Learn to playKiss & Tellas made famous by Angels & Airwaveson drums
The drum beat in Angels & Airwaves' "Kiss & Tell" features a driving rhythm with punchy kick and snare, creating an energetic pulse for the song.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Kiss & Tell. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Kiss & Tell
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
Ilan Rubin performs this track open handed, so for the full challenge perform this track with the left hand covering crash and hi-hat, with the right on the snare.
After the synth intro, play the hits with the guitars. Use alternating hands to play the fill leading into the instrumental, pairing the hi tom hits with kick.
Instrumental
Watch for the crashes on beat 2 throughout this section. Add the ghosted 1/8 note to the hi-hat with the snare skipbeat. There is a double time phrase in bar 11, and for the fill at the end of this section, use alternating hands leading with the left, and pairing hi tom and open hi-hat hits with the kick.
Verse
Move to consistent 1/8 notes on the closed hi-hat for the verse, watching for the open hi-hats, and anticipated crash in bar 8. Lead with your left hand on the strong beats for the final snare fill.
Chorus
Return to the open hi-hat groove from the instrumental, and add hits with the guitars at the end of each 8 bar phrase. For the fill in bar 14, leading with your left hand off the hi-hat, use the left hand on the hi tom, and play the kick on beat 4-a before the guitar hits.
Bridge
Reprise the hits from the intro. Fill on the hi tom before heading to the accented hi-hat pattern - fill in the extra 1/16 notes with the right hand. Move to the snare and keep the pedal hi-hat pulsing 1/4 notes throughout most of this section. For navigating the low tom movements in bars 18 and 22, use the sticking R - L - L - R - L - L - R - L. Remember to make use of Practice Mode!
Last chorus
The last chorus is double the length. Return to the same groove, with some slight fill variations. For the fill in the last 2 bars, repeat the same 1/16 note pattern four times, using alternating hands to move around the kit, and finish between the kick and snare.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to perform the full arrangement. Remember to use Practice Mode to slow down and isolate any parts you are having trouble with.
Learn to play
Kiss & Tell
with Melodics
Behind the track
Kiss & Tell
by Angels & Airwaves
"Kiss & Tell" by Angels & Airwaves showcases dynamic musical composition with layered guitars, pulsating basslines, and anthemic synth melodies. Tom DeLonge's vocals blend urgency and emotion, delivering the song's introspective lyrics with passion and conviction.
Tips for learning Kiss & Tell on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Kiss & Tell' 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
- "Kiss & Tell" by Angels & Airwaves has a moderately challenging drum part. The tempo is relatively fast, and there are various fills and patterns throughout the song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play "Kiss & Tell" by Angels & Airwaves on drums, you'll need a solid grasp of rhythm, coordination, and dynamics. The song features a fast tempo with intricate fills and patterns, requiring good control and precision. It also demands a strong sense of timing to maintain the energy throughout. Familiarity with various drum techniques, such as ghost notes and flams, will help you accurately replicate the dynamic drumming heard in the song. Practice and attention to detail will be key in mastering this track.
- 170 bpm
- 4/4
- D Major
- 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.