"Tomorrow Never Knows"
For a drummer often praised (and ridiculed) for his restraint, Ringo Starr demonstrates remarkable command and technical prowess in the drum part of “Tomorrow Never Knows,” earning his reputation as the Beatles’ “human metronome.” The beat is built on an inherent rhythmic symmetry, with the first and second halves of the measure mirroring each other. Both beats 1 and 3 begin with a bass drum strike, followed by two sixteenth notes placed on the “and” and “a” of the beat. The difference lies in the which element of the drum kit is hit: on beat 1, the figure is played on the ride cymbal and open hi-hat, while on beat 3 it is transferred to the high tom. This use of the tom recalls Starr’s part in “Ticket to Ride,” where he similarly accents the texture with a flam on the “and” of beat 4.
The bass drum pattern itself reflects Ringo’s roots in early rock and roll. It outlines the strong beats of 1 and 3, while adding an eighth-note pickup on the “and” of 2, a gesture that locks tightly with McCartney’s bass groove. The snare enters squarely on beat 2, but beat 4 is left unarticulated, preventing the groove from falling into a conventional backbeat. This absence, combined with the symmetrical layering of toms and cymbals, gives the rhythm its hypnotic quality.
The true complexity of the beat, however, emerges in the cymbal rhythms. By offsetting accents and alternating timbres between hi-hat, ride, and tom, Starr creates a constantly shifting surface above the steady foundation of the kick. Yet for all its intricacy, the pattern is unwaveringly consistent. Starr repeats this beat across the entire song, providing a stable rhythmic current that anchors the swirling loops and electronic manipulations in the mix.