Learn to playAre You Gonna Go My Wayas made famous by Lenny Kravitzon drums
Learn the powerful, syncopated drum beat of 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' by Lenny Kravitz. Drive the song with dynamic snare accents and a steady, grooving rhythm.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Are You Gonna Go My Way. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Are You Gonna Go My Way
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
Start with flams on the snare, and fill into the groove on the ride.
Verse 1
Move to the hi-hat for the verse. Watch for the syncopated snare and hi-hat hits in bar 12.
Chorus 1
Continue the hi-hat groove in the chorus, and watch for the anticipated crash hit in bar 5.
Verse 2 and Chorus
Return to a shorter version of the intro, and add the kick to the fill. Groove on the ride, and then drop into the verse. This verse is much the same as the first, with some slight fill variations, and extended syncopated hits.
Bridge
Start with flams on the snare in the bridge. Play a variation on the fill involving the toms, and move to a simple groove for the guitar solo. Finish this section with an anticipated crash and more syncopated hits.
Outro
Finish the song with an extended final chorus.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections, Intro - Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Outro to perform the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Are You Gonna Go My Way
with Melodics
Behind the track
Are You Gonna Go My Way
by Lenny Kravitz
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz features a dynamic musical composition characterized by its powerful guitar riffs, driving bass lines, and energetic drum beats, creating a classic rock sound with a modern edge. The song is built around a catchy, repetitive guitar riff that serves as its backbone, while the rhythm section maintains a tight, groove-laden foundation.
Kravitz's vocal performance is equally compelling, blending raw power with soulful intensity. His delivery is both gritty and melodic, capturing the rebellious spirit of the lyrics. The use of vocal harmonies and layered backing vocals adds depth and richness to the overall sound, making "Are You Gonna Go My Way" a memorable and impactful rock anthem."
Tips for learning Are You Gonna Go My Way on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of Are You Gonna Go My Way 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.
- Get access to 100s of interactive lessons and popular songs
- Instant feedback on your performance and tracking of your progress
- The fun and effective way to stick to your drum kit
Other popular songs available in Melodics
Easy - Commodores
Lay back with this breezy swung groove from Lionel and the gang.
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
Get those toms galloping up that hill with this viral cult classic hit.
Chop Suey - System of a Down
Move between half, regular and double time in this heavy rock hit.
FAQs
- Are You Gonna Go My Way is a moderately hard rock song, with ample use of flams and some tricky syncopated rhythms. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need to have basic 1/8 note rock grooves at a moderate tempo under control for Are You Gonna Go My Way, plus a solid grasp on flams and some basic syncopation.
- Are You Gonna Go My Way is 128 bpm.
- Are You Gonna Go My Way is in 4/4 time.
- 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.