Red Hot Chili Peppers – Otherside

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

About Otherside drum sheet music

“Otherside” was the third single from Californication, the album that marked John Frusciante’s return to the band. It spent weeks at number one on the US Modern Rock chart and is one of the Chili Peppers’ best-known songs.

Chad Smith’s part is a classic mid-tempo rock groove: a solid backbeat, a steady hi-hat and tasteful fills that lift the choruses. There is nothing flashy here – and that is the lesson. At around 120 bpm it is an ideal song for developing a strong, steady pocket and learning how much feel a simple groove can have.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

Every bar of this Otherside 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 Otherside 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: Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Album: Californication (1999)
• Drummer: Chad Smith
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 120
• Style: alternative rock

What you get

Your Otherside 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 Otherside on drums

Here is a practice plan that works well for Otherside:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Follow the song and notice how little the groove changes – and how good it feels.
2. Lock in at ♩ ≈ 120. Play the main groove with a metronome until it feels effortless.
3. Focus on the backbeat. Make every snare hit the same volume and placement.
4. Learn the fills. Practise each fill with a bar of groove before and after it.
5. Play with the record. Lock in with Flea’s bass line.
6. Record yourself. Listen back for small changes in tempo between sections.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Learning Otherside 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?

Otherside drum sheet music is great for beginner-to-intermediate drummers learning to play a solid rock groove, and for bands covering the Chili Peppers. Teachers will find it a perfect song for teaching pocket and consistency.

About Chad Smith

Chad Smith has been the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer since 1988, playing on Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, By the Way and Stadium Arcadium. His mix of funk, rock and hard-hitting groove has made him one of the most popular rock drummers in the world.

More Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music

Other Red Hot Chili Peppers songs in the store: Around The World, 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

Is it the complete Otherside drum part?

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

Is Otherside 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.

Is Otherside a good song for beginner drummers?

Yes. The tempo is comfortable and the groove is clear, so it is a great song for beginners who want to play a real rock hit.

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