A gallop is a beat or rhythm typically used in

traditional heavy metal Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a Music genre, genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, heavy metal band ...

songs. It is created by playing an

eighth note 180px, Figure 1. An eighth note with stem extending up, an eighth note with stem extending down, and an eighth rest. 180px, Figure 2. Four eighth notes beamed together. An eighth note ( American) or a quaver ( British) is a musical note pla ...

followed by two sixteenth notes (), usually on rhythm guitar, drums, or bass. One technique on guitar involves strumming palm muted

power chord A power chord , also called a fifth chord, is a colloquial name for a chord on guitar, especially on electric guitar, that consists of the root note and the fifth, as well as possibly octaves of those notes. Power chords are commonly pla ...

s in an up-and-down motion with a pick, thereby creating an

ostinato In music, an ostinato (; derived from the Italian word for ''stubborn'', compare English ''obstinate'') is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. Well-known ostinato-based pieces inc ...

. Variations include the triplet gallop and the reverse gallop. On drums, the technique often uses a double kick pedal. A typical drum gallop is formed around this skeleton: H- x---x---x---x---, S- ----o-------o---, B- o-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo,

Examples of early or "proto" gallops

Several early examples are variations on the pattern that do not strictly use the "eighth note followed by two sixteenth notes", but nonetheless have been identified as gallops. *"Hard Lovin' Man"

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

('' Deep Purple in Rock'', 1970) *" Immigrant Song"

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

('' Led Zeppelin III'', 1970) *" Children of the Grave"

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

('' Master of Reality'', 1971) *" Highway Star"

(''

Machine Head A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses, and others, and ...

'', 1972) *" Keep Yourself Alive"

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

(''

'', 1973)

Examples of songs using the gallop

*" Great King Rat"

(''

'', 1973) *" Achilles Last Stand"

('' Presence'', 1976) *"

Barracuda A barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned, saltwater fish of the genus ''Sphyraena'', the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, which was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldw ...

Heart The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrie ...

('' Little Queen'', 1977) *" Exciter"

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest have also been referred to as one of the p ...

('' Stained Class'', 1978) *"Stained Class"

('' Stained Class'', 1978) *"Air Dance"

('' Never Say Die!'', 1978) *"The Oath"

Kiss A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...

('' Music from "The Elder"'', 1981) *"Killers"

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

('' Killers'', 1981) *" Run to the Hills"

('' The Number of the Beast'', 1982) *"The Four Horsemen"

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

('' Kill 'Em All'', 1983) *"Motorbreath"

('' Kill 'Em All'', 1983) *"

Holy Diver ''Holy Diver'' is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Dio, released in 1983. The album was acclaimed by the music press and is the band's most successful album. History Released on May 25, 1983, the album has been hailed ...

" Dio (''

'', 1983) *"Exciter"

(''

Lick It Up ''Lick It Up'' is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Kiss (band), Kiss. Before its 1983 release, the band members appeared on MTV without their trademark make-up. It was the first public appearance without make-up by the band, and ...

'', 1983) *"Fight Fire with Fire"

(''

Ride the Lightning ''Ride the Lightning'' is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Metallica, released on July 27, 1984, by the independent record label Megaforce Records. The album was recorded in three weeks with producer Flemming Rasmusse ...

)'', 1984) *" Disposable Heroes"

(''

Master of Puppets ''Master of Puppets'' is the third studio album by the American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986, by Elektra Records. Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Sweet Silence Studios with producer Flemming Rasmu ...

'', 1986) *"Damage, Inc."

(''

'', 1986) *" Raining Blood"

Slayer Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...

('' Reign in Blood'', 1986) *"Over the Wall"

Testament A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller no ...

('' The Legacy'', 1987) *"Headless Cross"

('' Headless Cross'', 1989)

References

Citations Sources * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Drum beats Drum patterns Guitar performance techniques