How to Start Reading Drum Set Music - Basic Notation Tutorial

Are you trying to get better, but all these online drum gurus have weird hieroglyphics they keep referencing?! Don't worry, I'm here to help you get started reading drum set notation in less than 10 minutes! It can be daunting, but just like anything, you gotta start somewhere. Be on the lookout for Part II of this series, so subscribe and turn on that bell to get notified when it comes out!
I'm available for 1-to-1 and group lessons on Skype/Zoom/Facetime! You can DM any of my social accounts or send me an email. Your only requirements are to be serious about having fun while getting better.
***********************************************
MERCH: teespring.com/...
***********************************************
SOCIAL MEDIA
TikTok vm.tiktok.com/...
Instagram / iamdrewwooton
Facebook / iamdrewwooton
Twitter / iamdrewwooton
#drums #reading #notation

[@BottomLineBassin2]

I remember 8th grade band class, I was picked to play a drumset part, the sheet music looked like it was written in greek and chinese.

[@timmylemah]

Jibble

[@charlie-s7i]

[@shahbaz21]

So simple way easy to understand,even a beginner watches this he gonna understand this in just one time

[@seacaptaindw]

Drew, pretty cool. I'm 73, been playing since the early Beatles days, and never (really) learned drumset notation. Many thanks for clear explanations. Thank you.

[@DrewWooton]

Cheers!

[@echovadaclark]

This is so helpful. I've played for about a year now and I've never learned to read music. I've just learned by listening and watching drum covers. It's nice to be able to understand how to read it. A lot of the times when I watch videos, they don't explain it very well. But this was easy and entertaining. I will definitely be watching more videos. Thank you.

[@DrewWooton]

😁❤️🤙🏼

[@voiddraco3294]

He is very funny and active other drummers are like smiling and talking in pain

[@DrewWooton]

We’re all trying our best! 💪🏻🤙🏻

[@garylagstrom3864]

When I started to learn how to play drums in the 5th grade…I couldn’t understand why no matter how hard I tried and to others dismay: I could not read music! I thought I was just an idiot or stupid…I’m sure others thought that as I got to High School and marched triples my freshman year and quads Sophomore through Senior year. Other players had to basically spoon feed me my parts. I’m very surprised why I didn’t get cut from the drum lines but I guess they figured I could play the parts after showing me equated to no-harm/no foul. Recently I read that people who can’t read music no matter how hard they try have a certain kind of Dyslexia: Why do I struggle reading music? You may have a condition called musical dyslexia (also known as dysmusia) This is a similar condition to dyslexia but involves difficulty with processing music notes rather than words. So to those who can’t read (Eddie Van Halen) music no worries it’s not you it’s this strange form of musical dyslexia. Hang in there and don’t give up!

[@DrewWooton]

What matters is the transfer of information. If you can learn without reading, it certainly doesn’t make your performance less than. Do what works for YOU!

[@ridmamihiranga3042]

4:25 super ❤

[@DrewWooton]

😁

[@selenaleavitt7924]

This has helped me immensely, I am a new female drummer and loved this video so much I watched it 3 times!

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you! I’m glad it helped! 🙏😁🙌

[@ellaclay3572]

Same! I never see any other female percussionists

[@b.p.879]

I'm a new a-sexual reptilian drummer and I watched this 4 times! Ha!

[@DrewWooton]

@@ellaclay3572 my best students were females. Drumming is for EVERYONE!

[@DrewWooton]

@@b.p.879 can you put in a good word with Xenu for me?

[@jacktb3x]

4:28 is when he shows what note is what part of the drumkit. That's what I came to the video for and this timestamp is basically a bookmark for me. This video helped a lot mate, I'm new to drums and I'm hoping to get a drumkit soon. Love from Scotland :)

[@DrewWooton]

Love that! 💪🏻💪🏻🤙🏻

[@dusterbuster3799]

The best notation explanation on KZbin.

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you!

[@catvonblack6437]

Note Soup, haha!!! That’s my sign!!! The last time I played percussion, My name was “SOUP”…mmm mmm GOOD or, mmm mmm Better! Close enough, you had me at soup. I can follow your instructing easily. I’m a Goggins type learner. Thank you!

