thing to note in this instance. The ‘time’is all rooted in the guitars. There is no drum indication of where 2 and 4 is!

It can be interpreted as making sense musically in both of these examples… Until you hit the downbeat of verse 1!
For eg. Interpret the guitar intro as landing on beat 1 and listen through until the beginning of the verse. Do you hear the problem? You’re late entering the verse by an 1/8 note.

Then hear it the right way! The intro, correctly played is an 1/8 note push into beat one of the 8 bar song intro.

As an e-studio-drummer tip? Practice hearing this intro both ways for your own protection first and foremost.
Especially if you’ve heard the song for years, it’s a good thing to do!

Sounds intentional on Beat 1, drums are hitting downbeats and guitars are playing upbeats. But note how they don’t really (cleverly) indicate a real 2 and 4. So you continue on in peril.

Everything grooves perfectly. Until you come out of the intro an 1/8 beat late into the first verse!

Then here’s the same thing again!
Hear it this time as an 1/8 note push into beat one;

The track (and drum) pushes are an 1/8 note before beat 1 and the guitars are downbeats. It lands perfectly after 4 bars on beat one of the verse.

My Point is it’s deceptive how you can hear this intro BOTH ways as being very musical and intentional!

It’s a matter of a single 1/8 note of understanding! A single fraction that can turn the band upside down once you fill into the verse and you’re out of a job.

What I find interesting is the intentional aspect of this in the songwriting. I absolutely believe this is intentional to make the listener float somewhat and perhaps not be able to identify where the downbeat is but… once it lands it’s so simple, yet engaging.