# Songs Where the Snare Hits Before the Two **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645 "2019-11-19T11:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/1 "2019-11-19T11:34:20Z")
In the songs Transformation by Nona Hendrix, Chameleon by Herbie Hancock, and Soul to Squeeze by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the snare drum doesn’t always hit on the two and four, but comes in just before the two during the verse. I love that! It really adds some tension and funk to the song. Without getting any jazzier than Chameleon, can you help me find others like that? Transformation: [NONA HENDRYX - Transformation (STEREO) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0yOFwLwTCI) Chameleon: [Herbie Hancock - Chameleon (FULL VERSION) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbkqE4fpvdI) Soul to Squeeze: [Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze [Official Music Video] - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XcN12uVHeQ) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/2 "2019-11-19T12:10:34Z")
In the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” the snare hits on the two — but then just before the four (with a flam), so that might fit your criteria. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/3 "2019-11-19T12:52:00Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > In the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” the snare hits on the two — but then just before the four (with a flam), so that might fit your criteria. Gotye’s “Save Me” also has a snare on the 2 and 3-and. I’m trying to think of songs where the two is displaced. I feel like I hear the four displaced commonly enough (either pushed to the second half of the third beat or delayed to second half of the fourth beat), but anticipating the two is a little tougher. I swear I swear there’s a few recognizable ones out there, though, I just can’t quite conjure them up this early in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/4 "2019-11-19T13:19:27Z")
I’ll check out the Gotye song. **JKellyMap** , I think that gives the song more of an Eastern feel than a funk feel. Plus, I’d rather have the two or four empty, rather than having the flam (which I think ends up landing on the four in that song, right?). That song is fun on Rockband, though, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/5 "2019-11-19T13:33:50Z")
Prince - [Musicology](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zILabWVdIMs) John Mayer - [Waiting on the World to Change](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY) (although the snare hits before the 4 on this track) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/6 "2019-11-19T14:27:33Z")
I don’t know enough about music to know if this is what you are talking about, but [Tell Me Something Good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB4JDJiet5M) by Rufus & Chaka Khan has very different pacing so it might qualify. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/7 "2019-11-19T14:45:02Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > I don’t know enough about music to know if this is what you are talking about, but [Tell Me Something Good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB4JDJiet5M) by Rufus & Chaka Khan has very different pacing so it might qualify. That is an excellent funk song, but sadly doesn’t qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/8 "2019-11-19T17:11:41Z")
[Mommy, Where’s Daddy?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8xtNTtpxw) from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ first album also does this. Cliff Martinez was their drummer at that point. I’m sure they have a number of other songs with the same technique. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/9 "2019-11-19T21:06:33Z")
It’s surprising how few songs we can come up with. Maybe my OP is just not that clear to most people? Or, it’s really a rare thing outside of jazz. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/10 "2019-11-19T22:24:52Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It’s surprising how few songs we can come up with. Maybe my OP is just not that clear to most people? Or, it’s really a rare thing outside of jazz. Yeah, I know. This question has been bugging the hell out of me all day. I swear there are some examples, but I just can’t think of anything. I’ve got a sixteenth-note groove in my head with the snare on the “a” of 1 and then a normal snare hit on the 4, but I can’t match it up with any song. I know I know that beat, but it just ain’t coming to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/11 "2019-11-20T01:40:33Z")
Another one: [Freshmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1umEXpGHc0E) by The Verve Pipe. The drums come in at 1:20. It sounds like the snare hit is with a brush, but it’s noticeably there. I’m sure that we can think of more examples if we really try. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/12 "2019-11-20T01:46:41Z")
From the sidebar of suggested songs on the video for the above: [My Own Worst Enemy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc5iTNVEOAg) by Lit. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/13 "2019-11-20T01:56:16Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Another one: [Freshmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1umEXpGHc0E) by The Verve Pipe. The drums come in at 1:20. It sounds like the snare hit is with a brush, but it’s noticeably there. > > I’m sure that we can think of more examples if we really try. Yes. That’s exactly the beat I had in my head. There must be other songs like that. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/14 "2019-11-20T01:57:25Z")
[Everclear - Santa Monica](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6E_TNgCsY). I’m noticing a theme here. I don’t know if this rhythm was actually more popular in the 90s than other decades, or if I’m just down a 90s rabbit hole because we started with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/15 "2019-11-20T02:10:40Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > [Everclear - Santa Monica](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6E_TNgCsY). I don’t hear it there. There’s a backbeat snare on 2 & 4, and an offbeat snare in between. (I don’t hear it on the Lit song either…that’s another one with a snare on the “e” of 3 in between the 2 & 4 backbeat or on the “a” of 2, depending on what beat you’re on.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/16 "2019-11-20T02:18:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t hear it there. There’s a backbeat snare on 2 & 4, and an offbeat snare in between. (I don’t hear it on the Lit song either…that’s another one with a snare on the “e” of 3 in between the 2 & 4 backbeat or on the “a” of 2, depending on what beat you’re on.) Sorry…I mean it’s on the “a” of 2 in the Lit song through all the verses. I thought I heard one on the “e” of 3 somewhere, but I must’ve been confused. But, yes, in the 90s there were a lot of songs with 2 & 4 backbeats and then an additional snare on the 2e and/or the 3a. I used to call it the “alternative” beat because it seemed to me at the time that every other alternative song used that beat. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/17 "2019-11-20T02:39:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > and then an additional snare on the 2e and/or the 3a. :smack::smack::smack: Good lord, what is wrong with me today, I mean the 2a and/or the 3e. Ack. The sixteenth note before the third beat and the one immediately after the third beat. Zheesh. :smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/18 "2019-11-20T02:43:19Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > :smack::smack::smack: Good lord, what is wrong with me today, I mean the 2a and/or the 3e. Ack. The sixteenth note before the third beat and the one immediately after the third beat. Zheesh. :smack::smack::smack: I think you had it right the first time, unless I’m really confused. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/19 "2019-11-20T02:47:37Z")
Sorry, I thought you were correcting your earlier post. I agree with you. Anyway, I don’t hear it in Everclear or Lit, but it’s definitely in The Verve Pipe. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645/20 "2019-11-20T03:01:25Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I think you had it right the first time, unless I’m really confused. Yeah, I had it right in my first post, and then when I was discussing the “alternative beat” I mixed up the “e” and “a.” “Hard to Handle” by the Black Crowes is a clear example of the backbeat with an additional snare hit on the last sixteenth note of beat 2, and stuff like the chorus of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has those additional snares on the last sixteenth of 2 and the second sixteenth of 3. Those sorts of beats seemed to be everywhere in the late 80s/early 90s, especially the Madchester scene. But the anticipated 2, like in “Freshman” seems to be much harder to find. I’m pretty sure that was the song my brain was trying to latch onto with the beat I was thinking of. There’s got to be other exampels, though. I would expect something from maybe the Police, but I’m not finding anything in a cursory search. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645.md?page=2)