Animals As Leaders – CAFO

CAFO drum sheet music – a note-for-note accurate transcription of the drum part on Animals As Leaders’ “CAFO”, from the album Animals As Leaders (2009). The whole instrumental is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About CAFO drum sheet music

“CAFO” is one of the best-known songs from Animals As Leaders’ 2009 debut album and a showcase for Tosin Abasi’s guitar playing.

The drums on the album were programmed; this transcription turns them into sheet music for a real kit. It is complex and technical – a serious challenge for drummers into djent and prog.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this CAFO 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 CAFO 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: Animals As Leaders
• Album: Animals As Leaders (2009)
• Style: progressive metal / djent

What you get

Your CAFO 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 CAFO on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for CAFO:

1. Listen many times. Learn the structure.
2. Count every section. Mark odd groupings.
3. Practise very slowly. Loop tricky bars.
4. Lock in with the guitar. Kick patterns follow the riffs.
5. Build up the tempo. Step by step.
6. Play with the record. Then record yourself.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning CAFO 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?

CAFO drum sheet music is for advanced drummers into djent and modern prog.

About Animals As Leaders

Animals As Leaders are an instrumental progressive-metal band led by guitarist Tosin Abasi, with Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka.

More Animals As Leaders drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Progressive & Odd-Time Drum Sheet Music Collection includes CAFO together with other songs, at a lower price than buying them one by one. You can also get other Animals As Leaders songs one by one: Tempting Time, The Woven Web and Wave Of Babies. See them all on the Animals As Leaders drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the complete CAFO drum part?

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

Is CAFO 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.

Were the drums on CAFO programmed?

Yes – this transcription writes the programmed part out for a standard kit.

Can’t find the song you need?

Order a custom drum transcription of any song on YouTube.

Listen to the song on YouTube · Got any questions? Get in touch