Play 'Take Five' On The Drums | 5 Levels

0:00 - Introduction
One of the most popular odd time songs in the world happens to be one the most iconic jazz tunes of all time: "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet! Whether you're a new drummer, a pro, or you've never played jazz before, you can learn how to play the main motif at any level.

It's your turn to channel the legendary Joe Morello on drums. In this video, Brandon breaks the beat down into its simplest form to start, then builds it back up over five levels of difficulty:

1. 0:20 - I've never played jazz
Before you even pick up the sticks, get used to counting to five. Put on the song and count out loud to really internalize the odd time. Now strike the ride on every quarter note and count along. Add a bass drum hit on the 1. You can get through the entire song just playing this simple part!

2. 2:21 - The Jazz Band Drummer
Maybe you played in your high school jazz band or you've dabbled in the style. This level introduces the 5/4 swing pattern. Think of it like 4/4 but with an extra note on the end. Play this on the ride, add that bass drum hit on the 1, and you'll be able to get through the song with a bit more pizazz than in level 1.

3. 4:21 - The independent drummer
This one challenges your limb independence between the ride, bass drum, and your left foot as you add the hi-hat on beats 2 and 4. The track is a bit fast, so may need to work your way up to full tempo. If you're coming from the world of rock drumming where the main focus is your bass and snare drum, keep in mind that jazz is more about anchoring the ride cymbal and hi-hats to keep time.

4. 7:08 - I play this at the jam session
Now you're adding in some snare drum comping! It's not about playing random notes - it's just one of many ways jazz drummers interact with the other musicians. Use the shots and accents that are inspired by what you're hearing from the band.

5. 9:37 - Joe Morello
You might as well be Morello himself. Go out and buy a vintage kit and some dark sounding cymbals, add dynamics and ghost notes, and don't bury the beater so you get that authentic sound.

Download the play-along track here:

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In this Introduction To Jazz Drumming we dive into "Take 5" by Joe Morello where all Types Of Jazz Drummers can make their mark. We break down the Best Of Jazz Drums so that anyone can play along to this incredible song. You've seen Joe Morello on Conan O'Brian, you've seen Joe Morello: The Great Drum Solo, now check out what it's like to play his beats (even as a beginner).

This iconic drummer from Dave Brubeck - Take Five has influenced so many drummers and inspired many others to look into How To Play Drums. If you want to play like Joe Morello or Daniel Glass - Drum Solo From The Century Project or Art Blakey - The Best Of Jazz Drums, then make sure to watch this whole video! You'll even learn a couple Iconic Jazz Drum Licks along the way that you may not have known before.

[Joshleslie]

I’m really glad you did five levels of this, it’s just the right thing to do

[JustLilGecko]

I really love how he breaks this down - as someone who didn't grow up with jazz at all, I find some of the culture around it really impenetrable. This video actually made want to learn more instead of alienating me

[rickdalbey]

The first time I heard Take Five was in 1964 when I was 14. I instantly fell in love with it and all things Dave Brubeck. I am 71 and I love e to play it today.

[nomoreblitz]

I was so blessed to study for a year with Joe Morello back when I was in the Army Band in New Jersey.

[Penguinssss]

I never knew how to read drum notations until my first week of high school jazz band when this was given to me. I was set on understanding and perfecting it. It heightened my passion for drums and lead me down a wonderful path. This is still one of my favorite songs to date.

[MGR]

Wow! He really broke this song down into the most simple components. That’s a teacher!

[exceat]

Excellent! I've been a Joe Morello fan since the 1960s. I bought the 45 of Take Five, and was lucky enough to see him play with the Dave Brubeck Quartet a couple of times. As a teenager, I tried to play the drums, but failed miserably. The only thing I could do like Joe was to push my glasses back up my nose when they slipped.

[michman]

I play various saxes in jazz bands for 25 years. I've never seen such a good, clear explanation of Take Five. Thank you.

[Jwayne]

My first time playing this tune, I was told to say “Who Parked The Car? I did.” And I played that on the ride and filled in the rest.

[DrMikLudwig]

Brandon has to be one of the BEST drum instructors I have ever encountered! Personable and precise! I REALLY appreciate this guy!

[somesz]

I learnt Take 5 when I was a kid, like 14-16 years old. My drum teacher - who was an old guy then, an alcoholic cafe drummer, hardly could play anything decent anymore at that time - BUT he hand written down the whole Take 5 drum part, it's solo and everything and teached me. We played Take 5 for decades on our concerts with our percussion band and it was so awesome when you step by step could build you own 5/4 drum parts but staying true to the original. Loved Take Five.

[JohnSecker]

Fascinating video. As a "non drummer" this has really given me some insight into just how complicated and difficult the instrument is, and how hard someone like Morello is working - he is definitely not just keeping time.

[TheSebeastian]

Learned it perfectly with these 5 steps! Connects me to my dad's story about the day the DB quartet played Amsterdam in '62 where he - as a teenager and drummer - was the assistant to Mr.Morello at the Concertgebouw 😎

[pedfsund]

For people just learning this song who have not dealt with jazz once before, remember, keep with it, do not get discouraged. I used to only play rock religiously, sat down to try this out, and took about an hour and a half to drill it down. Drumming just takes time, folks!

[bytorsnowdog]

Best step-by-step breakdown of "Take Five" ever!

[UWB]

I’m not sure whether other drummers do this with odd time signatures, but I never count; I feel the rhythm and internalize the bass line and/or melody. Then I just “go with the flow” of the tune, and I never have to think about where 1 is. It frees me to play around the kit, use the bass line as an ostinato, even vary my own meter (as long as I give the band proper sense of 1). For example I could alternate between a feel of 1-2-3 1-2 and 1-2 1-2-3 or 1-2 pause 1-2-1-2 pause and play riffs within those frameworks.
Similarly I love 7/4, because while playing straight 8ths on the hi hat I can do something like K-L-L-L-K-L-L and then K-L-K-L-L-K-L etc. SO many cool variations of kick and snare backbeat.

[brianmcguire]

Amazing lesson. Starts with technical break down of the essential beat riff. Ends with the philosophy of improvising acquirement. A gleeful watch from start to finish. Begins as technical coordination but ends with musical application. A chigh class lesson in both learning the material aswell as how to teach it to students as a teacher also. As a teacher I've learned both from watching this lesson. 10/10 from me

[pavelkireev]

Today drummers have a great weapon to understand and discover drum technique. Thank you guys for your knowledge and hard work.

[anthonytesh]

Thank you, I have never touched a drum set, I am a bassoonist, and then was put on set for class mini ensembles and my group chose take five and put me on set, soooo thank you!!!

[matthewaugustine]

Where were you when I was first learning this?! I'm relatively new to jazz (2 years) but had listened to this tune so many times and felt it was just out of reach. But I pretty much did how you instructed here. Broke it down, played slow, built of progressive competency. Today, it's my favorite tune play, especially the subtleties of the snare. Thanks for putting this together. Such a great tutorial. Cheers!