Drum Kit Notation Basic Rock Beat

KMcF2008

Now we will take the knowledge we have gained from the previous sheets and apply it to the drumkit. Drum kit notation can vary. Usually the author or composer of the piece will give a key at the start or end of the piece, to outline what he or she means by the symbols they have used. A general rule is that drums are written as normal musical noteheads on the lines or in the spaces of the stave, whereas cymbals, cowbells and other non membranophone instruments, can be an assortment of crosses , Diamonds etc. For this sheet I have used the most common notation for Hi Hat , Snare and Kick drum. ( Bass drum )

Hi Hat Snare drum Bass Drum

The notation is logical as it mirrors the physical layout of the kit when you play it. The bass drum is at the bottom , the snare is in the middle and the hi hats are at the top. If you are right handed your right hand plays the hi hat and the left hand plays the snare, if you are left handed it is the opposite of this. In the basic rock beat above we can see that the hi hats are playing constant eighth notes. The kick is playing quarter notes on beats 1 and 3, whilst the snare plays quarter notes in beats 2 and 4. This is a good way to start out. Whilst counting out loud play just the hi hats and the Bass.

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Now just the hi hats and the Snare.

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The squiggle that looks a little like a mishappen 3 is a quarter note rest,which allows us to drop out the snare on beats 2 and 4 in the first example ,whilst keeping the bass locked on beats 1 and 3. Similarly it does the opposite in the second example. When you are feeling confident ( or Lucky ) try combining the two to play the basic rock beat. Repeat it over and over until your neighbours go mad. Remember to count.

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