Intermediate Drum Music
Hone Your Skills and Continue Your Development With These Intermediate Drum Charts
If you’ve tried some of our beginner drum charts and are ready to take your chart playing to the next level, then the intermediate drum sheet music on this page is a great next step for you.
We’ve gone through our library of digital drum sheet music and selected the charts that play at the intermediate level. We hope you enjoy!
Intermediate Drum Sheet Music
Quality Transcriptions You Can Count On
All the drum sheet music found on this page and throughout the site are full, note-for-note transcriptions transcribed by James Morton--long-time professional drummer, author of over a dozen books with Mel Bay Publications, and creator of the "Rock Charts" column formerly found in Modern Drummer--over the course of his 40+ year career.
Bulk Order Discounts
| 5-9 charts | 15% off |
| 10-19 charts | 25% off |
| 20-29 charts | 35% off |
| 30+ charts | 40% off |
Title
Artist
Year
Comments
Music
Price
Buy
Robert Palmer
1986
Might as well face it: "The lights are on/But you're not home." The Greatest Hits album version.
$3.99
The Temptations
1966
This Motown classic was almost not released. Funk Brothers play.
$2.99
Carla Thomas
1966
If you like Aretha & Etta James, you'll love this. Stax Records classic.
$2.99
ACDC
1981
Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott. Phil Rudd drums.
$3.99
L.T.D.
1977
If you like funky drumming, here it is! Highly recommended chart!.
$3.99
Robert Palmer
1979
"Doctor, Doctor, give me the news - I got a bad case of lovin' you..."
$4.99
The Foundations
1968
Song refuses to die. Part catchy pop and part kitsch, song has nice drum punches.
$2.99
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2000
Latest song about the Golden State, this one darker in theme. Chad Smith showing how to play ghost notes.
$4.99
Barry White
1974
I polled one of my classes as to who had the sexiest voice. Guess who won?
$2.99
Everly Brothers
1960
The Everly Brothers' biggest hit. Great drumming. Buddy was prolific then.
$2.99
Coldplay
2002
One of the top groups of the last decade, Coldplay's "Clocks" won the Record of the Year Grammy in 2003.
$3.99
The Little River Band
1979
Australian band that hit it big. Medium tempo 16th note feel. This is a cool chart of a cool song with some cool fills.
$3.99
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1980
From his last album, Uprising. This song was written on an airplane.
$2.99
Gnarls Barkley
2006
You'd be crazy not to like this chart. CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse.
$4.99
Smokey Robinson
1979
Smooth as silk. This song took Smokey 5 years to write. "You're gonna fly away, glad you're coming my way."
$2.99
Box Tops
1968
Quintessential '60s song: horns, strings, electric sitar, all at once!
$3.99
Sly & The Family Stone
1968
Solid drumming from Gregg Errico on their 1st hit.
$3.99
Bruce Springsteen
1984
"You can't start a fire without a spark...This gun's for hire..."
$4.99
The Four Seasons
1975
Number 1 for 3 weeks, featuring drummer Gerry Polci on vocals as well.
$3.99
Steely Dan
1972
For a group that made use of the absolute best in studio drummers, many people may not recognize the name of the original drummer Jim Hodder. Groove that won't quit.
$4.99
Crowded House
1986
Biggest band in New Zealand has big hit in US. "Trying to catch the deluge in a paper cup."
$3.99
Animals
1965
The Animals were cool, and very blues based. Chas Chandler, the bass player (who recently died) discovered and managed Jimi Hendrix.
$2.99
Fleetwood Mac
1977
"Yesterday's gone." Good advice: Think about today. Shuffle feel.
$3.99
Soul Survivors
1967
This Top 10 hit had a great original drum beat. Get this chart, it's a lot of FUN!
$2.99
Bad Company
1975
To me, this is what rock is all about: organic, emotional and powerful. Add one of the best rock singers of all time (Paul Rodgers) and you've got a winner. Drummer is Simon Kirke.
$4.99
Linda Ronstadt
1982
One of her many hits, this one is in 7/4. Russ Kunkel on drums.
$2.99
Young Rascals
1966
Rough and raw in the studio, this features one the most exciting drummers of that time, Dino Danelli.
$4.99
Beatles
1964
Title track. Opening chord: G7 (add9sus4). Ringo on drums, naturally.
$2.99
Huey Lewis & The News
1984
From Sports. Do you know what the heart of R&R is? The beat!
$4.99
Beatles
1969
From Abby Road. Some of Ringo's finest drumming. Nice meter changes, fills.
$3.99
Booker T. & The MGs
1967
Get the Best of Booker T. & The MGs. Funky stuff. Al Jackson on drums.
$2.99
Ray Charles
1961
The one and only Ray defied categorization. Number one on rock and R&B charts.
$2.99
Sly & The Family Stone
1969
Vigorous triplet feel. Nice song from Sly. Their drummer Gregg Errico was SOOOO SOLID. A lot to emulate on this chart.
$2.99
Animals
1964
Absolute rock classic of a song that goes back centuries.
$2.99
The Fray
2005
How To Save A Life - Big hit from the Denver, Colorado group. Featured in Gray's Anatomy.
$0.99
Alicia Bridges
1978
"I want some action (pronounced ack-shawn)." BIG dance hit and a fun chart.
$3.99
Smokey Robinson
1967
"America's greatest poet," says Bob Dylan. Very cool drumming.
$3.99
U2
1987
Have you tried looking in the closet? Bad joke. Good chart though, from the Irish supergroup that Kevin loves.
$4.99
Foreigner
1985
Huge hit, Dennis Elliot drums, big choir in background.
$3.99
Temptations
1968
"Sunshine, blue sky, please go away..." Light and funky at the same time.
