The Red Hot Chili Peppers love California so much, they mention it 17 times in the song “Californication”. Their adoration of the golden state has paid off, as RHCP is one of the world’s most successful rock bands and “Californication” is one of their biggest songs.

The band’s writing process is pretty standard: the band comes up with the music and the singer adds lyrics and melodies over top. But in the case of “Californication”, Anthony Kiedis already had words and a melody in mind.

The band struggled to find the right supporting music to back up his vocal parts, and even tried a reggae version. They eventually landed on the song’s current iteration, and it became one of the band’s biggest hits.

In this 13-minute lesson, RHCP drummer Chad Smith shares his best tips for nailing your drum covers of “Californication”, then play through the full song so you can see exactly how he gives it his personal flair.

If you’re currently taking a break from work and can’t watch the video, here’s a preview of some of the tips:

• In the verses, make sure you nail those ghost notes on the snare drum in between the heavy rimshots. Do it “with taste” and pay attention to your dynamics.
• In the chorus, make sure the crashes and kicks follow the rhythm of the lyrics. Chad says vocalist Anthony Kiedis is a rhythmic singer, so Chad often plays off his cadence.
• In the solo, “less is more”, as RHCP producer Rick Rubin likes to say. Serve the track and play exactly what it needs. Don’t get carried away with ‘drummy’ stuff and get out of the way of the song. “Try to make it feel good!”

Now it’s your turn. Download the full sheet music here, and get a free 7-day trial to Drumeo where you can access practice tools and drumless tracks for 80+ Red Hot Chili Peppers songs.

We can confirm Chad Smith is not Will Ferrell, but he’s just as hilarious.

In this full lesson, the 2022 Drumeo Awards Drummer Of The Year goes through over a dozen Red Hot Chili Peppers songs as well as talks about:

• Recording Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991
• Growing up outside Detroit, hearing Motown on the radio, and being influenced by his older brother’s funky record collection
• How his drum parts keep evolving over the years
• How RHCP typically writes/records together (even after 40 years!)
• His love of cross-sticking
• The beat you should learn if you want a career as a drummer
• Why you should “play it like you mean it”, with intent

To get drumless tracks and sheet music for over a dozen RHCP songs (and 5000+ other songs), jump on Drumeo’s free 7-day trial!

Lesson Outline:
00:34 – SONG: “Suck My Kiss” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
02:00 – Intro
06:02 – SONG: “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
14:18 – The key to playing “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”
17:21 – The groove behind “The Power Of Equality”
22:37 – Breaking down “Mellowship Slinky In B Major”
27:34 – On writing the drum part in “Breaking The Girl”
30:55 – Staying out of the way in “Scar Tissue”
38:16 – SONG: “Around The World” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
45:31 – SONG: “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
51:42 – SONG: “By The Way” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
01:01:55 – SONG: “The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie”
01:06:19 – “Charlie” (Groove)
01:09:20 – Talking About Taylor Hawkins
01:15:38 – SONG: “Under The Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
01:20:03 – SONG: “Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chad Plays:
DW Drums
Paiste Cymbals
Remo Drumheads
Vater Drumsticks

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