Rosanna drum notation
Toto
This is the textbook half-time shuffle: snare on 3, swinging left-hand ghosts, and a ride that keeps the swing without getting busy. Slow it down until the ghosts are even. If they bunch up or disappear, the groove collapses into a plain backbeat.
The most studied shuffle in pop drumming
One of the clearest half-time shuffle references in pop/rock. If you're learning ghost notes or teaching the feel, a written chart beats pausing a stereo mix every two bars.
Where the ghosts actually sit
- Left-hand ghost spacing between the backbeats
- Ride pattern — swing without turning into a jazz ride
- Where Porcaro opens up vs. where he stays locked in the shuffle grid
Building it from the ground up
- Practice ghosts alone on a pillow or pad until the spacing is even at slow tempo
- Add snare on 3 only after the ghosts feel automatic
- Then bring the ride in — if the ghosts collapse, strip back and rebuild
Rosanna drum notation PDF
Trouble viewing the chart? Download the PDF instead. Want this kind of chart for your own track? Upload a recording.
This is a sample chart for demonstration and practice reference. For a transcription of your own recording, upload a track or contact us.
More sample drum charts
Other well-known grooves on the site — or see the full list.
- In the Air TonightPhil CollinsThat gated-reverb fill in the last third — the one everyone waits for. The rest of the song is mostly atmosphere until it isn’t.
- Tom SawyerRushPeart in 7 — tight accents, a fill that shows up in every drum cover, and zero room to coast.
- Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvanaGrohl’s four-bar intro: loud, simple, and easy to rush. The pocket is the whole joke.
Working on ghost notes and shuffles?
Upload a track with a similar feel and we'll chart the ghost-note spacing and ride pattern the same way, so you're not pausing a stereo mix every two bars.