"All My Loving"
Ringo’s drumming on “All My Loving” perfectly locks into the triplet swing feel established by John’s rhythm guitar, reinforcing the song’s buoyant and driving momentum. His groove is a hybrid of the Merseybeat patterns heard in earlier Beatles tracks like “Boys” and “I Saw Her Standing There,” combining straightforward rock energy with subtle rhythmic nuance.
On the hi-hat, Ringo plays steady swung eighth notes, maintaining a consistent pulse that divides each beat into a “long-short” pattern. This creates a rolling feel that complements the triplet subdivision of the guitar, giving the track its signature loping feel.. The kick drum emphasizes the downbeat by landing firmly on beat 1 of every other measure, establishing a clear sense of phrasing and marking the start of each two-bar cycle.
The snare drum outlines the classic backbeat with hits on beats 2 and 4, but adds extra interest by inserting an additional snare hit on the “and” of 2. This slight syncopation injects subtle rhythmic tension, complementing the swinging triplets on guitar while keeping the groove solid and danceable.
Ringo also uses tasteful fills to highlight transitions and keep the performance dynamic. At measure 8, a triplet snare fill echoes the guitar’s strumming pattern, creating a tight rhythmic interplay between drums and strings. This fill reappears at measure 16, signaling the end of the section and setting up the next.
At the beginning of the C Section (measure 17), the groove shifts noticeably: the kick drum drops out completely, while the snare hits on every beat, recalling the driving, snare-heavy pattern heard in “I Saw Her Standing There.” This shift adds contrast and builds energy before settling back into the main groove.