| Very often self taught drummers never learn the | | | | there is four beats to the bar. The 4/4 (common |
| art of reading drum sheet music and try to learn | | | | time) signature is used heavily in rock and pop |
| by ear. This can be done and there are actually | | | | music. |
| many great drummers that can't read a note of | | | | The notes of the stave |
| sheet music, Dave Grohl for example. However, I | | | | With drum sheet music the notes of the stave |
| would advise learning sheet music, even if it's just | | | | can differ slightly depending on what country the |
| basic beats. This way you will be able to open up | | | | music was published in, that said 95% of the time |
| your learning to tuition books and forms of music. | | | | the rules are the same. Basically each gap on the |
| You will also find it easier to write drums to other | | | | stave represents a different drum. The first |
| music, this skill will come in very handy if you plan | | | | (bottom) gap is the bass drum, the second is the |
| on becoming a session drummer where an | | | | floor tom, the third is the snare drum, the forth is |
| understanding of metronome and time signatures | | | | the small tom, and above the stave is the |
| is crucial. | | | | cymbals. If the line between the snare and small |
| Metronome marks and time signatures | | | | tom has a note on it then it it the middle tom. |
| Metronome is the speed of the piece and the | | | | Cymbal notes look slightly different to standard |
| time signature is the timing (how many beats in | | | | drum notes and are marked with an X. |
| each bar), very often sheet music will have a | | | | Obviously this is a very basic and simplified way |
| metronome mark at the start with a number. | | | | to read drum sheet music. In reality there are a |
| The number stands for the speed (tempo) the | | | | lot more notes you need to be aware of, but this |
| piece should be played at. The most common | | | | will start as a good foundation to understanding |
| speed is probably 120, this is considered to be | | | | how drum sheet music works. Reading drum |
| average. The time signature is also at the | | | | music is a very good way to learn outside of a |
| beginning of the stave. The most common time | | | | lesson, making it essential to growing as a |
| signature is 4/4 (common time), this means that | | | | musician. |