In this lesson I’ll be showing you how to play Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. This track was released in 1993 from the album of the same name and became one of Lenny’s most successful songs.
The track features one of the catchiest guitar riffs ever written but it’s Cindy Blackman’s high-energy drumming that really makes the song (at least it does for me!). The vibe is established straight from the outset with quarter notes on the snare to accompany the guitar part and an occasional bass drum punctuation. Simple but very effective!
Cindy moves to an 8th note groove played heavily on the ride before moving to the hi-hats for the verse. The hi-hats are quite slushy throughout to give it that dirty rock feel. The main thing to look out for is the broken 16th note fill between the snare and hi-hat which leads into the chorus. It’s quite tricky and lasts twice as long on the repeat.
The drum part is apparently simple but to really make it work you have to play loose and put a lot of energy into it.
Now Kill It! DN
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“9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
