Lesson 2, Exercise 4

Lesson 2, Exercise 3

Lesson 2, Exercise 2

Lesson 2, Exercise 1

Lesson 2

In this lesson we’re going to be playing quavers, or 1/8 notes.
Quavers have a note value of ½ a beat, or 1/8 of a bar in 4/4 time.
Drummers will usually call these 1/8 notes.
They are counted like this: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +.

We count them like this because it’s important to know where the ¼ notes, or beat falls.
Practice clapping your hands slowly and counting 1 2 3 4. These are ¼ notes.
Keep clapping and counting at the same tempo but add an ‘and’ between each clap.
You are now counting 1/8 notes without changing the ¼ note count.

I am now going to play and explain each exercise for you and then play it through at two different tempos. There will be a count-in so that you can play along.
Remember to learn each exercise slowly before trying to play it at speed.

Reading Drum Notation

The drums are written on a STAFF, which contains 5 lines.
The first sign at the beginning of a piece of drum music: l l,
tells us that the music is written on the percussion staff.
The staff is divided into BARS. Each bar will have a certain number of beats or a ‘pulse’ running
through it, often there are 4 beats in a bar.
The notes you can see are called CROTCHETS.

They have a note value of 1 whole beat, or ¼ of a bar.
The 4/4 at the beginning of this bar, is the time signature.
The four on the bottom tells us the type of beats, in this case crotchets. The four on the top tells us how many crotchets, or beats, in each bar.
So 4/4 means that there are four whole beats in the bar.
There can be many different time signatures, such as 3/4, 5/4, 6/8, 12/8 but 4/4 is by far the most common. In fact, it can also be known as ‘COMMON TIME’ and may be written as a ‘C’ instead of 4/4.
The bars are read like a book, from left to right.

NOTE AND REST VALUES
To keep things simple we are going to look at note values in 4/4, or ‘common time’.
Each different note has an equivalent rest sign.
Here are the different note and rest values:

Count out bars of four: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4 etc.
Each count is one whole beat. Because we are counting 4 beats to the bar, each note is ¼ of a bar.
For this reason, we call these notes ¼ notes.
Drummers usually refer to the note values: ¼ notes, 1/8 notes, 1/16 notes, etc.
1/8 notes are counted like this: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1/16 notes are counted like this: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Notes with ‘flags’ or ‘tails’ are often tied together in groups. This makes them easier to read - it’s like reading words instead of individual letters.
When you come across a rest sign you should count out the note but not play it.
Don’t worry too much about learning all the notation, you will get plenty of practice as you work through the exercises. Look back to this section if you need a reminder.

DRUM NOTATION
All drum notation uses the same note values, but there can be different ways of showing the various parts of the drum kit. Ride and crash cymbals and hi-hats may be shown using a variety of different markings. Think of it as the same language but with different accents!
This is the notation that we will be using:

Drum Rudiments: Single Stroke Roll

The great thing about these rudiments, or practice exercises, is that you don’t need a drum kit, or even a snare drum - you can play them on a practice pad. A practice pad is ideal if you haven’t yet got any drums, or if noise is a problem.

Remember, control not speed, it’s better to play slower in time than to play quickly out of time.
Try starting your practices at around about 60 beats per minute. I find that much slower than that and it’s hard to keep in time.
Try accenting (making slightly louder) the first stroke in a group of notes, this sounds more ‘musical'.

Lesson 1, Exercise 3

Adding the hi-hat to the beat.

Lesson 1, exercise 2

Bass Drum, Ride Cymbal and Snare, basic beat.

Lesson 1, Exercise 1

We’re going to be playing crotchets, or quarter notes on the drums.
Crotchets have an note value of 1 beat, or ¼ of a bar in 4/4 time.
Drummers usually refer to crotchets as ¼ notes.
Quarter notes are counted like this: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4. It’s important to be able to count the notes as you play them.
I will play and explain each exercise for you, showing you how to tackle it. At the end of the exercise, I will play the pattern through with a repeat, at both a slow and faster tempo. I’ll give you a count in so that you can play along.
Remember to learn each exercise slowly before trying to play it at speed.
The chances are that if you can’t play it properly slowly, you can’t play it quickly!

Setting up the kit.

Getting comfortable behind the kit, basic bass drum and hi-hat techniques. The sounds of the kit.

Hello

This site will host the free drum lessons that were previously available at www.1234drums.com. Your drum instructor is Gary Hawkins, currently playing with The Fabulous Beatles.
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