Learn to playAin't No Mountain High Enoughas made famous by Marvin Gayeon drums
The Ain't No Mountain High Enough drum beat features steady, soulful grooves with laid-back kick, snare emphasis, and subtle hi-hats, matching the song's uplifting vibe.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Ain't No Mountain High Enough. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Verse 1
The original drum part comprises two separate drum kits, so for this lesson you will be learning a blend of both parts. The rim will be mapped to the mid tom for this lesson.
Keep the pedal hi-hat pulsing on beats 2 and 4 throughout the verse, while playing 1/16 notes on the rim and hits on the snare and low tom. Finish this section with a classic Motown fill as you move to the chorus.
Chorus 1
Move to an 1/8 note groove on the hi-hat for the chorus, and finish with hits and a buildup on the snare.
Verse 2 through Chorus 2
Play another verse and chorus, with some small variations.
Bridge
Build up out of the chorus. Now move to a straight four style Motown beat with fills, and into another buildup to set up the key change.
Verse 3 through Chorus 3
For the third verse, play an 1/8 note hi-hat groove. Play the classic Motown fill to move into the chorus, and continue grooving.
Note: for an extra challenge, you may like to use five-stroke roll sticking to play the fill into the chorus - try R - L - L - R - R - L, and finish with a right on the low tom.
Outro
Loop the chorus groove out for the outro, interspersed with fills and crashes. Remember to use Practice Mode to isolate any fills you have trouble with.
Combine and perform
Now combine the sections - Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Verse 3 - Chorus 3 - Outro - and perform the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
with Melodics
Behind the track
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
by Marvin Gaye
Ain't No Mountain High Enough" blends Motown soul with rich orchestration, including strings and brass. Marvin Gaye's and Tammi Terrell's vocal performances are powerful yet smooth, delivering a heartfelt duet with impeccable harmony and emotional depth.
Tips for learning Ain't No Mountain High Enough on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' individually for precision mastery. With Melodics, you can slow the pace of the song and work up to full speed.
Tip 2: Review your performance
Identify growth areas: Listen to playback of your performance to learn where you need to develop your timing, technique & rhythm. Melodics provides instant feedback on your performance.
Tip 3: Practice makes perfect
Stay consistent: With regular, focused practice you'll see rapid progress when learning the song. Even a short session each day will make a huge difference.
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FAQs
- Playing the drums for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" can be quite challenging due to its intricate rhythms and soulful groove. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out, making it easier to start learning and mastering the beat.
- Basic Rhythm Understanding: Ability to count and play regular rhythms. Hand Coordination: Basic coordination to handle different drum elements simultaneously. Foot Coordination: Effective use of the bass drum pedal. Timing: Confidence in keeping a steady tempo and groove. Dynamics Control: Ability to play with varying intensity to match the song’s feel. Listening Skills: Ability to pick up subtle nuances in the drum pattern. Patience & Practice: Gradual and consistent practice to refine your drumming technique.
- 126 bpm
- 4/4
- New songs are released every week on Melodics! And we love to take requests - the best place for this is within our Discord community where you can also connect with other music learners around the world. Check out https://melodics.com/info/community.