Chandelier Drum Tab

Practice Sia on Drums

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Learn to play Chandelier on drums

Play Chandelier drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every note in real time as the notation moves with the music, slow down challenging sections with tempo control, loop difficult grooves until they feel natural, and isolate the drum track to hear every detail of the electronic-to-acoustic hybrid percussion. Learning this track helps you develop explosive dynamic shifts and master modern synth-pop timing. Our step-by-step learning tools make mastering this modern pop track faster, easier, and far more effective than practicing from a static PDF alone. Grab your sticks and start practicing today!

Song information

Artist: Sia

Drummer: Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin

Album: 1000 Forms of Fear

Released: 2014

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

80-89

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features a dramatic shift from minimalist, syncopated electronic-style verses to a high-energy pop-rock chorus, emphasizing dynamic control, powerful snare backbeats, consistent crash cymbal washes, and precise timing transitions.

Song's Overview

Released in 2014 on Sia's album 1000 Forms of Fear, Chandelier quickly became a modern pop masterpiece, celebrated for its raw emotional intensity and massive vocal delivery. For drummers, the track offers a fascinating study in modern pop arrangement, blending atmospheric electronic percussion with high-energy live drum simulation. When you learn Chandelier on drums, you immediately see how structural dynamics dictate the rhythmic choices. The song shifts dramatically from a sparse, reggae-infused electropop verse into a soaring, driving power-pop chorus. This contrast requires the player to manage energy perfectly. The verse relies on a minimal, syncopated groove that leaves space for the vocals, while the chorus demands an explosive entry with powerful backbeats and driving crash cymbals. Analyzing a Chandelier drum cover reveals how electronic programming can be translated into an expressive acoustic performance. Utilizing an accurate Chandelier drum sheet helps musicians navigate these electronic textures, ensuring precise timing during the transition from the subdued pre-chorus to the anthemic chorus. It is an excellent piece for modern drumming development, teaching players how to maintain a rock-solid pocket while executing drastic dynamic shifts that elevate the entire musical arrangement.

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About the Drummer

Greg Kurstin and Jesse Shatkin are world-class producers and songwriters responsible for some of the biggest hits in modern pop. On Sia's "Chandelier," they handled the drum programming to create an atmospheric and powerful rhythmic foundation. Their work represents the peak of modern digital percussion production.

Drumming Style

The programming style here focuses on dramatic build-ups and a massive, echoing snare sound that defines modern pop anthems. While it is programmed, playing drums to these tracks is a great exercise in matching machine-like precision. It’s a popular choice for hybrid drum covers that mix acoustic kits with electronic triggers.

Practice Advice

Start Below Full Speed

The explosive chorus demands clean, powerful execution. Begin practicing at 90 BPM before moving to the original 117 BPM tempo. Use tempo control to lock in the kick drum placement accurately before building up to full performance speed.

Loop the Chorus Transition

The transition from the quiet pre-chorus to the massive chorus requires perfect timing. Loop this specific section to ensure your opening crash cymbal downbeat hits with absolute authority without rushing or dragging the tempo.

Avoid Overplaying the Verses

A common mistake is adding complex fills during the verses. The original programming relies on space and restraint. Maintain a clean, minimalist reggae-pop feel to allow the vocal performance to lead the track effectively.

Lock into the Electronic Pocket

Pop-rock drumming requires exceptional timing consistency. Practice along with a metronome or the isolated drum score to match the mechanical precision of the electronic backing tracks, focusing on perfectly aligned snare backbeats.

Master the Dynamic Explosions

The core challenge of this track is dynamic control. Work on whispering through the verses and unleashing full power in the chorus. Ensure your sudden volume shifts are intentional, controlled, and synchronized with the arrangement.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Internalize the Minimal Verse Groove

Isolate the sparse, electronic-style rhythm of the opening verses. Focus on clean hi-hat placement and subtle kick patterns, ensuring you maintain a relaxed, reggae-pop pocket that leaves plenty of room for the vocals.

Phase 2: Master the Explosive Chorus Transition

Analyze the dramatic build-up during the pre-chorus. Practice the exact moment the track explodes into the heavy chorus, ensuring your opening crash hit is perfectly timed and your volume increases instantly.

Phase 3: Drive the High-Energy Chorus

Work through the driving four-on-the-floor pop-rock rhythm of the main chorus. Build the physical endurance needed to maintain powerful, consistent snare backbeats and continuous crash cymbal washes without losing your timing.

Phase 4: Execute the Full Pop Arrangement

Combine all distinct phases and play along with the full song. Focus on smooth transitions between the quiet verses and intense choruses, delivering a balanced performance with professional dynamic control from start to finish.

Skills You'll Improve

Dynamic Contrast Management
Pop Groove Consistency
Precise Transition Timing
Minimalist Restraint Execution
Endurance in Heavy Choruses

Recommended For

This drum sheet is recommended for intermediate drummers looking to master modern pop-rock dynamics and timing precision. It is especially valuable for players wanting to transition smoothly between electronic-style minimalism and heavy, high-energy acoustic choruses, while developing professional restraint and authoritative pocket control throughout a contemporary pop arrangement.