Note-for-note transcription of Larry Mullen Jr.’s iconic drum part on Sunday Bloody Sunday from U2’s War album (1983). Around 155 BPM, 4/4.
The main groove is a martial, driving snare pattern that turns a rock kit into something that sounds like a military march.
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The Sunday Bloody Sunday drum transcription is a masterclass in how a drummer can define the entire identity of a song.
Larry Mullen Jr. opens the track alone. No guitar, no bass, just snare and hi-hat setting a tense, march-like pulse before the rest of the band enters.
That opening pattern is one of the most recognizable drum intros in rock history, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
What makes this track genuinely interesting to transcribe is how much Larry does with restraint.
The snare work is driving and militaristic, built on a tight 8th-note pattern with precise ghost notes that give the groove its weight without cluttering the space that Bono and The Edge need to work in. The fills are purposeful and minimal. Every hit means something.
The hi-hat work throughout is worth studying carefully. Larry keeps a consistent open and closed pattern that creates tension across the verses before opening up in the choruses. If you’re still getting comfortable with reading sheet music, our drum notation guide will get you up to speed before you dive in.
For a similar exercise in disciplined, song-serving drumming, our Highway to Hell drum transcription is a natural companion. Phil Rudd and Larry Mullen Jr. share the same philosophy: lock in, serve the song, and never overplay.
If Sunday Bloody Sunday gets you interested in how great drummers use space and dynamics, our online drum lessons section covers those concepts in depth.
This chart lives in our free drum transcriptions library alongside 160+ others.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tempo: ~155 BPM
Time Signature: 4/4
Key Technique: Martial snare patterns, ghost notes, hi-hat tension and release, dynamic control.
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Californication Drum Transcription Red Hot Chili Peppers Note-for-note transcription of Chad Smith’s drum part on Californication from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication album (1999). Around 96 BPM, 4/4. The main groove is a mid-paced funk-rock pocket built around ghost notes, open and closed hi-hat interplay, and a snare that sits right in the mix without
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