# How to Sound Like Charlie Benante — Anthrax Drum Sound Guide

**Drummer:** Charlie Benante  
**Band:** Anthrax  
**Genre:** Thrash Metal  
**Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-charlie-benante

## Overview

Charlie Benante (born November 27, 1962, Bronx, New York) is the rhythmic engine behind Anthrax and one of the Big 4's most musically sophisticated thrash drummers. Since forming Anthrax's classic lineup in 1983, Benante co-authored some of the genre's most recognizable rhythmic vocabulary — his open hi-hat thrash drive, syncopated kick patterns, and polyrhythmic fills became foundational techniques that generations of metal drummers absorbed and built upon.

What makes Benante distinctive among thrash's founding figures is his insistence on groove alongside speed. While contemporaries like Dave Lombardo favored relentless intensity and Lars Ulrich prioritized locked propulsion, Benante brought syncopation and mid-tempo authority to his thrash playing — absorbing influences from funk, classic rock, and jazz and filtering them through 200 BPM aggression. Among the Living (1987) remains the essential record: every track offers a masterclass in making thrash feel alive rather than merely fast.

## Kit Setup

Charlie plays **Pearl Reference Pure** drums — all-maple shells with warm attack and strong projection:

- **Kick Drums:** 22" x 18" (x2, independent) with Pearl Eliminator Redline Double Pedal
- **Snare:** 14" x 5" Pearl Free-Floating Steel
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
- **Floor Toms:** 16" x 16", 18" x 16"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX / HHX Series — bright, projecting, fast attack
- **Pedals:** Pearl Eliminator Redline Double Pedal (interchangeable cam system)
- **Sticks:** Ahead Charlie Benante Signature (5B equivalent, aluminum core)
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear (kick), Remo Ambassador Coated (snare), Remo Emperor Clear (toms)

## Tuning & Setup

Benante tunes for attack, projection, and controlled sustain — thrash needs drums that speak immediately and cut through dense guitar:

- **Kick:** Medium-low tension with light internal muffling (small pillow or foam touching batter lightly). Defined thump with audible attack transient — the kick must lock with guitar riff accents, so the attack edge must be distinct and clear.
- **Snare:** Medium-high tension on batter, medium on resonant. The Free-Floating Steel delivers a sharp, cutting crack at this tension. Thin tape strip at edge for recording; one Moongel or nothing for live. Too loose and the steel loses control; too tight and it loses body.
- **Toms:** Medium tension, Remo Emperor Clear. Musical sustain with strong attack — not dead, over-muffled drums. One small Moongel per tom if needed for recording, positioned at the edge not the center.

## Technique Tips

Benante plays **matched grip** with an upright, wrist-driven technique. His defining qualities are controlled aggression and rhythmic intelligence — the ability to play thrash at 200 BPM while maintaining syncopated patterns that serve the song.

**Signature patterns:**

- **Open Hi-Hat Thrash Drive (180–220 BPM, Intermediate):** Hi-hat opens slightly on every eighth-note upbeat (the "ands") while snare plays 2 and 4. The opening degree is consistent — not fully open, not closed. This creates a churning, breathing quality that gives Anthrax's thrash a musical quality distinct from a tight closed hi-hat approach. Start at 120 BPM and build consistency before chasing tempo.
- **Kick-Guitar Riff Lock (160–200 BPM, Intermediate):** Benante places kick hits on positions that mirror the guitar riff's rhythmic accent points. Learn the riff first, map its accent points, then build a kick pattern around them. The result is a kick that sounds like it belongs to the guitar part — the defining element of Anthrax's groove-within-thrash approach.
- **Polyrhythmic Tom Fills (Variable, Advanced):** Groups of 3 strokes over a 4/4 pulse create a 3-against-4 polyrhythm that displaces the accent across bar lines before resolving on the one. Practice groupings of 3 on a single tom at 80 BPM before extending across the full setup. The controlled resolution is what makes the fill dramatic rather than merely chaotic.
- **Mid-Tempo Power Groove (120–155 BPM, Beginner-Intermediate):** Deliberate, physically committed playing at slower tempos. Each kick hit should feel authoritative rather than metronomic. Record and listen — the groove should feel physical on playback. This is where Benante's funk and classic rock influences surface most clearly.

