Maybe I'm not as big of a dunce as I thought.
As a drummer I have to admit that I'm fooled all the time.... what gear is being used, how a beat is played. There are many beats I've never been able to figure out, how they were played. Funny thing about that... sometimes when you figure it out, (if you do), it can be the most simple things... just played with such incredible nuance that it fools you... or at least me.
Steve Gadd was great at that. His little riff in the song "Chuck E's In Love" is mega popular with drummers. I listened and listened and listened and never did figure it out until one day I saw a YouTube explaining it. I was in awe. It was extremely easy to play... I didn't even need any practice, I could do it instantly, first time I tried it... BUT... getting the 'nuance' down was a different matter all together.