Confused while learning drum notation. ??????

[Zdrums]

Hey everyone, I'm new here. I bought this book, learning drum notation from it, but I got stumped. There is one thing that really confused me. I got up sixteenth note/eighth note combinations, and every thing was right to left. Then I got up to quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note combinations, where after a quarter w/ the right, the next note would start with r again. I'll give you another example from this part of the book.....
1e+ah 2 3 4+ah
RLRL R L LRL

Now why the heck is there another L on the 4, right after the L on the 3???????????
Man, I am so confused. Please help me. thank you very much.

[drumhead61]

Hey everyone, I'm new here. I bought this book, learning drum notation from it, but I got stumped. There is one thing that really confused me. I got up sixteenth note/eighth note combinations, and every thing was right to left. Then I got up to quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note combinations, where after a quarter w/ the right, the next note would start with r again. I'll give you another example from this part of the book.....
1e+ah 2 3 4+ah
RLRL R L LRL

Now why the heck is there another L on the 4, right after the L on the 3???????????
Man, I am so confused. Please help me. thank you very much.

the first two counts of 1e+ah through 2 begin with the right, it seems that the book you are using is doing for that particular exercise 3 & 4 starting off with the left otherwise you would start and stop just as in the first count? It is just trying to get you use to starting off with either hand not to mess up your head...makes since?

Welcome to the Forum

another way of looking at it...if you notice the first count starts R as well as the 2nd R and then the 3rd L and 4th L if you count them out the 3rd L is not right on top of the 4th L it would be (1 stroke) 3(your L) e+ah 4e+ah...hope that helps

[Zdrums]

Thank you very much. You're right, the author is trying throw some tricks in. I hope to learn a lot from you guys. All is appreciated.

[drumhead61]

Thank you very much. You're right, the author is trying throw some tricks in. I hope to learn a lot from you guys. All is appreciated.

You're welcome, I too am new to drumming but I am taking lessons I wanted to learn NOW and too old to take the time to try and figure it out so I took on an instructor to aid in my quest for drumming...I know that this is a great place on the forum to learn and get information, but for me it just cannot replace what I get from that personal touch with an instructor.

Best of luck to you

[jeffwj]

Welcome to the forum. As drumhead pointed out, you should seek out a teacher to be your main source of guidance. This forum is great for advice, but it does not take the place of one on one instruction.

Stickings are something that are very personal. Everyone will have their own way that seems comfortable. There are however, two main stickings that most books use.

The first is an alternated sticking which starts on the R (for right handed players) and continues to alternate throughout the piece. This method is usually found only in beginning methods and ensures that the drummer is utilizing both hands evenly (for technical development.)

The other method is known as right hand lead, Dodge Drum Chart (http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/2893/snare-drum-books), or Edward Straight method. The premise here is that the drummer will feel more comfortable starting phrases with his/her right (or dominant) hand.

Some sticking for sixteenth notes in this system are

1 e & a = RLRL

1 & a = R RL

1 e a = R L L

e & a = L R L

The sticking in your book almost seems to be a combination of the two - mostly alternated but altered slightly so the next beat one begins on the right hand.

One method that uses the right hand lead sticking is The Vic Firth Snare Drum Method books one and two. (http://www.amazon.com/Snare-Drum-Method-Book-Elementary/dp/0825809398)

Jeff