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Reading Drum Sheet Music
Below is a picture of the staff. It has five lines and four spaces. In sheet music, notes can appear in four places: on a line, in the space between lines, above, or below the staff. The Staff
Where Notes Can Appear in Sheet Music
Here are examples of the four places where drums can appear on sheet music. The first note is above. When they appear above or below the staff, they may have a line through them or above/below them. This line represents a line of the staff and tells you which drum to play. Imagine that the lines continued on, upwards and downwards indefinitely. Notice the line above the last note to indicate it is in the space and not on the line. Sheet Music Symbols Representing Notes
Now that you are familiar with the staff and where notes appear in sheet music, it is time to differentiate between drum notes. There are three basic shapes to differentiate them: the x, the circle, and the diamond. An x is used to indicate cymbals (high-hat, ride, china, crash, and splash). The diamond shape is used to indicate the bell of the cymbal and the circular shape is used for all other instruments(snare, bass, and toms). Most of the time, the x and diamond will appear above the staff as shown in the photo above. If an x appears below, it represents a high-hat played with the foot. The lines attached to the basic shape are called stems. They can go either up or down, depending on where they fall on the staff. Notes on the upper half usually stem up while notes below stem down. Now that you have been introduced to the staff and notes, it is time to learn which piece appears where. To see each drum mapped out in sheet music, see the beginner drum lessons on written drum music . If you are looking for more information, there are plenty of resources available to you online. Below are a few books that may help you in your understanding of musical notation. The Drummer's Link To Sight Reading Provides an easy step-by-step beginner method for reading sheet music, without assuming one is a beginning player. Each lesson carefully unravels the mystery of reading sheet music notation so that drummers can understand the drum notes, structure, and symbols. The Reading Drummer If you want to take your drumming chops to the next level, you should be reading drum sheet music. Features: more than 50 lessons complete with general practice tips; steady learning progression from reading quarter notes to reading 16th-note triplets; practice rhythms containing accents, flams, rolls, ruffs, tempo and meter changes, sight reading sheet music; and much more. Introducing Drums: With 'Easy Read' Drum Music Notation Sheet music includes thirteen lessons ranging from reading and understanding the quarter note all the way through reading and understanding three-four time signature. This elaborate book even covers reading twelve-eight time and Swinging sixteenth notes. Learn To Play Drums This software teaches you about reading drum sheet music and performing with proper technique. Step-by-step, interactive drum lessons show exactly how each song should be played, let you control the speed of the music, mix accompaniment parts and record yourself performing. Teach Yourself Drums A complete book, CD and video package designed to teach you everything you need to know for reading drum sheet music. Read the easy-to-understand instruction book, play along with the backing track CD and watch an expert teacher explain and demonstrate on the video! See More Lessons on Rudiments, Limb Dependence and Reading Drum Sheet Music |