Twenty One Pilots makes a lot of noise with just two musicians. Vocalist Tyler Joseph formed the band in 2009 after teaming up with his long-time friend, drummer Josh Dun. Years later, on their fourth album, Blurryface, the hit “Stressed Out” combined a remembrance of teen angst with in-your-face acoustic drums and programming. And it’s the song’s heavy beat that still has everyone’s head nodding today.
Roots Outside Rhythm
Josh Dun’s path to percussion was an interesting one. While he grew up mainly listening to punk rock, his first instrument was the trumpet. He’s used that skill on Twenty One Pilots records. Still, it’s his drumming that carries Dun’s signature pocket.
You can hear the pop sensibilities of Green Day’s Tré Cool, a childhood favorite of Dun. There’s also a bombastic power to Josh’s sound, like pop punk legend Travis Barker, whose work with Blink 182 inspired an entire generation of drummers. Once all of these elements meld together into the sonic stew that is Twenty One Pilots, the final product is some of today’s most popular raw, emotional music.
The Lowdown
Bandleader Tyler Joseph wrote “Stressed Out” for the band’s fourth album, Blurryface. On the single, Joseph expresses the anxiety and self-doubt of transitioning from adolescence into adulthood. The album’s namesake, Blurryface, is an imaginary character created by Joseph. Blurryface’s multiple facades represent the dark psyche of millennial angst.
Crafting music around lyrical stories is a team effort. During a Reddit AMA, Joseph stated, “I’ll come up with a lot of ideas for us lyrically and then there’s a process of Josh and I getting together. What Josh brings to the table on the drums really influences our sound.”
"'Stressed Out' expresses the anxiety and self-doubt of transitioning from adolescence into adulthood."
A Balanced Approach
It’s apparent that drums add a lot to the tune, and Dun takes that part of the job seriously. In a blog penned for Modern Drummer, he states that he wants to impress musicians and people who couldn’t care less about drumming. That balanced approach keeps drummers drooling and music fanatics captivated with every Twenty One Pilots record. Let’s explore what elements bring that same energy to “Stressed Out.”
One Big, Fat Beat
The drumbeat behind “Stressed Out” is unique because it combines so many elements into one groove. The hi-hat upbeats have an alternative, reggae-like feel, while the kick and snare maintain a rhythm in keeping with pop or hip-hop.
The basics of this groove are easy to execute. Indeed, this is a great pattern to learn, regardless of your musical taste. Start by combining the hi-hat with the bass drum. The key for the intro and verses is to keep the upbeat on the hi-hat steady while locking in with the bass drum. After you get that combination down, add the snare on beats two and four. But this beat is only one-half of the equation. The drum sound itself completes the picture painted in this song.
"The key for the intro and verses is to keep the upbeat on the hi-hat steady while locking in with the bass drum."
Josh Dun’s distinctive drum tones add excitement to “Stressed Out.” They’re organic, but processed enough to feel like music straight off a sampler. You could use a ton of recording gear and acoustic drums to create this vibe, but you can also recreate it easily with just one Roland V-Drums kit. Let’s explore exactly how to play the beat and dial in every drum, cymbal, and sound now.
How to Play "Stressed Out"
