The Best

The Best
Drum Sheet Music

Practice Tina Turner on Drums

Easy

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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
Sheet Preview
  • Exactly as played on the original recording
  • All fills & ghost notes
  • Full arrangement
SIMPLIFIED VERSION
Difficulty Level:
Easy
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 The Best

  • Pop Rock Pocket Consistency
  • Precise Hi Hat Bark Articulation
  • Dynamic Section Transition Control
  • Accurate Foot Coordination Stability
  • Mid Tempo Groove Endurance

Recommended For

This drum sheet is recommended for intermediate drummers looking to develop pop-rock pocket consistency, precise hi-hat control, and steady foot coordination. It is highly valuable for players who want to master clean dynamic transitions and build the endurance necessary to drive an energetic anthem with absolute timing stability.

Learn to play The Best on drums

Play The Best drum cover with our interactive drum sheet and synchronized video player. Follow every note in real time as the notation moves with the music, slow down challenging sections with tempo control, loop difficult grooves until they feel natural, and isolate the drum track to hear every detail of Art Wood's crisp performance. Whether you are building confidence with classic driving pop-rock anthems or refining your open-to-closed hi-hat transitions, our step-by-step learning tools make mastering this song faster, easier, and far more effective than practicing from a static PDF alone. Grab your sticks and sync your timing today!

Song information

Artist: Tina Turner

Drummer: Art Wood

Album: Foreign Affair

Released: 1989

Sheet Music Details

Length

3 pages of highly readable, clean drum score layouts.

Tempo

100-109

Time Signature

4/4

Key features

Features a driving mid-tempo pop-rock groove, precise syncopated bass drum accents, controlled open-to-closed hi-hat barks, dynamic section transitions, and clean fill structures that test unyielding pocket consistency and timing precision.

Song's Overview

Released in 1989 on Tina Turner's highly successful album Foreign Affair, The Best stands as a powerful example of anthemic late-1980s pop-rock production. Built around soaring synth melodies, driving basslines, and a famous saxophone solo, the track relies heavily on a rock-solid rhythmic foundation to maintain its driving momentum and deliver massive emotional impact. To learn The Best on drums, players must master the art of steady timekeeping and precise dynamic builds. The drumming performance by Art Wood delivers an unyielding mid-tempo pocket that anchors the arrangement. While the verses feature clean, controlled timekeeping on a closed hi-hat, the choruses explode into wide-open cymbal crashes and driving snare backbeats. Every movement demands physical control to ensure the offbeat bass drum placements do not disrupt the pulse.Studying this The Best drum cover provides invaluable insights into pacing your energy across an entire arrangement. Utilizing an accurate The Best drum sheet allows intermediate drummers to visualize the subtle hi-hat barks and syncopation changes that separate the distinct verses from the climactic choruses. Ultimately, it remains an essential study in contemporary pop-rock drumming, demonstrating how pocket consistency can elevate an entire musical piece.

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About the Drummer

Art Wood is known for his solid and groove-driven drumming on songs like The Best, helping shape the song’s powerful and uplifting feel. His playing supports the vocals and arrangement with precision and musical awareness. Drummers who want to learn to play The Best on drums will find his parts clear and approachable. His grooves are often recreated in drum cover videos and beginner drum lessons.

Drumming Style

Wood’s style is rooted in classic pop-rock, focusing on strong backbeats and steady timing. He emphasizes groove over complexity, keeping the rhythm tight and consistent throughout the song. When practicing a drum cover, beginners should focus on dynamics and maintaining a solid tempo. His approach is perfect for beginner drum lessons and for learning to play timeless pop songs on drums.

Practice Advice

01
Start Below Full Speed
The song's core pulse moves at an energetic 104 BPM. Begin practicing the main rhythm at 80 BPM using tempo control. Focus on exact hand-to-foot alignment before building your speed to match the tracking on the studio record.
02
Loop the Chorus Extensions
The transition into the anthemic chorus requires high-impact energy shifts. Use loop mode to isolate these transition measures, ensuring you transition smoothly from a tight closed hi-hat texture to wide-open cymbal crashes without tensing up your wrists.
03
Avoid Rushing the Fills
A common mistake when learning this track is pushing the fills forward right before major musical sections. Keep your upper body relaxed, maintain your focus on the underlying metronome click, and execute each note with clean, intentional articulation.
04
Lock the Backbeat Pocket
The track depends on a rock-solid, driving pop-rock pocket. Practice regularly with a click track to guarantee your snare drum backbeats land dead center on beats two and four, providing an unyielding foundation that locks perfectly with the bassline.
05
Master Open Hi-Hat Barks
The arrangement features subtle, syncopated hi-hat openings that add rhythmic texture. Focus on your left-foot pressure control to ensure each bark cuts cleanly through the mix and closes precisely on the beat without disrupting your inner pulse.

Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Lock the Foundational Verse Pocket

Isolate the primary verse groove, focusing on a clean, tight eighth-note pattern on the closed hi-hat. Practice aligning your bass drum hits accurately with the unyielding backbeat, building the underlying limb coordination needed to keep the initial bars perfectly steady.

Phase 2: Master the Open Chorus Energy

Transition into the anthemic chorus sections, shifting from a controlled texture to a wide-open cymbal wash. Work on maintaining a driving rock pulse beneath the washing cymbals, ensuring your snare hits crack cleanly through the musical mix.

Phase 3: Perfect the Transition Fills

Analyze the quick snare and tom fills that connect the song's musical boundaries. Use interactive tempo control tools to practice entering and exiting these fills fluidly, eliminating any rhythmic hesitation on the downbeats of the next section.

Phase 4: Build Endurance for Full Performance

Combine all distinct phases and play through the entire drum transcription alongside the interactive score. Focus on maintaining upper-body relaxation and managing your energy levels smoothly across the arrangement from the opening bar until the final hit.

FAQ

Is The Best suitable for beginners?
The Best is better suited for intermediate to advanced drummers. However, it can be a great long-term goal as your skills improve.
Can I learn The Best if I’m not very confident reading drum notation?
It’s possible to learn The Best 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 The Best?
While some fills may require toms or cymbals, the core of The Best can be practiced on a smaller kit.
How will learning The Best improve my drumming skills?
By learning The Best, 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 The Best?
Even if you’re still developing these skills, you can learn The Best step by step by slowing it down and practicing in sections.

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