Francis' Drumming Blog

In this new episode, we uncover one of the most creative and impressive drum parts ever recorded. “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin, from the album In Through the Out Door (1979), is a tune embracing rock and samba with a solid rhythm section and a captivating arrangement, resulting in a timeless hit. The John Bonham drum part features one of the most famous half-time shuffle grooves, paying tribute to the pioneer of this rhythm, Bernard Purdie. Bonham’s innovative approach to “Fool in the Rain” showcases his unmatched drumming style, continuing to inspire drummers across generations. This article examines in-depth the song’s main grooves and includes the complete drum transcription.

Drum Grooves

The song consists of a half-time shuffle groove played in the intro, verse, bridge, and guitar solo sections. The open hi-hat on the upbeat of the first beat is the key element that adds to the groove a unique feel. Compared to the Purdie shuffle, ghost notes are played only on the upbeat of the second and fourth beats. A rock bass drum pattern and the snare drum on beat 3 complete the groove, as shown below. That’s the main groove, and as a variation at the end of every phrase, Bonham also adds the snare on beat 4.

During the chorus section, Bonham changes the right-hand pattern, moving to the ride cymbal and keeping the same bass drum and snare pattern. The right-hand pattern consists of quarter-note triplets on the ride bell, with the addition of the left foot hi-hat in quarter notes (slightly accented on 2 and 4), resulting in a two-layer polyrhythmic drum beat. Once again, this showcases Bonham’s genius.

The samba part in the interlude section stands out as evidence of the band’s musical versatility and willingness to experiment with diverse styles. In this section, the rhythm shifts from the song’s signature half-time shuffle groove to a lively samba rhythm infused with Brazilian flair. Led by John Bonham’s dynamic drumming, the samba section introduces an irresistible groove featuring a musical timbale part. This unexpected departure from the song’s rock roots showcases Led Zeppelin’s ability to blend various musical influences into their iconic sound. The main drum beat is a classic of Brazilian music, replicating on the snare the caixa and repinique parts of the samba batucada. Accent variations occur throughout the section.

Full Drum Transcription

For those who want to study and understand John Bonham’s legendary drumming, the complete drum transcription of “Fool in the Rain” is now available for purchase. Take note the timbale part is not included; the transcription refers exclusively to the drum part. The first two pages of transcription are available for free as a preview. Elevate your drumming mastery!

---