Should Drum beats be copyrighted?

[rohbit]

I was talking to my friend recently and he brought up an interesting question:

Do you think it's fair that a Guitar tune can be copyrighted but not a drum beat?

What do you guys think?

[the_pure_drummer]

By that do you mean only said person who it is copywrighted too can play it?

What if the police are walking past an 8 year old who played weckls beat and got arrested?

[sLarkin20]

I'd hope that 8 year old could handle himself in prison then.

[We_Love_Lime]

I don't think it's fair that a guitar tune can be copyrighted in the first place.

Plus I think it's fair.
Drumbeats...
There's no like SIGNATURE drumbeat.
Nobody's going to hear just the drums out of a song, and go
OH
I know that song.

Guitar however, is a different story.

[BummerJonny]

maybe, if its like really recognisable, like fool in the rain, or song 2. but anyone who copyrighted a standard punk beat would be retarded...

[mullets suk]

There's no like SIGNATURE drumbeat.
Nobody's going to hear just the drums out of a song, and go
OH
I know that song.


tell that to lars

[fishbulb]

It's all about how you play it since everybody has a different feel and style.

[We_Love_Lime]

tell that to lars

what?
i don't get the joke.

[Sponer]

I'm copyrighting the...

h h h h h h h h
- - s - - - s -
b - - - b - - -

...beat. :mad:
(sorry I suck at tabs)

[mullets suk]

what?
i don't get the joke.

he tried copyrighting "his" drum beats. i honestly have no idea if that was just a joke, or if he was serious. considering the largeness of his d-bagery i wouldnt put it past him.

[We_Love_Lime]

oh
metallica are such tools.

[Panopticon]

By that do you mean only said person who it is copywrighted too can play it?

What if the police are walking past an 8 year old who played weckls beat and got arrested?

do you know what copyrighting is?

IMO its stupid. But if anyone gets bass on 1 and 3 and snare on 2 and 4, its phil rudd.

[stevensonmat2]

Drumbeats...
There's no like SIGNATURE drumbeat.
Nobody's going to hear just the drums out of a song, and go
OH
I know that song.

Guitar however, is a different story.

Yeah, 'cause 50 ways to leave you lover isn't instantly recognizable from the drum beat. :rolleyes:

There are plenty of famous beats. Not that I think they should be copyrighted.

[Charlie Daniels]

Guitar tunes can can only be copyrighted to an extent... no one can copyright chord progressions and/or their rhythms. It's only really riffs and melodies that can be (and there is a large grey area there).

As mentioned, there are plenty of drum 'riffs' such as Song 2 by Blur, or Gadd's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.

[Charlie Daniels]

And I was under the impression that drum works CAN be copyrighted, infact, they ARE copyrighted.

[We_Love_Lime]

Yeah, 'cause 50 ways to leave you lover isn't instantly recognizable from the drum beat. :rolleyes:

There are plenty of famous beats. Not that I think they should be copyrighted.

yeah smartass.
I am aware that there are exceptions to the rule.



I don't know a ****ing average person who if I played that drumbeat for them, they'd be like
OH
Simon and Garfunkel.

[natey5280]

Drum beats should obviously not be copyrighted. Three billion songs can use the same drum beat and not sound blatantly related. Basically when you start playing drums you learn some trademark beats. With guitar you might learn some melodies by other people but you would never write the same melody like you would play the same beat.

[Chippy569]

yes, i'd like to copywright C#.



equally absurd.

[We_Love_Lime]

Not really
C# is such an obscure note.
I don't think I've ever played it.
ever.

[ace76543]

Well now you never will

[We_Love_Lime]

While you're at it, you should copyright A and B major.
GROSS.

[stevensonmat2]

yeah smartass.
I am aware that there are exceptions to the rule.



I don't know a ****ing average person who if I played that drumbeat for them, they'd be like
OH
Simon and Garfunkel.

So because most people wouldn't recognize it means it is less deserving of copyright protection?

[Det_Nosnip]

yeah smartass.
I am aware that there are exceptions to the rule.



I don't know a ****ing average person who if I played that drumbeat for them, they'd be like
OH
Simon and Garfunkel.

Mmm done that before.

Granted, he was a guitarist and a big S&G fan, but still.

Oh, that's a Paul Simon song though...

Come Together is another groove that alot of people would probably recognize.

[MeaninglessPhoto]

Dont for get Walk this Way or We Will Rock You.

[sLarkin20]

lol@people claiming notes for copyright now

[ace76543]

lol@people claiming notes for copyright now

qft

[We_Love_Lime]

So because most people wouldn't recognize it means it is less deserving of copyright protection?

lol no.
You said..
That's an easily recognizable drum beat.
And I was trying to prove you wrong.

