It took me years to appreciate Abe's value and how his apparent simplicity actually lends it self to the songs and Steph's riffs. How lucky we are for these musicians to have met and form a band.
HUGE Deftones fan here. I know every single album by heart, as well as Chino’s side bands , Crosses, Team Sleep, and Palms. Team Sleep is so great, and Palms I fall asleep to at night. Crosses is very electronica-synth graveyard sweet tunes lol that’s my description don’t mind it lol
Another Abe's pattern he does a lot mostly in the choruses is hitting at the same time bass drum + snare + china or crash. Swerve City, Romantic Dreams, Tempest, Diamond Eyes and Genesis are some examples
I especially love the way he uses his cymbals at times. It's surprising how he can put in so much extra drive. When listening to instrumental mixes I often discover he's doing a lot less than I thought he was at first listen.
Love the deftones, but have always thought this band would not be where they are or even the band they are without Abe. He fits everything about what Chino wants to do and what Steph wants to do so perfectly without it being over the top or too little. Really just is perfect.
Deftones really shaped my early days in getting in to music. Abe's drumming was something that always stuck out to me when starting to learn. All these little tricks that you've beautifully described in this video, the sneaky little hi hit clasp right before a chorus or segment switch, the use of the snare in fetieciera leading in and bringing in the rest of the band effortlessly, don't get me started on digital bath and practically the whole around the fur album! Truly a magician. Something I'll always appreciate.
I really like Abes approach, always serves the music, little in the way of distracting show-off moments, but with a penchant for tasteful fills. Also the way he plays physically, looks great on stage with the blaring heavy grooves
Oh man.. every time i play deftones songs I’m amazed by Abe drumming!! I find very melodic, unpredictable, his pattern develop during the song, very impressive. A good exemple is one of my favourite Good Morning Beautiful… crazy groove, huge guitar sound.. i love this band
abe is my fav drummer from day 1 ..over the years I still remember ONLY being able to sleep because of the deftones in highschool. I was always anxious and would grind away mentally all night but they helped me get through the tape and literally wake up with them BLASTING in my ears.
man, i didn't want any playthroughs to end! It's so cool you hit every note. Must've taken you so long to perfect them. Great video!! Abe is a fucking legend.
Huge Deftones fan here, easy #1 favorite band, and I learned so much about Abe's drumming from this video, thank you! I'm not drumming yet, but now I can't wait to get my kit and start practicing so I can jam out with my favorite songs one day.
Excellent video! Cunningham is my favourite drummer, and I’m trying to teach myself some of his grooves - this is really helpful in getting into the headspace of his playing style.
Well since Abe is doing it and I'm still in the basement at 50 years young lol. I can't say he has my style , but we both play a lot of the same chops .I've loved the band ever since the first time I listen to their first 3 albums . Also I love the band Quicksand that their bass player plays with . A lot of my style grooves .
I'm not even a drummer and I notice Abe's drumming over everything else in the band, in my mind he is the "stand out member" of deftones. I love that he doesn't play just to show off to other drummers, his primary goal is to serve the music. It's impossible not to move and groove when listening to any song he does
Good stuff dude!! I’ve been listening to Deftones since I was 13, for like 24 years. And I’ve been learning couple of songs on drums as well. This helped a lot.
Excellent! Few other things Abe uses a lot Is general hi hat dynamics. You touched on it a bit, but he really uses the hi hat to 'bark' through the mix an awful lot. He also uses lots of Snare flams in his linear fills, often preceded by a kick/snare flam. Gives it that fat sound! Also in his fills he very often uses crash cymbals without a kick. Helps to keep them sounding ethereal and light. A good example of this is the very first fill at the start of digit bath (although me may use a splash cymbal here) Great vid man! Never really noticed the impact the delayed snare on the 'and' of 4,now I hear it everywhere!
I really enjoyed this video so I subscribed lol. Great playing, and also really cool points being made here. Deftones is my fav band and I get all happy when someone breaks down their music and can appreciate what they create as a band. Such a talented group of guys. Cheers!
