Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City

Paradise City drum sheet music – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Steven Adler's drum part on Guns N' Roses' “Paradise City”, from the album Appetite For Destruction (1987). From the mid-tempo opening to the fast finale, every bar is written out in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About Paradise City drum sheet music

“Paradise City” was a top-5 US hit from Appetite For Destruction, the best-selling debut album in American history. Its singalong chorus and explosive ending make it a closing song at countless rock shows.

Steven Adler’s part starts mid-tempo at around 100 bpm and explodes into a fast, high-energy finale. That makes it a great workout: the first half needs a relaxed, swaggering groove, and the ending needs speed and stamina.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this Paradise City 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 Paradise City 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: Guns N' Roses
• Album: Appetite For Destruction (1987)
• Drummer: Steven Adler
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 100
• Style: hard rock

What you get

Your Paradise City 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 Paradise City on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for Paradise City:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Mark where the song speeds up.
2. Practise the main groove at ♩ ≈ 100. Keep it relaxed and confident.
3. Practise the fast ending separately. Start slower and build up.
4. Learn the fills. Slowly first, then in context.
5. Play with the record. Feel the band’s energy.
6. Record yourself. Check the tempo change is clean.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning Paradise City 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?

Paradise City drum sheet music suits intermediate drummers who love classic hard rock, and Guns N’ Roses tribute and cover bands.

About Steven Adler

Steven Adler was Guns N’ Roses’ original drummer and played on Appetite For Destruction. His loose, swinging groove gave the album much of its swagger.

More Guns N' Roses drum sheet music

Other Guns N' Roses songs in the store: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine and Don’t Cry. See them all on the Guns N' Roses drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the complete Paradise City drum part?

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

Is Paradise City 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.

Does Paradise City speed up at the end?

Yes – the song finishes with a fast, high-energy section. The sheet music shows the full song, including the ending.

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