Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop

Can’t Stop drum sheet music – a note-for-note transcription of Chad Smith’s drum part on Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop”, from the album By The Way (2002). Every groove, fill and cymbal hit is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About the drum part

“Can’t Stop” from By The Way is one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ biggest songs, and Chad Smith’s part is a lesson in tight, funky rock drumming.

The intro plays sixteenth notes on the hi-hat and snare together with the band’s choppy guitar figure, ending on an accented hit before three bars of rest. The verses use an eighth-note hi-hat groove with sixteenth-note bass drum pickups and open hi-hats, and the choruses are marked “loose” for a washier hi-hat sound. Every fill is written out, including grace notes.

What’s in the Can’t Stop drum sheet music

This Can’t Stop drum sheet music labels every section (intro, verses and choruses), uses repeats with first- and second-time endings, and marks all open hi-hats and “no crash” bars.

Looking for Can’t Stop drum tabs? This is full drum notation on a five-line staff, so it shows the exact rhythm of every note – something tabs can’t do.

Song facts

• Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Album: By The Way (2002)
• Drummer: Chad Smith
• Tempo: ♩ = 90
• Time signature: 4/4
• Style: Funk rock
• Level: Intermediate

What 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 Can’t Stop on drums

Once you have the Can’t Stop drum sheet music, here is a good way to learn it:

1. Tighten the intro. Play the sixteenth notes with the recording so you lock in with the guitar.
2. Work on the kick pickups. The “a” before the beat gives the groove its bounce.
3. Open the hi-hat in the chorus. A slightly loose hi-hat makes the chorus feel bigger.
4. Practise the fills slowly. Keep them even and in time.

Reading tips for this chart

• Open and closed hi-hat are marked with a small “o” (open) and “+” (closed) above the note. The timing of the openings is part of the groove, so follow them closely.
• First- and second-time endings show which bars to play on each pass of a repeat. Play the bracket marked “1.” the first time and skip to “2.” the next time.
• Repeat bars (the slash signs) mean “play the previous bar or bars again”. The small numbers above them count the bars so you do not lose your place.
• Grace notes and flams are the small notes just before the main note. Play them softly and slightly ahead of the beat.
• Section labels in boxes (such as I, V1, C1) name each part of the song – intro, verse, chorus and so on – so you can find your place quickly.

Who is it for?

This Can’t Stop drum sheet music suits intermediate drummers and Red Hot Chili Peppers fans who want to improve their funk-rock grooves and sixteenth-note control.

More Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music

You might also like Otherside, Give It Away, Around The World, and the rest of the Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Can’t Stop drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the complete drum part, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on By The Way. Nothing is simplified.

Is it a drum tab or real notation?

It is real drum notation, the standard way drum parts are written. If you are used to tabs, it is worth the switch – notation shows rhythm exactly, which tabs can’t.

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.

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