I read up on an interview back in the day that Abe's influence was the drummer from the police. Pay attention to that all she wants magic song if I remember correctly and you will all see what I mean. Fan since 99'
I'm a drummer and Abe is in my top 3 biggest influences, along with Chad Sexton of 311 (best snare sound EVER) and Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction. All top tier groovy drummers. I have picked up some of these "Cunninghamisms" along the way, but there was stuff i didn't catch before. Thanks! 👍
LMAO I am not a drummer but I have been programming drums for my music for years. Deftones are my favorite band and I didn't know how many of these things I've been doing, especially that last snare hit leading into a chorus.
@@c_vanwyk99 He never used a piccolo snare. The sound ist all about tuning an technique not only the dimension of the shell. Listen to Wilma´s Rainbow from Helmet - 14 x 5 brass snare
Most most most signature Abe thing (not even mentioned here) is to throw 2 quick sixteenths light snare hits starting on the offbeat (eighth note). 1 xx2 | 3 | 4 | - prime example is My Own Summer and Change, but can be heard plenty on other tunes
Hello great video. I'm a beginner drummer I've been drumming for just over a year now. I was just wondering what is it on your laptop you are using, just curious if it's something I can get to help me. Thank you very much for your time and the video.🥁👍🤟
all those are really cool, but imho the most abe cunningham thing to do is mix up the basedrum pattern which he does in many outros like be quiet and drive or hexagram... almost never the same bar twice
Hey Russ! Loved this video. As a non Drummer It explained Why I love Deftones so much. I tried to get ahold of you on Fiverr, But it says you're not active right now. Please Let me know when you'll be back! Urgently need your skills on my track.
Abe IS the grove. they also don't use click tracks so shit just sounds more natural, listen to Minerva at the outro then start it over, significantly off. Steph doesn't fuck with Clicks, just jams with abe to develop songs, that's just part of their style. He also uses all rides I think... I dono for sure but I know they are massive. love the video mang!
I'm a devout Abe Cunningham loyalist and I am really dissapointed that you only covered some of Abe's most recent drum patterns that do not define his core sound. When you hear Abe's core sound that truley defines his peak era, the drumming gives the listener a sense of supreme monolithic confidence and lust backed by an under belly of dangerously nafarious timing and wickedly vengefull aggression. His core sound is like a dark rejected orchestra being violently conducted by the massive waves and thunder in a biblical huricane. At least thats what I feel when I hear his drum technique from specific songs and albums like Around The Fur, Back In School, You've Seen The Butcher, Knife Party, Feiticeira but most importantly Street Carp and Bored. Abe Cunningham's most signature sound is what he plays in Bored, without a doubt. He is the only drummer in the world at that era in Rock who was playing those three hit transitions (snare + floor tom) + (rt hand crash + kick) + (lft hand crash + kick). That technique is only used by Abe Cunningham and is what helped elivate the Deftones sound to transcend above where most rock bands were stuck coming out of the grunge/Pantera/311/Primus era. Besides Abe, it's Chino's emotional vocals along with Abe's new school hip hop sexy metal technique that makes Deftones a devine gift to humanity, putting us all on the verge of tears with butterflys in our stomachs as we......"move to the back of the car, she makes me touch the machine....new muurRDDEERRRERRRRRR FVCK EM! First, untie me... untie me for now..........you said you would wright...and you were right...."
Huge Deftones fan here. I know I'm late to this video. Just wanted to say that hint you were throwing out about the "snare accents on the & of 4" could be true, but the examples you used to demonstrate this were actually snare hits ON 4. Don't want this to come off as bitchy, just an FYI.
I always think of the snare drum as being a quarter note. If the quarter note is being counted as 1 2 3 4 the snare lands on 2 and 4. I think about all music this way (and teach this to my drum students) since this is how it is written in drum set notation typically. You are feeling that quarter note twice as fast and thinking of the backbeat as being on beat 3. Though not technically incorrect, because it is not notated this way, I don't tend to count things this way. Count it however you want to, but this is the reason why I count that snare hit as being on the and of 4.
great vid! i just wanted to point out that it looks like youre reading off a script for some of it, which is fine, but the audience can see your eyes move and it sort of breaks the "illusion" that youre speaking directly to us, which is somewhat disconcerting. it might be better to memorize your script or to at least put it right under the camera so your eyes dont have to move as much
It took me years to appreciate Abe's value and how his apparent simplicity actually lends it self to the songs and Steph's riffs. How lucky we are for these musicians to have met and form a band.
