Francis' Drumming Blog

Santana – Make Somebody Happy – Live Version (Drum Sheet Music)

27 September 2021

Hi folks, here’s the full drum sheet music for “Make Somebody Happy” (Live in Mexico, 1993) by Santana, with Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums. The original song is included in the album Milagro (1992) produced by Carlos Santana and Chester D. Thompson. This tune is perfect to practice on pop-rock/latin-rock ballad. Walfredo Reyes’ drumming is … More Santana – Make Somebody Happy – Live Version (Drum Sheet Music)

Quarter Note Triplet Exercises Part 2

3 September 2021

The second part of the quarter note triplet exercises adds the left foot hi-hat to the combinations seen in the past month, while with the snare drum we play some patterns. With the left hand, we play a simple cross-stick on “4” and then we move the quarter note triplets of one eight note, as … More Quarter Note Triplet Exercises Part 2

Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions – Pre-Order Now

11 August 2021

My new book “Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions” is now available for pre-order (eBook version). The book includes 5 drum transcriptions (drum solo, drum composition, trading fours) of some of Max Roach’s most remarkable drum performances during the iconic period of the ’50s, considering his solo works and the legendary recordings with Clifford Brown and Sonny … More Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions – Pre-Order Now

ERHYTHM – Product Review

5 August 2021

Created by the full-stack developer, and musician Ahmed Abderrafie ERHYTHM is an app to help musicians composing new rhythms, share, customize, and playing world rhythms from the library. The project is based on The Geometry of Musical Rhythm (clock, rhythm wheel method), which allows users to see how rhythm works with an easy and helpful … More ERHYTHM – Product Review

Samai Thaqil Drumset Groove

26 July 2021

The Samai is a classical 10/8 rhythm of Ottoman-Turkish origin, very popular among belly dancers for slow sections. The Arabic variation of this rhythm is known as Samai Thaqil, also spelled Sama’i Thaqil. You can hear Samai in muwashah music (or muwashshah) for the musical accompaniment of poetic texts and other genres such as megeance, … More Samai Thaqil Drumset Groove

neil peart an introduction to his drumming style book

Neil Peart – Drum Transcriptions

8 July 2021

New drum transcriptions of Neil Peart’s drumming with Rush are now available on my digital marketplace. With an easy and clear notation, every drum part is accurately transcribed note-for-note and where necessary is indicated the sticking. A drum notation is included. Take a look, keep drumming! https://gumroad.com/francisv

Quarter Note Triplet Exercises Part 1

23 June 2021

In the past days, I worked on some exercises, new drum transcriptions, and books. Something I’ll be glad to share with you. It’s going to be a hot summer! Here’s an exercise to work on quarter note triplets, developing coordination and independence. We start off with the basic pattern on the snare, then we add … More Quarter Note Triplet Exercises Part 1

Rush – La Villa Strangiato (Drum Sheet Music)

9 June 2021

Here’s the full drum sheet music for “La Villa Strangiato” by Rush, from the legendary album Hemispheres (1978) with Neil Peart on drums. The drum transription is now available for purchase. https://gumroad.com/l/iDiiw

polyrhythmic independence 3 over 4 exercise

Polyrhythmic Independence Exercise – 3 over 4

24 May 2021

Here’s an exercise to develop your independence, playing various cymbal patterns on a 3 over 4 pattern between the bass drum and the hi-hat. We start with the first basic pattern on the bass drum, then with the second one we add the hi-hat, alternating the two pedals. On the second page of the PDF, … More Polyrhythmic Independence Exercise – 3 over 4

New Book – Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions

6 May 2021

While Jeff Porcaro Grooves: 8 Drum Transcriptions hit the first 500 copies sold, I’m glad to introduce new books and projects coming out in the next months and in the next year. Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions will be the first of a series of sheet music books. The book is a collection of 5 … More New Book – Max Roach: 5 Drum Transcriptions

Drum sheet music, exercises & other stuff