ROCK n ROLL INTRO - Explained - LED ZEPPELIN

Danny Carey confused a lot of people talking to @RickBeato about the intro. Here's what he meant.

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[billwarner]

It's the "Johnny B. Goode" guitar break played on drums. Once you realize that, it makes perfect sense.

[ikkenhisatsu]

I’ve been playing for almost 60 years and just figured this out about 6 months ago. But now it makes sense.

[jeff_mossy]

Fantastic, thank you!
I’m 52, been perplexed by the intro forever, and this video changed it for me!!!

[fdlstxx]

I'm a drummer, 59, and I've had the same problem finding the "1". I see now. thanks!

[BONHAMOLOGY]

It's equally important for the band to know when to come in as the drummer to know this intro. It's just a three note pickup at the beginning of the phrase. If you're thinking in terms of 8th notes it starts on the and of 3, If you're thinking of it 16th notes, it's as demonstrated here, on the ee of 4. Strange how many "drummers" are triggered by counting. LOL. The intro is an old boogie woogie style piano or rhythm and blues guitar rhythm intro. It is not the same rhythm as either Johnny B Goode or Keep A Knockin' And yes, Bonzo played 8th notes or 16th notes, however you want to think of them, with his left hand as well as his right most of the time.

[darinblanchard]

I’ve played it “wrong” for so many years I can’t hear it any other way! 😂

[loontil]

So clever...in the context of a classic I IV V blues, pure genius PS I reckon you should get specs with chunkier frames....

[RGrunge]

Thank you for a clear and concise explanation and demo 🙏

[johnnyreno]

I had read John Bonham got the intro from the Little Richard song, Keep a Knockin'.

[zingpulse]

Little Richard's 'Keep a Knockin'

[BigBri]

I never cared how to count it. John Bonham never counted it off for his bandmates. This and the infamous transition in "Stairway To Heaven" ... I never needed a count. You just accept the piece on its own terms and learn to recognize how it goes, kinda like singing a line from a song a cappella.

[ronharlan]

Good job. This is the first time I’ve been able to “hear” it correctly.

[karpatoruski]

Lawrence Welk alway stated every thing with “Anna One Anna Two Anna ….. Thanka you champagne bubblemakers”😅

[onlinedrumlessons]

Danny Carey didn't explain it clearly, and his count-in is kind of strange but conceptually, he was correct. I'm afraid that despite your good intentions, the overall feel of 16th notes @ 85bpm is just not stylistically correct. Sure, it can deliver similar results, but so could notating it as 32nd notes at 42.5bpm, or 64th notes @ 21.75bpm, and so on.

"Rock and Roll" is based on a 12 bar blues (with some cool LZ variations) in 4/4 with a driving straight 8th note feel @ 170bpm with backbeats on 2 and 4. That's not even up for discussion. Why isn't it 16th notes at 85bpm? Because that would be the wrong feel. If someone were to dance, tap their feet, or nod their head to your 16th note based interpretation, they would be awkwardly moving at half tempo, with emphasis on the 1 and 3, and it would be a 6 bar blues.

Here's an article from over 20 years ago that explains the intro and the history behind it. The site is outdated at this point, but this article contains notation and audio examples, not only of Led Zep, but the Little Richard song You Keep A Knockin' from which the intro was "borrowed", almost note for note.

For those saying it doesn't matter how you count it or notate it, it actually does matter. Rock and Roll is an 8th note based style, whether straight or swung. History matters. Musical Context matters. Song form matters. Style matters. Don't ignore or dilute the history behind this song and its origin.

[douglasmor]

Always I'm waiting an explanation and about the intro in rock and roll, thanks.
Juan you are the "CAPO"

[Archangel-Radio]

Its from Little Richard You Keep On Knockin

[block]

Played this in a cover band late 70's, I don't think I ever got it exactly like Bonham. I never took lessons either so counting was not something I did.

[sipzter]

I had hte hardest time figuring that out years ago. You have done an Excellent job explaining how to count it off and how to play it. Thank you.

[Paulshaggy]

that snare doesn't stop though, it keeps going through the song

[stylesb]

I’ve been hearing it playing it the wrong way my whole life. As long as the band comes in it’s fine. Cool to hear the actual timing though