3 Brazilian Drum Transcriptions (Djavan, Leny Andrade, Rosa Passos)

In my latest article, I shared a playlist of 50 Brazilian songs to listen to and study. While notating the irresistible samba feel is impossible, transcriptions can help to understand and figure out the patterns, textures, and accents of samba, partido alto, and bossa nova. By listening closely to these songs, we can understand the … More 3 Brazilian Drum Transcriptions (Djavan, Leny Andrade, Rosa Passos)

Carlos Vega – Oasis (Drum Solo Transcription)

Here’s the transcription of Carlos Vega’s drum solo on “Oasis” by Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour, featuring Dave Valentin on flute, Larry Williams on saxophone and keyboards, and Abraham Laboriel on bass. The version of this tune was recorded at the Record Plant Studio C in Los Angeles in 1985 and included on the album … More Carlos Vega – Oasis (Drum Solo Transcription)

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

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 nice and … More Santana – Make Somebody Happy – Live Version (Drum Sheet Music)

Milton Banana Trio – Serrado (Drum Sheet Music)

Here’s the complete drum transcription for “Serrado” by Milton Banana Trio, from the album Sambas De Bossa (1993). Playing along with this tune is a great way to develop your right hand. At this tempo, it’s not easy to play the 16th notes on the cymbal while maintaining a smooth groove. Below are two short … More Milton Banana Trio – Serrado (Drum Sheet Music)

3 Brazilian Drum Transcriptions

I’m glad to share a collection of 3 Brazilian free drum transcriptions. This collection includes the complete drum transcriptions for “Lei” by Djavan, “Chora Tua Tristeza” by Leny Andrade, and “Ladeira da Preguiça” by Rosa Passos (also including a drum notation key). It’s essential to listen closely and grasp what the drummer plays to understand Brazilian … More 3 Brazilian Drum Transcriptions

Leny Andrade – Chora Tua Tristeza (Drum Sheet Music)

Adriano de Oliveira is a Brazilian drummer who played with Leny Andrade, João Carlos Coutinho, Lucio Nascimento, Paulo Morello, Toots Thielemans, and many other musicians. Not well known as a drummer, he is a master of Brazilian drumming; his style is unique and definitely worth studying! Here’s the complete drum transcription of his work on … More Leny Andrade – Chora Tua Tristeza (Drum Sheet Music)

Rosa Passos – Ladeira da Preguiça (Drum Sheet Music)

Featuring Celso de Almeida on drums, “Ladeira da Preguiça” is a song from Rosa Passos’ album Azul (2002), originally composed by Gilberto Gil in 1973. The intro features a Partido Alto groove, with a samba feel from the first verse’s second part. Playing the right hand on the cymbal at around 96 bpm presents a … More Rosa Passos – Ladeira da Preguiça (Drum Sheet Music)

Rosa Passos – Beiral (Intro Drum Transcription)

Here’s the drum transcription of the intro performed by Brazilian drummer Erivelton Silva on Rosa Passos’ tune “Beiral,” from the album Morada Do Samba (1999). In this section, the ensemble accents are similar and related to Partido Alto. Erivelton Silva plays the hi-hat accenting for the most part the third 16th note, supporting the ensemble … More Rosa Passos – Beiral (Intro Drum Transcription)