Mike Portnoy Learns Impossible Danny Carey Drum Part

Mike Portnoy and TOOL... We know you've dreamed about it and today, it's happening.

Watch as drumming legend Mike Portnoy attempts the impossible task of learning TOOL's 12-minute masterpiece – "Pneuma". This song was released on TOOL's Fear Inoculum record in 2019 and is known for featuring some of Danny Carey's most complex drumming to date.

How will Mike go about learning this insane drum part? How does he crack the "code" of the song? Tune in to find out and watch Mike learn one of the most challenging drum parts ever created over the course of a Drumeo session lasting nearly six hours.💪🏼

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Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Lesson Overview
01:02 - A Surprise Message From Dream Theater
01:55 - First Time Listening
04:32 - Song Analysis
05:22 - Studying The First Verse
08:23 - Watching Danny Carey's Performance
10:27 - Cracking The Code
11:46 - Looking At Sheet Music
16:02 - The Final Performance
27:45 - Final Thoughts
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#MikePortnoy #DreamTheater #Tool

[MikePortnoyDT]

Glad to see you all enjoying this exercise in human torture! 😂😝 Also, relieved to see I’m not getting bashed (at least too badly) for not “nailing it”…yes, this was a massive challenge!!

As I mentioned in the video, I think watching Danny’s performance video and taking a look at the transcriptions were surely helpful…those are two additional tools I would’ve utilized at home if I were auditioning for a band or preparing to learn songs for a tour…
(I also am NOT a professional transcriber nor sight reader…which would’ve surely sped up the process for a lot of drummers who are good at that)

Surely this playthrough is rough in spots, but I did the best I could with the pressure of cameras rolling and a clock ticking…what a challenge!!! Wow… 🤯

[ignaciomora]

Now guys you have to bring Danny and make him learn The Dance Of Eternity

[ooze]

“This makes dream theater sound like weezer” is one of the biggest compliments Danny Carey will ever get 😭

[muncherzz]

The fact he learned this in only five hours is seriously seriously impressive

[dekatonkheir]

I am floored at the idea someone could go from zero to that competent at Pneuma in such a short time. It took me a day and a half just to figure out how to headbang to it

[phobit]

I think what Drumeo did here was probably one of the most important videos to their channel - you just showed thousands of aspiring drummers, that even after decades of playing and probably being one of the best drummers of all time, even people like Portnoy still struggle learning certain songs.
True learning never stops! Thank you Drumeo!

[MrLieka]

" 6-5 ... 6 6 5 ...The Neighbor of the beast " made me laugh so much

[modernborefare]

Could imagine you calling Danny for help -
"Hey Danny, what time signature are you playing this in?"
Danny - "Yes".

[BrandonToews]

You can all thank me later 😂 Mike put up with us for an entire evening filming this 👀

[gurk_the_magnificent]

"This makes Dream Theater sound like Weezer" is probably the highest musical praise I've ever heard

[Jet_]

Mike: “Please tell me this is only 4 minutes long”

Pneuma runtime 11:52 😂 💀

[philliplewis]

The balls to even ATTEMPT to play this live without practicing for a few months first is crazy admirable. Also shows just how insane Danny is. Gotta love it.

[rustincole_w]

"This makes Dream Theater sound like Weezer" got me good

[nestortomaselli]

“This is not a song, this is a Mathematical Equation” pure FACTS

[wccrispy]

When you guys get Danny Carey in to cover a Dream Theater song, Mike has to be there just so he can talk sh!t to Danny. 🤣

[AlexEarMusic]

You know shit is complicated when one of the best drummers in the world has to count the bars aloud, while he is playing the song. God damn.

[richardashworth]

"Danny Carey, Lose my number, I don't want this gig"

had me HOWLING

[matthewscott]

No egos. All compliments. Real struggles. Total talent. This video checked all the boxes. Mike is amazing. Drumeo kicks ass. Danny is a legend.

[wrlsfanatic]

I would literally pay money to watch Danny Carey watching this video.

[RavenTheBlackheart]

Watching my heroes praise my other heroes professionally will never get old.