Aerosmith’s 1975 classic, Toys in the Attic, launched the group into the mainstream with “Walk This Way.” The tune married raunchy lyrics and percussive vocals to funky rock guitar. Drummer Joey Kramer’s deep groove and solid syncopation held the melange together. His beat dances around the guitar and vocal rhythms to create one of the most memorable grooves in rock and hip-hop. Later, “Walk This Way” gained a new life as a collaboration with hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., spawning the rap rock genre. Explore the song’s history and arrangement, then download a V-Drums kit to capture its drum sound.
Playing For the Song
While attending Berklee College of Music, Kramer ran into high school friend Steven Tyler at Woodstock in 1969. Credited for naming Aerosmith, players praise Kramer for his technical chops, emotional feel, and ability to play for the song. He crafts careful drum parts which hold a musical conversation with the other elements. This compositional sensitivity elevates Aerosmith’s tunes into timeless classics.
It Began with a Riff
Written by Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry, “Walk This Way” began as a guitar riff. On a recording break, the band saw Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. The film included a gag in which Igor instructs Dr. Frankenstein to “walk this way,” inspiring the title. A drummer himself, Tyler’s percussive vocals add another rhythmic element to Joe Perry’s groove and Kramer’s bedrock.
Kramer announces his presence from the first hi-hat splash of the iconic two-measure intro. A key to the unforgettable part is how Kramer masterfully chokes the hat and lets it linger a few milliseconds for a sliding feel. Then there are the three trademark kick drum beats in the center of the measures. These kicks add a funky pattern by showing up on the last sixteenth of the second beat leading into the eighth note hits of the third beat. The guitar leaves space for that snare hit on the fourth beat.
"A key to the unforgettable introduction is how Kramer masterfully chokes the hat and lets it linger a few milliseconds for a sliding feel."
A Spacious Pocket
In the central verse groove, Kramer displaces the third downbeat of the measures to the “and” of three. This further syncopates the feel with the kick hit on the second sixteenth note of the fourth beat. The result is an open space in the center of each measure. The vocals breathe in this space during every other phrase while the guitars rise and fall in empty spots. This syncopated pattern creates a subtle feel of falling on the downbeat of each new measure.
During the interludes of “Walk This Way,” Kramer revisits the introduction. He returns to the triple kick pattern in the middle of the measures and the hi-hat punch on the one, occasionally adding a crash for emphasis.
Anatomy of an Arrangement
Later, an overdubbed quarter-note cowbell appears. The reverb-drenched pattern accents every other measure during the second and third verses, adding a loose feel. Kramer’s sixteenth-note snare rolls lead into the choruses. Finally, upbeat crashes on the last sixteenth notes of measures transition between sections.
The chorus and guitar solo see Kramer return to the verse groove. He moves to the ride bell for the chorus and continues substituting the third downbeat. Drums and rhythm guitar support the chorus lyrics on the first three eighth notes of the last two measures of the final chorus.
On the outro, he returns to the intro/interlude pattern. However, Kramer switches things up every other measure. He does so by replacing the fourth beat with a kick on the four, then a snare and crash on the last sixteenth. The result is four kick drum hits in a row. This powerful approach accents the guitar, creating a heavy, vampy finale.
Inventing a New Genre
In true ’70s rock fashion, the drum tone is punchy and direct. Producer Jack Douglas places the kit in the front of the mix, yet the track remains elegantly balanced. In fact, all the early Aerosmith records are masterful examples of how to carve out room for each instrument.
A decade later, hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. used the opening “Walk This Way” groove for freestyles. Sensing potential, producer Rick Rubin masterminded a collaboration between the groups. The success of their new version shocked the industry, charting on both urban and rock stations. “Walk This Way” also ushered in a new era for Aersomith, in which the group reclaimed its status, ascending to even greater commercial heights.
"Run-D.M.C. used the opening 'Walk This Way' groove for freestyles. Sensing potential, producer Rick Rubin masterminded a collaboration between the groups."
Drumming as Communication
The song’s canny combination of rock instrumentation and hip-hop swagger reminds us of a crucial truth: the soul of rhythm comes from the heartbeat. Drummers like Kramer practice drumming as communication, elevating tracks with their solid foundation. Kramer’s nuanced groove on “Walk This Way” offers superb footsteps to follow.
How to Play "Walk This Way"
Intro
Verse
Interlude
DOWNLOAD
"Walked His Way" Kit for TD-17 and TD-27
Recreate the sound of Joey Kramer’s drums from the classic Aerosmith track “Walk This Way.”
