Go Your Own Way
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Fleetwood Mac on Drums

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Two versions of the drum sheet - choose the one that fits your level and goals.

ORIGINAL VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Advanced

Exactly as played on the original recording
All fills & ghost notes
Full arrangement

Purchase for only 1.90$

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Intermediate

Easier to learn
Simplified fills
Reduced ghost notes
Perfect for beginners & intermediates

Purchase for only 1.90$

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We recommend starting with the Simplified Version and moving to the Original Version once you're comfortable with the groove and structure.

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Drumming Techniques You'll Learn in Go Your Own Way

Tom Groove Limb Independence
Four on the Floor Consistency
Accent Placement Accuracy
Drumming Endurance
High-Energy Performance Stability

Recommended For

This printable drum sheet is recommended for intermediate drummers seeking to develop advanced tom groove coordination and solid classic rock timekeeping. It provides a great challenge for players looking to break away from standard backbeat patterns, improving physical endurance, dynamic control, and the ability to drive arrangements with unconventional rhythms.

Learn to play Go Your Own Way on drums

Play Go Your Own Way drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized media player. Follow every rhythmic placement in real time as the synchronized drum notation matches the music flawlessly. You can slow down the notoriously eccentric tom-heavy patterns using tempo control, isolate the drum track with our isolated drums feature to analyze Mick Fleetwood's exact phrasing, and use looping sections to lock in the shifting verse transitions. Learning this arrangement will build your syncopated tom-groove independence and develop the heavy chorus physical endurance needed for driving classic rock. Grab your drumsticks and master this rhythmic puzzle today!

Song information

Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Drummer: Mick Fleetwood

Album: Rumours

Released: 1976

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

130-139

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features a unique tom-oriented verse groove, driving four-on-the-floor kick patterns, syncopated accent placements, and high-energy crash cymbal work that requires strong physical endurance and limb independence.

Song's Overview

Written during a period of intense personal upheaval within Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way became a cornerstone of 1970s rock due to its raw emotional tension and innovative arrangement. While the track is driven by acoustic guitar strumming and a searing guitar solo, the rhythm section provides the explosive energy that transforms the song into a powerful rock anthem. For musicians looking to learn Go Your Own Way on drums, Mick Fleetwood’s performance offers a masterclass in unconventional, instinctual playing. Influenced by a desire to create a driving, syncopated rhythm, Fleetwood delivered a unique tom-oriented groove that intentionally features a displaced accent structure. Instead of a standard backbeat, the verses rely on heavy floor tom and rack tom pulses that run counter to the vocal phrasing, creating a compelling sense of urgency. When the song shifts into the chorus, the drumming opens up into a relentless four-on-the-floor kick pattern and driving crash cymbals. Studying this Go Your Own Way drum cover reveals how a drummer can use physical power, displaced accents, and raw passion to shape a track's dynamics. This Go Your Own Way drum sheet captures every subtle accent and cymbal crash of this drumming masterpiece.

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About the Drummer

Mick Fleetwood is the co-founder and towering rhythmic force behind Fleetwood Mac. Known for his tall frame and eccentric personality, he has anchored some of the best-selling albums of all time. His ability to create unique parts for iconic hits makes him a vital study for anyone learning drums.

Drumming Style

His style is characterized by a "big" sound, often utilizing large tom-toms and unconventional accents that follow the vocal phrasing. Playing drums like Fleetwood requires a focus on raw energy and a deep connection to the song's melody. His work on "Go Your Own Way" is a classic subject for drum covers due to its driving, tribal feel.

Practice Advice

Start Below Full Speed

The song's original tempo is a brisk 136 BPM. Begin practicing the unconventional verse groove at 100 BPM to ensure your limb coordination is perfectly accurate. Focus on the alignment of the bass drum hits before speeding up

Loop the Verse Tom Grooves

The verse patterns feature an unusual tom-oriented rhythm that can easily disrupt your internal clock. Use loop mode to isolate these bars, repeating the fluid transitions between the rack and floor toms until the linear movement feels natural

Avoid Flipping the Downbeat

A frequent mistake when learning this track is losing track of beat one due to the displaced accents on the toms. Count out loud or use a click track to anchor your performance, ensuring you do not accidentally shift the timing.

Lock in the Chorus Pocket

When transitioning to the chorus, the groove shifts to a driving four-on-the-floor bass drum pattern. Maintain a rock-solid pocket here, keeping your steady quarter-note kicks perfectly consistent underneath the continuous, high-energy crash cymbal punctuation.

Master the Tom-to-Snare Transitions

Mick Fleetwood's playing moves seamlessly between heavy tom rolls and sharp snare strikes. Practice moving your hands between the drums with fluid motion, maintaining consistent velocity and dynamic control so the fills do not sound rushed or uneven.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Isolate the Tom-Heavy Verse Rhythm

Focus on the unique verse pattern where the toms take precedence over the hi-hat. Practice the syncopated bass drum placement against the steady floor tom pulse slowly, building the coordination required for this unconventional rock groove.

Phase 2: Solidify the Driving Chorus Transition

Master the shift from the syncopated verse to the explosive, four-on-the-floor chorus. Focus on maintaining a steady quarter-note kick drum while executing consistent, powerful crash cymbal hits that elevate the song’s intensity seamlessly.

Phase 3: Smooth Out the Backwards Fills

Analyze and practice Mick Fleetwood’s signature "backwards" fills that accent unexpected beats. Isolate these fills at a reduced tempo, ensuring your hands transition smoothly across the drum kit without hesitating or dragging the time.

Phase 4: Perform the Complete Arrangement Confidently

ConfidentlyCombine all sections and play along with the track from start to finish. Focus on your physical endurance during the extended guitar solo outro, keeping the energy high while maintaining rock-solid time control.

FAQ

Is Go Your Own Way suitable for beginners?

Go Your Own Way is better suited for intermediate to advanced drummers. However, it can be a great long-term goal as your skills improve.

Can I learn Go Your Own Way if I’m not very confident reading drum notation?

Go Your Own Way is more notation-heavy, but it’s also a great opportunity to improve your reading skills while learning it step by step.

Do I need a full drum kit to play Go Your Own Way?

Yes — to fully play Go Your Own Way as recorded, a full drum kit is recommended due to the use of multiple toms and cymbals.

How will learning Go Your Own Way improve my drumming skills?

Learning Go Your Own Way with an interactive player allows you to break the song into sections, slow it down, and truly understand every part — helping you improve faster and more efficiently.

What skills do I need before learning Go Your Own Way?

While Go Your Own Way is more advanced, you can still approach it gradually and use it as a way to push your skills to the next level.