**Key songs to study:** *Among the Living* (Among the Living, 1987) · *Caught in a Mosh* (Among the Living, 1987) · *I Am The Law* (Among the Living, 1987) · *Indians* (Among the Living, 1987) · *Got the Time* (Persistence of Time, 1990)

## Gear Shopping List

| Item | Benante's Spec | Budget Alternative |
|------|---------------|-------------------|
| Drum Kit | Pearl Reference Pure | Pearl Export Series (~$550) |
| Snare | Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14" x 5" | Ludwig Acrolite or Pearl Sensitone Steel |
| Cymbals | Sabian AAX Stage Series | Sabian SBR or B8X Pack (~$200) |
| Pedal | Pearl Eliminator Redline Double | Pearl P-2002C Eliminator (~$200) |
| Sticks | Ahead Charlie Benante Signature | Vic Firth 5B or Promark 5B |
| Kick Head | Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear | Evans EMAD2 Clear |

**Starter budget path (~$1,100):** Pearl Export + Sabian B8X Pack + Pearl Eliminator Double. See [/brands/pearl](https://metalforge.io/brands/pearl) and [/brands/sabian](https://metalforge.io/brands/sabian).

## Practice Routine

1. **Open Hi-Hat Consistency Drill (15 min daily):** Play basic thrash groove at 120 BPM, opening the hi-hat on every upbeat to a consistent degree. Record and verify that every upbeat opens the same amount. Increase 10 BPM/week. Goal: consistent open hi-hat drive at 200+ BPM.
2. **Kick-Guitar Lock Study (20 min, 3x/week):** Learn one Anthrax riff from Among the Living. Map the riff's accent points, then build a kick pattern around them. Compare your recording against the original. Goal: kick placement that mirrors the guitar riff's rhythmic logic at 170-200 BPM.
3. **Polyrhythm Builder (10 min daily):** Groups of 3 strokes on a single tom over a 4/4 pulse at 80 BPM. Accent the first stroke of each group. Increase to two toms once the single-tom pattern is consistent. Goal: controlled 3-against-4 displacement that resolves cleanly to beat 1.

**Common mistakes:** Hi-hat opening degree varies (it should be constant); kick pattern is independent of the guitar riff (it should follow the riff); rushing polyrhythmic fills (they should resolve deliberately on the one); over-muffling the kit (thrash needs controlled sustain, not dead drums).

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit does Charlie Benante use?**  
A: Charlie Benante plays Pearl Reference Pure drums with an all-maple shell configuration. He has been a Pearl endorser for decades. His setup uses dual 22" bass drums (independent, not a double pedal) and a two-up, two-down tom configuration for his polyrhythmic fills.

**Q: What is Charlie Benante's signature drumming technique?**  
A: His most recognizable technique is the open hi-hat thrash drive — the hi-hat opens slightly on every eighth-note upbeat while the snare plays on 2 and 4. Paired with syncopated kick patterns that follow guitar riff accent points, this creates a churning, musical quality that distinguishes Anthrax's thrash from purely speed-driven approaches.

**Q: What cymbals does Charlie Benante use?**  
A: Benante plays Sabian cymbals, primarily the AAX and HHX series. His live setup includes 14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, AAX Stage Crashes, an AAX Chinese, and an AAX Metal Ride. The AAX series' brightness and fast attack suit his open hi-hat patterns at 200 BPM.

**Q: Does Charlie Benante use double bass?**  
A: Yes. Benante uses dual 22" bass drums (independent kick drums) with Pearl Eliminator Redline double pedals. Two independent kicks eliminate slave-pedal response lag and provide complete foot independence for his syncopated kick accent technique.

**Q: What are the best songs to learn Charlie Benante's style?**  
A: Start with "Among the Living" and "Caught in a Mosh" from Among the Living (1987) — both showcase the open hi-hat drive and kick-guitar lock in clear contexts. "I Am The Law" demonstrates the kick-guitar riff-lock technique, while "Indians" shows his mid-tempo range. "Got the Time" from Persistence of Time (1990) demonstrates dynamic control and polyrhythmic fills.

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**Full interactive guide:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-charlie-benante](https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-charlie-benante)  
**Drummer profile:** [https://metalforge.io/drummer/charlie-benante](https://metalforge.io/drummer/charlie-benante)  
**Licks & patterns:** [https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante/licks)  
**Related guides:** [Dave Lombardo](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-dave-lombardo.md) · [Lars Ulrich](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-lars-ulrich.md) · [Nick Menza](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-nick-menza.md)

*Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io) · Last updated: 2026-06-24*