Sunday Bloody Sunday Drums tab video

About this riff

The main groove is a martial snare pattern built on a driving military tattoo that turns a standard rock kit into a marching cadence, so precision and consistent timing matter more than technical flash. It sits around a moderate tempo and is straightforward to learn, making it a great study in feel, dynamics, and locking to a click rather than chops. The reward is nailing that relentless, disciplined snare pulse that carries the entire song.

Did you know?

The drum pattern started as a leftover Mullen was working on, and a chance meeting with Andy Newmark of Sly & the Family Stone—a drummer who swore by the click track—convinced Mullen to play to a click, after which the opening pattern grew into the song's hook. To capture a big natural reverb, producer Steve Lillywhite recorded the drums in the stairwell of the Dublin studio, giving the snare its metallic, precise, jackboot-march character.

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