Hozier – Nina Cried Power

Nina Cried Power drum sheet music – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Rory Doyle’s drum part on Hozier’s “Nina Cried Power” (feat. Mavis Staples, 2018). The whole song is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About Nina Cried Power drum sheet music

“Nina Cried Power” was released in 2018 as the title track of Hozier’s comeback EP, featuring soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples. The song pays tribute to protest singers such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and John Lennon, and it later appeared on his second album, Wasteland, Baby!

The drums carry the song’s gospel spirit. The part starts from a steady, patient pulse and builds into a powerful, uplifting chorus, with a deep pocket and fills that push the band forward without rushing. It is a great song for learning how to build intensity over a whole song while keeping the groove solid.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

This Nina Cried Power drum transcription was written bar by bar from Hozier’s studio recording and checked against the track. It is not a live take and nothing is simplified – these are the Nina Cried Power drum notes exactly as they were played on the record.

The notation is clean and professionally engraved, with clearly marked sections and repeats, so it is quick to find your place when you jump to a fill or a chorus. Print it for your music stand or keep it on a tablet – both work well.

Song facts

• Artist: Hozier
• Released: 2018
• Drummer: Rory Doyle
• Style: soul / gospel rock

What you get

When you buy Nina Cried Power drum sheet music, 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 Nina Cried Power on drums

A step-by-step way to learn Nina Cried Power on drums with the sheet music:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Notice how the drums grow from the first verse to the final chorus.
2. Find the pocket. Practise the main groove with a metronome and keep the backbeat relaxed and slightly laid-back.
3. Plan your dynamics. Mark where each section gets louder, so the last chorus has the most energy.
4. Learn the fills in context. Play each fill with the bar before and after it.
5. Play with the record. Listen to Mavis Staples and Hozier – the drums should support the vocal energy.
6. Record yourself. Check that your time stays steady as the volume goes up.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Most free Nina Cried Power drum tabs are rough sketches – the main groove, maybe a fill or two, and rhythms that are hard to read. Note-for-note sheet music shows exactly what was played and when, so you learn the real part instead of an approximation, and you learn it faster.

Who is this sheet music for?

This sheet music suits intermediate drummers, especially those who play soul, gospel or modern rock. It is a great teaching song for dynamics and pocket, and an obvious pick for bands covering Hozier.

About Hozier

Andrew Hozier-Byrne is an Irish singer-songwriter who broke through in 2013 with “Take Me to Church”. His music mixes soul, blues, gospel and rock, and albums such as Hozier, Wasteland, Baby! and Unreal Unearth are full of grooves that drummers love to play.

More Hozier drum sheet music

Other Hozier songs in the store: Take Me To Church. See them all on the Hozier drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the sheet music cover the whole of Nina Cried Power?

Yes – every section from the first bar to the last, exactly as played on the original recording. It is not a shortened or simplified version.

Is it written as drum tabs or as drum notation?

As standard drum notation on a five-line staff. Tabs can show which drum to hit but not the exact rhythm – notation shows both.

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.

What style is Nina Cried Power on drums?

It is a gospel-flavoured soul-rock groove: a steady pocket in the verses that grows into a big, powerful chorus.

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