I mentioned nothing about copyrighting.
At all
Ever.
I don't even know where you got the idea to even ask this question.

[Retarded Chipple]

anyone who copyrighted a standard punk beat would be retarded...


Read: clever



You could make a hell of a lot of money copyrighting a beat like that.
And...it could force a slight evolution in music. People would be forced to think of new rhythms to put in songs which can really influence the rest of the parts in a song.


Just a thought. It'd probably pan out much differently in real life.

[We_Love_Lime]

ugh look what you did Chipple.
Now they'res going to be some revolutionary 5 page discussion over this :p

JK ILU BRO
and that's probably true.

[\m/-CHeV-\m/]

ok, interesting question, but let's face it, at the same time it's pretty stupid. if we (drummers) were to copyright beats none of the bands like ac/dc, metallica, motorhead etc etc wouldn't exist. the melody (guitar part) or the vocal melodies are the key signature for the song. mainly drumbeats are just to lead the riffs (not in every case, but you guys know what i mean), so that'S why guitar parts can be copyrighted, and drumbeats cant.

i agree with someone above that a really authentic beat or groove can be copyrighted. stuff like the beat in I, Monarch by hate eternal or the Rosanna shuffle. otherwise it would just be plain dumb.

[Chippy569]

if you start copyrighting drum beats, the only direction music will go is into the drum-n-bass direction, where rhythm and meter are so obscure it's almost impossible to recreate a beat exactly. Meaning unless you're jojo mayer (if you are, please call me) you drummers might be out of a job.

that, or writers would just say "**** DRUMS! I CAN'T WORK AROUND THIS COPYRIGHT ****!" and then drums would disappear.


your choice.

[stevensonmat2]

lol no.
You said..
That's an easily recognizable drum beat.
And I was trying to prove you wrong.

I mentioned nothing about copyrighting.
At all
Ever.
I don't even know where you got the idea to even ask this question.

Well I was going on what you said in your first post but I guess we are doing post by post so I'll just stop here.

[We_Love_Lime]

oh okay.

Lolz and adding on to what chipppy said.
Electronic Drums would pretty much take over.
Wouldn't that piss you purists off?

[ace76543]

Read: clever



You could make a hell of a lot of money copyrighting a beat like that.
And...it could force a slight evolution in music. People would be forced to think of new rhythms to put in songs which can really influence the rest of the parts in a song.


Just a thought. It'd probably pan out much differently in real life.

Communism worked in theory, too.

[stevensonmat2]

Did you neg me lime?

[We_Love_Lime]

Nope.
I possitively repped you.

I don't neg people.
Well
You have to be an absolute dumbass to be negged by me.

[ace76543]

negging is a pretty bitch move IMO.

[sLarkin20]

I've been negged for having a different opinion on things and crap like that before, it's really stupid.

[sLarkin20]

negging is a pretty bitch move IMO.

Oh, btw, negged.

[natey5280]

that, or writers would just say "**** DRUMS! I CAN'T WORK AROUND THIS COPYRIGHT ****!" and then drums would disappear.

I'd copyright not having drums and then everyone would pay me.

[Mr Pink]

A melody is a melody. One beat can be played to thousands of different melodies. A drum beat serves the melody, so this will never happen.

[\m/-CHeV-\m/]

oh okay.

Lolz and adding on to what chipppy said.
Electronic Drums would pretty much take over.
Wouldn't that piss you purists off?

electronic drums have nothing to do with this. or did you mean programmed beats? if so, yeah.

A melody is a melody. One beat can be played to thousands of different melodies. A drum beat serves the melody, so this will never happen.

basically what i said before.

[GhostNote]

I'm copyrighting the...

h h h h h h h h
- - s - - - s -
b - - - b - - -

...beat. :mad:
(sorry I suck at tabs)

Errr, Jabo Starks?? Clyde Stubblefield?

:confused:


-GN

[We_Love_Lime]

[QUOTE=\m/-CHeV-\m/;16141367]electronic drums have nothing to do with this. or did you mean programmed beats? if so, yeah.

Yeah
I meant programmed beats.

[Hunted By a Freak]

stupidest thread ever

[Imperial Star]

I should copywrite the drum kit. Anyone else who plays is violating the law and will be put in a pit with mutant squirrels.

I will be teh best drummer in the world!

[AFragileHope]

lol Imperial Star.

I think copyrighting what is essentially "rhythm" (one of the only words in english without a vowel, haha) would be almost impossible.

[mullets suk]

[QUOTE=AFragileHope;16143434] "rhythm" (one of the only words in english without a vowel, haha)

dude, thats crazy. would "Y" be considered a vowel, i never understood its ability to transition between the two.

