Red Hot Chili Peppers – Around The World

Around The World drum sheet music – a note-for-note accurate transcription of Chad Smith's drum part on Red Hot Chili Peppers' “Around The World”, from the album Californication (1999). Every groove and fill is written out exactly as recorded, in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About Around The World drum sheet music

“Around The World” opens Californication, the 1999 album that brought John Frusciante back to the band and became their best-selling record. Its famous bass intro and explosive chorus make it a live favourite.

Chad Smith’s part is high-energy funk rock: punchy, powerful grooves that switch between the funky verses and the hard-hitting choruses. At around 95 bpm it is great for drummers who love funky, hard-hitting rock and want to work on clean transitions between grooves.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

This Around The World drum transcription was written bar by bar from Red Hot Chili Peppers' studio recording and checked against the track. It is not a live take and nothing is simplified – these are the Around The World 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: Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Album: Californication (1999)
• Drummer: Chad Smith
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 95
• Style: funk rock

What you get

When you buy Around The World 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 Around The World on drums

A step-by-step way to learn Around The World on drums with the sheet music:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Notice the different grooves for verse and chorus.
2. Practise each groove separately. Play them with a metronome until they are tight.
3. Practise the transitions. Switch between the grooves until it feels natural.
4. Learn the fills. Play them slowly, then in context.
5. Play with the record. Lock in with Flea’s bass.
6. Record yourself. Check the transitions are clean.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Most free Around The World 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?

Around The World drum sheet music suits intermediate drummers who love funk rock, and Chili Peppers fans and cover bands.

About Chad Smith

Chad Smith has played drums for the Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988. His hard-hitting funk-rock style drives albums such as Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication and By the Way.

More Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music

Want more than one song? The Funk & Groove Drum Sheet Music Collection includes Around The World together with other songs, at a lower price than buying them one by one. You can also get other Red Hot Chili Peppers songs one by one: Otherside, Give It Away, Under The Bridge and By The Way. See them all on the Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the sheet music cover the whole of Around The World?

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 tempo is Around The World?

Around ♩ ≈ 95, with high-energy funk-rock grooves.

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