Animals As Leaders – The Woven Web

The Woven Web drum sheet music – a note-for-note transcription of Matt Garstka’s drum part on Animals As Leaders’ “The Woven Web”, from the album The Joy Of Motion (2014). Every groove, fill and cymbal hit is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About the drum part

“The Woven Web” is one of the standout tracks from Animals As Leaders’ The Joy Of Motion, and a great showcase of Matt Garstka’s fluid, groove-heavy drumming. It sounds effortless, but the part is full of odd meters, ghost notes and subtle hi-hat work.

The A section moves through 9/8 and 7/8 bars before landing in 4/4, built on busy sixteenth-note grooves with ghosted snare notes and open and closed hi-hat. The B section switches between 3/4 and 4/4, contrasting dense ghost-note patterns with wide, open cymbal accents, and includes triplet and sextuplet figures.

What’s in the The Woven Web drum sheet music

This The Woven Web drum sheet music shows every ghost note (in brackets), every open and closed hi-hat and every time-signature change. Sections are labelled A, B and A2, with first- and second-time endings to keep the layout compact.

Looking for The Woven Web 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: Animals As Leaders
• Album: The Joy Of Motion (2014)
• Drummer: Matt Garstka
• Tempo: ♩ = 118
• Time signature: odd meters (9/8, 7/8, 3/4, 4/4)
• Style: Progressive metal / instrumental
• Level: 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 The Woven Web on drums

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

1. Learn the 9/8 and 7/8 bars first. Count them in sixteenth notes and clap the accents before playing on the kit.
2. Keep ghost notes quiet. The bracketed snare notes should be much softer than the backbeat. Record yourself to check the balance.
3. Practise the hi-hat openings. Open (o) and closed (+) marks are part of the groove. Work on your hi-hat foot slowly.
4. Slow it down. Start at about 80 bpm and increase gradually to the original 118.

Reading tips for this chart

• Ghost notes are written in brackets. Play them very softly – they add texture under the main groove and should be felt more than heard.
• Open and closed hi-hat are marked with a small “o” (open) and “+” (closed) above the note. The timing of the openings is part of the groove, so follow them closely.
• First- and second-time endings show which bars to play on each pass of a repeat. Play the bracket marked “1.” the first time and skip to “2.” the next time.
• 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.
• 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 The Woven Web drum sheet music is for advanced drummers and progressive metal fans who want to learn Matt Garstka’s style: odd meters that still groove, with plenty of ghost notes and hi-hat detail.

More Animals As Leaders drum sheet music

You might also like Tempting Time, Wave Of Babies, CAFO, and the rest of the Animals As Leaders drum sheet music collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this The Woven Web drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the complete drum part, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on The Joy Of Motion. 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