Bo Diddley beat
The Bo Diddley beat is a syncopated musical rhythm that is widely used in rock and roll and pop music.[1][2][3] The beat is named after rhythm and blues musician Bo Diddley, who introduced and popularized the beat with his self-titled debut single, "Bo Diddley", in 1955. The beat has been described as essentially the Afro-Cuban clave rhythm[4] or based on the clave[5][6] or a variation thereof.[7][8]
Music educator and author Michael Campbell explains that it "shows the relationship between Afro-Cuban music, Americanized Latin rhythms, and rock rhythm ... [The beats] are more active and complicated than a simple rock rhythm, but less complex than a real Afro-Cuban rhythm.[8]
History and composition
The Bo Diddley beat is a variation of the 3-2
According to musician and author
Use by other artists
Prior to Bo Diddley's self-titled song, the rhythm occurred in 13 rhythm and blues songs recorded between 1944 and 1955, including two by
Later, the beat was included in many songs composed by artists other than Bo Diddley:
- "I Wish You Would" by Billy Boy Arnold (1955)[11]
- "Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly (1957)[16][17][18]
- "Cannonball" by Duane Eddy (1958)[11][18][19]
- "Willie and the Hand Jive" by Johnny Otis (1958)[18][20]
- "Hey Little Girl" by Dee Clark (1959)[21]
- "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" by Elvis Presley (1961)[17][18][20]
- "Mickey's Monkey" by the Miracles (1963)[20][19]
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" by the Supremes (1963)[20][19]
- "Rosalyn" by Pretty Things (1964)[19]
- "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe" by the Byrds (1965)[19]
- "Mystic Eyes" by Them (1965)[9]
- "I Want Candy" by the Strangeloves (1965)[18][20][19]
- "
- "Bummer in the Summer" by Love (1967)[23]
- "Get Me to the World on Time" by the Electric Prunes (1967)[20]
- "She Has Funny Cars" by Jefferson Airplane (1967)[24]
- "Magic Bus" by the Who (1968)[17][18][20][19]
- "1969" by the Stooges[18][19]
- "Panic in Detroit" by David Bowie (1973)[18][20][19]
- "Shame, Shame, Shame" by Shirley & Company (1974)[20]
- "New York Groove" by Hello (1975)[25]
- "Billy Bones and the White Bird" by Elton John (1975)[26]
- "She's the One" by Bruce Springsteen (1975)[17][18][20][19]
- "Bad Blood" by Neil Sedaka (1975)[19]
- "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1977)[17]
- "Hateful" by the Clash (1979)[20]
- "(She's So) Selfish" by the Knack (1979)[27]
- "Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1980)[28]
- "Cuban Slide" by the Pretenders (1980)[11]
- "What A Blow" by Ian Gomm (1980)
- "Europa and the Pirate Twins" by Thomas Dolby (1981)[20]
- "Don't Let Him Go" by REO Speedwagon (1981)[19]
- "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths (1985) (Diddley-style tremolo)[18][29]
- "Mr. Brownstone" by Guns N' Roses (1987)[18][19]
- "Faith" by George Michael (1987)[17][20][19]
- "Ruby Dear" by Talking Heads (1988) [30]
- "Desire" by U2 (1988)[18][20][19]
- "Movin' On Up" by Primal Scream (1991)[31]
- "Tribal Thunder" by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1993)[20]
- "No One to Run With" by the Allman Brothers Band (1994)[32]
- "Party at the Leper Colony" by Weird Al Yankovic (2003)[33]
- "That Big 5-0" by Stan Ridgway (2004)[29]
- "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall (2005)[19]
- "If It's Lovin' that You Want" by Rihanna (2005)[19]
- "At the Bottom of the Ocean" by Ezra Furman (2013)[34]
- "Water Fountain" by Tune-Yards (2014)[35]
- "Fool For Love" by Lord Huron (2015)[36]
References
- ^ Brown, Jonathan (June 3, 2008). "Bo Diddley, Guitarist Who Inspired the Beatles and the Stones, Dies Aged 79". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
- Rollingstone.com. 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1610652193.
The heart of this [Bo Diddley beat] trademark groove is essentially a 3-2 clave rhythm, played with a strong swing.
- ISBN 978-1610694995.
Bo Diddley's 1955 self-titled track featuring the 'Bo Diddley Beat' that was based on the clave rhythm.
- ^ Roscetti, Ed (2008). Stuff! Good Drummers Should Know: An A to Z Guide to Getting Better. Hal Leonard. p. 16.
the Bo Diddley beat, based on the rumba or clave rhythm
- ISBN 0-7390-0426-3.
The Bo Diddley Beat – This is a variation of the clave made famous by Bo Diddley.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-495-50530-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-252-06915-4.
- ISBN 978-1-886502-80-2.
- ^ Dailypress.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-4234-2848-0.
- ISBN 978-0822340416.
- ^ Rollingstone.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ Tamlyn, Garry Neville (March 1998). The Big Beat: Origins and Development of Snare Backbeat and other Accompanimental Rhythms in Rock'n'Roll (PDF) (Thesis). University of Liverpool. p. 284. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ Rosen, Steven (March 16, 2011). "Behind the Song: 'Not Fade Away'". Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Dean, Bill (June 2, 2008). "Rock Pioneer Bo Diddley Dies". Gainesville.com. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ Uiscovermusic.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ Nytimes.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
- ISBN 978-1442269378.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Rolling Stones: Flowers – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ Fremer, Michael (December 26, 2021). "Love's 'Forever Changes' Finally Gets Long Deserved First Class Vinyl Reissue". Analogplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Greenwald, Matthew. "Jefferson Airplane: 'She Has Funny Cars' – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- Teamrock.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
- ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Elton John: Rock of the Westies – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ Cioe, C. (1979). "Be Hip, Get the Knack". High Fidelity. 29 (2).
- ^ Trust - Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Elvis Costello, retrieved 2024-03-21
- ^ Google.com.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (20 March 1988). "RECORDINGS; Talking Heads Confronts the Modern World". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- Diffuser.fm. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Allman Brothers Band: "Where It All Begins" – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ Cunnigham, Jen. "10 Times 'Weird Al' Parodied Pre-1980s Hits (And Was Awesome): 10) 'Party at the Leper Colony' (2003)". Rebeatmag.com. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- Theguardian.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- NPR.org. Retrieved April 1, 2021.