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    Drum Notation Guide PDF

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    mailmanager8946
    The document provides guidance on standard percussion notation practices. It begins by explaining that cymbals and drums are generally assumed to ring unless notation indicates otherwise. It then details common notation symbols for various percussion instruments and techniques, including drums, cymbals, triangles, congas, woodblocks, and cowbells. The document concludes by explaining practices for notating sticking, stopping sounds, and other techniques.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Drum Notation Guide PDF

    Uploaded by

    mailmanager8946
    265 views4 pages
    The document provides guidance on standard percussion notation practices. It begins by explaining that cymbals and drums are generally assumed to ring unless notation indicates otherwise. It then details common notation symbols for various percussion instruments and techniques, including drums, cymbals, triangles, congas, woodblocks, and cowbells. The document concludes by explaining practices for notating sticking, stopping sounds, and other techniques.

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    Drum Notation Guide.pdf

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    The document provides guidance on standard percussion notation practices. It begins by explaining that cymbals and drums are generally assumed to ring unless notation indicates otherwise. It then details common notation symbols for various percussion instruments and techniques, including drums, cymbals, triangles, congas, woodblocks, and cowbells. The document concludes by explaining practices for notating sticking, stopping sounds, and other techniques.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    265 views4 pages

    Drum Notation Guide PDF

    Uploaded by

    mailmanager8946
    The document provides guidance on standard percussion notation practices. It begins by explaining that cymbals and drums are generally assumed to ring unless notation indicates otherwise. It then details common notation symbols for various percussion instruments and techniques, including drums, cymbals, triangles, congas, woodblocks, and cowbells. The document concludes by explaining practices for notating sticking, stopping sounds, and other techniques.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Let RingIt is normally assumed that a cymbal will

    be allowed to ring unless a choke or stopped effect


    is indicated. However, if a number of choke
    symbols have been used, a tie may be added to
    make it clear that the note should be allowed to
    ring through its natural decay.

    Open DrumsSimilarly, most notes on drums are


    assumed to be played open unless the stopped
    symbol has been used. The open symbol may,
    however, be used if it helps clarify the part.

    Placement of NotesWhen drum part for a full kit part is placed on


    a 5-line staff, the parts played with the hands are notated with
    stems up, and those played by the feet with stems down.
    3

    3
    3
    3
    3

    R
    L

    etc

    Guide To

    www.audiograffiti.com.au
    [email protected]

    Allegretto

    mp

    rit.

    mp

    August 2004

    Drum & Percussion


    Notation

    Guide to Drum & Percussion Notation


    Notation for drums and percussion varies considerably from arranger to arranger, and from
    publisher to publisher. Many notators have created their own symbols in an effort to cater for the
    huge array of percussion instruments and techniques.
    In most drum notation systems, the lines and spaces of a standard 5-line music staff are used to
    define the various drums of a kit. For simple parts (for example, a kick and snare pattern) a 1 or 2
    line-line staff may be used. Non-kit percussion instruments can be notated on any of these staff
    types. Notators vary to some degree on what instrument each line of the stave represents.
    There is really no right
    or wrong as long as the
    notator provides a
    legend defining the
    meaning of each line of
    the staff, and the
    significance pf the
    different noteheads
    and symbols.

    Tom
    1 Tom 2
    Tom 3
    HiHat (Pedal)
    Open

    Hi Hat
    Snare
    Kick

    Ride (22")

    Crash (18")

    Ghost note

    Ride (20")

    Splash (10")

    Rolls (8th-note)A slash


    through a note means that the
    drum should be struck
    repeatedly at 8th note (quaver)
    intervals for the duration of the
    note. This is usually as a
    standard double stroke roll.

    Rolls (16th-note)Two
    slashes through a note indicate
    that the drum should be struck
    repeatedly at 16th note (semiquaver) intervals for the
    duration of the note, creating a
    roll.

    Rolls (32nd-note)Three
    slashes through a note indicate
    that the drum should be struck
    repeatedly at 32nd note
    intervals.


    equals

    equals

    Rim Shot

    The guide you are now reading is a legend to how we notate drum and percussion parts when
    we engrave music at Audio Graffiti. We attempt to follow the standards set out in Norman
    Weinbergs Guide to Standardized Drumset Notation. Occasionally we will introduce a new symbol
    to cater for an unusual requirement of a client. In such situations, we will provide a custom
    legend in the score or part extract.

    Rolls (triplet)If a number (eg


    3 or 6) is placed above the
    notehead, the roll should be
    player as if it were a triplet or
    group of 6.

    equals

    FlamsFlams are indicated by


    a grace note. The grace note
    specifies which drum is to be
    struck slightly ahead of the
    main note.

    equals

    Rolls (on longer note values)


    The examples shown previously are all on a quarter not value. The
    slashes can be applied to any note value, and the roll should be
    played for the full duration of the note. For example, a half note
    (minim) with one slash requires four strokes. A dotted quarter note
    with one slash requires three strokes.



    equals

    DragsDrags are notated as a


    pair of grace notes attached to
    the main note. The grace notes
    are played using a different
    stick to the main note.

