Music

Learn a New Musical Instrument

Start a Band

Unlock Musical Creativity & Expression

Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration

Ringo Starr

Ringo tells the origin story of his entry into the world of drumming, and shares insights that will help you find your own creative voice.

1. Meet Your Instructor

Meet Your Instructor

Listening to a wide variety of music as a youth helped inform Ringo’s sound and direction, as did playing in many different bands. He advises you to listen widely and play as much as possible. You’ll also get his take on rock’s evolution.

2. Have You Heard This? Ringo’s Early Days

Have You Heard This? Ringo’s Early Days

From his time in The Beatles and beyond, Ringo talks about using drums to frame and elevate other musicians and singers. He also emphasizes the special energy of the first take, and trusting your first, if imperfect, approach to songs and fills.

3. Playing in Bands

Playing in Bands

Ringo explains the roles of the kit’s different drums and cymbals, emphasizing being creative with the drums you have, rather than building a giant kit. He also introduces members to other percussion instruments, like tambourine and cowbell.

4. You Don’t Need a Lot: Drum Kit Essentials

You Don’t Need a Lot: Drum Kit Essentials

Through anecdotes, Ringo shares how he found his own sound and modified his kit with tea towels to get just the right feel, encouraging you to trust your ear and never be afraid to customize your kit or your approach.

5. Making the Kit Your Own

Making the Kit Your Own

For new and seasoned drummers alike, this lesson lays out technique-oriented suggestions, such as how to sit, different footwork patterns, effectively using and quieting cymbals, and ways to approach rhythm.

6. Navigating Your Kit: Tips and Technique

Navigating Your Kit: Tips and Technique

Ringo talks about the elusive quality of “feel” in drumming—the sense of personal rhythm and style that comes from absorbing the music as you play. To achieve it, he advises members to let the body lead, hit rhythms on the backbeat, and more.

7. Playing With Feel

Playing With Feel

Discussing his songwriting contributions as a Beatle and in solo work, Ringo cites the lyrical origin of “Octopus’s Garden,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” and other songs. You’ll learn about songwriting, from concept or phrase to fully realized song.

8. Turning Life Into Lyrics

Turning Life Into Lyrics

In this lesson, Ringo lays out his philosophy of performing, of loving and appreciating the audience and gathering energy from them. He also talks about stage fright, which he still deals with, and advises you on how to ground yourself..

9. Connecting With Your Audience

Connecting With Your Audience

Legendary drummers Jim Keltner and Gregg Bissonette join Ringo and share how Ringo’s early career influenced theirs. The three demonstrate their different styles, showcasing different paths open to members pursuing the profession.

10. Different Strokes: Drum Demo With Jim Keltner and Gregg Bissonette

Different Strokes: Drum Demo With Jim Keltner and Gregg Bissonette

Here Ringo talks about creative pursuits outside of drumming—particularly painting—and how they help him see the world with fresh eyes. He also discusses giving back through charitable work, and the peace-and-love philosophy that guides him.

11. Expanding Your Horizons

Expanding Your Horizons

Let’s rock! Ringo treats you to a jam session with six of the finest musicians working today: Jim Cox, keyboard; Nathan East, bass; Joe Walsh, guitar; Steve Lukather, guitar; Gregg Bissonette, drums; and Jim Keltner, drums.

12. An All-Starr Jam

An All-Starr Jam

Ringo Starr Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration

Enjoy 7 days free

The promo may be over, but your opportunity isn't. Dive into the full experience, worry-free, with our 7-day money-back guarantee.

The offer has ended

Amount charged now

Your 7-day free trial starts today

Celebrating 10 years of MasterClass by giving one member the chance to jump-start their writing career.

We're celebrating 10 years of MasterClass by giving one member a chance at a life-changing experience.

Watch her class, and you and a guest will have a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Esther's relationship retreat in Paros, Greece.

From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Times

Wirecutter

Reviewed - USA Today

Teaches Film Scoring

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Teaches Music and Connection

Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Teaches the Voice as an Instrument

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey Teaches the Voice as an Instrument

Teaches Singing

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Questlove

Questlove Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Timbaland

Timbaland Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches Philosophy

Cornel West

Cornel West Teaches Philosophy

Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

Nas Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Elevate Your Singing and Stage Presence

A Documentary by Bess Kargman

Diane Warren: Relentless

Teaches Songwriting

John Legend

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches Filmmaking

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Country Music

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

Teaches ʻUkulele

Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro Teaches ʻUkulele

Teaches Violin

Itzhak Perlman

Itzhak Perlman Teaches Violin

Teaches Electronic Music Production

deadmau5

deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production

Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

St. Vincent

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Lessons from Influential Black Voices

Angela Davis

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Sherrilyn Ifill

Jelani Cobb

John McWhorter

Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love

Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Sheila E.

Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Teaches Electric Guitar

Tom Morello

Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar

Teaches Dance Music

Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Teaches Jazz

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Teaches Being a Band

Metallica

Metallica Teaches Being a Band