Description
Notes From John
BPM = 111. Nice drum part with lots of funky syncopations. Bars 85 and 86 seem strange, but it’s really a feel thing — listen to the record.
For the player
Tom Scholz tape-spliced the drum tracks bar by bar on the Third Stage cut — analog-machine construction adapted to a live kit — ride each gear change. Play what’s written; leave the funk syncopations alone. Open hats are marked — bark the opens where John wrote the circle. Intro hits cold; Verse 1 at 0:17 (“Well, I like…”); Chorus at 0:35 (“Cool the engines…”). Re-Intro at 0:56. Verse 2 at 1:05 (“Take me for…”); Chorus at 1:22. Bridge Intro at 1:48; Bridge at 2:05 (“Goin’ over the…”). Solo at 2:43 (“Cool the engines…”). Interlude at 3:13; Outro at 3:21 (“And now, we’re…”). Around bars 85–86 the chart tips into odd meters (9/16 / 17/16 back to 4/4) — John’s right: listen first, don’t chase the math. Accents, flams, and opens stay as written. Listen first; at BPM = 111 the job is the feel.
Drum Sheet Music for “Cool the Engines” by Boston
