Total Drummer

Learn how to play Led Zeppelin's classic Immigrant Song on drums

In this drum lesson we will learn how to play Immigrant Song on drums. This is a Led Zeppelin classic track from the 1970 Led Zeppelin Three album with John Bonham creating the power and energy on drums.

The song form is incredibly simple as it just cycles around the same guitar riff. Mystical lyrics sit on top of this powerful riff and groove but for me it's all about the drum pattern. Well I am a drummer!

So let's learn how to play Immigrant Song on drums

What you have below is a full video instruction showing you how to play Immigrant Song on drums. But you'll find that it's really just a one bar groove. And even deeper than that you'll find it's just the same half a bar repeated so really we only have to learn two beats.

Fundamentally this is a funk groove with sixteenth note bass and snares between an eighth note hi-hat pattern. But the way Bonham plays it brings it firmly into a rock context.

Learning the groove itself isn't that difficult at a slow pace but once learned it takes some doing to get it sounding even at full speed. But let's go slow, break it down and then build it up once we're comfortable with the pattern.

If you like a bit of Led Zeppelin and John Bonham then you might also like to learn how to play the drum beat for When the Levee Breaks.

But for now watch theintro video to hear it and then access the full lesson.