How to Read Musical Notes of Drums

Musical notes are very important for every genrethat space. The space is normally marked with x.
of music and instrument. If you know how toAll the four spaces are allotted for toms. Each
read musical notes, then it will become easier forspace is for each tom. The fourth space, which is
you to learn music. There are mainly two typesjust below the topmost line, is for the high tom.
of notations. One is for the lead instruments andThe next two spaces are respectively allotted for
the other is for the rhythm instruments.the medium tom and the low tom. If the music of
Lead instruments are those, who play theyour drum kit consists of more than three toms,
harmony parts, feeler parts of music. Guitars,then you have to use a dot below the five
pianos are of this genre. The other kind ofstandard lines.
notations is made for the rhythm instruments likeSnare drums are very important in a drum kit.
drums, bongos, congas etc.Notations for them are written in the third line.
The main problem with drummers is many ofCymbals are manly used above the hi hats. They
them do not want to learn how to read musicalare also marked with x signs. If you want to play
notes of drums. But it is important. Knowing toa bell stroke on your cymbal, then place a
read the notation will help you to play them well.diamond sign just beside the x sign.
Drum notations has one problem. Every otherFor your feet, there are two notations. Your right
notation follows a basic guideline. But drumfoot is for the bass drum. The bottom line is used
notations do not follow any basic guidelines. Belowto indicate the bass drum notation. Notation for
we are providing you a basic notation, which isyour left foot, which is a hi hat foot is placed
used for drum music. This will help you to learnbelow the bass drums. That means the space
how to read musical notes of drums.below the bottom line.
Let us start with the basics of notations. ANow, to know how to read musical notes of
notation book consists five lines. Those lines aredrums, you need to know the values of these
named as a, b, c, d etc. and between every twonotes. Every note has different values. If you find
line there is a space. There are four spaces visiblea straight line, which has a dot attached with the
in a notation.top or bottom of that line, then that particular
Starting from the bottom the lines go up. Thatnote is called a quarter note.
means the bottom line is called the first line andIf a tail is attached with the stem, then it will
the top most line is called the fifth line. This isbecome an eighth note. If there are two tails,
mainly the basic knowledge of musical notes ofthen it is called a sixteenth note.
drums. Now, let us move on to a moreThese are the basic rules of how to read musical
complicated part of notations.notes of drums. Go through this article and you
The space just above the first line is for the hiwill be able to understand a lot about the notation
hats. The notation of the hi hats will be written onof drum music.