Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue

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

About Scar Tissue drum sheet music

“Scar Tissue” was the first single from Californication. It topped the US Modern Rock chart for 16 weeks and won the Grammy for Best Rock Song.

Chad Smith plays a relaxed, swung groove with a laid-back, tasteful feel. Great for practising a swung sixteenth-note pocket.

A drum transcription taken from the original recording

This Scar Tissue 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 Scar Tissue 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
• Style: alternative rock

What you get

When you buy Scar Tissue 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 Scar Tissue on drums

A step-by-step way to learn Scar Tissue on drums with the sheet music:

1. Listen with the sheet music. Feel the swung sixteenths.
2. Practise the groove slowly. Keep the swing even.
3. Stay relaxed. Laid-back is the key.
4. Learn the fills. Keep them swung.
5. Play with the record. Lock in with Flea.
6. Record yourself. Check the swing feel.

Why note-for-note sheet music?

Most free Scar Tissue 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?

Scar Tissue drum sheet music suits beginner-to-intermediate drummers and Chili Peppers fans.

About Chad Smith

Chad Smith has been the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer since 1988.

More Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music

Other Red Hot Chili Peppers songs in the store: Otherside, Around The World, Give It Away and Under The Bridge. See them all on the Red Hot Chili Peppers drum sheet music page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the sheet music cover the whole of Scar Tissue?

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.

Is Scar Tissue swung?

Yes – it has a relaxed, swung sixteenth-note feel.

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