Drumscore
Drum Sheet Music, Playing Guides, Lessons and Transcription Services
Browse Drum Sheet Music by Artist
Heart - Drum Sheet Music
Heart is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1967, rising to prominence throughout the 1970s and 1980s as one of the defining acts in classic rock and hard rock. Led by the powerhouse vocals of Ann Wilson and the guitar work of Nancy Wilson, Heart blended hard-driving rock with melodic sensibility, earning a reputation as one of the most influential rock bands to emerge from the United States. Their catalog spans multiple decades and styles, from heavy rock anthems to arena ballads, cementing their lasting cultural impact.
Michael Derosier served as Heart's drummer during their landmark years, providing a hard rock foundation that supported the band's dynamic range from thunderous riffs to softer, more melodic passages. His drumming balanced power and groove, anchoring the rhythm section alongside bassist Steve Fossen and giving Heart's recordings a driving, energetic pulse that remains a rewarding study for rock drummers.
Drumming Style & Techniques
- Hard-hitting rock backbeats that drive the band's signature arena rock sound
- Dynamic range between powerful, driving verses and controlled, melodic passages
- Syncopated fills that complement the interplay between dual guitar and vocal arrangements
- Steady, groove-oriented kick and snare patterns rooted in classic 1970s hard rock
- Ability to shift between heavy rock intensity and restrained, feel-based playing across varied song structures
Dreamboat Annie (1975)
Dreamboat Annie is the debut album by Heart, released in the United States on February 14, 1976 through Mushroom Records, though it originated from Canadian recording sessions in 1975. The album launched Heart into the mainstream with hit singles including "Magic Man" and "Crazy on You," both of which became FM radio staples and helped define the sound of mid-70s hard rock. Its blend of heavy electric rock and delicate acoustic passages gave the record a dynamic range that set it apart from many of its contemporaries.
The drumming on Dreamboat Annie serves the album's contrasting textures, shifting between driving hard rock grooves and more restrained, nuanced playing that supports the acoustic-driven moments. The drum parts emphasize feel and song-serving dynamics over flashiness, providing a solid rhythmic foundation that anchors the band's dual guitar and vocal attack.
Drumming Highlights
- Hard-driving backbeat on "Magic Man" with a steady, mid-tempo groove that locks in with the bass to create a hypnotic rhythmic pocket
- Dynamic contrast between loud and soft sections in "Crazy on You," transitioning from restrained accompaniment during the acoustic intro to full hard rock kit playing
- Consistent use of open hi-hat accents to add texture and lift throughout the harder rock tracks
- Supportive, stripped-back drum parts on the softer acoustic passages, demonstrating control and selective use of the kit
- Driving eighth-note ride cymbal patterns on the heavier tracks that push forward momentum without overplaying
Little Queen (1977)
Little Queen, released in 1977 by Heart, stands as one of the defining hard rock albums of the decade, showcasing the band's powerful blend of acoustic sensitivity and electric intensity. Coming amid a turbulent contract dispute with Mushroom Records, the album marked Heart's debut on Portrait Records and demonstrated the group's resilience and artistic ambition. Featuring Ann and Nancy Wilson at the height of their creative partnership, Little Queen became a commercial and critical success that cemented Heart's place in the classic rock canon.
Drummer Michael Derosier delivers driving, hard rock performances throughout Little Queen, balancing muscular backbeats with dynamic range that supports both the album's heavier riff-driven tracks and its more delicate acoustic passages. His playing draws on classic 1970s hard rock drumming sensibilities, featuring solid groove work, energetic fills, and the kind of controlled power that anchors a twin-guitar-led band.
