About The P Expertise I have been a fan for over 20 years. I am knowledgable in both eras, especially the Dave era. I cannot answer questions on guitar playing. Though I can answer questions on Alex`s drumming.
Expert: The P Date: 6/22/2004 Subject: How is hot for teacher played?
Question I have been trying to figure the drum parts for hot for teacher. How does Alex play this live? Is it overdubbed in the studio? Thanks E
Answer Emil:
Alex plays triplets on the Simmons pad (triggers) for 4 measures. In comes the shuffled double bass which he plays for another 4 measures. Then he plays the Roto Toms (which he did overdub in the studio.) Then plays the ride cymbal playing a super fast swing shuffle while a doubling up on the snare. Really hard to transcribe on paper, it's really more of a feel thing.
If you want to figure out the main cymbal parts. Think of a blues riff, except REALLY REALLY fast
__3__ __3__ __3__ __3__
Cyb - O O O O O O O O O O
Snare - O O O O
Left Foot - O O O O O O O O
Right Foot - O O O O O O O
__3__ __3__ __3__ __3__
If you want to hear it played and you have a good sound card. There is a Hot For Teacher midi that I put the drums on years ago, which I tried to cop the feel. Just go to Google and type "Hot For Teacher" midi. It should come up.
In boots that I heard from Alex plays the intro very different, 8 measures instead of 16, and a way slower tempo. Straight 8th on the ride.
If you want to hear some vintage Alex boots of HFT www.vanhalenaudioarchive.com No Sammy, all Dave VH. When these guys were young and ferocious.
If you want to SEE it played. Got to www.theatomicpunks.net The Atomic Punks are the ultimate VH cover band (really good, you swear Dave was with VH again) and they have a great video section where the drummer just about duplicated the HTF intro on a 5 piece drum set. Not note for note, but he got the feel of the song and made it his own.
I've heard many different versions of the song, as recently as the Sam and Dave tour and I have never seen it played exactly like Alex did on the record. As a matter of fact, Dave's drummer, Ray Luzier doesn't even play the intro. He goes straight into the cymbal part.
I do not have a ADSL connection right now. (I am moving) If not I would send you an mp3 of a Play with VH practice cassette that they don't make anymore. On Side A - On the left channel are the drums and on the right is the band playing HFT. On side B - It's the band in a stereo mix, with no drums at all so you can jam with HFT, Panama, etc.
To sum up...
The Intro's overdubbed so try to get the feel of the intro more than the exact note for note exact thing. You know you can really drive yourself crazy trying to get the exact thing note for note. In the end...unless you hang out with a clique of drummers, no one in the audience is going to notice that you got every note perfect, unfortunately that's the truth.
Main riff..think blues riff done really fast with a double pedal.
Good thing about the song is that at least there are spots for your to rest in the song.
