Monster

Monster
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Skillet on Drums

Easy to Intermediate

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Choose your Drum Sheet Version

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

ORIGINAL VERSION
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate to Advanced
Sheet Preview
  • Exactly as played on the original recording
  • All fills & ghost notes
  • Full arrangement
SIMPLIFIED VERSION
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Intermediate
Sheet Preview
  • Easier to learn
  • Simplified fills
  • Reduced ghost notes
  • Perfect for beginners & intermediates

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.

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Drumming Techniques You'll Learn in Monster

  • Developing Modern Rock Endurance
  • Maintaining Heavy Backbeat Consistency
  • Controlling Dynamic Contrast Transitions
  • Improving Fill Timing Precision
  • Enhancing Foot Hand Coordination

Recommended For

This drum sheet is recommended for early-intermediate drummers looking to develop modern rock endurance, heavy backbeat consistency, and precise dynamic control. It is highly valuable for players wanting to master high-energy fills and learn how to support aggressive guitar riffs with a rock-solid pocket and absolute confidence.

Learn to play Monster on drums

Play Skillet - Monster drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every modern rock note in real time as the notation moves with the music, slow down challenging heavy fills with tempo control, loop difficult groove sections until they feel natural, and isolate the drum track to hear every detail of Jen Ledger’s powerful performance. Whether you're building your modern hard rock endurance or refining your heavy backbeat consistency, our step-by-step learning tools make mastering this driving track faster, easier, and far more effective than practicing from a static PDF alone. Grab your sticks and start locking in this heavy groove today!

Song information

Artist: Skillet

Drummer: Jen Ledger

Album: Awake

Released: 2009

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

130-139

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features driving rock grooves, heavy backbeat placement, energetic modern rock fills, dynamic verse-to-chorus builds, and precise synchronization between double-handed accents and powerful bass drum patterns.

Song's Overview

Released in 2009 on Skillet's album Awake, Monster became a defining track for modern alternative metal and hard rock, blending aggressive guitar riffs with intense, driving electronic elements. The song's intense energy relies heavily on a massive rhythmic foundation that propels the arrangement forward without overcomplicating the musical space. For drummers, when you learn Skillet - Monster on drums, you immediately realize that the performance is an exercise in power, endurance, and precise synchronization with heavy riffs. Jen Ledger's drumming masterfully supports the track's dark, aggressive tone by maintaining a rock-solid backbeat and executing highly energetic cymbal crashes. Instead of relying on overly complex polyrhythms, the Skillet - Monster drum cover showcases how straightforward, heavy patterns can maximize the dramatic impact of a verse-chorus transition. Navigating the shifting dynamics between the tense, building verses and the explosive choruses requires precise timing and control. Utilizing a detailed Skillet - Monster drum sheet allows players to map out these dynamic changes, ensuring that every fill hits with maximum impact. The track serves as a primer for modern rock drumming, focusing heavily on foot-hand coordination and driving momentum.

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About the Drummer

Jen Ledger is the drummer and co-vocalist for the Christian rock band Skillet, joining them at age 18. She is known for her powerful playing and her ability to provide backing and lead vocals while drumming. She is an inspiration for many young musicians learning drums in the modern rock and metal scenes.

Drumming Style

Her style is high-energy and powerful, with a focus on heavy snare hits and driving kick drum patterns to match the band’s hard rock sound. Playing drums like Ledger requires a strong physical presence and stamina. Her tracks are popular choices for high-impact drum covers and modern rock drum lessons.

Practice Advice

01
Start Below Full Speed
The original tempo rests around 135 BPM. Begin practicing the heavy verse pattern at 100-110 BPM. Use tempo control to ensure your bass drum hits perfectly align with the driving guitar downbeats before building up to full performance speed.
02
Loop the Chorus Transitions
The transition from the tight verse into the explosive chorus requires a burst of physical energy. Use looping sections to repeat these transitional measures, ensuring your fills flow smoothly into the heavy crash accents without dragging behind the tempo.
03
Avoid Rushing the Fills
A common mistake when learning this track is rushing the straight eighth-note and sixteenth-note modern rock fills. Stay relaxed during high-intensity moments and maintain your internal pulse to avoid pushing ahead of the track's established grid.
04
Lock in the Backbeat
To keep the driving momentum consistent, focus heavily on the snare placement on beats two and four. Practice along with a metronome, ensuring your hi-hat notes remain perfectly even and your snare strikes maintain uniform velocity throughout the arrangement.
05
Master Bass Drum Driving Endurance
The driving kick drum patterns require physical stamina and foot control. Focus on maintaining strong, consistent single strokes on the bass drum during the verses without allowing your leg to tense up, which can hurt your overall timing precision.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Lock in the Verse Groove

Isolate the main verse rhythm, focusing on steady eighth notes on the hi-hat and accurate kick placement. Practice slowly to build the foot-to-hand independence required to match the pulsing industrial rock feel of the intro.

Phase 2: Master Heavy Chorus Transitions

Analyze the explosive transitions into the main chorus. Practice entering and exiting the rock fills smoothly, ensuring your timing does not hesitate when moving from the closed hi-hat patterns to open, driving crash cymbal accents.

Phase 3: Balance Shifting Dynamic Levels

Work through the contrasting structural dynamics between the verses and choruses. Practice dropping your volume during the tense, building pre-chorus sections, then driving the energy back up with powerful, authoritative accents during the primary hooks.

Phase 4: Build Endurance for Full Performance

Combine all sections and play through the entire arrangement. Focus on physical stamina, ensuring your backbeat remains heavy and your timing stays locked with the track from the initial heavy riff to the final sustained crash.

FAQ

Is Monster suitable for beginners?
Monster is better suited for intermediate to advanced drummers. However, it can be a great long-term goal as your skills improve.
Can I learn Monster if I’m not very confident reading drum notation?
It’s possible to learn Monster by ear, especially if you break it into sections. Over time, you’ll also improve your ability to read drum notation.
Do I need a full drum kit to play Monster?
While the original version uses a full kit, you can simplify parts and still learn the structure and feel of Monster.
How will learning Monster improve my drumming skills?
By learning Monster, you’ll work on coordination between your hands and feet, as well as transitions between grooves and fills.
What skills do I need before learning Monster?
Even if you’re still developing these skills, you can learn Monster step by step by slowing it down and practicing in sections.

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