Why John Bonham Needs to Be on Your Drumming Radar

Bonham’s Influence on Me as a Drummer

John Bonham was incredibly influential to me very early on in my journey of learning the drums.

I spent countless hours listening to his unique style of triplet combinations, especially those signature hand and foot triplets—playing them over and over to incorporate them into my own drumming style. And then there’s his half-time shuffle groove on “Fool In the Rain.” It is absolute legend, and it is a similar variation of the Purdie Shuffle with Bonham’s own style to it .

Here is an isolated drum track of “Fool In The Rain” to check out. Listen to his incredible pocket, his ghost notes, and this shuffle that many have incorporated into their style of playing.

But why does a drummer from the 1970s matter so much for your playing today? Let’s break down what made John Bonham an such an influential drummer, and how you can apply his mindset to your own practice sessions.

A Foundation Built on Jazz and Soul

Bonham was a musician in the truest sense—a self-taught artist who blended jazz swing, soul groove, and rock power into a unique and powerful formula.

Early on, he learned his craft by listening to records of jazz giants like Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, and Max Roach. He reproduced their intricate rhythms entirely by ear, absorbing the swing of the jazz big bands just as much as the heavy, driving grooves of soul and funk.

This unique blend of influences is exactly what gave his heavy rock drumming that undeniable, infectious swing. He wasn’t just bashing; he was bringing the dynamics and groove of jazz into a high-decibel rock arena.

John Bonham’s Drum Setup

John “Bonzo” Bonham’s setup remained remarkably stable throughout his career, and he mainly played Ludwig for the entire duration of his career. While the finishes on his kits changed, the basic configuration stayed the same—a setup directly inspired by his idol, Buddy Rich.

The Drums: He relied on massively oversized Ludwig drums. His setup featured a colossal 26″ x 14″ bass drum (with 10 lugs), which was completely responsible for that deep, massive kick. He paired this with a 14″ x 10″ mounted tom (later replaced by a 15″ x 12″ between 1977 and 1979) and two floor toms: a 16″ x 16″ and an 18″ x 16″, which added an uncommon, thunderous low-end depth to his fills.

The Snares: He played a 14″ x 6.5″ Ludwig Supraphonic LM402, which is widely considered the most recorded snare drum in history.

Hardware: Everything was mounted on heavy-duty Ludwig Atlas stands. For his legendary kick foot, he used the Ludwig Speed King bass drum pedal, a direct-drive model without a chain that required a very specific technique to master.

Cymbals: Bonham was fiercely loyal to Paiste. His setup included 15″ Paiste 2002 Sound Edge hi-hats, 18″ and 20″ Paiste 2002 crashes, and a massive 24″ Paiste 2002 ride cymbal.

The Signature Sound: You can’t talk about Bonham without mentioning his massive, room-shaking tone. One of the coolest facts about his signature bass sound is how it was captured on the song “When the Levee Breaks.” The drums were placed at the bottom of a three-story stairwell at Headley Grange (a rehearsal and recording retreat for Led Zeppelin between 1970 and 1975), with microphones hung several flights up to capture that booming, cavernous echo.

Studying the Techniques That Made Bonham So Unique

Bonham is known for his thunderous power, but his real genius was is in his finesse. His most defining technical traits were his heavy right foot and his seamless hand-to-foot combinations.

Because he grew up listening to jazz, he never played rock with a stiff, rigid feel. He played slightly behind the beat, which gave Zeppelin tracks their massive, swaggering weight. Furthermore, he famously utilized a quick single-pedal technique on that Speed King that sounded like a double kick.

His mastery of triplets, specifically alternating seamlessly between his hands and his kick drum—allowed him to create rolling fills that sounded like several drummers playing at once.

How to Practice Like Bonham

If you want to create some of this legendary Bonham magic into your own playing, here is what you can focus on:

• Master the Hand-Foot Triplet: Start slowly. Play two notes on the hands (Right-Left) followed by one note on the kick drum (R-L-K). Practice this as a continuous triplet groove around the toms. It builds incredible foot speed, balance, and independence, and is the foundation for some of his most famous fills.
• Find the Pocket in the Heavy Hits: Bonham didn’t just play loud; he played with a deep groove. Take a heavy rock beat and practice playing it with a slight swing. Focus on locking in with the bass line and playing slightly behind the click, rather than just mechanically keeping time.
• Tackle the Half-Time Shuffle: If you want a real challenge, put on “Fool In the Rain.” Practice the half-time shuffle, focusing heavily on executing the ghost notes on the snare drum while keeping the hi-hat pattern swinging smoothly.
• Open Up Your Bass Drum: Bonham famously tuned his drums high and used absolutely no muffling inside his kick drum. Take the pillows out of your bass drum, tune the resonant head slightly higher than the batter head, and learn to control that massive boom purely with your pedal technique.

John Bonham became a legend by mastering his instrument so thoroughly that he essentially wrote the rulebook for modern rock drumming. Start working on your foot speed, dig deep into the pocket, and push your boundaries to find your own powerful voice.

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