Metallica - Enter Sandman




Metallica - Enter Sandman
Heavy metal staple. Features a methodical intro tom build and aggressive, syncopated ride patterns.
Learn the drum parts to "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Recorded by Lars Ulrich as the lead track for the band's 1991 self-titled release (The Black Album)—the top-selling album of the 1990s in the United States—this transcription maps out every heavy pattern, fill, and structural transition from the studio session.
Transcription Details:
Artist: Metallica
Song: Enter Sandman
Album: Metallica (The Black Album)
Original Drummer: Lars Ulrich
Transcribed by: Lucas Ventura
Format: PDF Download
Lars Ulrich’s playing on "Enter Sandman" shows a clear evolution from his fast thrash metal past into a restrained, stadium-ready pocket. The intro features a heavy tom build-up that serves as a textbook example of creating anticipation before a transition. Throughout the main riffs and choruses, the groove relies on a stylized syncopation that pre-empts the downbeat of the "1" by striking on the "&" of count 4. Ulrich's discipline on this track directly supported the song's massive commercial legacy—a legacy he would famously protect years later by declaring war on Napster peer-to-peer file sharing to make sure no one got a free ride on his tracks. This clean chart outlines every pattern and hit with precision.