{"id":43303,"date":"2023-03-10T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=43303"},"modified":"2023-07-07T11:55:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T18:55:32","slug":"vinnie-paul-drumming-genius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/vinnie-paul-drumming-genius\/","title":{"rendered":"Vinnie Paul: 5 Reasons The Pantera Drummer Was A Genius"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ikaJz1GBBFw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Until his untimely passing in 2018, Pantera&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vinnie_Paul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vinnie Paul<\/a> was one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/ash-pearsons-top-50-metal-drummers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sickest drummers in heavy music<\/a>. His crushing drum parts are instantly recognizable to metalheads, and he was the perfect rhythmic counterpart to bandmate, guitarist, and brother <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dimebag_Darrell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dimebag Darrell<\/a> (1966-2004).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pantera achieved things most other metal bands wish they could. For example, <em>Far Beyond Driven<\/em> is one of the heaviest albums to ever hit #1 on the Billboard charts. Vinnie&#8217;s beats gave the riffs his own brand of <em>oomph<\/em>, and the band wouldn&#8217;t have been the same without him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at his work in Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah and Rebel Meets Rebel, here are 5 reasons why Vinnie Paul was a drumming genius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-heavy-driving-grooves\">Heavy driving grooves<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-not-afraid-to-leave-space\">He wasn&#8217;t afraid to leave space<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-signature-drum-fills\">Signature drum fills<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-brutal-intensity\">Brutal intensity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-outside-the-box-drumming\">Outside the box drumming<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-heavy-driving-grooves\">1. Heavy driving grooves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinnie was known for intense grooves and an enormous tom sound. You could expect tons of double bass, but also tons of feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to &#8220;Primal Concrete Sledge&#8221; from the <em>Cowboys From Hell<\/em> album for major heaviness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pantera - Primal Concrete Sledge (Official Live Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3DOamgay6Mw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the song &#8220;Use My Third Arm&#8221;, Vinnie accents the guitar on his largest rack tom in between off-beat hi-hat shots and constant double kick:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-01.svg\" alt=\"use my third arm pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43804\" width=\"841\" height=\"247\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Use My Third Arm&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus of &#8220;Drag The Waters&#8221; may be simple, but it&#8217;s so heavy it&#8217;ll make your grandma headbang:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-02-1.svg\" alt=\"drag the waters pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43805\" width=\"839\" height=\"224\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Drag The Waters&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While he could do a lot using only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/single-stroke-roll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">single strokes<\/a> (&#8220;13 Steps To Nowhere&#8221; has a great tom pattern punctuated with accents and ruffs), Vinnie would sometimes throw in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/single-paradiddle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paradiddle<\/a> (like in the syncopated groove in &#8220;Shedding Skin&#8221;). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the song &#8220;Slaughtered&#8221;, he uses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/double-paradiddle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">double paradiddle<\/a> to create a tasty, syncopated groove:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-03.svg\" alt=\"slaughtered by pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43806\" width=\"838\" height=\"250\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Slaughtered&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pantera drummer took 18 months away from music following Dimebag&#8217;s death, but eventually helped form the supergroup Hellyeah with members of Mudvayne and Nothingface &#8211; and it was like he&#8217;d never stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rhRfjIk3h2Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;One Thing&#8221; by Hellyeah<\/a> where 16th note triplets slide in between straight 16th notes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-04.svg\" alt=\"one thing hellyeah drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43807\" width=\"840\" height=\"131\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;One Thing&#8221; by Hellyeah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><p><\/p>\n<h3>Are you the next Vinnie Paul?<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/09221832\/Screenshot-2023-03-10-011807.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>Want to learn Pantera songs note for note? Learn to play just like Vinnie Paul using Drumeo&#8217;s practice tools that let you slow down and loop parts, practice along with drumless tracks and more.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to get a free 7-day trial!