Rock · hard · 140 BPM
Driving Eighth-Note Stadium Drum Beat
A high-energy driving rock groove built for stadium anthems and arena choruses. It keeps the rock-beat backbone (kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4) but pushes the tempo and accents the downbeat with a crash for maximum impact. The relentless eighth-note hi-hat at speed makes it demanding to sustain cleanly.
Press play to hear it, then open the full machine to edit, loop, and play along with your own kit.
What this teaches
Teaches maintaining a controlled, even eighth-note hi-hat at fast tempo while accenting the bar with a crash.
Heard in
- Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench
- Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
More grooves
GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
Listen for this
Practice the hi-hat at a sustainable volume before trying the higher displayed tempo. The crash should mark a phrase without delaying the following hat stroke. Alternate an accented bar with a plain rock bar and keep both the same length.
Practice the arrangement
- Start with the sparsest row. Count every subdivision, including the silent positions.
- Add one voice at a time on your kit, or listen to the full loop and clap just one part. Keep the main pulse unchanged.
- Play four loops at a comfortable tempo. Change one note, then compare the variation with the displayed pattern before adding another.
Read the final example without sound
This loop has 16 steps, with 4 steps per main beat. Count each beat as number, e, and, a. The table lists the occupied positions; every unlisted position is a rest. Start at 140 BPM or lower the control until you can follow each part.
| Voice | Count positions |
|---|---|
| kick | 1 · 3 |
| snare | 2 · 4 |
| hihat | 1 · 1 & · 2 · 2 & · 3 · 3 & · 4 · 4 & |
| crash | 1 |
These positions describe the programmed example, not an artist recording. Playback uses synthesized sounds. A real performance also involves touch, dynamics and phrasing.
Keep practicing
Build a practice routine · Read drum notation · Browse the lesson path
Found a mismatch between the explanation and the player? Send a correction with the page address and the step or count that needs attention.