Meridian Double-Bass Groove — Matt Greiner (August Burns Red) Drum Lick | MetalForge
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Learn the Meridian Double-Bass Groove drum lick by Matt Greiner of August Burns Red. From Meridian (Constellations (2009)). "Meridian" opens August Burns Red's 2009 album Constellations and immediately establishes Matt Grein...
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1. Matt Greiner's Signature Licks — "Meridian" opens August Burns Red's 2009 album Constellations and immediately establishes Matt Greiner as one of metalcore's most musical heavy hitters. The song is built on driving double-bass grooves that power the verses, punctuated by the kind of crisp, articulate fills that became Greiner's signature. What makes his double bass so effective here is its evenness and its relationship to the riff: rather than a constant wall of kick, he uses bursts and sustained runs that lock to the guitar rhythm and lift each section, leaving space for the band's melodic passages to breathe. The track also highlights his command of orchestration around the kit — the way he moves a groove between the hi-hat, ride and crash-bell to mark the changing sections of the song, keeping a long arrangement feeling dynamic and purposeful. For drummers, "Meridian" is an ideal double-bass and groove study because the patterns are demanding but logical: the feet carry the energy while the hands hold a strong, consistent backbeat and decorate the transitions with tasteful fills. Learning it develops foot endurance, the ability to keep double bass even at tempo, and the discipline to play for the song rather than over it. It is also a great lesson in dynamics and sectioning — Greiner constantly signals where the music is going with his cymbal choices and fill placement, so studying the part trains your arranging instincts as much as your hands and feet. Approached patiently, building the double-bass figures up from a slow, even base, it rewards you with a versatile vocabulary of metalcore grooves and the stamina to play them through a full song. It is a cornerstone track for anyone wanting to play in the modern metalcore style with feel and control. Spend time with it and your foot endurance and your instinct for when to drive and when to leave space will both improve noticeably.2. Matt Greiner Profile — Drive the verses with even, controlled double-bass bursts locked to the riff Hold a strong, consistent backbeat with the hands while the feet carry the energy Move the groove between hi-hat, ride and crash-bell to mark each section Decorate the transitions with crisp, articulate fills that serve the song Build the double-bass figures up from a slow, even base to develop stamina
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