Agreed!
Dude yes!!! He’s the epitome of less is more. He has crazy style
He can play drums like a monster and suddenly like a angel!!
Yes!!! His touch and dynamic range is incredible!
One of my main influences, something additional to highlight is his kick patterns, they are so groovy, a lot of hip hop influence
Yes, his kick syncopation is amazing! His pocket feels like he listened to a lot of funk and soul as well.
HUGE Deftones fan here. I know every single album by heart, as well as Chino’s side bands , Crosses, Team Sleep, and Palms. Team Sleep is so great, and Palms I fall asleep to at night. Crosses is very electronica-synth graveyard sweet tunes lol that’s my description don’t mind it lol
Team Sleep is great, Abe is one of my favourite drummers of all time.
Cross my favorite
@@thepluggy1 TS Natalie Portman
Hope you didn't miss saudade
What no love for Saudade?
Another Abe's pattern he does a lot mostly in the choruses is hitting at the same time bass drum + snare + china or crash. Swerve City, Romantic Dreams, Tempest, Diamond Eyes and Genesis are some examples
I especially love the way he uses his cymbals at times. It's surprising how he can put in so much extra drive. When listening to instrumental mixes I often discover he's doing a lot less than I thought he was at first listen.
Absolutely! He's a very intentional player!
Abe's the Love (drum) child of Stewart Copeland, Jeff Porcarro, John Bonham & Danny Carey. Underrated drummer indeed.
Yes! I hear a lot of those influences as well!
Love the deftones, but have always thought this band would not be where they are or even the band they are without Abe. He fits everything about what Chino wants to do and what Steph wants to do so perfectly without it being over the top or too little. Really just is perfect.
Yes! Super great pocket that always serves the song!
Deftones really shaped my early days in getting in to music. Abe's drumming was something that always stuck out to me when starting to learn. All these little tricks that you've beautifully described in this video, the sneaky little hi hit clasp right before a chorus or segment switch, the use of the snare in fetieciera leading in and bringing in the rest of the band effortlessly, don't get me started on digital bath and practically the whole around the fur album! Truly a magician. Something I'll always appreciate.
Yes, so many amazing nuances. I really appreciate the kind words. More Abe Cunningham content coming soon!
"last bar, snare hits on 4, not 3" is awesome. Thanks for the hint, man! Cool vid
I really like Abes approach, always serves the music, little in the way of distracting show-off moments, but with a penchant for tasteful fills. Also the way he plays physically, looks great on stage with the blaring heavy grooves
Yes! He always puts his all into it on stage!
Oh man.. every time i play deftones songs I’m amazed by Abe drumming!! I find very melodic, unpredictable, his pattern develop during the song, very impressive. A good exemple is one of my favourite Good Morning Beautiful… crazy groove, huge guitar sound.. i love this band
Likewise!
My favourite Abe's part is in Cherry Waves. Intro and outro especially. It looks simple but creates so much tension. Perfect part
Yes! I cover that in part two!
I love this drummer
ABSOLUTELY LOVE ABE!!! He has been a huge huge influence in my drumming development. Thank you sooo much for this video!!!
You're welcome! More Abe content coming soon!
abe is my fav drummer from day 1 ..over the years I still remember ONLY being able to sleep because of the deftones in highschool. I was always anxious and would grind away mentally all night but they helped me get through the tape and literally wake up with them BLASTING in my ears.
Yes! They have been a band that has helped me at times when I have been in a rough mental state as well!
man, i didn't want any playthroughs to end! It's so cool you hit every note. Must've taken you so long to perfect them. Great video!!
Abe is a fucking legend.
I really appreciate that! Thank you!
i fuckin love abe man, he might not have the most insane beats but he is so precise and smooth to where it doesnt matter.
best description ever of Def's sound at the beginning of the vid
Appreciate that!
Huge Deftones fan here, easy #1 favorite band, and I learned so much about Abe's drumming from this video, thank you!
I'm not drumming yet, but now I can't wait to get my kit and start practicing so I can jam out with my favorite songs one day.
