Hi!

It's me again with yet another random tutorial. In this tutorial I'll explain how to drum. Yep, tnat's right. I'll also write about ear plugs and drum sticks. I'll write about reading music too. So, lets get started

--Reading Music--
So, all music can be written on paper. This method has pretty much been always the same. In all songs are seperated in measures. A measure normally has four beats. When you use a metronome, you hear the beats.

There types of notes too. Each note is a diffrent length. Heare are the common notes (I got this from jazclass.aust.com):



So, lets start with a whole note. The whole lasts four beats, so the whole measure most of the time. That's it.

The next note lasts 2 beats, the half note.

After there is the quarter note. It is often used. It lasts one beat.

In drumming, you often play fast notes, so we use eight notes and sixteenth notes.

So, eight notes last half a beat and sixteenth notes last a quarter of a beat.

It is very important to know that each four beat measure has to have exactly four beats. So you can't write three quarter notes in a measure, there is missing a beat! But do not fear, rests are here! A rest will fill in a hole in a measure. They are exactly like notes, they all have certain lengths, which are the same as the notes (the rests are the symbols next to the note symbols). So, you can write three quarter notes and one rest quarter note. But remember, you can place the rest wherever you want in the measure!

Keep in mind that in drumming, you can't control the length of a note when you play it unless using certain methods. But, the lengths are still there, so four quarter notes will sound like four beats.

As you all know, music notes have pitches, which make melodies. Obviously, drums don't have pitches, but they still have different 'instruments'. You can have more than one 'instrument' at a time. If you don't have a drum set, you should still learn how to read Drum notes.

So, here are all the notes for each 'instrument' (I got this image at freedrumlessons.com):



So, in this image, you should only need to remember the High-Hat, the Crash cymbal, the Ride cymbal, the Tom 1, 2 and the floor Tom, the Snare and the Base-Drum.

Alright, lets start playing!

--Playing--

So, this section is like if you had a drum set, but you can easily play without one!

If you have a drum set please don't try to hit it really hard in random ways. And if you play on a drum set, always wear ear protection. I will explain this later in this blog

If you do or don't have a drum, you reaaaaaly should get drum sticks. If you don't use drumsticks on a drum, you will perce the drum's skin fairly fast.

If you don't have a drum, you can play on a carpet or a pillow. Please use drumsticks!

Alright, so you really need to know that when you play, you must not leave the drumstick on the drum; you have to lift the drumstick instantly. This will make sure the sound is right.

When you play, you must always count. This is important to do in the beginning to make it a good habit. So, in a measure that has four beats, you would count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and...".
Each number is a beat. The "and" is the off beat; it is between each beat.

When you play eight notes, you count "1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a...". So, lets learn a beat!

If you have a drum, check online to see how to place your drum set. The drum's placement is different if you are left or right handed. If you are right-handed, the high-hat goes on the left, and if you are left-handed, the high-hat goes on the right. You always have both feet on the high-hat pedal and the base-drum pedal.

The Crash cymbal is the medium sized cymbal. The ride cymbal is the big cymbal. The snare is the drum that rattles when you hit it. The high-hat is the set of cymbals controlled with a pedal. The base drum (or kick drum) is the big drum used with a pedal, and the toms are the three (or two) drums placed on top of the base drum and on the ground (floor tom).

I really must take a moment to say that if you will play on a drum, ear protections are necessary! But you don't need high tech stuff, just use some kleenexes, and make them into 'balls' and place them in your ears. They should mostly be out of the ear, but try to make them hold.

So, lets play!



(This image is from www.learndrumsnow.com)

So in this image, it shows you the right way to count. This beat is actually rarely used with eight notes, but it's good practice for getting used to counting. It also shows which arms to use for right-handed people. The Xs are the high-hat, and it is used with the Right arm. The snare is hit with the Left arm.

These are the basics for being a good drummer! Thanks for reading!