A gallop is a beat or rhythm typically used in traditional heavy metal songs.[1] It is created by playing an eighth note followed by two sixteenth notes (
),[2] usually on rhythm guitar, drums, or bass.
One technique on guitar involves strumming palm muted power chords in an up-and-down motion with a pick, thereby creating an ostinato.[3][4] Variations include the triplet gallop[5] and the reverse gallop.[6]
On drums, the technique often uses a double kick pedal. A typical drum gallop is formed around this skeleton:
H- x---x---x---x---| S- ----o-------o---| B- o-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo|
- ^ Stolz 2017, p. 142: "the so-called heavy metal gallop, which by 1988, had become a heavy metal trope"
- ^ Marshall 1993, p. 24.
- ^ Chappell, Phillips & Serna 2014, eBook.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Stangwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Woods & Green 2008, p. 58.
- ^ Revill 2017.