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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Drum Grooves and Fills
3. Full Drum Transcription
4. More of Neil Peart

Introduction

Rush’s 1984 album Grace Under Pressure continued the band’s move into a slick, synthesizer-driven progressive rock sound. The album’s production was notably “glossy,” with very prominent keyboards. Its opener track, “Distant Early Warning,” exemplifies this blend: an up-tempo rock anthem driven by swirling synth layers and punctuated by sharp guitar stabs. Over this backdrop, the drumming style of Neil Peart is both powerful and nuanced. He locks into steady, reggae-oriented and rock drum grooves while weaving in subtle syncopations—off-beat cymbal accents, precise hi-hat articulations, and ghost-note snare/tom figures—that add tension without overpowering the song. Remarkably, Peart navigates the song’s shifting meters with ease: the distinctive ensemble obbligatos alternate between 7/8 and 5/8 time signatures, yet his groove never loses its driving feel.

Following this approach, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee play with such tight unity that their patterns sound spontaneous, despite being meticulously composed. In shaping his part, Peart drew on Police drummer Stewart Copeland’s approach of working “in and out of the rhythm” on this track. These elements—the locked-in pocket, odd-time sophistication, and dynamic subtlety—demonstrate the effectiveness and instructional value of Peart’s drumming. In the analysis and transcriptions that follow, we break down each groove and fill from the “Distant Early Warning” studio version, showing how this masterfully crafted drum part drives the song and providing the complete drum transcription.

Drum Grooves and Fills

The intro and the verses are based on a reggae-oriented drum beat, a reminiscence of Stewart Copeland’s drumming style. The 8th-note hi-hat pattern drives the groove, embellished with open/closed figures. The bass drum is played on beat 3, giving the groove an upbeat, smooth feel. Lastly, we have the snare in cross-stick position on beat 1, then shifting on beats 2 and 4 on the verse’s second half, and the second verse. The following transcription refers to the first verse drum beat.

Another key element is the distinctive 8-bar ensemble obbligato that occurs at the end of the intro and the verses, alternating 7/8 and 5/8 time signatures. Peart accents the music hits on the open hi-hat in unison with the bass drum, filling in 16th notes. The same pattern recurs throughout the song, building in intensity through the addition of snare, toms, and tasteful fill variations. The following transcription refers to the ensemble part after the second verse.

In the chorus section, Peart drives the song, playing an 8th-note rock drum beat. It consists of a syncopated bass drum pattern, snare on 2 and 4, and a straightforward 8th-note hi-hat pattern with the addition of open/closed figures (omitted on the second chorus and replaced with the china cymbal on the final chorus). At the end of every musical phrase (four bars), he plays a variation and a fill that resolves with majesty and control on the “and” of beat 4. Each chorus features a different cymbal pattern, giving the groove a fresh musical texture.

Neil Peart’s drum part on “Distant Early Warning” is more groove-oriented and less overtly virtuosic than on many of Rush’s earlier classic tracks. His precise drumming style is embellished with the addition of concert toms and electronic drums, such as the iconic Simmons drum pads. At the time of the album Grace Under Pressure, Peart was at the apex of his career as a drummer. Plus, on this song, like most of Rush’s songs, he also wrote the lyrics, cementing his status as a multifaceted musician and storyteller.

Full Drum Transcription

For those interested in studying and understanding Neil Peart’s legendary drumming in depth, the complete drum transcription for “Distant Early Warning” is now available for purchase. It includes the transcription for every groove and fill as well as a notation key. Elevate your drumming mastery!

More of Neil Peart