Learn to playThe Way It Isas made famous by Bruce Hornsbyon drums
Master the intricate, syncopated drum beat of 'The Way It Is' by Bruce Hornsby. Learn the tight hi-hat patterns, steady snare, and flowing groove that drive this classic song.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind The Way It Is. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
The Way It Is
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Learn the basic groove
Start with the basic two-handed hi-hat groove - starting with the right, use alternating hands to play the 1/16 notes, ending up with the right hand moving down to the snare on beats 2 and 4 (the backbeat). Play the kick on beats 1 and 3.
Add the kicks
Now add kicks on beats 1-a and 2-&, and an extra on beat 4-& every second bar.
Perform the track
Now play through the song with the two-handed hi-hat beat. Be aware that the kick pattern varies between the two bars in the previous step.
Learn to play
The Way It Is
with Melodics
Behind the track
The Way It Is
by Bruce Hornsby
"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby features a rich musical composition centered around his virtuosic piano playing. The song blends rock, jazz, and blues elements, creating a sophisticated yet accessible sound. The prominent piano riff, with its syncopated rhythm and melodic intricacies, forms the backbone of the track, supported by a steady rhythm section that includes bass and drums, as well as tasteful synth and organ layers.
Bruce Hornsby's vocal performance is smooth and soulful, characterized by his clear, warm tone and expressive delivery. His lyrics, which address social issues and change, are delivered with sincerity and a conversational style that draws the listener in. The combination of his piano prowess and vocal emotiveness makes "The Way It Is" a compelling and memorable song, resonating with its blend of technical skill and heartfelt performance.
Tips for learning The Way It Is on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'The Way It Is' 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
- The Way It Is is a beginner to intermediate grade song, featuring some tricky two-handed hi-hat techniques. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- To play The Way It Is on drums, you will need to have a good handle on the two-handed 1/16 note hi-hat pattern, and be able to incorporate 1/8 note kick patterns at a moderate to uptempo pace.
- The Way It Is is 111 bpm.
- The Way It Is 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.