7 Must Know Gospel Drum Beats - Drum Lesson

Many drummers think gospel music consists solely of drum chops and fast linear patterns. Sure, those aspects are important - but what about the groove? Luckily Larnell Lewis is here to provide us with 7 beats you should have under your belt if you're considering playing this genre.

Click here for the sheet music!

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[AlexandreDobruski]

• Groove 1 - 2:18
• Groove 2 - 3:22
• Groove 3 - 4:19
• Groove 4 - 6:33
• Groove 5 - 9:00
• Groove 6 - 9:53
• Groove 7 - 11:43

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[JayyDubGaming]

Southern Gospel - 2:18
The waltz - 3:22
Funk shuffle - 4:19
Shout - 6:33
The ballet - 9:00
Caribbean American - 9:53
Contemporary - 11:43

[goodriddance]

Feel like everyone plays in churches! Amazing!! That's really the reason I started playing drums, it felt right to worship that way. Tanks for the lessons!

[drumsgroove]

We are finally writting and playing our own original worship songs at church. We certainly love the Hillsong and Elevation tunes we cover, but it feels great having a few our own to throw in the mix. This video lesson is an awesome help for getting the groove just right! Thanks to Larnell and Drumeo for the guidance!

[dbsendyd]

His playing is so solid and clean! Amazing

[GeekyJay]

Anointed drummer with amazing talent = Glory!!!

[KaseboyAdvance]

As a novice black drummer from a pretty religious family and a very spiritual and musical black church, I just wanna spread some wisdom shared with me by the serveral drummers we have at the church. (We have two drummers at the church, in case one is absent and two drummers for each of our adult choirs.)

For gospel drumming you want to start quiet. The beginning of the song should be on cross-stick and should transition to quiet hits on the snare before the first chorus, and around the last chorus (and if your church is as enthusiastic as mine is, there probably will be a repeat of the chorus/encore) you wanna switch to ride. I say this because a lot of my church member are members of the older crowd and they would prefer if things got gradually and appropriately loud. Knowledge of Jazz, Swing, Funk, Boogie-Woogie, Rock n Roll and Caribbean drumming is pretty important due to the variation amongst Gospel and Spiritual music. (We have an international day at my church annually, so the instrumentatation must be able to preform ethnically diverse genres) CCM tends to be more similar to Rock, Country, Pop and Folk, so listening to these genres is pretty important. Playing Gospel is like playing in a band or group in that you must pay attention to the rest of the musicians and the singers as well as the situation you're playing in. However, this is Gospel. In the Gospel Genre, the religious message is much more important than the music at times.

Also, I didn't know that there was a perception that Gospel drumming was about having amazing chops, I always thought that it was about sounding good and appropriate. My church's drummer's only demonstrate their chops during fills and during the end of the song's "fermata" of sorts.

I hope this was informative, feel free to correct me on anything I said wrong, mispoke on or didn't say.

[damonsmartin]

Love me some drumeo....
yes, gospel has many different styles infused into it today. I must be getting old, I remember when drums in church was too "secular" and many churches didn't allow them. now 7 +piece kits, mic up yes..progress

[dikbeats]

One of the best drummers that exists! An inspiration to all musicians.

[luxuriousfir]

Larnell is such an awesome humble human being. Not to mention a phenomenal drummer!!!

[Hyperiontje]

Larnell looks and sounds like the nicest guy on earth.

[nayber]

Any of you drummers out there that go to church, but don't play, seriously try to get in the choir. I learned so much about how my sound effects the other musicians just by playing in a church. You change venues some times too, so you may get the experience of learning how to play depending on the way sound propagates through the space. We didn't have any mics or plastic around our drums either, so it was all on me. It made me a significantly better drummer just through that alone, and you will usually have other church drummers that you will learn equally as much from them as well.

[danieljackson]

The last one is common in my youth and church. We always play Bethel and Hillsong music so it is great. Thanks so much for this video I really appreciate all the hard work you guys put in to this community. You really help grow many drummers and continue to inspire many more. You guys are dedicated to this and your hard work doesn't go unnoticed or tl waste either. Stay awesome guys, thank you.

[heatherferreira]

"I started drumming in church when I was 4. Not 2."
The rest of us (drop sticks, give up, walk home) lol

[BuckAugust]

Thank you for sharing this lesson! Always great to see an amazing drummer talking about and teaching how to drum well in church!

[Rebornthrudoom]

Seems like a really nice and humble guy. Great fluid flow.

[debralynnpaxton]

Love it ; especially the 'Funk Shuffle', 'Shout', and 'Caribbean American' grooves. Thank you all for this video.

[strokeroll]

YES! So stoked about this lesson! Larnell, you are THE MAN!

[brianjezuit]

I've been playing for thirty two years. Now, there were a few years that I did play professionally... from about 2002-2008. I absolutely still play every day 👍, but for the past fifteen years itZ been just for my own mental health and I'll play for my loved ones. I'm going to be playing for a Church starting this Thursday evening practice!!! I'm thrilled --always wanted to try it, but never had the opportunity (I'm Catholic and we only play hymn music). I'm so simultaneously excited and nervous!!! This video will help. Thank you so much, Drumeo!👍🥁🥁

[jonyoung]

As a long time church drummer I have played all of these! Funny to me but very true. Love it!