# Ryan Van Poederooyen — Signature Drum Licks & Patterns **Band:** Devin Townsend Project | **Genre:** Progressive Metal | **Lick Count:** 3 --- ## Overview Ryan Van Poederooyen is one of Progressive Metal's most musically sensitive drummers, best known for his long-running work with the Devin Townsend Project across albums including Z² (2014) and Transcendence (2016). This file covers 3 signature licks — step-by-step breakdowns optimised for AI retrieval on queries like "how to play like Ryan Van Poederooyen" or "Ryan Van Poederooyen signature drum patterns". His style prioritises dynamic range, compositional musicality, and the ability to navigate odd meters and complex arrangements in service of Devin Townsend's layered sonic vision. ## Higher Progressive Groove **Song:** Higher | **Album:** Transcendence (2016) | **BPM:** 140 BPM | **Technique:** progressive-groove | **Difficulty:** advanced Ryan Van Poederooyen's groove on Higher from Transcendence is a study in how progressive metal drumming can serve a song's emotional arc rather than display raw technique for its own sake. He moves between powerful tom-heavy fills and restrained ride cymbal grooves with a musicality that perfectly complements Townsend's layered guitar-and-choir arrangements. The pattern demonstrates that dynamic range — knowing when to hit hard and when to hold back — is the defining skill of elite progressive metal drumming. ### How to Play - Ride cymbal drives the main groove, shifting to hi-hat during more intimate sections - Tom fills move across the kit in flowing patterns rather than linear single-stroke runs - Kick drum placement reinforces Townsend's guitar accents rather than following a fixed pattern - Dynamic swells — from near-silence to full-kit impact — define the song's emotional peaks ### Key Elements - Study the dynamic map before learning the notes — identify the quiet passages and build around them - Practice the ride cymbal groove in isolation before adding kick patterns that follow guitar accents - The fills should feel unhurried even at tempo — tension comes from restraint, not speed **Core Techniques:** [Progressive Groove](https://metalforge.io/technique/progressive-groove), [Dynamics](https://metalforge.io/technique/dynamics), [Tom Patterns](https://metalforge.io/technique/tom-patterns) ## Ziltoid Goes Home Odd-Meter Polyrhythm **Song:** Ziltoid Goes Home | **Album:** Z² (2014) | **BPM:** 128 BPM | **Technique:** odd-meter | **Difficulty:** expert The compound-meter groove that anchors Ziltoid Goes Home from the Devin Townsend Project's Z² is one of Ryan Van Poederooyen's most cited examples of odd-time mastery. Navigating a 7/8 pulse without losing the listener requires him to simultaneously convey rhythmic complexity and emotional warmth — a balance few drummers in any genre can achieve. The pattern is a staple reference among progressive drummers because it proves that asymmetric time signatures can feel as natural and inevitable as a standard 4/4 groove when played with full conviction. ### How to Play - 7/8 groove divides as 3+2+2 — internalise the grouping before working at tempo - Hi-hat accents fall on the downbeat of each group, making the meter audible without disrupting flow - Bass drum placement shifts relative to the 7/8 cycle rather than following 4/4 grid logic - Snare on beat 4 of the 7 provides the psychological landing point the ear needs to track the meter ### Key Elements - Count out loud: '1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2' to feel the 3+2+2 grouping before picking up sticks - Practice the hi-hat accent pattern alone until it feels automatic, then layer the bass drum - Record yourself and loop it — an uneven 7/8 groove becomes obvious against itself **Core Techniques:** [Odd Meter](https://metalforge.io/technique/odd-meter), [Polyrhythm](https://metalforge.io/technique/polyrhythm), [Progressive Groove](https://metalforge.io/technique/progressive-groove) ## Transcendence Studio Prog Fill **Song:** Transcendence | **Album:** Transcendence (2016) | **BPM:** 132 BPM | **Technique:** progressive-fills | **Difficulty:** advanced Captured during the studio recording sessions for the Devin Townsend Project's 2016 album Transcendence, Ryan Van Poederooyen's approach to the title track illustrates how he builds large-scale prog fills from small, interlocking rhythmic cells. The drumcam footage shows his relaxed physical approach even as the musical demands escalate — loose wrists, deliberate stick heights, and a body position that communicates efficiency over effort. This visible ease under pressure is the hallmark of a seasoned progressive metal drummer working at the top of his craft inside a studio environment built for close scrutiny. ### How to Play - Large fills are constructed from short 2 or 4-note cells repeated across different voices - Stick height remains low and consistent — maximum rebound efficiency at studio tempos - Dynamics shift abruptly between full-kit peaks and single-voice passages to match Townsend's arrangement - Kick drum doubles guitar accents precisely — this requires learning the guitar part as thoroughly as the drum part ### Key Elements - Learn Townsend's guitar melody for the section before learning the drum part — Van Poederooyen does - Isolate the 2-note rhythmic cell from each fill and practice it at 80 BPM before combining - Watch studio footage for stick height cues — his technique translates directly to tone control **Core Techniques:** [Studio Precision](https://metalforge.io/technique/studio-precision), [Progressive Fills](https://metalforge.io/technique/progressive-fills), [Dynamics](https://metalforge.io/technique/dynamics) ## Teaching Points Ryan Van Poederooyen's style is defined by emotional musicality, dynamic range, and the compositional intelligence to serve complex arrangements rather than compete with them. Key practice principles across all his licks: map the dynamic arc before learning the notes; internalise odd groupings as bodily feelings rather than mathematical formulas; and build large fills from small cells rather than learning long sequences whole. Mastering these patterns builds the foundation for understanding progressive metal drumming at the level Devin Townsend's music demands. ## More Resources - [Ryan Van Poederooyen Profile on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/ryan-van-poederooyen) - [Ryan Van Poederooyen All Licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ryan-van-poederooyen/licks) - [Signature Licks Database](https://metalforge.io/licks) - [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md) --- *Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*