# What about Ringo as a drummer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316 "2008-12-31T04:01:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/1 "2008-12-31T04:01:40Z")
There’s this current thread about favorite drummers: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499320](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499320) Two pages and only one brief mention of Ringo. I didn’t want to hijack that thread with a discussion of Ringo, but I’m interested in a thread that discusses him as a drummer. To me, there are musicians who are “technically” good. But a computer can be a “technically” good musician, but a computer will lack heart and soul and je ne se quois and moxy and balls and on and on. An example is Jack White of The White Stripes. Techncially an excellent musician? No, but I think he’s a great musician. I don’t particularly care for the White Stripes, but I do like some of their stuff and I appreciate his musicianship–what he lacks technically he makes up for in other ways. Maybe my definition of a great musician is off, but I don’t think it’s all about hitting the right notes at the right time. I have no dog in this race. I’m not a drummer and, in general, I don’t think I can tell one from another. But a discussion about great drummers that goes on for two pages with just one brief mention of Ringo? 'splain 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/2 "2008-12-31T06:02:16Z")
I’m with you, **RWS**. You’ve put it beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/3 "2008-12-31T09:25:06Z")
Ringo was the ideal drummer for the Beatles: not flashy or attention-seeking, he can still rise to greatness when called upon, as in “Rain” or “She Said She Said.” And his mere presence ensured the Fabs could never take themselves too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/4 "2008-12-31T10:19:12Z")
There have been threads about Ringo here before, with some interesting input from some of the board’s musicos. [Here’s one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=374111&highlight=ringo) that I found just now but his name shows up in so many threads that I thought I’d just stop here and let you look further if you’d like. It even includes some of John Lennon’s comments from the 1980 _Playboy_ interview conducted shortly before he was killed. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/5 "2008-12-31T12:09:34Z")
Thanks for locating that thread **SA** - there are many others, but that has the stuff I wanted to reference for this thread. **RWS** there ya go… ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/6 "2008-12-31T14:08:04Z")
Ringo is my favorite drummer. I am a guitar player and singer, though it’s been years since I played regularly (and always small-time stuff, local bars, etc.). I hate the _Peart_ types, all that “locomotive,” overplayed bullshit. The fact that you can play something fast doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I love a drummer who lays down tasty fills, appropriate to the song, creative but never overwhelming. I didn’t say that in the other thread, 'cause it felt like threadshitting, but since you asked. Ringo played every song perfectly, or so it seemed after repeated listenings (which amounts to the same thing!). That was part of the “perfect storm” that was the Beatles: everything served the tune, including the drums. BTW, Ringo was considered one of the best drummers on the Liverpool scene (unlike Pete Best), which was saying something. John and Paul went to pilfer Ringo from his current band (Rory Storm and the Hurricanes), and were greeted at the door by Ringo’s roommate, the lead guitarist, who responded in a mournful tone with something like, “Oh, I know why you’re here.” It was a given that the hottest band on the scene would be replacing the stiff they had as drummer with someone as skillful as Ringo. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/7 "2008-12-31T15:06:48Z")
Exactly. Ringo wasn’t flashy, which is usually what impressive. He was good at keeping a beat – even an unusual one – and added only what the song required. If you listen carefully, he’s doing some interesting things, but because it’s all in service to the song, it’s usually not obvious. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/8 "2008-12-31T15:26:33Z")
I’m pretty sure it has already been said elsewhere that the only drum roll Starkey ever performed as a Beatle was on the last song on the last album put out by the Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/9 "2008-12-31T15:35:13Z")
Paul played drums on _Dear Prudence_? I may have to go lay down and cry now. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/10 "2008-12-31T16:58:59Z")
> [@omni-not](#): > > I’m pretty sure it has already been said elsewhere that the only drum roll Starkey ever performed as a Beatle was on the last song on the last album put out by the Beatles Drum solo, on _Abbey Road_. Ringo played about a million drum rolls. Ringo hated drum solos, though he was more than capable. To me, that’s just further testament to the terrific sensibilities he brought to the drums–less is more, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/11 "2008-12-31T17:03:12Z")
