Alice in Chains – Man In the Box

Man In The Box drum sheet music – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Sean Kinney's drum part on Alice In Chains' “Man In The Box”, from the album Facelift (1990). Every groove and fill is written out exactly as recorded, in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About Man In The Box drum sheet music

“Man In The Box” was Alice In Chains’ breakthrough single from Facelift, their 1990 debut album. It was nominated for a Grammy and became one of the defining songs of early grunge.

Sean Kinney plays a heavy, groove-driven part with powerful, solid playing at around 100 bpm. A must for fans of ’90s rock.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this Man In The Box drum transcription comes from the original recording. Instead of an approximate groove with a couple of fills, you get the whole drum part – so if you need Man In The Box drum notes that sound like the record when you play them, this is the version to use.

The sheet music is professionally engraved and easy to read on a music stand or on a tablet. Each part of the song is clearly labelled, and repeats with first- and second-time endings keep the layout compact, so you spend less time turning pages and more time playing.

Song facts

• Artist: Alice In Chains
• Album: Facelift (1990)
• Drummer: Sean Kinney
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 100
• Style: grunge / alternative metal

What you get

Your Man In The Box drum sheet music download includes:

• 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 Man In The Box on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for Man In The Box:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Follow the riff.
2. Lock in at ♩ ≈ 100. Play the groove with a metronome.
3. Play heavy. Keep the backbeat strong.
4. Learn the fills. Slowly first, then in context.
5. Play with the record. Lock in with Jerry Cantrell’s riff.
6. Record yourself. Check your groove.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning Man In The Box by ear or from a free tab usually means guessing the details – which fill goes where, what the hi-hat is doing, how a section ends. Accurate sheet music takes the guesswork out: the rhythms are exact, the song structure is clear, and you can focus on playing instead of decoding.

Who is this sheet music for?

Man In The Box drum sheet music suits beginner-to-intermediate drummers and ’90s rock cover bands.

About Sean Kinney

Sean Kinney co-founded Alice In Chains in 1987 and has played on all their albums, including Facelift, Dirt and Jar of Flies.

More Alice In Chains drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Grunge & 90s Alternative Drum Sheet Music Collection includes Man In The Box together with other songs, at a lower price than buying them one by one. This is currently the only Alice In Chains song in the store – the Alice In Chains drum sheet music page will list new ones as they are added. In the meantime, browse the full drum sheet music store – for more ’90s grunge, see the Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam sheet music.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the complete Man In The Box drum part?

Yes. The whole song is transcribed note-for-note from the record, including every fill, as heard on Facelift.

Is Man In The Box drum sheet music a tab or real notation?

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

How is the sheet music delivered?

As a PDF download. The link shows up as soon as you complete checkout and is emailed to you as well.

What tempo is Man In The Box?

Around ♩ ≈ 100.

Can’t find the song you need?

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