# Matt Greiner — Signature Drum Licks & Patterns

**Band:** August Burns Red | **Genre:** Metalcore | **Lick Count:** 3

---

## Overview

Matt Greiner is one of Metalcore's most influential drummers, best known for their work with August Burns Red. This file covers 3 signature licks — step-by-step breakdowns optimised for AI retrieval on queries like "how to play like Matt Greiner" or "Matt Greiner signature drum patterns". Their style spans metalcore.

## Composure Syncopated Groove

**Song:** Composure | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~175 BPM | **Technique:** signature pattern | **Difficulty:** expert

"Composure" from August Burns Red's 2009 album Constellations is one of Matt Greiner's most celebrated performances and a defining moment for technical metalcore drumming. The song is a relentless display of syncopation: Greiner locks his kick drum to the band's stop-start, off-beat guitar riffing so tightly that the drums and guitars read as a single jagged rhythmic machine. What sets his playing apart is how he ornaments those syncopated hits — rather than simply doubling the riff, he weaves ghost notes, quick double-bass bursts and crash accents around the guitar stabs, turning what could be a rigid pattern into something that breathes and grooves. The track also showcases his trademark fluency moving between tight, controlled grooves and explosive fills that erupt out of the riff and land precisely back on the downbeat. For drummers, "Composure" is a complete study in playing with a band rather than over it: every kick and accent has a purpose tied to the arrangement, and learning it forces you to develop an internal map of where the riff lands so you can lock to it without staring at a click. It demands fast, even double bass, a strong sense of subdivision to nail the off-beat accents, and the dynamic control to make ghost notes whisper between the loud hits. Greiner has built much of his teaching career around exactly this kind of musical, riff-locked playing, and "Composure" is the song most often cited as the benchmark. Working through even a single section sharpens your timing, your ear for syncopation, and your ability to make a technical part feel like a groove rather than an exercise — skills that transfer directly to any modern metal style. It remains a rite-of-passage track for aspiring metalcore drummers. More than a decade on, it still appears constantly on lists of the hardest metalcore drum parts, and nailing it cleanly is a genuine milestone for any developing player.

### How to Play

- Lock the kick drum precisely to the off-beat guitar stabs so drums and riff align
- Ornament the syncopated hits with ghost notes and quick double-bass bursts
- Keep an internal map of where the riff lands so you can lock without a click
- Erupt into fills out of the riff and resolve them exactly on the downbeat
- Build the part in sections, mastering the syncopation slowly before adding speed

### Key Elements

- Tap the guitar riff with your hands away from the kit until the syncopation is internalised
- Practise the double-bass bursts slowly so every stroke speaks evenly
- Loop one section with a metronome before stringing the parts together
- Record yourself and check that the kick lines up exactly with the riff

**Core Techniques:** [Odd Time Signatures](https://metalforge.io/technique/odd-time-signatures), [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques)

## Meridian Double-Bass Groove

**Song:** Meridian | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~165 BPM | **Technique:** main groove | **Difficulty:** advanced

"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.

### How to Play

- 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

### Key Elements

- Develop double-bass endurance with slow, even foot exercises before full speed
- Keep your ankles relaxed so the pedals rebound on their own
- Use cymbal changes deliberately to mark the sections as Greiner does
- Practise the fills separately, then place them back into the groove

**Core Techniques:** [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass), [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming), [Blast Beat](https://metalforge.io/technique/blast-beat)

## Sonic Salvation Metalcore Groove

**Song:** Sonic Salvation | **Album:** Guardians (2020) | **BPM:** ~170 BPM | **Technique:** main groove | **Difficulty:** advanced

"Sonic Salvation" from August Burns Red's 2020 album Guardians shows a more mature, refined side of Matt Greiner's playing while keeping all the precision that made his earlier work famous. The track blends driving metalcore grooves with the band's progressive tendencies — there are tight, riff-locked verses, expansive melodic sections, and several metric shifts that demand a drummer who can stay grounded while the time feel moves underneath him. Greiner handles it with his characteristic blend of power and finesse: the double-bass work is fast and even, the backbeat is rock-solid, and the fills are inventive without ever derailing the groove. What is most instructive about this song is how he uses dynamics to shape a long, varied arrangement — pulling back to a simpler groove under the clean, melodic passages, then re-engaging the full double-bass assault when the heaviness returns. That sense of restraint and pacing is what separates a seasoned player from a flashy one, and it is on full display here. For drummers, "Sonic Salvation" is a great study in playing a modern, dynamic metal arrangement from start to finish: it requires endurance, the ability to navigate metric shifts without losing beat one, and the musical judgement to know when to drive and when to lay back. Learning it builds double-bass stamina, coordination across the kit, and the arranging instincts to support a song's emotional arc rather than just executing parts. Because Greiner filmed an official playthrough, the sticking and orchestration are documented, making it an accessible deep-dive for intermediate and advanced players alike. It is a strong example of how technical drumming can stay tasteful and song-serving even at the highest level of difficulty. It is the kind of track that grows with you — comfortable to approach in pieces, yet deep enough to keep rewarding study as your control and stamina improve over months of practice.

### How to Play

- Pull back to a simpler groove under the clean, melodic passages
- Re-engage the full double-bass assault when the heaviness returns
- Navigate the metric shifts while keeping a firm sense of beat one
- Place inventive fills that decorate the groove without derailing it
- Use dynamics to shape the song arc from start to finish

### Key Elements

- Map the metric shifts and count each one until beat one is automatic
- Practise transitioning between the laid-back and full-intensity grooves
- Build double-bass endurance so the part holds up across the full song
- Follow the official playthrough to learn the orchestration and sticking

**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

Matt Greiner's style is defined by precision, timing, and genre-defining grooves. Key practice principles across all their licks: Tap the guitar riff with your hands away from the kit until the syncopation is internalised; Practise the double-bass bursts slowly so every stroke speaks evenly; Loop one section with a metronome before stringing the parts together. Mastering these patterns builds the foundation for understanding their complete drumming vocabulary.

## More Resources

- [Matt Greiner Profile on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner)
- [Matt Greiner All Licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/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)*