To add to your wonderful intro of Abe, he also adds a layer of juxtaposed ethereal heaviness. My favorite drummer.
Absolutely agree!
Honestly, this just made me wanna listen to all their albums consecutively again 😂🤌!
Yes!!!! That's what I like to hear!
Great video! In my younger days I played drums in a Deftones cover band. Greatest time of my drumming life😊🤟
That's awesome! What was your favorite song to play?
Showing all the clips by actually playing them is a great touch! Good stuff
Thank you!
Excellent video! Cunningham is my favourite drummer, and I’m trying to teach myself some of his grooves - this is really helpful in getting into the headspace of his playing style.
Thank you so much! More Abe/Deftones content coming soon!
my favorite drummer
Thank you, this was such a good video. Deftones is a religion! My favourite has to be Needles and pins, Abe really flows so well in that track.
You're welcome! Yes, his kick pattern at the beginning was a beast to learn. Great tune!
Well since Abe is doing it and I'm still in the basement at 50 years young lol. I can't say he has my style , but we both play a lot of the same chops .I've loved the band ever since the first time I listen to their first 3 albums . Also I love the band Quicksand that their bass player plays with . A lot of my style grooves .
That's what's up!
Underrated video! Great drumming and well spoken
I really appreciate that. Thank you for watching!
I love the breakdown on Spell of Mathematics right when you think the song is winding down
I'm not even a drummer and I notice Abe's drumming over everything else in the band, in my mind he is the "stand out member" of deftones. I love that he doesn't play just to show off to other drummers, his primary goal is to serve the music. It's impossible not to move and groove when listening to any song he does
Agreed!
Good stuff dude!! I’ve been listening to Deftones since I was 13, for like 24 years. And I’ve been learning couple of songs on drums as well. This helped a lot.
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Deftones is my favorite band too. I looove the way Abe plays the drums. This video is very inspiering and a great help. Thank you.
You're welcome!
finally some love for combat
Such a good song!
PART TWO IS HERE! ruclips.net/video/6X-hB1koTCs/видео.htmlsi=45-xL_m7XldNM4UG
Awesome video! Your enthusiasm for the man really shone throughout. Abe and Stephen is the epitome of playing to the song.
Thank you!
Great video dude! Abe is in my top 3 along with DC and Josh Freese!!
Thank you!
Excellent!
Few other things Abe uses a lot Is general hi hat dynamics. You touched on it a bit, but he really uses the hi hat to 'bark' through the mix an awful lot.
He also uses lots of Snare flams in his linear fills, often preceded by a kick/snare flam. Gives it that fat sound!
Also in his fills he very often uses crash cymbals without a kick. Helps to keep them sounding ethereal and light. A good example of this is the very first fill at the start of digit bath (although me may use a splash cymbal here)
Great vid man! Never really noticed the impact the delayed snare on the 'and' of 4,now I hear it everywhere!
Great tips. Agree on all of them! Thanks for watching!
Great vid with some really deep cuts from my favorite albums (Self Titled and SNW).
Thank you!
You look a lot like Eddie Hermida from All Shall Perish/Suicide Silence. Great vid homie!
I really enjoyed this video so I subscribed lol. Great playing, and also really cool points being made here. Deftones is my fav band and I get all happy when someone breaks down their music and can appreciate what they create as a band. Such a talented group of guys. Cheers!
Thank you for the subscription and kind words!
awesome. was surprised to find no deftones drum covers on your channel. would be cool to see more examples of abe's style.
Deftones drum covers on the way!
I read up on an interview back in the day that Abe's influence was the drummer from the police. Pay attention to that all she wants magic song if I remember correctly and you will all see what I mean. Fan since 99'
Totally can see the influence! Thanks for watching!
this is such a well made analysis, would love to see similar stuff covering other drummers
Thank you for watching and the kind words. More drumming content coming soon!
Congrats on such a great video. You are a true beast on the drums and it is so cool to see this kind of breakdown of an iconic style. Great job
Thank you!!!
What an awesome video. Thank youuuuuu
Thank you for watching!
I'm a drummer and Abe is in my top 3 biggest influences, along with Chad Sexton of 311 (best snare sound EVER) and Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction. All top tier groovy drummers. I have picked up some of these "Cunninghamisms" along the way, but there was stuff i didn't catch before. Thanks! 👍
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it. Glad you picked up some new stuff!
