Learn to playWould?as made famous by Alice In Chainson drums
The drumbeat for "Would?" by Alice in Chains is a groovy, syncopated pattern with steady kick, snare accents, and tight hi-hats, creating a dark, driving, and hypnotic feel.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind Would?. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
Would?
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
Begin on the ride cymbal before moving to the syncopated tom groove, stomping 1/8 notes on the pedal hi-hat.
Verse
Move to the two-handed hi-hat groove, playing fills in bars 4 and 8, keeping your hands alternating and playing consistent 1/16 notes.
Chorus
Move to a 2 bar repeating pattern on the ride for the chorus. Play a fill in bar 8 leading back into the verse.
Verse 2
Return to the two-handed hi-hat groove, and play through another verse section. After 8 bars, play another chorus, with fill variations.
Outro
Start with a ride groove. The fills start in bar 5 and happen every 4 bars; observe the sticking carefully. Finish on crash hits with the guitars.
Combine and play
Combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
Would?
with Melodics
Behind the track
Would?
by Alice In Chains
The musical composition of "Would?" by Alice in Chains is characterized by its dark, brooding atmosphere, driven by a sludgy, syncopated bassline, heavy, distorted guitars, and a dynamic drum groove that balances subtlety and power. The song seamlessly shifts between haunting verses and an anthemic chorus, blending grunge with bluesy undertones.
The vocal performance, led by Layne Staley and supported by Jerry Cantrell's harmonies, is both raw and emotive. Staley's voice alternates between subdued vulnerability in the verses and intense, soaring expressions in the chorus, reflecting the song's themes of loss, regret, and existential questioning. The layered harmonies create a haunting resonance, elevating the emotional impact of the track.
Tips for learning Would? on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of 'Would?' 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
- Would? is an advanced difficulty song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need four way independence, command of 1/16 notes and triplets.
- 98 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.