Contents
- Quarter Notesp. 6
- Rests and Longer Notesp. 7
- Solo 1: First Stepsp. 8
- Eighth Notesp. 9
- Mix It Upp. 10
- Accentsp. 11
- Solo 2: Groundworkp. 12
- Sixteenth Notesp. 17
- Grooves: Level 2p. 18
- Fills: Level 2p. 19
- Solo 3: Rock the Housep. 20
- Song Chart: House Partyp. 21
Welcome to the drums
Book page 1
Every drummer you have ever heard started right where you are: one stick, one beat, one count at a time. This book takes you from your very first note all the way to full beats, fills, and a song. Take it one section at a time. Go slow. Enjoy the sound you are making.
- Press Play. Every exercise has its own player. You get one bar of clicks to count you in, then the band starts.
- Choose what you hear. Turn the click, drums, bass, and keys on or off. Tap Hear the part to hear exactly what is written.
- Set the speed. Use the slider or the − and + buttons. Tap Start for the slow tempo and Goal for the target.
- Know when to move on. Play it 3 times in a row, with no stops, at the goal tempo. Then tick Got it.
- Little and often. 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, beats one long practice on Sunday.
Meet the Drum Set
Book page 3
A drum set is a team of drums and cymbals that one person plays with both hands and both feet. Here is the set from above, the way you see it from the seat (called the throne).
Getting Set Up
Book page 4
Good habits on day one make everything easier later. Check each of these before you play.
1. Sit tall on the throne
Set the seat so your thighs are level or slope a little downhill toward your knees. Sit near the front edge, back straight, shoulders loose. Your feet rest flat on the pedals.
2. Place the snare
The snare sits between your knees, a few inches above them. It should be close enough that your arms hang relaxed, not stretched out.
3. Find the balance point
Hold a stick loosely and let it tip. The spot about one-third up from the end is where it balances best. That is where you hold it.
4. Pinch, then wrap
Pinch the stick at the balance point with your thumb and the middle of your first finger. Let the other fingers wrap around it gently.
5. Palms down
Turn your hands so the backs face the ceiling. From above, your sticks make a slice-of-pizza shape, tips close together over the middle of the drum.
6. Throw and let it bounce
Drop the stick into the drum and let it bounce back up, like dribbling a basketball. Do not press it into the head.
Reading Rhythm
Book page 5
Music is split into bars (also called measures). The 4/4 at the start means every bar has 4 beats, and a quarter note gets one beat. Count along with each line below.
Quarter Notes
Book page 6
Play these on a practice pad or the snare drum. One note on every beat. Count 1, 2, 3, 4 out loud, and follow the sticking letters under each note.
Rests and Longer Notes
Book page 7
Now some beats are silent and some notes last longer. Keep counting through every rest. For half and whole notes, play once and let the drum ring while you count.
Solo 1: First Steps
Book page 8
Your first full piece. It uses everything so far: quarter notes, half notes, rests, accents, and loud and soft playing. Watch the letters under the line for loud (f), medium (mf) and soft (p). Tempo: 70–100 BPM.
Eighth Notes
Book page 9
Two notes on every beat. The number is the downbeat, and the "&" (say "and") in between is the upbeat. Count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.
Mix It Up
Book page 10
Quarter notes and eighth notes together, plus the eighth rest. Keep saying every count, even the silent ones. The counting is what keeps your notes in the right place.
Accents
Book page 11
An accent (>) means play that note louder. Use a full stroke (high) for accents and a low stroke for everything else. The big difference between loud and soft is what makes it sound musical.
Solo 2: Groundwork
Book page 12
A solo using eighth notes, eighth rests, and accents. Use right hand on the numbers, left hand on the "&" and the sticking will take care of itself. Tempo: 70–110 BPM.
Your First Beat
Book page 13
A groove (or beat) is a pattern that repeats and makes people want to move. Build this one step by step. Do not move to the next step until the one before feels easy.
Right hand plays eighth notes on the closed hi-hat.
Add the left hand on the snare on beats 2 and 4. This is the backbeat: the clap in most songs.
Go back to just the hi-hat, and add the right foot on the bass drum on beats 1 and 3.
Put it all together. You are playing a real rock beat.
Grooves: Level 1
Book page 14
Same hi-hat and snare as your first beat. Only the bass drum moves. Say the counts and notice where each kick lands: on a number, or on an "&".
Grooves: Level 1 (cont.)
Book page 15
Now some two-bar grooves, the ride cymbal, and the hi-hat foot. For number 52, keep your left foot pressing the hi-hat pedal closed on beats 2 and 4 while your right hand plays the ride.
Fills: Level 1
Book page 16
A fill is a short break from the groove that leads into the next part of a song. Play the groove 3 times, play the fill, then land on the crash. Count out loud so the crash lands right on "1".
Sixteenth Notes
Book page 17
Four notes on every beat. Count 1 e & a, 2 e & a. Back to the pad for these. The sticking is always the same: R on the number and "&", L on the "e" and "a".
Grooves: Level 2
Book page 18
The right hand now plays sixteenth notes on the hi-hat. This takes patience. Start slow, keep your hand relaxed, and let the stick bounce. The snare stays on 2 and 4.
Fills: Level 2
Book page 19
Sixteenth-note fills. Same plan as before: groove 3 times, fill, crash. Use the natural sticking from page 17 (R L R L on every beat) and move around the drums.
Solo 3: Rock the House
Book page 20
A snare solo with sixteenth notes, accents, and big changes in volume. Use natural sticking all the way through. When you can play it cleanly, play it for someone. Tempo: 60–92 BPM.
Song Chart: House Party
Book page 21
A chart is a map of a whole song. Read it top to bottom, left to right. Play along with your teacher, or put on a steady metronome. Tempo: 80–104 BPM. Four clicks count you in.
Practice Log
Book page 22
Keep a written log of every practice. Print the practice log page from the printable PDF and keep it on your music stand.
Progress Tracker
Book page 23
Every time you tick Got it, it shows up here. When a section is full, play it for your teacher so they can sign it off in your printed book.