    RuffsThese can be notated


    like a drag. However, if drags
    are also used in the same
    score, ruffs are distinguished
    by the alternate sticking
    pattern or by a slashed beam.

    equals

    RL

    TriangleThe triangle part can be noted on the 5-line staff by a


    triangle shaped notehead positioned on the first ledger line above
    the staff. They can also be notated on a single-line staff with either
    a triangle shape or a normal notehead. Muted triangles are notated
    with the stopped symbol, or, on a single-line stave they may be
    notated with a cross-shaped notehead.

    Normal

    Muted

    Congas & BongosBongos


    and congas are normally
    notated on a two lined staff,
    with one line representing each
    of the drums. An additional line
    may be added for a third drum.
    The top line represents the
    highest-pitched drum. A crossshaped notehead is used for
    muted drums. Specialist
    techniques should be defined
    in the legend.


    Normal

    Muted

    Woodblockthese can be
    notated as triangle shapes on
    the upper section of the
    percussion staff. The higher
    line represents the highest
    pitch. Woodblocks can also be
    notated on a one or two line
    staff with triangle or normal
    note heads.

    CowbellThe cowbell is
    notated on the top space of
    the stave. Muted cowbells can
    be notated with the stopped
    symbol. Cowbells can be
    notated on a single-line staff
    like the triangle.

    GongGongs are notated on


    the lowest line of the staff.
    They can also be notated on a
    single-line staff. Specialist
    techniques (such as scraping
    of brushes) should be defined
    in the legend.

    Kick/Bass DrumThe kick


    drum is notated on the bottom
    space of the staff. If a second
    kick drum is required, it will be
    notated on the lowest line of
    the staff.

    Toms (Large Kit)Where more


    than three toms are required,
    they are notated in descending
    pitch. The appropriate size and
    type for each will be given in
    the legend otherwise these are
    left to player discretion.

    Hi-Hat (Second)Some
    arrangements call for a second
    hi-hat. This is notated inside
    the staff and lower than the
    first hi- hat.

    SnareThe snare is notated as


    shown below. If a second snare
    is called for, it will be notated
    in a position used for one of
    the toms and this will be
    defined in the legend.

    Toms (Additional)Up to 10
    toms can be notated by adding
    the four definitions shown
    below to the large kit
    definition.

    Hi-Hat (Open)A small circle


    is placed above the hi-hat mark
    if it is to be struck while open.

    Toms (Standard kit)Three


    toms are notated for the
    standard kit: 2 mounted and
    one floor.

    Mounted

    Hi

    Low

    Floor

    Hi-Hat ClosedThe hi-hat is


    notated as a x-like cross mark
    on top of the staff.

    Hi-Hat (Half Open)In some


    music, it is necessary to
    indicate a partially open hi-hat.
    This is done by placing a
    vertical line though the open

    Hi-Hat (With Pedal)A hi-hat


    played with the pedal is
    indicated by a cross mark
    below the stave.

    Crash Cymbal (Additional)


    Where an arrangement calls for
    a number of different crash
    cymbals, they may be drawn at
    any point above the stave not
    already defined in the legend
    for another cymbal type.

    Ride CymbalThe standard


    position for a ride cymbal is on
    the top line of the staff. If a
    second ride is required, it is
    notated on the lower lines.

    Hi Hat (Foot Splash)This


    effect is created by clashing
    the hi-hats together forcibly
    using the pedal, then allowing
    them to ring.

    Splash CymbalThe standard


    position for a splash cymbal is
    above the first ledger line
    above the stave. (Note that if a
    splash cymbal isnt required,
    this mark may be used for a
    different cymbal type)

    Bell

    Edge

    China CymbalThe standard


    position for a china cymbal is
    on the second ledger line
    above the stave. (Note that if a
    china cymbal isnt required,
    this mark may be used for a
    different cymbal type)

    Bell or EdgeWhether a
    cymbal is hit on the edge or
    bell is usually left to the
    discretion of the drummer.
    However the following symbols
    can be used if necessary.

    Crash CymbalCrash cymbals


    are notated with a cross mark
    on the first ledger line above
    the stave.

    Rim ShotA line through a


    notehead is used to notate a
    rim shot (striking the head
    and rim of the drum
    simultaneously).

    Ghost NotesGhost notes are


    played by striking the drum (or
    cymbal) very lightly. They are
    used to create feel rather than
    to be heard.

    Cross StickThese are played


    by laying the stick across the
    drum head and over the rim.
    The part of the stick over the
    rim is raised and used to strike
    the rim.

    Stopped DrumsThese are


    played by touching the drum or
    cymbal after it is struck to stop
    it vibrating.

    Drum Centre or EdgeWhere


    it is necessary to specify
    whether the drum be hit in the
    centre or on the edge, symbols
    like those below are used.

    StickingWhen a particular
    sticking pattern is required (or
    advised), it is noted by the
    letters L (left) and R (right)
    above the stave.

    Choked CymbalsAn
    apostrophe is used to notate a
    cymbal that is grabbed
    immediately after being struck.

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