[@shrippie-4214]

I love this guy wish he was my drum teacher from my understanding a time signature of 4-4 1/4 notes will be counted like 1 2 3 4 one note faster than that is 1/8 and you'll count as 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 and two notes faster than 1/4 notes is 1/16 notes are counted like 1 e & a 2 3 e & a 4

[@barackhussienobungusjr7351]

I like how you actually covered all the things we can expect to see. Other content I found just went over what note corresponds to what piece of the Drum set and I ended up lost when looking at the sheet music anyway.

[@DrewWooton]

@@barackhussienobungusjr7351 😁🤙🏼

[@meerajthakur9439]

Most simplest but extremely effective lesson. Hats off to you sir.

[@DrewWooton]

Thanks!

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

I was looking for simple info: how to chart the floor tom Got mind blown with the fact that you can chart the ride bell Notation might be more useful than I thought Thank you, I'll be back Subscribed

[@DrewWooton]

Oh that’s great to hear! Glad it helped! 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@daved3927]

Very good video and explanation. Thank you very much. Looking forward to more postings.

[@DrewWooton]

@@daved3927 😁

[@k1ttytime]

Thank you! I’ve wanted to learn drums and this helped me understand the sheet music a bit more 😊

[@DrewWooton]

@@k1ttytime love it! 😁💪🏼

[@shankarmpamei826]

this is explained in a very easy and simple way so that all people can understand. Thanks brother. keep recording new lessons. Thanks.😇

[@1untamedbrain]

I'm literally just starting and this has helped me so much.

[@DrewWooton]

Glad to hear it!

[@1untamedbrain]

@@DrewWooton I'm old, so having the ability to teach myself with KZbin is still mind blowing to me. I wanted to comment because I truly appreciate that folks like you are out here making videos like this to make that possible. Thank you.

[@sophiaward2988]

I’m trying to get drum set for indoor percussion and I can play drums, but I’ve never read music for it. There’s someone else that wants to go for it but they already know how to read so I’m just trying to get a head start and this helped so much

[@DrewWooton]

Get it! 💪🏼💪🏼

[@iheartfrisbee]

Hilarious commentary that makes this super useful video fun to watch. Thanks so much! -newbie drummer

[@Ofaroarr]

Your vid just made me with zero experience somewhat able to play 😂

[@DrewWooton]

👀 that’s awesome!!!

[@Thatguy82719]

Why does this guy not have millions of subscribers?

[@DrewWooton]

tell your friends to subscribe! lol 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@nalakahemachandra9269]

Thank you sir I did learn first time drums notes.

[@DrewWooton]

Love it!

[@thecrimsonphoenix5755]

Thank you for the video, it's very helpful!

[@DJ-wv8zu]

Wanna learn drums because of Day6 Dowoon. I hope I can learn more!

[@DrewWooton]

Day6 Dowoon has some good stuff! I might try and cover “Wanna Go Back”...🤙🏻

[@DJ-wv8zu]

@@DrewWooton That would be great! Can't wait!

[@reasonsreasonably]

Chocolate Rain with those rests! Nice channel, brother.

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you! 🙏🏼🤙🏼

[@juancarlosdelasotta6375]

Thanks that was very awesome lesson, thanks again, next?

[@DrewWooton]

Thanks and not sure about the next-I spend most of my time on KZbin.com/c/thehardystreetboyz

[@basicPROcreator]

Thank you! I really want to learn how to play drums. But I don't know how to read the NOTES! hehe

[@Baneumann66]

I’m not bored . Very helpful. Thanks

[@DrewWooton]

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

[@lukekent6275]

iv been playing drums for 5 years in a band playing by ear now im needing to learn how to read notes etc omg even dumbed down i my stupid brain can but the notes and sound together i can get the visual of the drum and sound down but the noates and the sound at the same time don't make sense to me i will watch this video prob 1000x for my brain to connect the 2. thanks for this video will be vital to improving my drumming after i can get my brain to get it lol. i think i have some sort of learning difficulty..