Abe is a taste master. Appreciate this video
Thank you! He really is. Always plays the right thing at the right time!
damn, this is superb content dude, would love to see more of this, much appreciation
More on the way!
You forgot the ghost notes on the snare...
LMAO I am not a drummer but I have been programming drums for my music for years. Deftones are my favorite band and I didn't know how many of these things I've been doing, especially that last snare hit leading into a chorus.
A lot of this stuff comes naturally to musicians! Part of the fun is figuring out that you're already on the right path!
Subscribed for you excellent taste. You're a great drummer man.
Thank you!
Can you do a video on how to tune a snare like Abe's, if you know how? The snare sound I want is the sound Abe had on My Own Summer (Shove It)
He uses a piccolo snare so it’s naturally high pitched
just buy a tama bell brass (lol) and crank it
if u have no piccalo 14x5 snare tightined up real high with a good head on it
@@c_vanwyk99
He never used a piccolo snare. The sound ist all about tuning an technique not only the dimension of the shell.
Listen to Wilma´s Rainbow from Helmet - 14 x 5 brass snare
@@vinceventura2393 abe used a piccolo on adrenaline, confirmed from him. Get the facts bud
I read an article where Abe said some of his influences were Bill Ward and Stewart Copeland. I can see it
Yes! Me too!
Great video, thanks for the rad tips!
Thanks for watching!
Great analysis and drumming!!!
Thank you! More Deftones content coming soon!
This video is fucking awesome!!!
Glad you dug it!
We need a full cover of drive far away!!!
Coming soon!
Awesome video mate!
Thank you!
Most most most signature Abe thing (not even mentioned here) is to throw 2 quick sixteenths light snare hits starting on the offbeat (eighth note).
1 xx2 | 3 | 4 | - prime example is My Own Summer and Change, but can be heard plenty on other tunes
Nice recording quality man!
Thank you!
Great job man! I really enjoy this video and your explanations 😉
great video man
Thank you!
1. This is truly awesome!!!
2. You NEED to make some deftones drum covers!!!
Coming soon!
Hi @Russ - Can you do more in depth review of Deftones songs? I really like how you dissect segments of Abe's play style :)
Yes! More Deftones content coming soon!
Hello great video. I'm a beginner drummer I've been drumming for just over a year now. I was just wondering what is it on your laptop you are using, just curious if it's something I can get to help me. Thank you very much for your time and the video.🥁👍🤟
I am using Logic Pro X to record the drums. Recording yourself is definitely a good way to improve!
@@RussSternglassDrums ok cool! Thank you for taking the time to answer.👍🥁
Great video! What are the 2 splashes you’re using on your kit?
You forgot his awesome Hi-hats openings placements!
Youre my favorite!🥁
You're my favorite!
great video man!!!
Thank you!
Add to this is his signature pattern that goes something like tugtugutugpak tugtugudugupish
digital bath, is cool drum thinks
This was an easy subscribe. Great video!
Appreciate it!
Great!
Thank you!
amazing vid
Thank you!
all those are really cool, but imho the most abe cunningham thing to do is mix up the basedrum pattern which he does in many outros like be quiet and drive or hexagram... almost never the same bar twice
Definitely true. Also true for needles and pins.. 😅 Was a tough one to learn!
Hey Russ! Loved this video. As a non Drummer It explained Why I love Deftones so much.
I tried to get ahold of you on Fiverr, But it says you're not active right now. Please Let me know when you'll be back! Urgently need your skills on my track.
Hey there! Thank you for your interest. I am not doing Fiverr at the moment, but feel free to email me about drum tracks. russ.sternglass@gmail.com
4:00 and you are mirroring Abe mirroring the drum machine 😂
Love this video and tips
Thank you!
should have demonstrated fills in knife party. that song is nuts
Abe IS the grove. they also don't use click tracks so shit just sounds more natural, listen to Minerva at the outro then start it over, significantly off. Steph doesn't fuck with Clicks, just jams with abe to develop songs, that's just part of their style. He also uses all rides I think... I dono for sure but I know they are massive. love the video mang!