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p><\/center><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-not-afraid-to-leave-space\">2. Not afraid to leave space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the metal world, drummers are often praised for playing a ton of notes. Vinnie&#8217;s lean and mean drumming stemmed from being able to play &#8211; and not play &#8211; exactly when he needed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason &#8220;Moment Of Truth&#8221; by Damageplan, &#8220;This Love&#8221; by Pantera, and the end of &#8220;Domination&#8221; by Pantera sound so heavy is because they&#8217;re so beautifully simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-05.svg\" alt=\"this love pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43808\" width=\"840\" height=\"237\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;This Love&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget &#8220;I&#8217;m Broken&#8221; and &#8220;Floods&#8221; by Pantera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pantera - I&#039;m Broken (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2-V8kYT1pvE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-signature-drum-fills\">3. Signature drum fills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinnie&#8217;s fills are just as integral to the songs as Dimebag&#8217;s guitar riffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this example from the chorus of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/pantera-drum-fill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Walk&#8221; by Pantera<\/a>, one of the biggest hits from their <em>Vulgar Display Of Power<\/em> record. Talk about a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-5-most-iconic-double-bass-grooves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recognizable drum part for any metal drummer<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-06.svg\" alt=\"walk pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43809\" width=\"843\" height=\"763\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Walk&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s not always about &#8220;big licks&#8221;. Sometimes, just pushing one shot off the beat can have a huge impact, like in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7m7njvwB-Ks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pantera&#8217;s &#8220;5 Minutes Alone&#8221;<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Drink Drank Drunk&#8221; by Hellyeah has a cool 4-bar drum break at the end of the guitar solo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-07.svg\" alt=\"drink drank drunk hellyeah drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43810\" width=\"841\" height=\"271\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Drink Drank Drunk&#8221; by Hellyeah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And the intro of Hellyeah&#8217;s &#8220;Say When&#8221; has an awesome triplet section between the toms and kicks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-08.svg\" alt=\"say when hell yeah drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43811\" width=\"841\" height=\"263\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Say When&#8221; by Hellyeah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fills can make a song memorable or kill the momentum, and Vinnie&#8217;s always had a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-brutal-intensity\">4. Brutal intensity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinnie Paul helped Pantera get even heavier on <em>The Great Southern Trendkill<\/em>, especially on the title track and &#8220;Suicide Note, Pt. 2&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pantera - Suicide Note pt 2 San Jose, CA 7 Feb 1997 HQ\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EDXwuFmWXi4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>His intensity doesn&#8217;t just come from speed; one of the most intense double kick patterns of the &#8217;90s is on &#8220;Becoming&#8221;, where he creates triplets using a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/double-stroke-roll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">double stroke<\/a> on his right foot &#8211; something not many metal drummers were doing at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-09.svg\" alt=\"becoming pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43812\" width=\"841\" height=\"126\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Becoming&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s not forget about the mid-tempo, driving double kick groove and syncopated ride bell pattern in &#8220;Domination&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-10.svg\" alt=\"domination pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43813\" width=\"840\" height=\"259\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Domination&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pantera - Domination (Official Live Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aDACorIaxNw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-outside-the-box-drumming\">5. Outside-the-box drumming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinnie Paul was mostly known for his powerful sound and feel, but he could still create technical and creative drum parts (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BsYSt5l7lOk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Pole Rider&#8221; by Hellyeah<\/a> features a cowbell and vibraslap).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find arguably one of the best 7\/8 grooves in metal in the Pantera track &#8220;I&#8217;m Broken&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-11.svg\" alt=\"I&#039;m broken pantera drum notation\" class=\"wp-image-43814\" width=\"839\" height=\"135\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;I&#8217;m Broken&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of Vinnie&#8217;s &#8216;tricks&#8217; was beat displacement &#8211; when notes are shifted to unexpected positions. In &#8220;5 Minutes Alone&#8221;, the guitar line in the verse makes it clear the part is in 4\/4, but Vinnie plays on the offbeat for a bar to flip the beat onto the &#8216;and&#8217;. Even if you know what&#8217;s happening, it might throw you off so you hear it as a bar of 9\/8 and a bar of 7\/8:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/app\/uploads\/2023\/03\/qt-the-genius-of-vinnie-paul-12.svg\" alt=\"5 minutes alone drum notation pantera\" class=\"wp-image-43815\" width=\"840\" height=\"509\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;5 Minutes Alone&#8221; by Pantera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7m7njvwB-Ks?start=30&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Vinnie also does this in &#8220;Matter Of Time&#8221; by Hellyeah, where he pushes the beat back and forth in a 2-bar phrase. The pre-chorus in &#8220;Wake Up&#8221; by Damageplan also has an unusual beat where he throws his accents off from the quarter note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The list could go on, but we&#8217;ll end it here. This is our tribute to the founding father of groove metal, a huge inspiration to many metal and hard rock drummers: Vinnie Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getcha&#8217; pull!<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking at his work in Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah and Rebel Meets Rebel, here are 5 reasons why Vinnie Paul was a drumming genius.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":43840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4019],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drummers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43303"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47307,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43303\/revisions\/47307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}