Ringo Starr, he is actually quite good

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by netrom

Haha. Maybe a myth. I don't know.

Definitely a myth.

But regardless of that, I've always found the suggestions that Macca could play drums better than Ringo to be bordering on ludicrous. It amazes me that anyone would even entertain the idea!

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

But regardless of that, I've always found the suggestions that Macca could play drums better than Ringo to be bordering on ludicrous. It amazes me that anyone would even entertain the idea!

+1 Anyone who thinks that should just take a listen to Macca's drumming on Dear Prudence and see how bloody stiff and clunky the hi-hats are. Otherwise he does a very good job of impersonating Ringo on the song. He's got most of the feel down (impressive considering he's not a "real" drummer and I've heard a ton of excellent pros who could never nail that feel) but it's still a pale facsimile.

[Digitar]

First let me say I love Ringo's drumming and his musicianship. The term "keep it simple stupid" could of been written about Ringo's taste. He always played the perfect part for the song, nothing more, nothing less. For so many drummers its all about how great they are, as in " Hey look at what I can do!", and who cares if the music suffers for it.

But the thing that always comes to mind about Ringo is his humanity. John was the soul, Paul was the voice, George was the thinker, and Ringo was the heartbeat. As the Stooges had Curly, and the Marx Bros. had Harpo, the Beatles had Ringo. His smiling face will always be the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Beatles live. His joy in playing the drums was infectious to us all. God blessed those boys from Liverpool and blessed us all that lived in that time.

[zulusound]

Ringo's feel on Ticket to Ride alone is so utterly unique and fat. His drum sound on everything- I think he only used calf skin, even through Abbey Road, is also fat and unique. For those who call him "simple" I don't think you've watched the man play on old Beatles films or have the ability to decipher drum parts from the rest of the song. He could play incredible swingin shuffle ride patterns that most drummers wouldn't know how to approach or allow the drum stick to bounce freely in the hand like that. Other favorite moments- the snare fills in "Good Morning Good Morning", ridiculous and funny. "She Said She Said". The backbeat in Sgt. Pepper. The fill leading into Strawberry Fields, all those fills and shuffle/straight feel in that song. I think that's what Ringo did was swing hard, even when playing straight eighths. Tomorrow Never Knows. Glass Onion- sick feel. The feel on Come Together is so mean and minimalist, yet never doing the obvious. I am the Walrus is probably the fattest drum beat until John Bonham showed up, and still sounds like a Mack Truck.

[softwareguy]

The Beatles are probably the most covered and copied band of all time. Bands cover the lyrics, the riffs, the vocal sound, but they never sound like the Beatles really, because they can't cover the feel.

The feel = Ringo.

[sleestack]

I discovered something, Blackbird is actually a Mccartney bass line.

[gregl]

Anyone who has doubts about Ringo's abilities on drums should check out one of his All Star Revues. I saw one a few yers ago. I never imagined him playing "White Room" but he really laid it down. Very cool.
Even better, try playing along to some of the early Beatles stuff. I know a few drummers that thought he sucked but couldn't pass this test.
Kinda reminds of the guitar players who think they can play bettter than BB King because they play faster. I saw BB give a class about 15 years ago. Turns out he can play pretty fast. He uses that dexterity to add subtlety to the simplicity. I suspect Ringo may have had a similar approach.

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by zulusound

Ringo's feel on Ticket to Ride alone is so utterly unique and fat. His drum sound on everything- I think he only used calf skin, even through Abbey Road, is also fat and unique. For those who call him "simple" I don't think you've watched the man play on old Beatles films or have the ability to decipher drum parts from the rest of the song. He could play incredible swingin shuffle ride patterns that most drummers wouldn't know how to approach or allow the drum stick to bounce freely in the hand like that. Other favorite moments- the snare fills in "Good Morning Good Morning", ridiculous and funny. "She Said She Said". The backbeat in Sgt. Pepper. The fill leading into Strawberry Fields, all those fills and shuffle/straight feel in that song. I think that's what Ringo did was swing hard, even when playing straight eighths. Tomorrow Never Knows. Glass Onion- sick feel. The feel on Come Together is so mean and minimalist, yet never doing the obvious. I am the Walrus is probably the fattest drum beat until John Bonham showed up, and still sounds like a Mack Truck.

You're bang on here dude! Btw, About ticket to ride, by the end of the song the verse drum part is completely different to the drum part he started out with on the previous verses. For that particular song, this was such a wise choice as it's a very narrow linear song musically and form-wise. Go listen to it! If Ringo hadn't straightened out the pattern at that point the whole thing would run out of steam. Little decisions like that are HUGE in making or breaking a production and he gets it right practically every time. The only song in the entire Beatles catalog where I question his decision making is the last verse of Let It Be with the tom stuff. I understand why he decided to do that and I think his instinct overall was correct but I don't think the part quite works. That said I can't think of anything better to replace it with either!