Metallica – Ride The Lightning

Ride The Lightning drum sheet music – a note-for-note transcription of Lars Ulrich’s drum part on Metallica’s “Ride The Lightning”, from the album Ride The Lightning (1984). Every groove, fill and cymbal hit is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About the drum part

“Ride The Lightning” is the title track of Metallica’s second album, and a great example of early Lars Ulrich: tight thrash grooves, big accents and fills that follow the riffs closely.

The intro starts with the snare alone on 2 and 4, then the bass drum joins, followed by crash hits and a triplet fill. The main groove is a driving eighth-note hi-hat thrash beat with crashes at the start of phrases, sixteenth-note snare fills, grace notes, choked crashes and a 3/4 bar. In the verse, snare and tom unisons accent the riff.

What’s in the Ride The Lightning drum sheet music

This Ride The Lightning drum sheet music labels every section, marks choked cymbals and “no crash” repeats, and writes out every fill. Repeats keep the chart easy to follow while still showing each variation.

Looking for Ride The Lightning drum tabs? This is full drum notation on a five-line staff, so it shows the exact rhythm of every note – something tabs can’t do.

Song facts

• Artist: Metallica
• Album: Ride The Lightning (1984)
• Drummer: Lars Ulrich
• Tempo: ♩ = 146
• Time signature: 4/4, with a 3/4 bar
• Style: Thrash metal
• Level: Intermediate to advanced

What you get

• The full song, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording
• Clearly labelled song sections
• Professionally engraved, print-ready PDF
• Instant download after purchase

How to practise Ride The Lightning on drums

Once you have the Ride The Lightning drum sheet music, here is a good way to learn it:

1. Start with the intro build. Add one limb at a time, just like the recording.
2. Keep the eighth notes even. At 146 bpm the hi-hat must stay steady – practise with a metronome.
3. Practise the fills separately. Loop each sixteenth-note fill with the bar before it.
4. Count the 3/4 bar. Know where it comes so you are not caught out.

Reading tips for this chart

• Choked cymbals are marked “choke”. Hit the cymbal and grab it straight away with your other hand so the sound stops short.
• Repeat bars (the slash signs) mean “play the previous bar or bars again”. The small numbers above them count the bars so you do not lose your place.
• Time-signature changes are written exactly where they happen. When a new one appears, count the smallest note value (eighths or sixteenths) until it feels natural.
• Grace notes and flams are the small notes just before the main note. Play them softly and slightly ahead of the beat.
• Section labels in boxes (such as I, V1, C1) name each part of the song – intro, verse, chorus and so on – so you can find your place quickly.

Who is it for?

This Ride The Lightning drum sheet music suits intermediate to advanced drummers who want to learn classic 80s thrash metal and build speed and accuracy.

More Metallica drum sheet music

You might also like The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters, Master Of Puppets, and the rest of the Metallica drum sheet music collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Ride The Lightning drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the complete drum part, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on Ride The Lightning. Nothing is simplified.

Is it a drum tab or real notation?

It is real drum notation, the standard way drum parts are written. If you are used to tabs, it is worth the switch – notation shows rhythm exactly, which tabs can’t.

How do I get the PDF after I buy?

The download link appears straight after checkout and is also sent to your email. You can print the PDF or read it on a tablet.

Listen to the song on YouTube · Got any questions? Get in touch · Need another song? Custom drum transcriptions