How to Read Drum Notation / Sheet Music for Drummers

Reading drum notation may look intimidating at first, but it’s much simpler than traditional music. Each line and space of the staff corresponds to a different part of the kit — snare, bass drum, hi-hat, etc. Notes represent when to hit, while symbols like accents, flams, and rolls add detail.

Learning to read opens up access to thousands of exercises, songs, and books. Start with basic rock beats written on sheet music, and soon you’ll be comfortable decoding more complex rhythms.