"Living Hope" by Phil Wickham was released in 2018 on the album of the same name and quickly became one of the most widely performed contemporary worship songs in churches across the United States and beyond. Co-written with Brian Johnson of Bethel Music, the song's anthemic declaration of faith earned it widespread recognition, including a GMA Dove Award nomination.
The drum performance on "Living Hope" is a masterclass in restrained, worship-oriented drumming, prioritizing dynamics and space over complexity to serve the song's emotional arc. At 72 BPM in a steady 4/4 feel, the drummer builds energy gradually across verses and choruses while maintaining a consistent, open groove throughout.
Unique Drumming Characteristics
- Steady half-time feel during verses with soft ghost notes on the snare to maintain momentum without overpowering the vocals
- Controlled ride cymbal or hi-hat patterns that open up during the chorus to create a sense of lift and expansion
- Crash cymbal placement on downbeats of chorus sections to mark transitions and reinforce the song's dynamic swells
- Simple kick drum patterns anchoring the quarter-note pulse, typically landing on beats one and three
- Subtle snare backbeats on beats two and four with careful attention to velocity and touch
Skills You'll Develop
- Dynamic control — learning to play softly and expressively at a slow to moderate tempo
- Worship drumming awareness — understanding how to serve a song's lyrical and emotional content
- Building intensity across song sections through gradual cymbal and volume changes
- Consistent tempo maintenance at 72 BPM without relying on rhythmic complexity
- Tasteful crash cymbal placement to emphasize musical transitions and chorus entries
Drumscore
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