How to Read Drum Music

Introduction to Reading Drum Music

Learning how to read drum music opens up another world of rhythmic possibilities and can help you become a better drummer. Once you can read drum music, you can play your favourite drum beats from charts and sheet music. Understanding how to interpret drum notation will allow you to grow as a drummer and become more confident. Let’s break it down step-by-step. Why Reading Drum Music is Easy

Unlike piano, guitar, or violin, drums are non-pitched instruments. They don’t play tunes. This means you don’t need to learn notes like A, B, C,. So there’s no need to worry about scales, key signatures, or pitching. Each note in drum notation simply tells you which drum or cymbal to hit and when to hit it. Understanding the Beat

The beat is the heartbeat of music. It gives the song its tempo and structure. When a drummer calls out “1 2 3 4!” at the start of a song he is counting the beat for the other musicians to follow. To feel the...