# Thirteen reasons to give Ringo some respect as a drummer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036 "2014-11-08T01:54:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/1 "2014-11-08T01:54:30Z")
Any truth here? [http://web2.airmail.net/gshultz/bryant.html](http://web2.airmail.net/gshultz/bryant.html) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/2 "2014-11-08T02:21:57Z")
Sounds about right. Boy was a fucking metronome. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/3 "2014-11-08T02:35:45Z")
Bryant himself undercuts his arguement by noting that Ringo wasn’t the “first” drummer to play matched grip or to muffle his drums, but being a Beatle made him more important. That may be true, but it doesn’t really say anything about Ringo’s talent. Number 3 is definitely a crock. Look where Gene Krupa is positioned in [Benny Goodman’s band](http://books.google.com/books?id=BEUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=otto+k+olesen&source=bl&ots=76oSop2V3k&sig=ugPcF4wZ8lI3LR6Wo239W9xt_mA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UHNdVOSEGsKiyAT5kYC4DA&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=otto%20k%20olesen&f=false). [Buddy Rich](http://www.buddymorrowproductions.com/images/slider/tommy-dorsey-orchestra-1.jpg) wasn’t looking at anyone’s back, either. That doesn’t change my overall opinion that Ringo developed into a better than average drummer - both in terms of artistry and technique - who only now is starting to get the resepect he deserved. ---
**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 8, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/4 "2014-11-08T02:40:41Z")
Ringo is generally a very respected drummer among musicians and drummers alike. I can’t fact check everything on that list, but most of it looks right to me. Ringo had impeccable timing, great taste, and wrote some of the most melodic and creative drum parts in pop music. Take almost any Beatles song, remove all the instruments except for the drums, and I bet you know still recognize the song, they were so distinct to the song. His parts were unique, idiosyncratic, and charming. I absolutely adore his drumming. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/5 "2014-11-08T02:40:54Z")
I can’t argue with any of it. I transcribed the drum part for “When I’m 64” a long time ago (just for fun, to see if I could get it all); some incredible cymbal work, really fit the song like a glove. ---
**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 8, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/6 "2014-11-08T02:50:33Z")
The part about odd time signatures in 9 is correct, at least as far as the time signatures go. (Although I think of “All You Need Is Love” as alternating 4/4 and 3/4, but it’s all the same.) Now whether it was his doing or not, I don’t know. But that’s one of the things I love about “Here Comes the Sun.” There’s the crazy “Sun, sun, sun here it comes” part that goes 11/8 + 4/4 + 7/8. Now, it’s not just him following along the beat, of course. All the Beatles are. So I hesitate to necessarily single him out for it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/7 "2014-11-08T03:16:41Z")
Tomorrow Never Knows. ---
**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 8, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/8 "2014-11-08T03:23:32Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Tomorrow Never Knows. Or “Rain” (Ringo’s favorite.) Personally, my favorite may be “Ticket to Ride.” Also particularly love the drumming on “Something.” ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/9 "2014-11-08T03:45:33Z")
Didn’t Paul write the drums for Ticket to Ride? Granted, that’s a lot different than executing it during a song, but I thought I read that somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/10 "2014-11-08T04:08:23Z")
This subject reads like clickbait. Just sayin ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/11 "2014-11-08T04:32:52Z")
When I hear “Strawberry Fields Forever”, Ringo rocks! ---
**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 8, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/12 "2014-11-08T05:54:02Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Didn’t Paul write the drums for Ticket to Ride? Granted, that’s a lot different than executing it during a song, but I thought I read that somewhere. I don’t know. But what I love about the song is the way Ringo changes up the beat, from those hiccuping syncopated toms to a more straight rhythm on the later iterations of the verse. That sounds like a Ringo flourish to me, not something Paul would come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/13 "2014-11-08T09:56:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Ringo is generally a very respected drummer among musicians and drummers alike. I can’t fact check everything on that list, but most of it looks right to me. Ringo had impeccable timing, great taste, and wrote some of the most melodic and creative drum parts in pop music. Take almost any Beatles song, remove all the instruments except for the drums, and I bet you know still recognize the song, they were so distinct to the song. His parts were unique, idiosyncratic, and charming. I absolutely adore his drumming. I agree. His chops, his command of so many different styles, gave the Beatles so many options. Ringo’s taste and instincts were tremendous; the choices he made always seemed to be just right. To quote John from the OP’s cite: “If I get a thing going Ringo knows where to go, just like that.” The perfect drummer for the Beatles, and I don’t know what could be a higher compliment. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/14 "2014-11-08T10:25:19Z")
I am getting really tired of the meme that Ringo was the least of the Beatles. _He was the one they hired to make them better._ Anyone who doesn’t respect Ringo needs to listen to the drum line of “Come Together” and come back to me. John and Paul were good songwriters, but onstage, Mr Starr was the best musician in the band. He was almost _carrying_ those kids. Well, I don’t know enough about music to say that. But yeesh! ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/15 "2014-11-08T11:34:57Z")
He’s also the only Beatle to pass on their musical genius to their child. Zac Starkey is a brilliant drummer. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/16 "2014-11-08T11:51:03Z")
Of course I agree with the OP - started what became a long-ish thread about it here: [A Tip of the Hat - to Ringo Starr's drumming - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=697153) ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/17 "2014-11-08T15:24:17Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I agree. His chops, his command of so many different styles, gave the Beatles so many options. Ringo’s taste and instincts were tremendous; the choices he made always seemed to be just right. To quote John from the OP’s cite: “If I get a thing going Ringo knows where to go, just like that.” > > The perfect drummer for the Beatles, and I don’t know what could be a higher compliment. Didn’t John also say this? An interviewer asked John “Is Ringo the best drummer in the world?” to which John replied “Ringo isn’t even the best drummer in The Beatles”. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/18 "2014-11-08T15:39:57Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > He’s also the only Beatle to pass on their musical genius to their child. I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’m hugely impressed by Sean Lennon’s new stuff with GOASST. YMMV. > [@Mangosteen](#): > > Didn’t John also say this? > > An interviewer asked John “Is Ringo the best drummer in the world?” to which John replied “Ringo isn’t even the best drummer in The Beatles”. No. Widely repeated but apocryphal story. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/19 "2014-11-08T17:37:54Z")
I dated a drummer once and ever since then I’ve paid a lot more attention to drumming in rock songs. Ringo has always been one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036/20 "2014-11-08T18:08:22Z")
I’m sure I’ve brought this up in threads discussing Ringo before, but I’m a drummer, and I’ve talked to tons of other drummers in my time, and I’ve never met a drummer who didn’t think Ringo was great. Ever. Which, trust me, is a rare consensus. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thirteen-reasons-to-give-ringo-some-respect-as-a-drummer/704036.md?page=2)