2005 - Doug Wallace Percussion

~
RO =
f/f":'*
~
T.T.
'0.
F.T.
~B.o.1
B.O.2
AMI
T.T.
M
ike Portnoy is well established as one of today's top rock drummers. In this
article, we're going to take a look at some of the aspects of Mike's drumming
that have helped shape his impressive career.
One of Mike's favorite "tricks" involves different combinations of beats on the snare drum and toms, followed by
two strokes with the feet. Here are three basic examples.
2
1
3
6
Once you're comfortable with each pattern, try combining them together and orchestrate them around the toms.
There are endless variations. Here's an example from the classic track "Pull Me Under" off of the disc Images &
Words. (6:32)
4
J=IOO
Now let's take a look at how Mike's drumming relates to Dream Theater's music. Mike and guitarist John
Petrucci write most of the band's material together, and their collaboration has led to some magnificent arrangements. One technique they often use is called metric modulation. Metric modulation is a device that uses subdivisions of the original pulse to shift to a faster or slower tempo, depending on how the subdivisions are grouped. For
the following examples, the guitar rhythm is notated above the staff to illustrate the modulation.
In the track ''The Mirror" from the album Awake, the 16th notes in the guitar part are turned into 8th-note triplets
when the drums enter. As a result, the dotted 8th note in the original tempo becomes the dotted quarter note after
the modulation. (0:05)
5
J=84
).=J
m
> > >
96 I
ModernDrummerI July 2005
m
> > >
/m
> > >
t"' m
>
?
!If
/
n
/
/
I
!If
)n
II
Mike modulates back to the original tempo a few measures later, with the dotted quarter note becoming the dotted 8th note. (0:13)
6
/
L).
m
,n )
JZf
)
JZf
n
,
I'M
JZf
m m m m
II
To change things again, one 16th note is added to the measure, producing a bar of 17/16. Then Mike moves to a
double-time feel that follows the constant rhythm of the guitar. (0:34)
7
is
Ig
>y
.
-.
J)J
m m
JT)
JT)
JZf
JZf
JT)
JT)
JZf
JZf
JZf
JZf
II
JZf
Another example of metric modulation occurs in the song "This Dying Soul," from the album Train Of Thought.
First, Mike solos under the guitar riff for four bars. Then he modulates to a slower tempo with a deep, crunchy
groove. Here the original quarter note becomes the dotted 8th note. (6:31)
8
.1= 132
J
m ), , J)n.
X
I
I
ns.
.&
X
-=:::::
.1:).
.1=92
X
I
rm,.
P
m J)TI,. P m
II
ohn
1geliviFor
plets
after
Mike is always exploring different ways to play over a guitar riff. In the Train Of Thought track "Honor Thy
Father," he incorporates three different feels over the guitar ostinato. Initially the guitar sounds like it's phrased on
the beat until Mike establishes a double-time groove in the fifth bar. But the off-beat guitar phrasing isn't completely apparent until Mike slams out the half-time feel in measure 9. (0:13)
II
ModernDrummer I
July 2005
I 97
Mike
~
Portnoy
~
~
~
X
~
3 times
~
II: ~
II:
:11
>
JT)
;
J0
;
/~
/FJTI
:11
Dream Theater is known for their complex unison figures, and Mike always finds cool ways to playoff of them.
In the instrumental track "Stream Of Consciousness," from Train Of Thought, the unison hits sound random. But
when Mike lays down a killer groove in the fifth bar, everything falls into place. (3:04)
.
),~~~ ~;Jj)
,I, J)/~,
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-~
~
I
~
~
),
~
;J")), I' ) ~
~~~~
~~~
II
6
'.
In the song 'The Dance Of Eternity," from the disc Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, the unison figure
sounds like the first four notes of a 16th-note triplet. However, once Mike comes in with the tom groove, the true
rhythm is clear. (1:44)
11
J=126
rm; m /r;1)JJ;) m; rm; /FJ)/~ ~
China
98 I !VIodernDrummerI July 2005
m; /FJ);
I
Mike also has many ways to spice up triple meters such as 12/8 and 6/8. Often times he uses the ride cymbal to
play syncopated rhythms while the bass drum and snare lay down a steady shuffle pattern. Here's an example from
the title track of the album A Change Of Seasons. (10:31)
12
J. =126
And here's another example, which occurs in the song "Take The Time," from Images & Words. (3:00)
13
The next two examples are both from the Images & Words track "Learning To Live." In Example 14, Mike shifts
the snare to align with the ride cymbal. (7:37)
14
Later on, he modifies one of his favorite off-beat ride patterns to fit over the time signature changes. (8:26)
=
:
15
The last aspect of Mike's playing we'll examine is how he implies a triplet feel (6/8 or 12/8) over a duple rhythm
(4/4 or 6/4). These ideas are tricky, so be careful not to lose your place. In "This Dying Soul," there's a strong halftime feel in the first measure. Then, when the snare lines up with the guitar a few seconds later, the groove jumps to
a 6/8 feel. (1:44)
n
/
n
/
/I
Modern Drummer
I
July 2005
I 99
Mike
Portnoy
"Take The Time" also has some great examples of the concept, occurring at 1:03,4:37, and 8:01 respectively.
Good luck!
17
I
>
>
>
>
>
splash
_= /28
18
· FiveProStarPercussion
Drum ShQp ·
· Roland
Center ·
· Paiste Sound Center ·
· Zildjian Showcase Dealer ·
Carrying aU Major Brand Names!Tama,Pear~DW
I
"
100 I ModernDrummerI July 2005
>
>
>
o
0