How to Count 1/16 Notes on Drums

Count 16th notes on any drum or cymbal.

Mastering counts and time signatures is an important fundamental for every beginning drummer. A 4/4 measure, the most common time signature in music, contains four counts per measure -- counted simply as "1, 2, 3, 4" -- with each count representing a quarter note. The top number indicates the number of notes per bar; the bottom number indicates the type of note. A 16th note is counted in the same manner as the quarter note, but further breaking each quarter note into four; the 16th note derives its name from the fact that a 4/4 measure can contain a maximum of 16 notes. Sixteenth notes are common in almost every style of music, so it's imperative drummers learn how to count them.

Things You'll Need

• Metronome

Instructions

1. Count “1” and then “e” and then “&” and then “a.” The "a" in "1 e & a" is pronounced like "ah." These sounds represent the four counts in each quarter note. Incorporate the "e & a" instead of counting numbers with more than one syllable to avoid confusion about the number of beats.

2. Repeat this for each count of the measure, replacing “1” with the correct count. Thus a 4/4 measure is counted: “1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a.”

3. Turn on a metronome to a moderate tempo, such as 60 beats per minute.

4. Count 16th notes along with the click. The metronome makes one click for each count. Thus, count “1 e & a” for each click; space each part out evenly between clicks, changing the “1” to correspond with the appropriate count in the measure.

5. Practice repeatedly until you are comfortable continually counting 16th notes; this helps you master counting 16th notes on drums.

References

• Rock Drumming System: Learn How to Count Time as a Drummer

Resources

• Phil Tulga: Counting Music