Drumming Highlights
- Driving straight-ahead rock backbeats with heavy snare emphasis on tracks like "Barracuda," providing the rhythmic foundation for the song's iconic riff
- Dynamic shifts between restrained, open hi-hat grooves on softer acoustic sections and full-kit hard rock patterns on heavier passages
- Energetic tom-heavy fills used to punctuate transitions between verses and choruses throughout the album
- Consistent use of crash accents to reinforce guitar and vocal peaks, a hallmark of 1970s hard rock drumming style
- Steady, propulsive kick and snare patterns that maintain momentum across the album's varied tempos and arrangements
Magazine (1977)
Magazine is the third studio album by Heart, the American hard rock band, released in 1977 — though its history is unconventional, as the original release was an unauthorized, unfinished version, with an official re-release following in 1978. The album reached platinum certification in both the US and Canada, cementing Heart's status as one of the defining acts of 1970s hard rock. Blending the raw energy of hard rock with dynamic shifts and melodic sensibility, Magazine remains a landmark record of the classic rock era.
The drumming on Magazine reflects the hard-hitting, groove-driven style characteristic of mid-1970s hard rock, with performances that balance powerful backbeats against the band's wide dynamic range. The drum parts support both the heavier, riff-driven moments and the more atmospheric passages, requiring versatility and control throughout the record.
Drumming Highlights
- Driving hard rock backbeats that anchor the band's guitar-heavy arrangements with consistent power and authority
- Dynamic shifts between soft, restrained passages and full-force rock sections, demanding expressive control from the drummer
- Syncopated kick and snare patterns that complement the interplay between the band's dual guitar and vocal textures
- Steady, propulsive hi-hat work that maintains forward momentum across mid-tempo and up-tempo tracks alike
- Fill patterns that punctuate transitions between verse and chorus sections, reinforcing the album's melodic hard rock structure
Dog & Butterfly (1978)
Dog & Butterfly is the fourth studio album by Heart, released on October 7, 1978 through Portrait Records. The album went double platinum and spent 36 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 17, cementing Heart's place as one of the defining hard rock acts of the late 1970s. Serving as the true musical successor to Little Queen, the record balanced hard-driving rock with more melodic and dynamic arrangements, showcasing the band's versatility across both styles.
The drumming on Dog & Butterfly reflects the dual nature of the album, moving between powerful, hard rock-driven grooves and more nuanced, dynamic playing that supports the softer, introspective moments. The drum work anchors the rhythm section with a blend of straightforward hard rock patterns and more sensitively textured passages, making it an instructive listen for drummers looking to develop both power and restraint.
Drumming Highlights
- Driving straight-ahead hard rock kick and snare patterns on the hit single "Straight On", built around a propulsive backbeat groove
- Dynamic contrast between full-kit hard rock playing and stripped-back, restrained drumming on the album's softer, folk-influenced tracks
- Consistent use of ride cymbal over hi-hat work to add an open, arena-ready feel to the harder rock sections
- Effective use of drum fills as transitions between verse and chorus sections, supporting the band's melodic song structures
- Balanced ghost noting and snare sensitivity on more delicate passages, reflecting the album's range of emotional textures
Heart (Eponymous Album) (1985)
Heart's self-titled album was released in 1985, marking a significant commercial reinvention for the band as they transitioned from their hard rock roots into a polished, arena-ready sound that dominated the mid-1980s. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 and produced multiple hit singles, cementing Heart's status as one of the defining acts of the era. Its blend of power ballads and hard rock anthems gave it enormous cultural staying power throughout the decade.
The drumming on the album, performed by Denny Carmassi, balances driving rock grooves with the dynamic sensitivity required to support both the album's heavier tracks and its sweeping ballads. Carmassi's playing is characterized by a confident, controlled power that anchors the band's layered production without overplaying in the dense studio mix.