$2.99
Herman's Hermits
1964
Carole King wrote hundreds like this. Nice shuffle. British Invasion hit.
$3.99
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
1972
This soul ballad has a 6/4 feel. Teddy Pendergrass sings.
$3.99
Beatles
1965
Many critics put this as John Lennon's greatest song. FromRubber Soul. Awesome drumming by Ringo.
Free
Lenny Kravitz
1991
Went to #2 on charts. Title inspired by baseball legend Yogi Berra.
$3.99
Doobie Brothers
1977
Michael McDonald has got a voice. Solid feel on this chart.
$2.99
James Brown
1968
The star of this 1968 hit, besides the singer of course, is the rhythm section. James Brown heard Starks' drumming, and through persistent efforts, was able to win him over to his own band.
$3.99
ZZ Top
1979
That band from Texas - from the Deguello album, funky and bluesy.
$3.99
Paul McCartney
1989
Nice song from Paul, and clever drumming from Chris Whitten.
$4.99
Mary Wells
1962
Smokey Robinson wrote this hit a year before he wrote the classic "My Girl," which is right above.
$4.99
Beatles
1965
John was feeling frustrated, and had no ideas, so he wrote "Nowhere Man." From Rubber Soul, one of the great all time albums.
$3.99
Journey
1982
Written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, this power ballad was one of their biggest hits.
$2.99
Wild Cherry
1976
Always a crowd pleaser, recently voted #1 greatest funk song of all time!
$3.99
Led Zeppelin
1970
This was meant for the Led Zep III album but was released years later on the Coda album.
$2.99
Def Leppard
1987
Anyone notice that Rick plays better now, with one arm? This chart is one of our few hand-written ones, but it's still pretty neat and definitely readable.
$3.99
The Doors
1971
From their album L.A. Woman. One of the Door's best. Atmosphere to the max.
$4.99
Hues Corporation
1974
Sounds even better now than way back then. Good production.
$2.99
Creedence Clearwater Revival
1970
One of their many hits during the late 60s and early 70s. Almost a magical groove.
$2.99
Scott McKenzie
1967
"Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair." Hal Blaine drumming.
$3.99
Jr. Walker & The All Stars
1965
Oh yeah, this is good. Totally mesmerizing. "It's party time." Junior Walker can wail like crazy on the sax.
$2.99
The Isley Brothers
1959
They made it up on the spot at a concert. Fun for all. Thanks for the the request Barbara!
$2.99
Motley Crue
1985
Tommy Lee rocks the drums, the other guys are shouting at you-know-who. From the September 1985 Modern Drummer.
$4.99
Nirvana
1992
Huge 1991 hit. Drummer Dave Grohl is continuing on in the Foo Fighters.
$3.99
Bar-Kays
1967
Fun soul instrumental with nice fills and punches. The title? A few years after the movie Goldfinger.
Free
Robbie Dupree
1980
Same feel as the Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes." Nice drum chart.
$3.99
U2
1983
Irish band's early album hit, has lots of energy, creative drumming.
$4.99
Doobie Brothers
1976
From the Best Of The Doobies. This has to be in the pocket, or else.
$3.99
Sly & The Family Stone
1970
JB invented funk, and passed the torch to Sly. Signature bass line.
$3.99
Little Eva
1962
Carole King penned this, her babysitter sang it, and it rocks.
$1.99
Led Zeppelin
1973
From the Houses of the Holy album, the title refers to the sea of fans seen from the stage. John Bonham on drums.
$4.99
Bruce Hornsby
1986
Syncopated piano riff later sampled by Tupac Shakur. Went to number one.
$2.99
UB40
1989
Band from Great Britain does covers with a reggae flair. Originally by the Temptations.
Free
Bob Dylan
2000
Dylan wrote this for the movie Wonder Boys. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in a movie.
$4.99
Aretha Franklin
1968
Her seventh Top Ten hit, this featured the soulful and funky drumming of Roger Hawkins. Also featured in The Blues Brothers movie.
$2.99
Ed Sheeran
2014
Grammy Song of the Year, 2016. Deceptive and interesting drumming.
$2.99
Everly Brothers
1959
Don & Phil again. 4 stroke ruffs all over the place. Buddy Harman on drums.
$2.99
Righteous Bros.
1965
Hal Blaine on drums. Pretty song from the movie "Ghost."
$3.99
Shocking Blue
1970
Did you know this band was from the Netherlands? Phonetic singing. Now it's used pretty famously in cosmetic commercials.
$3.99
Animals
1965
Chas Chandler, the bass player (who recently died) discovered and managed Jimi Hendrix. Speaking of which, this song is written around the repeating bass guitar riff. Very intense, driving song, giving Eric Burden a chance to growl.
$2.99
Jefferson Airplane
1967
Best use of dynamics ever in a pop song. The height of psychedelia, and on many 'best songs ever' lists. Nice snare drumming.
$3.99
Rolling Stones
1971
One of the greatest Stones songs, and one of the greatest R&R songs. Charlie Watts on drums.
$3.99
Lee Dorsey
1966
Neat linear groove. That New Orleans influence. Creative drumming!
$2.99
Amy Winehouse
2006
From the album Back to Black, called by one critic "instantly memorable." It is.
$4.99
Aretha Franklin
1967
Aretha + drummer Roger Hawkins = pure soul classic.
$3.99
ACDC
1980
Singer Brian Johnson said that this song is for him the highlight of the band's catalog because it has "a special groovy beat that won't let you go."
$4.99
Barry White
1975
One of a kind. Barry White was born with that foghorn voice.
$3.99
Chicago
1985
Great song. Please get this, I guarantee you will love it!
$3.99