Vultures Drum Tab

Practice john Mayer on Drums

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Learn to play Vultures on drums

Play Vultures drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every note in real time as the synchronized drum notation moves with the music. Slow down challenging sections with tempo control, use looping sections to repeat the intricate verse groove until it feels natural, and isolate the drums to hear every detail of Steve Jordan's precise performance. Whether you're building a deep neo-soul pocket or refining your snare ghost note consistency, our interactive drum sheet makes learning faster, easier, and far more effective than practicing from a static PDF. Pick up your sticks and lock into this groove today!

Song information

Artist: john Mayer

Drummer: Steve Jordan

Album: Continuum

Released: 2006

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

90-99

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features a detailed breakdown of Steve Jordan's mid-tempo funk pocket, highlighting delicate snare ghost notes, syncopated hi-hat barks, precise kick-drum alignment, and tight dynamic control throughout the entire track.

Song's Overview

Released in 2017 on Imagine Dragons' album Evolve, Believer shifted the landscape of modern rock by blending alternative rock elements with heavy electronic production and a booming hip-hop-influenced rhythmic drive. For drummers, when you choose to learn Believer on drums, you are tackling a track defined by its distinct 12/8 time signature and a march-like, tribal percussion foundation that acts as the primary hook of the entire composition. The drumming on this Believer drum cover relies heavily on a booming floor tom pulse and snappy, syncopated snare cracks rather than a traditional hi-hat or ride pattern. Daniel Platzman utilizes a stark, stadium-sized dynamic structure where the verses remain tense and sparse, building immense pressure before exploding into a driving chorus. Analyzing this Believer drum sheet reveals how modern hybrid rock uses repetition and physical power to create tension. Instead of complex fills, the challenge lies in maintaining precise acoustic note placement against a rigid electronic layer, making it an exceptional case study in modern rhythmic endurance and timing.

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About the Drummer

Steve Jordan is a world-renowned session drummer and producer, famous for his work with the John Mayer Trio and the Rolling Stones. He is widely considered a "master of the groove" and a primary influence for students in advanced drum lessons. His career is a masterclass in how to play with maximum feel and minimum clutter.

Drumming Style

His style is defined by a deep, immovable pocket and a very "dry," articulate snare sound. Playing drums like Jordan requires incredible focus on the relationship between the kick, snare, and hi-hat. His grooves are among the most studied by those learning drums and are favorites for high-level drum covers.

Practice Advice

Dial Back the Tempo

The song sits at a relaxed 98 BPM, but its spacing requires immense precision. Begin practicing at 75-80 BPM using a metronome. Focus on placing the kick and snare exactly on the grid to build a reliable rhythmic foundation before advancing to full speed.

Loop the Hi-Hat Openings

Isolate the verse sections where the hi-hat slips open on the "and" of beats. Use loop mode to repeat these two-bar patterns continuously. This repetition builds muscle memory, ensuring the quick slips do not interrupt your steady right-hand flow.

Avoid Rushing the Backbeat

A frequent mistake when playing this slow-funk feel is rushing the snare hits on beats two and four. Drummers often anticipate the beat when the pattern is sparse. Keep your shoulders relaxed, breathe through the spaces, and let the snare land late in the pocket.

Lock into the Bassline

To establish the ultimate pocket consistency, train your ears to match the bass pattern. Focus on aligning your kick drum precisely with the bass guitar's pocket. Practice playing along to the isolated bass track to ensure your downbeats are tightly glued together.

Master Snare Ghost Notes

The texture of this groove depends entirely on quiet ghost notes between the primary backbeats. Practice low-height strokes, keeping your stick just an inch above the snare head. Ensure these notes remain highly tactile but whisper-quiet, maintaining a clear dynamic contrast.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Solidify the Fundamental Backbeat

Isolate the core eighth-note hi-hat pulse alongside steady kick and snare placements. Ignore the ghost notes initially and focus on maintaining an even, unhurried groove at 98 BPM. Establish a strong, repetitive groove foundation before adding any subtle embellishments.

Phase 2: Integrate Subtle Hi-Hat Openings

Incorporate the precise, syncopated hi-hat barks scattered throughout the verse. Practice opening and closing the cymbals crisply without letting your left foot throw off the timing of your right hand or your kick drum downbeats.

Phase 3: Develop Snare Dynamic Layers

Introduce the quiet ghost notes around the main backbeats on beats two and four. Focus entirely on stick height control, ensuring a dramatic volume difference between your accented center-snare hits and the soft, textured fill-in notes.

Phase 4: Execute the Full Song Arrangement

Combine all sections and play through the entire track from start to finish. Focus on mental endurance and micro-timing consistency, keeping the pocket deeply relaxed and perfectly synchronized with the bass from the first bar to the final fade-out.

Skills You'll Improve

Snare Ghost Note Articulation
Mid-Tempo Pocket Consistency
Precise Hi-Hat Bark Timing
Micro-Timing and Rhythmic Placement
Interlocking Bass Drum Coordination

Recommended For

This layout is highly recommended for intermediate drummers looking to improve micro-timing, clean dynamic control, and deep pocket consistency. It is exceptionally valuable for blues and funk players who want to master how subtle snare ghost notes and precise hi-hat openings elevate a track without relying on complex fills.