- Overview
- Exercise 1 – The first loop (of three)
- Exercise 2 – The second repeat
- Exercise 3 – Combine 1 and 2
- Exercise 4 – The third repeat
- Exercise 5 – 1, 2 and 3
- Exercise 6 – Rock beat outro
- Exercise 7 – Half-time rock beat
- Exercise 8 – Both rock beats
- Exercise 9 – Everything in this lesson
- In closing
Overview
This lesson covers the remaining parts of the outro to Nocturne – everything after the hi-hat and ride sections.
So, what is actually happening in this first section?
The right hand is keeping a consistent dotted quarter note count on the crash cymbal. The kick drum and snare pattern loops after six bars (five bars of 4/4 and one of 2/4) – this pattern is the same as we’ve just played in the first part of the outro. The right-hand crash cymbal pattern, however, doesn’t start again with each of the three loops. Instead, it carries over from the previous bar – in the same way, that the stack in the intro groove carries over.
Lesson Progress
Exercise 1 – The first loop (of three)
The most difficult part of this section is grasping where to start the cymbal count. The consistent count begins on the last eighth note in the first bar, and then continues a dotted-quarter note count all the way through to the end of the third loop.

Loop exercise
Exercise 2 – The second repeat
Looking at the second set of six bars, the crash cymbal pattern carries over here from the first six bars, starting on the second beat in the bar.

Loop exercise
Exercise 3 – Combine 1 and 2
Exercise 4 – The third repeat
This repeat feels the most natural to perform as the crash cymbal aligns on the beat with the kick and snare.

Loop exercise
Exercise 5 – 1, 2 and 3
Now we’re going to piece together sections 1, 2 and 3 into one loop exercise.
Exercise 6 – Rock beat outro
At this stage, I feel like the difficult parts are done – so all that’s left is to rock out.

Loop exercise
Exercise 7 – Half-time rock beat
Now we’re going to drop down into a heavy rock beat to end the song. The snare accent is going to land on the ‘3’ and we’re going to keep the right hand crashing on the china.

Loop exercise
Exercise 8 – Both rock beats
Now, we’ll combine the two rock beats from this end section into one exercise.
Exercise 9 – Everything in this lesson
The challenge – play through everything from this lesson! All three variations of the cymbal groove, then both rock beats.
In closing
First of all, huge congratulations for working through this course – Nocturne is a very difficult song to perform on the drums.
The fun doesn’t stop here – I’d love to see your performance videos once you’ve pieced together the song from the lessons in this course. Remember to tag #JayPostones and #JayPostones-DrumLessons in any videos you post – I’ll be sure to check them out!
I also welcome any and all feedback on this course. Please drop an email to drum@jaypostones-drumlessons.com