Numb
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Linkin Park on Drums

Intermediate to Advanced

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

ORIGINAL VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Intermediate to Advanced

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

Purchase for only 1.90$

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

Difficulty Level:

Easy to Intermediate

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

Purchase for only 1.90$

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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 Numb

Modern Pocket Groove Consistency
Offbeat Hi-Hat Bark Control
Stop-Time Rhythmic Precision Development
Rest and Space Management Discipline
Solid Hand-Foot Coordination Practice

Recommended For

This drum sheet is recommended for intermediate drummers looking to strengthen groove consistency, timing precision, and overall pocket control. It is highly valuable for players interested in modern pop-funk drumming who want to develop the ability to support a high-energy arrangement with absolute confidence, precision, and clean syncopation.

Learn to play Numb on drums

Play Uptown Funk drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every groove in real time as the notation moves with the music, slow down challenging patterns with tempo control, and loop specific bars until the pocket feels second nature. By choosing to isolate the drums, you can focus entirely on the tight kick and snare interaction that drives this pop-funk anthem. This interactive drum sheet framework helps you grasp subtle syncopation and open hi-hat accents significantly faster than static notation alone. Develop your hand-foot coordination and timekeeping discipline. Pick up your sticks and start mastering this high-energy groove today!

Song information

Artist: Linkin Park

Drummer: Rob Bourdon

Album: Uptown Special

Released: 2014

Sheet Music Details

Length

2 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

110-119

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features a tight pop-funk pocket, syncopated offbeat open hi-hat barks, precise stop-time rests, and minimalist tom fills that emphasize steady timekeeping and dynamic backbeat consistency.

Song's Overview

Released in 2014 on Mark Ronson’s album Uptown Special, Uptown Funk completely revitalized the Minneapolis sound and 1980s boogie-funk aesthetic for the modern era. Musically, the track relies on a minimalist arrangement, utilizing heavy synthesizer basslines, sharp horn stabs, and a rhythmic framework built entirely around a repetitive, high-impact groove. For anyone who wants to learn Uptown Funk on drums, the piece serves as an exceptional study in restraint and pocket containment. The drumming performance—handled primarily by Bruno Mars in the studio alongside electronic drum programming—shuns overly complex fill patterns in favor of pristine groove consistency. The main beat keeps a relentless driving pulse, punctuated by syncopated open hi-hat accents and sharp snare cracks on beats two and four. Delivering a flawless Uptown Funk drum cover requires an unwavering internal clock, as any rushing or dragging can instantly disrupt the track's danceable momentum. When analyzing the Uptown Funk drum sheet, players will notice how the subtle variations and tactical hand claps create texture without overcrowding the mix. Ultimately, this arrangement demonstrates how a straightforward four-on-the-floor concept can dominate a modern production through micro-timing, dynamic stability, and rhythmic discipline.

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About the Drummer

Rob Bourdon is the drummer for Linkin Park, known for his precision and ability to blend acoustic and electronic sounds. He is a primary inspiration for those learning drums in the nu-metal and alternative rock genres. His tasteful playing is a key part of the band's massive global success.

Drumming Style

His style is focused on accuracy and a steady, machine-like precision that supports the band's hybrid sound. Playing drums along to his tracks is a great way to improve timing and coordination between electronics and acoustic kits. His songs are excellent for high-impact drum covers and modern rock drum lessons.

Practice Advice

Start Below Performance Tempo

The performance sits at 115 BPM, but precision is key. Start practicing the main pocket at 90 BPM. Focus on clean alignment between your kick drum and the hi-hat hits to establish a rigid foundation before increasing speed.

Loop the Pre-Chorus Transitions

Use loop mode on the bars leading into the chorus where the instrumentation drops out. Repeating these sections ensures your open hi-hat barks and sudden rests land exactly on time without losing your inner pulse.

Avoid Rushing the Fills

A common mistake here is rushing the simple tom and snare fills. Bruno Mars keeps the drumming deeply relaxed. Keep your shoulders loose, resist the urge to push ahead, and let the fills settle right on the backbeat.

Lock in the Backbeat Pocket

Consistency is everything in funk. Keep your snare backbeat on beats two and four incredibly stable. Use a metronome or backing track to ensure your left hand strikes exactly in the center of the drum every time.

Master Syncopated Hi-Hat Accents

The song's energy relies on offbeat open hi-hat barks. Isolate your right-hand patterns, ensuring you close the hi-hat tightly on the subsequent downbeat. This precise foot control keeps the funk groove sounding crisp and articulate.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Master the Basic Funk Pocket

Isolate the primary verse groove, focusing on a solid four-on-the-floor bass drum pattern and standard backbeat. Keep your eighth-note hi-hat stickings completely even, ensuring absolute dynamic control over your kick and snare alignment at a comfortable, steady tempo.

Phase 2: Integrate Open Hi-Hat Accents

Introduce the syncopated hi-hat barks scattered throughout the arrangement. Practice opening the cymbals on the offbeats and closing them crisply on the downbeats, developing the essential foot coordination needed to add texture to the groove without dragging.

Phase 3: Smooth Out Section Transitions

Analyze the breakdowns and the spaces where the horns punctuate the beat. Practice hitting the clean stop-time breaks and entering the choruses seamlessly, maintaining a robust inner pulse so the rhythm doesn't falter when the bassline drops out.

Phase 4: Perform the Complete Arrangement

Piece all the sections together and play along with the full track. Focus on physical endurance and groove micro-timing, ensuring every hi-hat bark, snare crack, and unexpected rest is executed with maximum confidence and rhythmic authority.

FAQ

Is Numb suitable for beginners?

Numb is better suited for intermediate to advanced drummers. However, it can be a great long-term goal as your skills improve.

Can I learn Numb if I’m not very confident reading drum notation?

Numb involves more complex patterns, so reading drum notation will make the learning process much easier and faster.

Do I need a full drum kit to play Numb?

While some fills may require toms or cymbals, the core of Numb can be practiced on a smaller kit.

How will learning Numb improve my drumming skills?

Learning Numb with an interactive player allows you to break the song into sections, slow it down, and truly understand every part — helping you improve faster and more efficiently.

What skills do I need before learning Numb?

To learn Numb, you’ll need solid timing, good coordination, and experience with more complex drum patterns.