Up Around The Bend
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Creedence Clearwater Revival on Drums

Easy to Intermediate

Want access to all lessons?

View Plans >>

Learn to Play Up Around The Bend Faster With Pro Interactive Drum Player

Choose your Drum Sheet Version

Two versions of the drum sheet - choose the one that fits your level and goals.

ORIGINAL VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Easy to Intermediate

Exactly as played on the original recording
All fills & ghost notes
Full arrangement

Purchase for only 1.90$

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Easy

Easier to learn
Simplified fills
Reduced ghost notes
Perfect for beginners & intermediates

Purchase for only 1.90$

Not sure which version?

We recommend starting with the Simplified Version and moving to the Original Version once you're comfortable with the groove and structure.

Unlock all songs library and practice like a pro:

$10 / month

Billed at $120 per year

7-day free trial
Full access to all songs
Interactive player
Downloadable drum sheets
Full support
Cancel anytime
30-day money-back guarantee

Start with 7-Day Trial

$15 / month

Billed at $15 per month

Full access to all songs
Interactive player
Downloadable drum sheets
Full support
Cancel anytime

Purchase

Drumming Techniques You'll Learn in Up Around The Bend

Up-Tempo Rock Groove Stamina
Straight-Eight Subdivision Accuracy
Clean Sectional Transition Timing
Precise Snare Backbeat Consistency
Solid Bass Drum Alignment

Recommended For

This drum notation is highly recommended for beginner to intermediate players looking to strengthen their up-tempo groove consistency, wrist stamina, and straight-eight subdivision accuracy. It is exceptionally valuable for drummers interested in classic roots-rock styles who want to develop the physical discipline needed to support an energetic, fast-paced arrangement with absolute precision, metric confidence, and clean sectional timing stability across the track.

Learn to play Up Around The Bend on drums

Play Up Around the Bend drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every driving note in real time as the synchronized drum notation moves seamlessly with the music. Use tempo control to break down Doug Clifford’s rapid, continuous eighth-note driving patterns, utilize looping sections to master the high-energy chorus transitions, and activate isolated drums to analyze the precise snap of every snare drum backbeat. Whether you are developing up-tempo wrist endurance or refining your straight-ahead rock groove consistency, our advanced learning tools make studying this interactive drum sheet faster and far more effective than an ordinary paper chart. Grab your sticks and start mastering this high-energy rock groove today!

Song information

Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Drummer: Doug "Cosmo" Clifford

Album: Cosmo's Factory

Released: 1970

Sheet Music Details

Length

2 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

130-139

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

This complete drum transcription features a driving up-tempo straight-eight rock groove, continuous high-velocity hi-hat subdivisions, crisp minimalist single-stroke fills, and uniform snare backbeats that challenge wrist stamina and pocket consistency.

Song's Overview

Released in 1970 on Creedence Clearwater Revival's smash album Cosmo's Factory, "Up Around the Bend" remains one of the most high-octane tracks in the American roots-rock canon. Built around a bright, unforgettable opening guitar riff, the track drives forward with an intense, unyielding velocity that instantly sets a celebratory and urgent mood. For musicians who want to learn Up Around the Bend on drums, Doug Clifford’s performance offers a masterclass in how straight-ahead, high-energy rock playing can inject raw power into a fast-paced arrangement without overcomplicating the underlying pocket. The defining feature of this Up Around the Bend drum sheet is its emphasis on relentless temporal stability and physical endurance. Operating at a brisk up-tempo pace, the drumming utilizes sharp, tight eighth-note hi-hat patterns and solid snare backbeats on beats two and four that anchor the band's syncopated changes. When dissecting an accurate Up Around the Bend drum cover, players will realize that Clifford avoids complex, flashy fills, opting instead for structural, minimalist single-stroke rolls that cleanly signal changes between verses and choruses. Mastering this arrangement teaches drummers how precise kick drum accents can drive an upbeat rock track with complete authority.

Want access to all lessons?

View Plans >>

About the Drummer

Doug Clifford is the legendary "human metronome" for Creedence Clearwater Revival. His "swamp rock" beats are foundational for the American rock sound. He is a key influence for those learning drums who want to master the art of a steady, unwavering groove.

Drumming Style

Clifford’s style is direct, powerful, and intentionally simple to support the song’s narrative. Playing drums to CCR tracks requires consistent kick drum work and a solid, driving hi-hat. His parts are essential for beginner drum lessons and provide a perfect starting point for classic rock drum covers.

Practice Advice

Start Below Album Tempo

The original song drives forward at a brisk 130 BPM. Use tempo control to reduce the speed to 100 BPM initially. Focus on executing perfectly synchronized kick-and-snare hits to build a solid rhythmic foundation before increasing speed.

Loop the Chorus Transitions

The shifts from the driving verses into the high-energy chorus sections require fluid limb movements. Isolate and loop these specific transition bars to ensure your hand changes on the cymbals feel entirely natural and perfectly in time.

Avoid Pushing the Backbeat

A frequent mistake on high-velocity classic rock tracks is letting the snare backbeat push ahead of the pulse. Keep your shoulder and arm muscles loose, focusing on placing beats two and four squarely in the pocket.

Maintain Strict Pocket Consistency

Lock your bass drum quarter-note strokes directly with the pulsing bassline. Practice with a metronome to guarantee that your foot velocity remains uniform across each measure, providing a reliable low-end clock that grounds the guitars.

Master Continuous Wrist Stamina

The primary technical challenge is maintaining continuous eighth-note subdivisions on the hi-hat at speed. Practice using small, controlled wrist movements rather than full arm strokes to prevent forearm tension and keep the cymbal texture crisp.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Secure the Straight-Eight Foundation

Isolate the primary verse groove on the closed hi-hat. Focus on building clean, relaxed coordination between your right-hand subdivisions and straightforward kick-and-snare patterns at a slow tempo to lay down the foundational rock pocket.

Phase 2: Master Up-Tempo Sectional Transitions

Practice the high-energy shifts bridging the verses and choruses. Use looping features to isolate these transition bars, ensuring your single-stroke fills remain completely even and drop back into the main pocket without any rhythmic hesitation.

Phase 3: Coordinate Syncopated Kick Patterns

Focus on the specific bars where the bass drum patterns interact closely with the driving guitar riffs. Work slowly with a metronome to decouple your right foot from your steady hand subdivisions, ensuring absolute grid precision.

Phase 4: Build Endurance for Full Performance

Combine all distinct sections and play along with the complete audio track. Focus on managing your physical wrist endurance, steady breathing patterns, and authoritative dynamic control from the opening energetic chords to the final crash cymbal hit.