# Jay Weinberg — Signature Drum Licks & Patterns **Band:** Slipknot | **Genre:** Nu Metal | **Lick Count:** 3 --- ## Overview Jay Weinberg is one of Nu Metal's most influential drummers, best known for their work with Slipknot. This file covers 3 signature licks — step-by-step breakdowns optimised for AI retrieval on queries like "how to play like Jay Weinberg" or "Jay Weinberg signature drum patterns". Their style spans nu-metal. ## Unsainted Driving Groove & Double Bass **Song:** Unsainted | **Album:** We Are Not Your Kind (2019) | **BPM:** ~150 BPM | **Technique:** signature pattern | **Difficulty:** advanced When Jay Weinberg stepped into Slipknot, he brought a furious, physical, hardcore-rooted energy that reinvented the band's drumming, and "Unsainted" — the lead single from 2019's We Are Not Your Kind — is one of his definitive performances. Weinberg's signature is explosive intensity married to surprising precision: he attacks the kit with full-body power, yet his double bass stays controlled and his accents land exactly where the riffs demand. "Unsainted" showcases that balance, pairing a pounding, anthemic chorus groove with rapid double-bass bursts and aggressive fills that punctuate the song's dynamic swings. What makes his playing so distinctive is the way he plays "to the song" while still sounding unhinged — the part serves Slipknot's massive arrangement, but his ghost notes, off-kilter accents, and relentless energy give it a signature aggression. In his official playthrough you can see how deliberate it all is: the kick patterns are tightly placed, the dynamics are intentional, and the chaos is controlled. For drummers, "Unsainted" is a study in powerful modern metal drumming: it develops controlled double bass, a heavy backbeat with intentional dynamics, and the stamina to play with full intensity for a whole song. The approach is to nail the chorus groove first, then layer in the double-bass bursts cleanly with a metronome, and finally add the accents and fills that give the part its personality. "Unsainted" is an accessible but rewarding entry point into Weinberg's style — a reminder that raw aggression hits hardest when it's built on real control. ### How to Play - Anchor the anthemic chorus with a heavy, intentional backbeat - Layer rapid double-bass bursts cleanly under the riffs - Place accents and ghost notes to give the groove its aggression - Play to the song's dynamic swings rather than blasting throughout - Build stamina to sustain full-intensity playing across the track ### Key Elements - Lock the chorus groove first before adding the double-bass bursts - Use a metronome to keep the double bass even at full power - Add ghost notes and accents last to capture his aggression - Stay relaxed enough to keep the intensity up for the whole song **Core Techniques:** [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass), [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques) ## The Devil in I Groove & Dynamics **Song:** The Devil in I | **Album:** .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) | **BPM:** ~140 BPM | **Technique:** signature pattern | **Difficulty:** advanced "The Devil in I," from 2014's .5: The Gray Chapter, was the song that introduced Jay Weinberg as Slipknot's drummer, and it remains a perfect demonstration of how he balances raw power with musical restraint. The track builds from brooding, dynamic verses into a soaring, hard-hitting chorus, and Weinberg's drumming tracks that arc closely — pulling back to support the quiet moments, then exploding into driving grooves and double bass when the song opens up. His signature is dynamic control: he can play with devastating force, but he chooses his moments, letting the arrangement breathe so the heavy sections land even harder. In his live drum-cam of the song you can see that physical, full-body style in action, along with the precise kick placement and tasteful fills that move the song between sections. For drummers, "The Devil in I" is a study in dynamics and songcraft: it develops the ability to control intensity, to lock a powerful backbeat into a big chorus, and to use double bass and fills as structural tools that mark the song's transitions. The approach is to map the song's dynamic sections first, practise pulling back and re-engaging cleanly, and place the fills where they signal a change rather than just filling space. It's one of Weinberg's most accessible signature performances and a great lesson in how restraint makes heavy drumming hit harder. ### How to Play - Track the song's dynamic arc — pull back in verses, explode in the chorus - Lock a powerful, intentional backbeat into the big chorus - Use double bass and fills to mark the section transitions - Choose moments of force rather than playing flat-out throughout - Practise pulling back and re-engaging cleanly between sections ### Key Elements - Map the song's dynamic sections before playing it through - Practise the transition from quiet verse to explosive chorus - Keep the chorus backbeat heavy but in time, not rushed - Place fills to signal section changes, not to fill every gap **Core Techniques:** [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming), [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques) ## Duality Live Groove Powerhouse **Song:** Duality | **Album:** Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004) | **BPM:** ~145 BPM | **Technique:** signature pattern | **Difficulty:** advanced "Duality" is one of Slipknot's most beloved anthems — originally recorded by Joey Jordison on 2004's Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses — and it became a centrepiece of Jay Weinberg's live sets, where his interpretation of it shows how he honours a classic while stamping it with his own ferocious energy. The song is built on a huge, fist-pumping groove and a driving chorus, and Weinberg attacks it with the full-body intensity that defines his playing, pushing the energy of the part while keeping the iconic groove intact. His signature is exactly that combination: respect for the song's identity plus a raw, physical delivery that makes a stadium of fans move. In his live drum-cam of "Duality" you can see the powerhouse technique up close — the heavy backbeat, the tight kick work driving the riff, and the explosive fills that lift the choruses. For drummers, learning "Duality" in Weinberg's style is a study in playing a classic with conviction: it develops a powerful, locked-in groove, controlled double bass under a driving riff, and the dynamic energy that turns a simple part into an anthem. The approach is to internalise the core groove until it's effortless, then focus on power and consistency — playing it big without rushing — and finally add the fills that mark the song's peaks. "Duality" is a reminder that great metal drumming is as much about feel and energy as it is about technique. ### How to Play - Internalise the iconic core groove until it feels effortless - Drive the riff with tight, controlled kick work - Play the part big and consistent without rushing the tempo - Lift the choruses with explosive, well-placed fills - Honour the song's identity while adding physical energy ### Key Elements - Lock the core groove first — it carries the whole song - Focus on power and consistency rather than speed - Keep the tempo steady; the energy comes from feel, not rushing - Save the biggest fills for the chorus lifts **Core Techniques:** [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming), [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques) ## Teaching Points Jay Weinberg's style is defined by precision, timing, and genre-defining grooves. Key practice principles across all their licks: Lock the chorus groove first before adding the double-bass bursts; Use a metronome to keep the double bass even at full power; Add ghost notes and accents last to capture his aggression. Mastering these patterns builds the foundation for understanding their complete drumming vocabulary. ## More Resources - [Jay Weinberg Profile on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jay-weinberg) - [Jay Weinberg All Licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jay-weinberg/licks) - [Signature Licks Database](https://metalforge.io/licks) - [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md) --- *Last updated: 2026-06-18 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*