Dave Grohl could’ve gone crazy on this one. He didn’t. Come As You Are sits right in that pocket where less does more, mid-tempo, steady, the kind of groove that makes the whole song breathe.
Enter your name and email below to instantly access the complete drum transcription for Come As You Are by Nirvana.
Note-for-note transcription of Dave Grohl’s drum part on Come As You Are from Nirvana’s Nevermind (1991).
Around 120 BPM, 4/4. The verse groove is clean, 8th-note hi-hats, snare on 2 and 4, kick on 1 and the “and” of 3. Nothing exotic.
What makes it interesting is how Grohl pushes and pulls the energy between sections. The verse is restrained. The chorus opens up. He earns the crash cymbals when they land.
The fills are short and musical, mostly snare-based with a quick tom resolution. Nothing that’ll break your wrists, but they need to sit right in the pocket or they’ll stick out like a sore thumb. Timing is everything here.
If you’re still getting your head around the notation, the drum notation guide will sort you out before you start. And if come As You Are is clicking but you want more Grohl, go check out In Bloom, same album, completely different energy.
For context on how punk and grunge drumming overlap in approach, the punk drums lesson is worth a read. Same attitude, different tempo. Once you’re through this one, Smells Like Teen Spirit is the logical next step — it’s the same drummer, same album, but he opens the throttle a lot more.
Both charts live in the full transcriptions library alongside 160+ others.
Difficulty: Beginner — Easy/Intermediate
Tempo: ~120 BPM
Time Signature: 4/4
Key Technique: Dynamic control between sections, pocket playing, crash placement
Eye of The Tiger Drum Transcription Survivor Master the relentless, fight-ready groove that turned a movie cue into a workout anthem. Learn Marc Droubay’s no-frills, full-power performance with our accurate drum transcription of this Survivor classic. FREE DOWNLOAD The Drum Ninja The Vault Hundreds of premium charts, Drum Ninja style Start Free Trial No charge
Summer of 69 Drum Transcription Bryan Adams Note-for-note transcription of Pat Zgoda’s drum part on Summer of 69 from Bryan Adams’ Reckless (1985). Around 136 BPM, 4/4. A straight-ahead, no-frills rock groove that locks in and doesn’t let go. The kick and snare sit in the pocket from bar one, the hi-hat keeps a relentless
Smoke on the Water Drum Transcription Deep Purple Note-for-note transcription of Ian Paice’s drum part on Smoke on the Water from Deep Purple’s Machine Head album (1972). Around 114 BPM, 4/4. The main groove is a steady, driving hard rock pocket built around syncopated hi-hat accents, displaced kick drum drops, and some of the most
Unlock the tools and resources to make consistent progress in your own development as a drummer with The Drum Ninja Online Drum School platform today - click the button below to get started for FREE now.
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook, “9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook,
“9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