Drumming Highlights
- Steady, hard-hitting backbeats on snare that drive the arena rock anthems with a confident, metronomic authority
- Dynamic variation between restrained, brush-like sensitivity on ballad sections and explosive full-kit hits on choruses
- Prominent use of gated snare tones, characteristic of 1980s production, adding a punchy, reverb-heavy snap to the drum sound
- Syncopated tom fills used to build tension and signal transitions between verse and chorus sections
- Ride cymbal work that maintains rhythmic momentum during mid-tempo grooves while supporting melodic phrasing from the guitars and vocals
Bad Animals (1987)
Bad Animals is the ninth studio album by Heart, released in 1987 through Capitol Records. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and achieved triple platinum certification in the US, cementing Heart's place as one of the defining hard rock acts of the late 1980s. Driven by the chart-topping single "Alone" and the Top 10 hit "Who Will You Run To," Bad Animals stands as one of the band's most commercially successful and culturally impactful records.
The drumming on Bad Animals reflects the polished, powerful production aesthetic of late-80s mainstream hard rock, featuring tight, punchy grooves that support both anthemic ballads and driving rock tracks. The drum parts balance controlled dynamics on the album's softer moments with hard-hitting, arena-ready beats on its heavier cuts, making them rewarding material for intermediate and advanced drummers alike.
Drumming Highlights
- Heavy snare-driven backbeats that anchor the hard rock anthems throughout the album
- Dynamic shifts between restrained, feel-based playing on ballads like "Alone" and full-force rock grooves on harder tracks
- Tight hi-hat and ride cymbal work that locks in with the bass to create a solid rhythmic foundation
- Punchy, studio-polished drum tones characteristic of the 1987 hard rock production style, including gated reverb on snare hits
- Consistent use of driving eighth-note patterns to propel the album's uptempo rock numbers forward
Brigade (1990)
Brigade is the tenth studio album by Heart, released in 1990 after a three-year hiatus, and it marked a powerful commercial return for the band, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The album produced the No. 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" alongside several other charting singles including "I Didn't Want to Need You" and "Stranded," cementing Heart's place in the hard rock landscape of the era. Brigade stands as one of the defining hard rock albums of 1990, blending arena-ready production with the raw energy that characterized the band's classic sound.
The drumming on Brigade is rooted in the hard-hitting, big-room aesthetic of late 1980s and early 1990s hard rock, featuring heavily gated snare sounds, driving eighth-note hi-hat patterns, and powerful tom fills that support the album's anthemic choruses. The drum parts balance straightforward rock grooves with dynamic control, shifting between restrained verse passages and explosive, wide-open chorus sections that give songs like "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" their arena-filling impact.
Drumming Highlights
- Gated snare tones throughout the album, characteristic of the polished hard rock production style prominent in 1990
- Driving, steady eighth-note hi-hat patterns anchoring the mid-tempo groove of hit singles like "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You"
- Dynamic contrast between stripped-back verse beats and full, explosive chorus sections with open hi-hats and crashing cymbals
- Powerful tom-heavy fills used to build tension and signal transitions into chorus and bridge sections across uptempo tracks
- Consistent kick and snare backbeat reinforcement that underpins the Mainstream Rock Chart-charting tracks "Wild Child" and "Tall Dark Handsome Stranger"
HOT: Most Popular Recently
- Zombie by The Cranberries
- Have A Cigar by Pink Floyd
- Mary Janes Last Dance by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
- Waiting Room by Fugazi
- Fire Woman by The Cult
- 9 To 5 by Dolly Parton
- Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
- I Saw Her Standing There by The Beatles
- Heartbreaker by Dionne Warwick
- She's Not There by Santana
Recommended Lessons
- Counting 4/4 Snare Rhythms Quiz
- Level 0 Grooves With A 16th Snare On The 'e' After 2
- Paradiddle Diddle Groove Using The High And Floor Toms
- The Flam Tap Played On The Hands And Feet
- Accenting 'a' Counts With Open Hi Hats
- Full Bar 8th Note Fills In 7/8 Using Simple Orchestrations
- Accenting Phrases With A Floor Tom
- 'A A B B' Structure Using Two Bar 12/8 Grooves
- 'H H F' Triplet Exercise
- Percentage Sign Repeat Marks