Thank you! He does use ride sized crashes for sure (20" and maybe even 21" crash ride). Thanks for checking out the video!
Hi, i'm just wondering what's up with the left drumstick. Looks reversed. Sorry im not a drummer but i just gotta ask
Sometimes when I play rock I turn that stick around to get more power. Thanks for the question!
@@RussSternglassDrums thank you so much
I'm a devout Abe Cunningham loyalist and I am really dissapointed that you only covered some of Abe's most recent drum patterns that do not define his core sound. When you hear Abe's core sound that truley defines his peak era, the drumming gives the listener a sense of supreme monolithic confidence and lust backed by an under belly of dangerously nafarious timing and wickedly vengefull aggression. His core sound is like a dark rejected orchestra being violently conducted by the massive waves and thunder in a biblical huricane. At least thats what I feel when I hear his drum technique from specific songs and albums like Around The Fur, Back In School, You've Seen The Butcher, Knife Party, Feiticeira but most importantly Street Carp and Bored. Abe Cunningham's most signature sound is what he plays in Bored, without a doubt. He is the only drummer in the world at that era in Rock who was playing those three hit transitions (snare + floor tom) + (rt hand crash + kick) + (lft hand crash + kick). That technique is only used by Abe Cunningham and is what helped elivate the Deftones sound to transcend above where most rock bands were stuck coming out of the grunge/Pantera/311/Primus era. Besides Abe, it's Chino's emotional vocals along with Abe's new school hip hop sexy metal technique that makes Deftones a devine gift to humanity, putting us all on the verge of tears with butterflys in our stomachs as we......"move to the back of the car, she makes me touch the machine....new muurRDDEERRRERRRRRR FVCK EM! First, untie me... untie me for now..........you said you would wright...and you were right...."
I dont think Abe is an underrated drummer..but he will never be an overrated drummer ..his balance creates appreciation
In change when did does the closed hat for 8 and then open for 8 before the chorus stands out to me. Idk if he does that in any other song
I got a fever and the only prescription is more ghost notes
cool vid
Thank you!
He’s like the Bonham of NU metal.
What size ride are you using?
23" Zildjian Sweet Ride!
@@RussSternglassDrums wow, yea I was going to say it looks ginormous lol
@@broke602 Wide angle lens probably adds to the effect, but yeah, it's a big cymbal. My favorite ride as of late!
Huge Deftones fan here. I know I'm late to this video. Just wanted to say that hint you were throwing out about the "snare accents on the & of 4" could be true, but the examples you used to demonstrate this were actually snare hits ON 4. Don't want this to come off as bitchy, just an FYI.
I always think of the snare drum as being a quarter note. If the quarter note is being counted as 1 2 3 4 the snare lands on 2 and 4. I think about all music this way (and teach this to my drum students) since this is how it is written in drum set notation typically. You are feeling that quarter note twice as fast and thinking of the backbeat as being on beat 3. Though not technically incorrect, because it is not notated this way, I don't tend to count things this way. Count it however you want to, but this is the reason why I count that snare hit as being on the and of 4.
How do I get my snare to sound like his !! Anybody helppp
Crank the top and bottom heads and play it fairly open. Also Abe tended to use deeper snares
Dude you should have called it 6 ways to sound like she cause you forgot a big one! Ghost notes
EXACTLY WHAT I SAID! He's missing a ton of Abe's ghost notes, one of the biggest parts of his sound.
Abe's snare is more than tightly tuned. He uses a marching snare head for his snare.
What kind of drums are those?
Ludwig Downbeat!
@@RussSternglassDrums thank you!
great vid! i just wanted to point out that it looks like youre reading off a script for some of it, which is fine, but the audience can see your eyes move and it sort of breaks the "illusion" that youre speaking directly to us, which is somewhat disconcerting. it might be better to memorize your script or to at least put it right under the camera so your eyes dont have to move as much
*5 things i can tell you about Abe Cunningham.
Rx Queen isn’t an easy song. It took me a while to get the groove down consistently.
Same!
No thank you sir ✌️ to you 2
You're missing a lot of ghost notes he does bud. Favorite drummer ever.
There's no crash on EVERY SINGLE 1 on BQAD
There is before the vocals come in (the part I was playing)