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exclusive Drum lessons guide to notation

how to read

Drum Notation
Some handy tips on how to read the charts in Rhythm’s monthly drum lessons
YOUR TUTOR

E
colin woolway
colin@drumsense.com very drum student should make an
effort to get comfortable with the
notes on the musical stave. Anyone
with ambitions of becoming a busy
‘in demand’ drummer will need to be able to
read to some extent, if not to a high level, in
order to get access to not only sessions and
pit work, but band work of all kinds. If a band
with charts need a replacement drummer in
a hurry, it’s the drummer who can read
who’ll get the gig!
But even if you only learn the basics of
reading, it still means the world is a bigger
place - the fact you’re reading this means you
must be interested in the education section
of Rhythm, but if you can’t read any music, n If an exercise sounds a bit odd, you may
the lessons will be that much more difficult. have misread it. If it doesn’t sound right,
it probably isn’t!
Here’s some basic tips
for reading drum music: n If you are really not a confident reader,
check the music against the video
 oncentrate. Play what you see, not
nC footage and see how it ties up.
what you think you see. Check tom note
placings (high and mid toms are close n If you feel more confident, try the music
together). The hi-hat is above the top out first and then check yourself against
line but the ride cymbal is on it. the video.
 ake the exercises sound good as soon
nM  nd finally, embrace reading music! It’s
nA
as you feel you’ve got the reading right. just one more way we can talk to each
Don’t forget, it’s all about music! other! (CW)

A WORD ON NOTATION All our Drum Lessons contributors are using what is increasingly being regarded as the standardised system of drum kit notation as outlined by Norman
Weinberg in his Guide To Standardised Drumset Notation. This book is published by the Percussive Arts Society and is available from www.pas.org. To gain a full understanding of all
aspects of the system, we recommend you check out this book.

STANDARDISED DRUMSET NOTATION KEY