How to Read Drumline Music
Drumline music sheets, or percussion charts, are musical arrangements for drums and other percussion instruments, typically notated for marching band. Drums, like other instruments, are notated rhythmically, but since they don't play melody, the notes are arranged on a specific line on the music staff according to the type of drum.
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Instructions
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Familiarize yourself with the standard music staff. A music staff consists of five lines and four spaces. This is where you will notate drumline parts according to the type of drum.
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Learn the various types of drums. There are snares, bass, and tom-toms. In addition, you will need to recognize cymbals and hi-hats. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the sound these percussion instruments make.
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Consider the order of the instruments from highest to lowest. This will typically be the way the drums are notated on the staff, starting at the first space above the highest line. This space is where the hi-hat is placed.
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Remember that drumline music will have standard musical rhythm indications for note timing, such as quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, and the equal value rests. You might want to keep a note value guide handy until you're familiar with note values (see Resources).
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Notate cymbals on the first line above the music staff, toms on the fourth space of the music staff, snare drums on the third line of the music staff, bass drums on the first line of the music staff, and pedal hi-hats on the first space below the bass drums. You can mark the head of each note with a small x or with the standard head of a musical note.
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Learn special markings such as the letters r and l for right and left. A small circled x indicates cross-sticking, which is a method of playing the snare by crossing your arms.
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Read, or play, as much drum music as you can. The more you read along while listening to drumliine music, the better your reading skills will become. Playing also helps increase your reading skills. You can buy a book of simple drum patterns and music at a local music store or find a variety free online (see Resources).
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Drum_Line_Dorito.jpg
