Chords + Lyrics | Are You Gonna Go My Way
Intro
||: E7#9 riff | E7#9 riff :|| x8
Verse 1
||: E (blues scale riff) :|| x8
I was born long ago, I am the chosen, I’m the one.
I have come to save the day and I won’t leave until I’m done.
| G (blues scale riff) | G (riff) | G (riff) | (C G B G Bb G A G Bb B) |
So that’s why you’ve got to try, we’ve got to breathe and have some fun.
||: E (blues scale riff) :|| x4
Though I’m not paid, I play this game and I won’t stop until I’m done.
| Bm(add4) | A |
But what I really want to know is…
Chorus 1
| E D E | E G E |
Are you gonna go my way?
| Bm(add4) | A |
And I got to, got to know.
Instrumental
||: E7#9 (riff) | E7#9 (riff) :|| x4
Verse 2
I don’t know why we always cry, this we must leave and get undone.
We must engage and rearrange, and turn this planet back to one.
So tell me why we got to die and kill each other one by one.
We’ve got to hug and rub-a-dub, we’ve got to dance and be in love.
But what I really want to know is…
Chorus 2
| E D E | E G E |
Are you gonna go my way?
| Bm(add4) | A | A |
And I got to, got to know.
Breakdown/Solo
||: E5 D5 | C#5 D5 C#5 :|| x11
| E5 D5 | D | D |
||: E (blues scale riff) :|| x8
| Bm(add4) | 2/4 A | 4/4 Bm(add4) | A |
Outro chorus
| E D E | E G E |
Are you gonna go my way?
| Bm(add4) | A | A | A |
‘Cause, baby, I got to know. Yeah.
Are You Gonna Go My Way Chords: Master the Iconic Riffs and Progressions
The main riff in Are You Gonna Go My Way revolves around the iconic Jimi Hendrix E7#9 chord and the E minor blues scale.
You play this riff throughout the intro and the first part of the verse. After a few lines, it shifts to G, followed by an alternating pattern between an open G string and the chromatic notes C – B – Bb – A – Bb – B, before returning to E.
The section ends on Bm(add4) – A, holding for one bar the first time, two bars the second time, and three bars at the very end.
Chorus
The chorus which almost feels like a turnaround, features a mix of fast E – D and E – G chord movements before the Bm(add4) – A idea is recycled.
Breakdown + Solo
The only other section is the solo which introduces a C#5 chord after moving from E5 and D5 using a syncopated rhythm and some muted strums.
To get all these chords and riffs right you need TAB, here’s a link: Are You Gonna Go my Way – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you got the TAB down, you’ll realise what a straightforward tune this is – so much so that a full chord chart might overcomplicate things—chords placed above the lyrics may be all you need!
I’ll let you decide—here’s the chart.
Are You Gonna Go My Way Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my (slightly chaotic) chord chart as a static PDF, or in the flexible iReal Pro format where you get the chance to improve on the layout I came up with.
Are You Gonna Go My Way TAB | Course Preview
You definitely need TAB to get a rock tune’s riff right. You must play it on the right strings using the correct slide’s, hammer on’s etc or it just won’t sound right.
In the case of Are You Gonna Go My Way, I was expecting this to be more true than ever, but it turns out, you can choose between sliding or bending for the main riff.
Try both and see what works bets for you, here’s some preview TAB from the course of how to bend (this is what happens on the original recording).
On the acoustic, bending that near the nut is basically impossible so I tried sliding and kind of liked it, even when I moved it to the electric – what do you think?
In the course, you get TAB for all other sections too. For example, that Bm(add4) has to be played in a certain way and has some rhythmic differences depending on where you play it in the arrangement too.
This tune made Lenny Kravitz a Rock Legend
Released in 1993 as the title track of his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way turned Lenny Kravitz into a superstar. Judging by his bold poses in the music video, it’s clear he was aiming for the top—and he got there.
Heavily inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Lenny crafted a timeless rock anthem that remains a staple on rock radio, playlists, and cover band setlists to this day. If you’re playing this in a band as the only guitarist, consider using an octave-up pedal to better capture the original sound.
While Are You Gonna Go My Way was the album’s only major hit, Kravitz’s career has been built on writing unforgettable songs. Alongside this track, American Woman, It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over, Always on the Run, Fly Away, and Let Love Rule have secured his place as one of rock’s defining artists. As with any legend, it’s the hits that carve out their lasting legacy.
Are You Gonna Go My Way Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Are You Gonna Go My Way (Lenny Kravitz) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