[sLarkin20]

A E I O U .... and sometimes Y.

[Hunted By a Freak]

Hey guys I just got the copyright on playing music

so stop or pay me to do it

[Retarded Chipple]

I'm actually thinking of copyrighting my old bands music.


Dunno why....it'll teach the lead singer for trying to continue the band without the rest of us!

[Det_Nosnip]

Communism worked in theory, too.

So did capitalism.

[green242]

The world is so fuked. People and their stupidity.. I don't know if other people experience this, but where I live it's illegal for stores to put smokes in sight of customers... So you go in the little smoke shops, and all the shelves are empty.. It's a funny stupid law. What's next, liquor stores with hidden liquor. haha... Just reminds me of crap like having to copywrite a riff or drum beat.

[some jive turkey]

It's all about how you play it since everybody has a different feel and style.

That's just what I was going to say.
There are too many subtlties in drumset playing, to keep score.

Getting the next gig is all that matters. If you're sitting around copywriting beats, you have too much time on your hands.

[ace76543]

So did capitalism.

in theory

[ace76543]

"rhythm" (one of the only words in english without a vowel, haha)

Oh god what a fail

[Aaron]

y is a vowel from a structural standpoint. lol.

[AdultSwim815]

Um no. That'd just be wrong.

[fishbulb]

When you say rhythm the middle part of it sounds like "um" so the y does act as a vowel in that case.

[Panopticon]

y can have many sounds...

some are vowel sounds, some are consonant sounds.

vowel sounds - my, rhythm
consonant sounds - yo-yo, yesterday

when its a vowel sound, its a vowel, when its a consonant sound, its a consonant.

[fishbulb]

^^^ 13,333 post ^^^

[sLarkin20]

Look at all them 3's in that number, that's crazy!

[moogoogaipan]

Guitar tunes can can only be copyrighted to an extent... no one can copyright chord progressions and/or their rhythms. It's only really riffs and melodies that can be (and there is a large grey area there).

As mentioned, there are plenty of drum 'riffs' such as Song 2 by Blur, or Gadd's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.

pardon moi.

Real Book anybody. A ton of the changes in those books are blatantly wrong to bypass copyright infringement. Many chord progressions have a copyright.

[moogoogaipan]

I think copyrighting what is essentially "rhythm" (one of the only words in english without a vowel, haha) would be almost impossible.
also the word "why"

[We_Love_Lime]

and "yes"

[fishbulb]

I don't sense any sarcasm in that post and that saddens me a bit.

[ItComes]

The most common groove is the simple 1 & 3 on the kick 2 & 4 on the snare. Used in so many 1,000's of songs it'd be hard to say the exact number. Same notes, different feels. Can't copyright "feel".

So no, you can't copyright a drum groove.

Technically speaking music copyrights are only temporary as it is, after a particular amount of time, all music becomes public property.

[Aaron]

Um no. That'd just be wrong.
You're grammar is wrong; my statement is soundly based.

[Charlie Daniels]

pardon moi.

Real Book anybody. A ton of the changes in those books are blatantly wrong to bypass copyright infringement. Many chord progressions have a copyright.

Are you able to back that up?

I'm unaware that there are certain chord progressions I have to avoid when composing because someone has copyrighted them...

[Massik Kretal]

I heard Metallica tried to copyright the progression F# - E power chords but failed cuz of their gayness.

[fishbulb]

That sounds exactly like something Metallica would do.

[Charlie Daniels]

That's an urban legend, started out by a garage band to gain publicity. The mainstream media ran with it like wild fire and it was all made up :-S

[Charlie Daniels]

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/metallica.asp

[Hunted By a Freak]

Chord changes can't be copywrited. Period. Only melody and lyrics can be copyrighted.

[DxRocker]

You can play any copyrighted riff. You just can't ask money for it and/or call it your own invention. That's all.

As for copyrighted drums... Thank God they didn't do that in the 60's. Tens of thousands of rock and roll songs would have been reduced to just one. That, or they'ld all be played by one drummer (lucky guy though :lol: )

[BrokenChains]

You shouldn't be able to copyright a drum beat, that's just pathetic. Heck, I don't think you should be able to copyright with guitar either.

[Benzum]

Should Drum beats be copyrighted?

Umm, no, that would suck all the fun out of music.

What a ridiculous question.

[Carn]

I think only melodies can be copyrighted, and the pieces that feature them. A melodie is based on a certain chord progression in a certain tempo, it's pretty much fixed. Even if you change things and the end result is still comparable in a way to the original, you are breaking the copyright.

but yeah, what Super Cameron said. "beats" and "chordchanges" are inherent to the respective instruments, you can simply not copyright the basic musical elements.