Take Me To Church
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Hozier on Drums

Intermediate

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

ORIGINAL VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Intermediate

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

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SIMPLIFIED VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Easy

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

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

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Drumming Techniques You'll Learn in Take Me To Church

Navigating Time Signature Changes
Developing Deep Pocket Control
Executing Dramatic Dynamic Swells
Limb Independence and Coordination
Precise Bass Drum Placement

Recommended For

This drum score is highly recommended for intermediate players looking to master metric modulations and heavy gospel-rock pocket grooves. It is ideal for developing drummers who want to improve their time signature transitions, rhythmic consistency, and dynamic restraint while learning to support a song with deep confidence and musical precision.

Learn to play Take Me To Church on drums

Play Take Me to Church 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 meter changes with tempo control, loop difficult groove transitions until they feel entirely natural, and use isolated drums to hear every detail of Fiachra Kinder's powerful studio performance. Whether you're looking to learn drums by navigating the shifting time signatures between the 3/4 verse and 4/4 chorus or building deep pocket control, our step-by-step tools make mastering this track faster, easier, and far more effective than practicing from a static PDF alone. Grab your sticks and start practicing today!

Song information

Artist: Hozier

Drummer: Fiachra Kinder

Album: Hozier

Released: 2014

Sheet Music Details

Length

2 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

60-69

Time Signature

3/4, 4/4

Key features

Features metric modulations between 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, heavy gospel-style pocket grooves, precise bass drum syncopation, dramatic dynamic shifts, and crisp open-closed hi-hat combinations that drive the song's intense emotional builds.

Song's Overview

Released as Hozier's debut single, the track brought a dark, blues-soaked gospel flavor back to modern alternative rock. The composition is built around a heavy, brooding piano chord progression and soaring vocals, but the real magic for musicians lies in its striking rhythmic structure. The arrangement expertly juxtaposes a somber, valsing 3/4 meter in the verses with an expansive, driving 4/4 pulse during the explosive choruses. For anyone looking to learn Take Me to Church on drums, the primary challenge is executing this metric modulation cleanly. Fiachra Kinder’s drumming relies on an intense, stomp-and-clap aesthetic that replicates a traditional church congregation groove. Instead of playing fast, intricate patterns, the drummer uses deliberate, heavy kick drum placement and cracking snares to build tension. Analyzing a Take Me to Church drum cover reveals how essential restraint is here—overplaying would ruin the haunting atmosphere. Using a comprehensive Take Me to Church drum sheet or drum transcription allows you to pinpoint exactly where the time signature shifts and how the dynamics swell before each chorus, making this a masterclass in tension, release, and fundamental rhythmic support.

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About the Drummer

Fiachra Kinder is a modern session drummer known for his work on tracks like Take Me to Church, bringing a deep, atmospheric groove to contemporary music. His playing blends acoustic drums with a cinematic feel that supports the song’s emotional intensity. Drummers who want to learn to play Take Me to Church on drums will find his approach both powerful and accessible. His grooves are often explored in drum cover videos and beginner drum lessons.

Drumming Style

Kinder’s style focuses on space, dynamics, and strong groove rather than technical complexity. He uses deep kick patterns, controlled cymbal work, and gradual build-ups to create tension. When practicing a drum cover, pay attention to dynamics and timing. His playing is ideal for beginner drum lessons and for drummers learning to play modern alternative songs on drums.

Practice Advice

Isolate the Metric Modulation

The transition from the 3/4 verse to the 4/4 chorus can easily throw off your internal clock. Set your metronome to a slow, steady 50 BPM and count the beats aloud. Focus on anchoring the downbeat when the time signature switches to keep your phrasing seamless.

Loop the Chorus Entry

The explosive drum entry heading into the chorus requires a dramatic, sudden shift in energy. Use looping features to practice this specific drop repeatedly. Isolating this boundary helps you internalize the physical movement required to land the heavy crash on beat one with total confidence.

Avoid Rushing the Verse

A common mistake is rushing through the open, sparse 3/4 verse sections. The lack of a steady hi-hat pulse makes it easy to accelerate. Maintain strict control over your bass drum placement and let the empty space breathe rather than pulling the tempo forward.

Lock Into the Pocket

To match the dark gospel feel, your backbeat must sit deeply in the pocket. Practice along with the audio track, focusing on aligning your snare hits slightly behind the beat. This creates the heavy, deliberate stomping momentum that characterizes the track's distinctive groove.

Master the Dynamic Swells

This song thrives on massive contrast between sections. Work on your dynamic control by keeping the verse patterns soft and understated, then unleashing full power into the chorus. Ensure your volume changes are intentional and smooth rather than sudden and erratic to support the vocals properly.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Internalize the 3/4 Verse Pulse

Begin by learning the sparse, foot-driven pattern of the verse. Focus entirely on your bass drum precision and cross-stick placement in triple meter. Practice with a metronome to ensure you don't overplay during the open spaces where the vocals and piano lead the track.

Phase 2: Transition into the 4/4 Chorus

Analyze the exact moment the meter shifts into a straight rock beat. Practice moving from the slow 3/4 feel into the driving, wide-open chorus groove. Work on landing the crash downbeat cleanly without rushing or losing your balance during the time signature transformation.

Phase 3: Develop Gospel Stomp Dynamics

Focus on the heavy backbeat and dynamic builds found in the pre-choruses and chorus. Work on producing a deep, powerful snare sound and coordinating your open hi-hat accents. Ensure you maintain full body control so the increased volume doesn't accidentally cause you to speed up.

Phase 4: Run the Complete Arrangement Smoothly

Piece all sections together to play along with the full song. Focus on your endurance and physical consistency, maintaining the ominous atmosphere from the first quiet verse through the soaring chorus peaks right down to the final, lingering vocal hitches.