> [@omni-not](#): > > I’m pretty sure it has already been said elsewhere that the only drum roll Starkey ever performed as a Beatle was on the last song on the last album put out by the Beatles I think you mean “drum _solo_” not “drum roll”. I saw a show not too long ago (on Bravo, I think) in which Dave Stewart (from the Erurythmics) interviewed Ringo about his time with the Beatles and his drum techniques and so forth. In that interview Ringo said, essentially, “I’m not that good a drummer – I know 4/4 and 3/4 and that’s it.” My opinion is that he’s a decent enough drummer to be able to keep a beat, but all in all … sorry, he’s a hack. The luckiest man in the history of Rock and Roll. Still, he kept up his end of the stick in the personality department with the Fab Four. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/12 "2008-12-31T17:09:15Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > My opinion is that he’s a decent enough drummer to be able to keep a beat, but all in all … sorry, he’s a hack. The luckiest man in the history of Rock and Roll. Still, he kept up his end of the stick in the personality department with the Fab Four. Clearly YMMV and whatnot. You a musician? ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/13 "2008-12-31T17:18:00Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > My opinion is that he’s a decent enough drummer to be able to keep a beat, but all in all … sorry, he’s a hack. The luckiest man in the history of Rock and Roll. Still, he kept up his end of the stick in the personality department with the Fab Four. [For what it’s worth:](http://web2.airmail.net/gshultz/drumpage.html) > [@](#): > > Alex Van Halen – " One of the most interesting things about Ringo is how he manage to maintain a level of self-esteem – in addition to being a great player, of course. But he wasn’t overshadowed as a human being by McCartney, Lennon or Harrison. I think he did a wonderful thing for drums because drummers would see him and think, “Hey, he’s part of it, too.” (Modern Drummer magazine, July 1993) > [@](#): > > Kenny Aronoff – “He consistently came up with new ideas that always seemed perfect for the song, but it wasn’t just a matter of him picking a basic beat for a song, because lots of drummers could do that. Ringo definitely had the right kind of personality and creative ideas for The Beatles music. You will rarely find a Beatles song without something noticeable that Ringo played or didn’t play.” (Modern Drummer magazine, Oct. 1987) > [@](#): > > Don Was – “Ringo’s drums are one of the greatest things you can have on a record.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/14 "2008-12-31T17:20:46Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Clearly YMMV and whatnot. You a musician? Yes. But not a percussionist. A guitarist. Sorry, I just always saw him as entirely mediocre, and that he’s garnered all his praise for who he’s played with, not how he played. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/15 "2008-12-31T18:05:53Z")
[quote=“Jack\_Batty, post:11, topic:479316”] I think you mean “drum _solo_” not “drum roll”. QUOTE] My bad. Solo it is. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/16 "2008-12-31T18:07:10Z")
Ringo was adequate as a drummer, you can notice that as the Beatles progressed he got better and better. And if I notice it, that is something. There were a lot of better drummers but there are many that were worse. I think for the most part he was adequate and didn’t in anyway hurt the music. Look at Paul McCartney’s voice, he’s not the best singer. In some of his Wings stuff, he’s off key. But people liked him anyway ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/17 "2008-12-31T18:28:33Z")
Ringo was a great drummer for not drawing attention to himself and providing some very tasty fills. Check out A Day In The Life. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/18 "2008-12-31T19:02:11Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > It was a given that the hottest band on the scene would be replacing the stiff they had as drummer with someone as skillful as Ringo. I always heard that Pete Best was a better drummer, but didn’t fit into the new scene the Beatles were hoping to create. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/19 "2008-12-31T19:06:43Z")
A big part of what makes a great musician is _taste_. Knowing what to do, and when, to being out the right feel, the right emotion, the right tone for the song where and when it needs it. Too many people equate technical ability with talent. Technical ability can be taught. Put in enough hours, and you too can learn to do lightning-fast scales or wild hammering drum fills. But taste and creativity is different. As an example from the guitar world, take Yngvie Malmsteen, and compare him with Slash. Slash probably couldn’t keep up with him if they were doing some sort of shredding competition. But I know who I’d much rather listen to. And you can go on Youtube and find a dozen amateur guitarists who can display the pyrotechnic flash of Malmsteen, but ones who can compose an original solo that can make tears come to your eyes are not to be found. Ringo has taste. When he does something different on the drums, he’s doing it for a reason. He may not be able to articulate it, but he can just hear the song and know what he should hit and when to help the essence of the song and make it something greater than it was without his input. Another example is Miles Davis. Miles Davis is best appreciated by listening to not just the notes he plays, but the spaces between them. He puts rests in his music where you don’t expect them, and they build tension, and then hit just the right note at the right moment to pull it all together. Miles Davis is an acquired taste, and a lot of people who expect a great jazz player to be technically flashy just don’t get him. But there’s a reason why _Kind of Blue_ is one of the best selling jazz albums in history. Ringo is like that. Go listen to some Beatles’ songs, and really concentrate in just hearing the drums. Try to think about what he’s trying to do, and listen to the fills he uses, and when he uses them. You might gain a whole new appreciation for his simple, effective brilliance. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316/20 "2008-12-31T19:21:20Z")
Ringo was more than merely adequate, and he certainly isn’t the luckiest person in rock and roll history. As stated more articulately above, the man has taste and creativity. Go back and listen to his drum parts. They are entirely unique and his own. Nobody drums like Ringo. His drum parts are melodic and essential to the music–think of a song like “Come Together” with the cascading triplets across the kit of the intro and the groovy, thumping toms of the verse – that’s essential to the song, and that’s quintessential Ringo, oozing simplicity, soul, and taste. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-ringo-as-a-drummer/479316.md?page=2)