So Lonely - The POlice

[rohbit]

Hey guys, I've been listening to the Police "Greatest Hits," and loving every bit of it. It's awesome to see how many bands have been influenced by them, and Stuart Copeland's drumming is just so damn... "tasty" (I'm trying to think of creative ways to describe drumming... tasty.. remember it!).

I was trying to disect Stuarts playing on So Lonely, because at its core, it's a Ska Flavoured Punk song; yet it's given such an awesome feel through Copeland's drumming, which while not hard, is definitely cool. I've been having trouble with the fill that ends bridge from the solo/interludish part to the final chorus. It occurs at 3:14 seconds into the song, and I just can't nail it.

Any ideas exactly what's going on?

[FL3P]

His ideas never seem to follow a pattern. I've tried to figure him out and it never seems like he does the same thing twice. That's what makes him great, no-one plays like him!

[keeferz]

Props to wanting to learn any Police stuff. I adore copeland and his licks.
The part at 3:14 is made up mainly with triplets from what I can tell but I am sure someone else on here can tell you exactly whats going on.

By the way if you're a Police/Copeland fan check out their Synchronicity dvd.

[rohbit]

Does he play the same live as he does on CD? or does it change?

Cause that could mean he just improvises.

[keeferz]

Does he play the same live as he does on CD? or does it change?

Cause that could mean he just improvises.

*Gets out dvd.

He mixes it up alot. To use 'so lonely' as an example he uses different fills and the tempo slows down completely at one stage with just sting playing then it builds back up. A little after where you seem to be stuck incidentally.

[rohbit]

That's awesome!

Man, I still don't know how he came up with that fill... it's not exactly standard.

[Det_Nosnip]

Copeland improvises like 90% of the time, and sounds great 100% of the time. That's why he is a legend. Hearing just about any take of "Walking on the Moon" is always a treat. :)

[rohbit]

Heh, it sure sounds like he's playing on his toes. That's why his drumming is really refreshing.

Soo... anyone know that fill?

I really like it and want to add it to some of my band's songs.. i just can't qutie get a handle on it.

[xeonman9000]

Copeland improvises like 90% of the time, and sounds great 100% of the time.
Haha, so true. I saw him on Top Of The Pops a week or so ago and he was really going for it, shame they were all lip/drum/guitar/bass-syncing in that cheesy, out-of-time 80's way :thumb:.