[@saritbunty2901]

Wow......man i am so enlightened

[@babarshakeel7222]

Just saw first time your video and immediately subscribe your channel because of your easy teaching method Keep up the good work... Blessings 🙌 Love from Pakistan ❤️

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@nicholekennedy362]

Dude YOU ARE AWESOME . Thank you so much 😊

[@DaDsJacksonsDad]

I appreciate this. I have watched a lot of drum related videos and this is the first one that explained the upbeats and downbeats.

[@Patrickmaliga]

I like the way he teach

[@thatsamazingmason800]

Commentary is 💯

[@kolioable]

Nice and simple explanation. Can you make a video about the dotted note and also how to count triplets and counting in compound rhythm?

[@InesGalicMusic]

Great video for us beginners ❤

[@charlita25]

He's good 🥁🥁👍🏽 and funny 😁

[@AndresMartinez-mb6qi]

Thank you 🙏

[@salantino]

Brilliant

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you!

[@jasons5152]

Thank you so much!

[@DrewWooton]

You’re very welcome!

[@Sexecutioner76]

Drew this was a really cool intro to drum music notation! Im a guitar player but have always loved the sound of drums. My 13 yr old plays the drums in band class nad we both love metal so i finally got some drums and we are loving it man! So much fun. Funny fact some ppl were talking about dyslexia with sheet music. That happens to me with math problems. The numbers move around on the page and i have a very hard time with math. I had a college counselor tell me i may have discalcula which is basically dislexia with math. I can read sheet music but cant do math go figure!

[@richmorson6472]

Thank you for the vid, really helpful for beginners (me lol) nice and simply explained 👍

[@DrewWooton]

Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad it helped you out!

[@ghostzwft1193]

this helped sooo much man thank u

[@DrewWooton]

No prob! Glad it made sense!

[@prisciloinovero6286]

Nice maestro, easy to understand.

[@DrewWooton]

Grazie! 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@RogueRhiRhi]

I'm a major noob at drums and I want to learn because of Chihoon from FistBump, Dowoon from Day6 and Woosu from IZ! I'm ready to learn

[@britfessenden8307]

I'm watching this to learn how to read because I want to join the drumline in the future (helped a TON) and this doesn't really apply to me because I want to play the snare specifically but I do play on a drum set sometimes and I don't understand how you know what drum to play on.

[@DrewWooton]

Jump to 4:30 and look at the placement of the note as I play on each instrument. I broke it up so you can try and get a clearer picture of where notes are on the staff before you move on to more difficult concepts. Hope this helps and best of luck joining your drum line! 💪🏻🤙🏻

[@britfessenden8307]

@@DrewWooton Thank you sooo much, This helps a lot!😅😃

[@acoustikaryan3135]

Great efforts

[@glhmedic]

Hey I’m 60 years old and never played drums or anything musical. Can I learn drums? I had a stroke 2016 and was thinking that learning a instrument might help. I’m into old to play drums.

[@DrewWooton]

Hey, it’s never too late to try something new! There are definitely benefits to working on your coordination while keeping time-I’m no doctor so I have no evidence to back up that belief 😬. Keep track of your journey and let me know how you’re making it! 💪🏻💪🏻🤙🏻

[@GraysonRobinson-m2i]

very helpful

[@DrewWooton]

Love it!

[@4Brazy]

great video man , really helped

[@DrewWooton]

Thanks! I’m stoked that it worked for ya! 🤙🏻

[@jammykingyourmom2542]

thank you

[@snowball158]

Thanks for this I am hoping to get a Electric drum kit For the neighbours 😂🤣 Love from Scotland! Also can you tell me what you’re fav bands are

[@DrewWooton]

The Police are my all-time favorite! 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@snowball158]

@@DrewWooton Mine has to be Mettalica or Slipknot

[@snowball158]

@@DrewWootonah yes i have listened to a couple of their songs

[@controlhero3775]

Thx man gotta play it in a concert

[@beastosamu]

Gosh, this is helping but every note looks the same to me.. any tips.?

[@DrewWooton]

@@beastosamu just take it slowly!

