DRUMY
Smooth Criminal drums: tempo, difficulty and parts
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson is 117 BPM and runs 4:10: 122 bars and 2,096 notes played on the hi-hat, kick, snare, crash and tom 2.
The drum part is rated Medium — comfortable once the groove is steady, and the fills are where it asks more.
It has 1 fill, its longest section is the [B] Chorus (0:33) and the hi-hat opens as well as closes.
Song map
- intro
- Verse 1
- Pre-Chorus
- Chorus
- Post-Chorus
- Instrumental
- Verse 2
- Pre-Chorus
- Chorus
- Post Chorus
- Instrumental 2
- Guitar Solo
- [B] Chorus
- 2nd Guitar Solo
- Outro
How to play Smooth Criminal on drums
- Plug in your electronic drum kit over USB — or play on the keyboard.
- Press play. The notes of Smooth Criminal come down in time with the recording. Play it in Beatfall or read it as drum notation.
- Slow it down. Take the Fill into Guitar Solo at 0.5× or 0.75× with a click and a count-in, then bring it up to 117 BPM.
- Check every hit — on time, early or late — before you record your Smooth Criminal drum cover.
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Guides
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