Reading music for beginners

[frank0072]

Last wednesday was my first drum lesson ever. I got a sheet with music at home now I want to learn to play. One measure confuses me though.
It seems to me I have to play one-e-and-a two-e-(nothing)-a 3-and four. But, it could also be one e and a two e and 3 and four.

Could you help me out? Thanks in advance.

[SwiftZephyr]

Well the latter is correct. Two - e - and.

[TheGroceryman]

one e and a two e and 3 and four is correct.

[drumhead61]

Last wednesday was my first drum lesson ever. I got a sheet with music at home now I want to learn to play. One measure confuses me though.
It seems to me I have to play one-e-and-a two-e-(nothing)-a 3-and four. But, it could also be one e and a two e and 3 and four.

Could you help me out? Thanks in advance.

1, E, &, AH
2, E, &
3, &
4

you still keep your count out loud as you play them you just strike on the actual notes to keep the timing correct

[jeffwj]

Best of luck with your drum lessons. You may want to check out Basics in Rhythm (book and CD) as a supplement to your lessons. It goes over many basic rhythms and time signatures. The CD helps when you need clarification as in the case of your question today.

http://www.activemusician.com/images/store/small/HL_00317136.gif

Jeff

[Unevil]

When I started learning sheet music I thought of everything (in 4/4 @ least) in sixteenth-note terms.

for example, that says 1e&a 2e& 3& 4
so I would think of it as:

1e&a 2e&(a) 3(e)&(a) 4

in your head (or out loud if you want) count out the beat in sixteenth notes. So you would say 1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a to yourself.

I gotta say personally I had problems with the 1e&s as well. (maybe it is because I feel like hitting the drum to complete a set of sixteenth notes not sure, but felt strange)
Hope I helped.