Why Drum Notation Varies

Drum Kits

There are a few reasons why drum notation varies so much. The main reason is that drum kits are diverse. There is no standard drum kit, and drummers can use a wide variety of drums and cymbals to create their sound. This makes it difficult to develop a single, standardized way to notate all the possible combinations of drums and cymbals that a drummer might use.

Pitch

Drums are non-pitched percussion instruments. Unlike pitched percussion instruments, such as the xylophone or timpani, drums do not have specific pitches. This means that there is no single way to represent the different sounds of drums on a musical staff.

Complex Rhythms

Drum notation is often used to communicate complex rhythms. Drums can be used to play a wide variety of rhythms, from simple beats to complex patterns. This can make it difficult to notate drum parts in a way that is both clear and concise.

Trying to Standardize Drum Notation

As a result of these factors, there is a wide variety of different ways to notate drum parts. Some common practices in method books and popular software use these for standard drum notation:

 

Here are some specific examples of how drum notation varies:

• Using different noteheads to represent different drums and cymbals. For example, a solid notehead might be used to represent a snare drum, while a cross notehead might be used to represent a cymbal.
• Using different staff positions to represent different drums and cymbals. For example, the snare drum might be notated on the third space of the staff, while the hi-hat might be notated on the top line or even above the staff itself.
• Using additional notation symbols to indicate different playing techniques. For example, a slash through a note might indicate a ghost note, while a dot on a note might indicate a half-power hit.

In addition to these common practices, there are also many different idiosyncratic ways to notate drum parts. Some drummers and composers develop their own personal notation systems to communicate their specific ideas to other drummers.

It is important to note that there is no single “correct” way to notate drums. The best way to notate a drum part will depend on the specific needs of the drummer and the composer.

Hopefully this helps clear up why drum notation can be so confusing. The best thing to do is to listen to the song and get a feel for what is happening. Then it is much easier to see how the composer transcribes the music onto paper. If you have any questions about drums, feel free to contact me.