Max Roach Solo – The Scene Is Clean

The Scene Is Clean drum solo transcription – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Max Roach’s drum solo on “The Scene Is Clean”, from Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street. Every phrase is written out in clean, print-ready drum sheet music.

About The Scene Is Clean drum sheet music

“The Scene Is Clean” was written by pianist Tadd Dameron and recorded by the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet on At Basin Street, with Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone.

Roach’s solo is musical and structured, full of classic bebop ideas developed with great logic. At around 160 bpm it sits between his medium and very fast solos, making it ideal for building your bebop vocabulary.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

The The Scene Is Clean drum transcription on this page is written from the original studio recording – not from a live version and not from a simplified arrangement. If you have been searching for The Scene Is Clean drum notes that actually match the record, this is the complete part, from the first bar to the last.

Song sections are clearly labelled, so you always know where you are, and the layout follows the song from start to finish. The PDF is professionally engraved, prints cleanly and reads just as well on an iPad or any other tablet.

Song facts

• Artist: Max Roach
• Album: Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street (1956)
• Drummer: Max Roach
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 160
• Style: bebop jazz drum solo

What you get

Here is what is included with The Scene Is Clean drum sheet music:

• 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 Scene Is Clean on drums

Once you have the The Scene Is Clean drum sheet music, here is a simple way to learn it:

1. Listen many times. Sing the phrases first.
2. Learn phrase by phrase. Play slowly and evenly.
3. Notice the structure. Mark how Roach develops each idea.
4. Use a metronome. Build up to ♩ ≈ 160.
5. Play along with the recording. Match his phrasing and dynamics.
6. Use the ideas. Bring the phrases into your own playing.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Free versions of The Scene Is Clean drum notes online are often tabs typed out by ear, with missing fills and rhythms that don’t match the record. A proper transcription saves you hours of guessing: every part is checked against the original recording, the rhythms are exact, and the layout follows the song so you always know where you are.

Who is this sheet music for?

This transcription is for intermediate to advanced jazz drummers, students and teachers.

About Max Roach

Max Roach was one of the most important drummers in jazz, a founder of bebop and co-leader of the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet. His melodic approach influenced generations of players.

More jazz drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Max Roach Drum Solo Transcriptions Collection includes The Scene Is Clean 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, Rhythm, I’ll Remember April and Hard Wired. See them all on the jazz drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Is this The Scene Is Clean drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the full song, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street. Nothing is simplified.

Are these The Scene Is Clean drum tabs?

No – it is proper drum notation, which is more precise than tabs because it shows exactly when every note falls. If you are new to reading, it is easier than it looks – each drum and cymbal has its own place on the staff.

When do I get the PDF?

Straight away – the download link appears right after checkout and arrives in your inbox, so you can print it or open it on a tablet.

What tempo is The Scene Is Clean?

Around ♩ ≈ 160.

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