Beginner - Drum Basics

	  		


Tabber: chocolate
email: [email protected]



Drumming basics 1


First lets work on your counting, there are 3 main types
counting they are:

8th notes
    1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----------------:
bs :----------------:

quarter notes
    1   2   3   4
hh :x---x---x---x---:
sn :----------------:
16th notes
    1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a
hh :xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
sn :----------------:
bs :----------------:

If your getting tabs off the internet then they have different smbols for what you hit. Heres a list of some of them. (If ive missed any out then please tell me)

hh= high hat
sn= snare
bs= bass drum
cr= crash cymbal
rd= ride cymbal
ht= high pitched tom
lt= low ptched tom
ft= floor tom
sc= splash cymbal
cc=- china cymbal
cb= cow bell

There are also different ways of hitting your drums.

High hat:
 x=closed X=half open O=open

Snare:
 o=normal hit O=accent(harder)

crash:
 o=normal hit #=choke hit (grab cymbal after hitting it)

ride:
o= normal hit b= bell of the ride, middle bit

there are also different strokes when playing

o= normal hit
O= accent hit
F= flam, bring down both hands, one slighty after the other
D= double, a fast double hit
R= roll, light and fast hits on the drums, also known as a buzz roll

There will also be indications of which hands to play with. For example:
    RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL
sn :oooooooooooooooo:

or
    LRLRLRLRLRLRLRLR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:

Right now we've learned the basics of what drums are and such lets try some basic beats and rolls

These are the most simplest beats known as pop/rock beats. Practice these first, the easiest way to learn them is to play them slowly frst and gradualy gain speed. 
Hint: Don't hit the drums hard (polly!), play them lightly to get a better sound.

hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o-------o---:
bs :o-------o-------:

hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o-------o-o-:
bs :o-------o-------:

hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o-------o---:
bs :o-o-----o-o-----:

hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o-------o---:
bs :o-------o-o-----:

hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o-------o---:
bs :o-----o---o-----:

These ones get tricky now, they have offset snare patterns. Ive put on an easy way to learn to play them.
          RLR                         LRL
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:       hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o--o----o---:  or   sn :----o--o----o---:
bs :o-------o-------:       bs :o-------o-------:

          RLR                         LRL
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:       hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o--o----o---:  or   sn :----o--o----o---:
bs :o-------o-o-----:       bs :o-------o-o-----:

          RLR                         LRL
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:       hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o--o----o---:  or   sn :----o--o----o---:
bs :o-o-----o-o-----:       bs :o-o-----o-o-----:

          RLRLR                       LRLRL
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:       hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o--o-o--o---:  or   sn :----o--o-o--o---:
bs :o-------o-o-----:       bs :o-------o-o-----:

          RLRLR                       LRLRL
hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:       hh :x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-:
sn :----o--o-o--o---:  or   sn :----o--o-o--o---:
bs :o-o-----o-o-----:       bs :o-o-----o-o-----:

Phew! Well they are the basic beats amd now I shall introduce some basic rolls and paradiddles. (Pay attention to hand indicater)


single stroke

    RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL           LRLRLRLRLRLRLRLR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:  or  sn :oooooooooooooooo:

Double stroke

    RRLLRRLLRRLLRRLL           LLRRLLRRLLRRLLRR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:  or  sn :oooooooooooooooo:

Triplets

    RRRLLLRRRLLLRRRL           LLLRRRLLLRRRLLLR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:  or  sn :oooooooooooooooo:

Quads (rarely used)

    RRRRLLLLRRRRLLLL           LLLLRRRRLLLLRRRR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:  or  sn :oooooooooooooooo:

Paradiddle

    RLRRLRLLRLRRLRLL           LRLLRLRRLRLLRLRR
sn :oooooooooooooooo:  or  sn :oooooooooooooooo:


Now for long rolls.
Hint: Sort of bring the stick down lightly on the snare so it bounces up and down producing several like "drrrs" 

    RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL           LRLRLRLRLRLRLRLR
sn :rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:  or  sn :rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:  

A nice roll.

    RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL           LRLRLRLRLRLRLRLR
sn :OoooOoooOoooOooo:  or  sn :OoooOoooOoooOooo:

Thats it for now, if this is a success I'll go on and do more lessons! Email me if you want me to mkae some more.

[email protected]

Thanks love Dr. Joe