How To Read Drum Music Notation. A drummer, however, hits a drum or cymbal once until the next note is played. Here are the important tips to remember when learning to read drum notation.
Reading drum rhythms and charts will: The tempo marking will show you how fast the pulse is, whilst the time signature will show you the grouping of the beat. Drums are unique compared to other instruments as they have their own notation.
Drum notes are written on the six horizontal lines, and every sign equals one sound that you produce on the drums.
In drum notation, the note’s position on the staff indicates a particular drum or a cymbal. Rolls (triplet)—if a number (eg 3 or 6) is placed above the notehead, the roll should be player as if it were a triplet or group of 6. Unless you are a top flight session guy you don’t have to read everything perfectly first time through so don’t panic. Music notation for other instruments, such as the piano, indicates the pitch of the note by the position of the dot on the five horizontal lines, called a staff.