Bo Diddley Beat drum pattern
The five-accent hambone/3-2 son-clave timeline centered in the mix, with a steady maraca-like bed and minimal kit support. Press Play to hear it with a sampled drum kit at 104 BPM, change the tempo or swing, and follow every hit on the grid.
How to count the Bo Diddley Beat
Count it as: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a. The pattern is one bar of 4/4 (five-accent 16th-note timeline).
The Bo Diddley Beat pattern, hit by hit
Each character is one step of the grid and each group is one beat. X is an accented hit, x a normal hit, o a quiet or ghost note and - a rest.
| Voice | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Kick | x--- ---- x--- ---- |
| Cross-stick | ---- x--- ---- x--- |
| Cowbell | X--x --X- --X- X--- |
| Shaker | oooo oooo oooo oooo |
Tempo and feel
The five accents are one circular phrase. Do not turn them into isolated syncopations. The default tempo is 104 BPM. Slow it down until every hit is controlled, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time.
How to practise the Bo Diddley Beat
Clap only the five accents. Add the shaker without changing the accents. Start each repetition without an extra pickup.
Variations to try next
Move the pattern to floor tom. Play only cowbell and shaker. Reverse it into 2-3 direction.
Where to hear this feel
Records in this family include Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away and The Who - Magic Bus. The five onsets are 0, 3, 6, 10 and 12 on a 16-pulse cycle.