[@Sophia-cz8kx]

The problem I have is that sometimes when i go to just hit high hat mu roght foot accidently pushing the drum lol

[@undueyyy]

Hey, thanks for the video…this helped a lot. I have one question though- Why is there a ‘upside down p’ on some sheet music in the bottom line of the staff? Is it another way of showing the bass ☹️

[@DrewWooton]

If I’m thinking of what you’re describing, those are just notes with the stem facing downward. If is on the bottom “space” of the staff, that would indicate bass. Hope that helps!

[@undueyyy]

@@DrewWooton thank you so much 😊

[@larrywaraytv8172]

This is a nice video i want to learn drum notation

[@DrewWooton]

Thanks! Hopefully this video will help you get started! 🤙🏻💪🏻🥁🎶

[@juliedeane9541]

How can anyone think that fast? I really want to learn, but I’m not sure I can. You have to not only think of what note 1/4, 1/8 1/16 etc.. you have to look at all of the symbols and rennet what each one means and what to play, as your counting and trying to figure out the rest. I wish I would have started younger than 55. My brains a bit slow for all of this. I’m Still going to practice and try, but I think I’m facing a big up hill battle

[@DrewWooton]

You got this!

[@jammykingyourmom2542]

this helped

[@DrewWooton]

Love to hear that! 🙌🏼💯

[@dandiferpilled]

i still cant figure it out. i am SO confused especially on the 4 over 4 part. I don't get the bottom number and i literally js feel so stupid atp

[@DrewWooton]

Bottom number is telling you which note is assigned a whole number. The stems and beams let you know how many times to split up each “number” or “count”. It’s situational, so it can get overwhelming. Start and stay simple until it makes sense. Calling yourself stupid won’t help either. You got this!

[@povmonyneathmorm3320]

Thanks

[@DrewWooton]

No problem! 🤙🏻💪🏻

[@MultiSkyman1]

Any relation to John Wooton?

[@DrewWooton]

Yep!

[@MultiSkyman1]

@@DrewWooton Cool.

[@darrelroach6255]

Great lesson but I don't like how the drum kit sounds

[@DrewWooton]

Thanks....?

[@chocolatechipcookiedough]

@@DrewWooton I love the dry sound of that snare. I'm going to query Grandma Google until I can find out what it is. Thanks for the useful and positive video.

[@fluff9231]

Not me crying when I saw the notes the whole entire video

[@DrewWooton]

🥹

[@zombywoof1015]

Thanks. Been playing nigh 30 years, can't read. But I've learned what the upbeat and downbeat is.

[@DrewWooton]

Boom! You’re well on your way! 🤙🏻💪🏻

[@emmanuelsalazar348]

No cuz this actually helped

[@DrewWooton]

@@emmanuelsalazar348 love to hear it!

[@vic_a1819]

Tell me 3rd tt in sheet

[@timmylemah]

Before this video i was getting beat at home still am

[@ClaireMiller-e9h]

32snd rests look terrifying

[@DrewWooton]

@@ClaireMiller-e9h it’s ok-they go by quickly…

[@stereofidelic67]

Sounds like a semi-quaver feel to me.

[@dwoz6006]

🥰❤️

[@charlie-s7i]

[@selinas8039]

you made me LO Loud

[@DrewWooton]

😁

[@aqua1199]

4:30

[@johnfaust3449]

I don’t understand the difference between a beat and a note. whats a beat?

[@geethamalavaratharajan5774]

😍💐💐💐

[@mushroom743]

I thought note soup was a great explanation

[@DrewWooton]

Note soup has given me so much anxiety over the years so I hope this helps!

[@timmylemah]

Jiible

[@timmylemah]

JIbble

[@brycemichel9745]

Lol oakley symbol

[@flickks9408]

I doo jiu jutsu

[@flickks9408]

No i dont

[@DrewWooton]

I do Drew Jitsu.....

[@Mike1zKool]

@@DrewWooton I do ginger ale jitsu

[@slimjim1104]

I've been.playing over 20 years. Never learned to read but I feel like out of respect for the art I should.

[@DrewWooton]

I mean, yeah-but you can still have respect and not read. It’s a personal decision, ya know?

[@chase6428]

dear lord balance your audio please that intro was waaaaay too loud

[@DrewWooton]

I dunno how to explain this, but It’s already posted...