Larnell Lewis Solo – The City Lights

The City Lights drum solo transcription – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Larnell Lewis’ drum solo on “The City Lights”, from his album Relive The Moment (2018). Every phrase is written out in clean, print-ready drum sheet music.

About The City Lights drum sheet music

Relive The Moment is the debut album of Canadian drummer Larnell Lewis, best known for his work with Snarky Puppy. It mixes jazz, gospel, funk and Caribbean influences.

Lewis’ solo is fiery, modern and full of energy, at around 160 bpm. Fast gospel-chops vocabulary, clear phrasing and great dynamics make it excellent study material for jazz and fusion drummers.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this The City Lights 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 The City Lights 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: Larnell Lewis
• Album: Relive The Moment (2018)
• Drummer: Larnell Lewis
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 160
• Style: jazz-fusion drum solo

What you get

Your The City Lights 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 The City Lights on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for The City Lights:

1. Listen many times. Sing the phrases before you play them.
2. Learn it in small sections. Two bars at a time, slowly.
3. Count carefully. Mark where phrases start and end.
4. Use a metronome. Build up towards ♩ ≈ 160 step by step.
5. Play along with the recording. Match the phrasing and dynamics, not just the notes.
6. Use the ideas. Bring your favourite phrases into your own playing.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning The City Lights 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?

This transcription suits intermediate to advanced drummers interested in modern jazz, fusion and gospel chops.

About Larnell Lewis

Larnell Lewis is a Toronto-based drummer, composer and educator. As a member of Snarky Puppy he has won several Grammys, and his playing is famous for its energy and precision.

More jazz drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Modern Jazz Drum Solos Collection includes The City Lights together with other songs, at a lower price than buying them one by one. You can also get other jazz songs one by one: What Is This Thing Called Love, I’ll Remember April, Rhythm and Hard Wired. See them all on the jazz drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the complete The City Lights drum part?

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

Is The City Lights 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 The City Lights solo?

Around ♩ ≈ 160.

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