Run Like Hell
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Pink Floyd on Drums

Very Easy

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Learn to Play Run Like Hell 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:

Very Easy

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 Run Like Hell

Four-on-the-Floor Kick Consistency
High-Tempo Hi-Hat Stamina
Unwavering Pocket Timing Precision
Open Hi-Hat Accent Coordination
Straight Rock Groove Endurance

Recommended For

This printable drum sheet is recommended for intermediate players who need to improve right hand endurance and solid timing consistency. It is highly beneficial for drummers looking to master steady four on the floor bass drum execution while learning how to maintain a driving rock groove perfectly locked.

Learn to play Run Like Hell on drums

Play Run Like Hell 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 driving track. Use tempo control to slow down the steady, fast-paced rhythms, or isolate sections with looping sections until your performance matches Nick Mason's exact note placement. By selecting isolated drums, you can hear every snare hit and kick pattern underneath the heavy guitar delays. This approach helps you learn drums faster, building exceptional stamina and precise hi-hat control. Grab your sticks, load the interactive drum sheet, and unlock this relentless rhythm today.

Song information

Artist: Pink Floyd

Drummer: Nick Mason

Album: The Wall

Released: 1979

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

110-119

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

This drum notation maps out a continuous four-on-the-floor kick pattern, unaccented eighth-note hi-hat work, precise open-cymbal barks, and steady downbeat consistency designed to challenge a player's physical endurance and micro-timing precision.

Song's Overview

Released in 1979 on Pink Floyd's concept album The Wall, Run Like Hell introduces an intense, driving energy that stands out from the band's typically atmospheric style. Built around a rhythmic, echo-laden guitar riff, the track functions as a psychological chase sequence where the rhythmic drive is essential to building an overwhelming sense of urgency and tension. For anyone who wants to learn Run Like Hell on drums, the piece offers a masterful lesson in steady-state drumming and mechanical precision. Rather than filling space with complex syncopations, Nick Mason employs a relentless four-on-the-floor bass drum pattern paired with continuous, driving unaccented eighth notes on the hi-hat. This creates a hypnotic, disco-influenced rock groove that serves as the perfect foundation for the shifting synthesizers and delay effects.Analyzing the Run Like Hell drum sheet reveals how small variations, such as sudden open-hi-hat barks and tactical snare placements, maintain momentum without disrupting the steady pulse. Drummers attempting a Run Like Hell drum cover must develop strong wrist and ankle endurance to keep the high-tempo arrangement perfectly locked. Studying this track helps players refine their pocket control, meter consistency, and ability to hold a fast groove steady across an entire arrangement.

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About the Drummer

Nick Mason is a founding member of Pink Floyd and a master of atmospheric and progressive drumming. He is famous for his ability to use space and texture to elevate complex musical themes. Every student learning drums in the prog-rock genre studies his iconic parts.

Drumming Style

Mason’s style is subtle and measured, often focusing on steady, slow-tempo grooves that allow the guitars to breathe. Playing drums to his tracks involves mastering dynamics and a very precise sense of time. His work on "Money" (in 7/4 time) is a legendary challenge in drum lessons and for technical drum covers.

Practice Advice

Build Stamina at Lower Tempos

The relentless groove sits around 117 BPM. Start practicing the four-on-the-floor pattern at 95 BPM using a metronome. Focus on clean, uniform bass drum hits before slowly accelerating to the album speed to ensure your limbs don't tense up during long stretches.

Loop the Hi-Hat Bark Transitions

Isolate the sections where the hi-hat switches from closed eighth notes to sudden open accents. Use looping sections to drill these precise openings and closings without altering your steady bass drum pulse or dropping the driving snare backbeat on beats two and four.

Avoid Rushing the Straight Pulse

A frequent mistake when playing high-energy tracks is letting the tempo drift forward. Because the guitar has a heavy delay effect, it can trick your ears into rushing. Lock your inner clock to the grid and maintain an unshakeable, mechanical pocket throughout the track.

Lock the Four-on-the-Floor Pocket

Consistency is everything in this arrangement. Focus on aligning the downbeat of every kick drum perfectly with the pulse. Keep your snare strikes crisp and centered on the drumhead to provide a reliable rhythmic backbone that anchors the swirling synthesizers.

Develop Continuous High-Speed Endurance

The song demands constant right-hand eighth notes on the hi-hat without rest. Work on a relaxed Moeller technique or wrist-driven motion to prevent forearm fatigue. Keep your shoulder loose to maintain the constant pulse smoothly across the entire four-minute track.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Solidify the Four-on-the-Floor Foundation

Isolate the primary kick and snare drum interaction. Practice playing a continuous quarter-note bass drum pattern while keeping the snare strictly on beats two and four. Ensure your foot spacing remains mathematically precise before introducing any hand patterns.

Phase 2: Integrate Continuous Hi-Hat Driving Patterns

Layer the eighth-note hi-hat pulse on top of your established foot foundation. Focus on maintaining a completely even dynamic level with your dominant hand, avoiding unintentional accents on the offbeats so that the groove sounds controlled and robotic.

Phase 3: Coordinate the Open Hi-Hat Accents

Analyze the drum transcription to locate the specific bars containing open hi-hat barks. Practice dropping these accents cleanly into the fast groove without interrupting your continuous foot pulse, focusing on tight foot control to close the cymbals instantly.

Phase 4: Perform the Complete Endurance Track

Combine all individual parts and play along with the full song. Focus on physical relaxation, breathing, and pacing to prevent fatigue from setting in during the extended choruses, maintaining unwavering timing from the opening bars to the final fade-out.

FAQ

Is Run Like Hell suitable for beginners?

It’s more suited for beginners with some experience. Using features like tempo control and looping can help you learn it at your own pace.

Can I learn Run Like Hell if I’m not very confident reading drum notation?

Yes — our interactive player makes it much easier. You can watch, listen, slow things down, and gradually get familiar with the notation as you play.

Do I need a full drum kit to play Run Like Hell?

No — you don’t need a full drum kit to play Run Like Hell. A basic setup (kick, snare, hi-hat) is enough to get started.

How will learning Run Like Hell improve my drumming skills?

Run Like Hell helps you develop a solid sense of groove and consistency. You’ll practice staying locked in with the beat while maintaining control over your dynamics.

What skills do I need before learning Run Like Hell?

Before learning Run Like Hell, it helps to be comfortable with basic grooves, simple fills, and maintaining steady timing.