When you feel solid with basic beats and combinations, challenge yourself with these timing exercises. Can you hear the bassist? Why is the drummer playing the parts he or she is playing? Is the drummer louder or softer than the singer? Listen to how they blend and how the parts fit together. Direct your ears to the different instruments in the band as you would if you were watching them on stage. Listen to your favorite music and ask questions. Listening is a musician’s most critical ability. Ask yourself-is my timing even and consistent? Are the drums hitting exactly with the hi-hat when they should? Are the drums in the right dynamic (loud/soft) balance? Is the hi-hat too loud because my right hand is strong, while the snare drum is quiet? Can I make every measure sound the same when I try to? At first, it is hard to think of all these things while you are playing. This will give you the opportunity to reflect on your playing and hear from another perspective. I highly recommend recording yourself playing with a bass line and listening back. Any combination of bass drum beats you add will always work and sound good as long as the snare is on beats two and four.Īfter you’ve learned the basic beats, practice playing with bass lines, and explore combinations. Start with the work sheets that include the snare drum. Use these worksheets to compose your own beat combinations, or transcribe beats you hear in songs. Try the piano or guitar to start.By learning and combining these basic drum beats, you can play thousands of songs. This is an excellent starting point if you are a new drummer who enjoys learning the fundamentals in the context of popular music.īeat Composition and Transcription Worksheets After you have established a solid drum beat foundation you can explore the use of other instruments. You can tap on the track and delete it if your timing was off and try again. Press the red circle at the top middle to record the drum beat you mastered in goal 4.
#FRACTIONSAND BASIC DRUM BEATS HOW TO#
You know how to play one of the most basic drum beats using three parts of a drum kit.Įxplore the App: Now you can compose your own song. With the right finger, tap the bass drum on the first beat (tick) and the snare drum on the second and fourth beat. Goal 4 (Bring It All Together): With your left finger tap eighth 1/8 notes on the Closed Hi-Hat. You will count “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.” The whole numbers should align with the ticks and the “&” will go between the ticks. As you tap along you will now count in a different way for eighth 1/8 notes. For every tick tap with your left index finger the Closed Hi-Hat and tap the Closed Hi-Hat between ticks. Goal 3: So far you have been working with quarter 1/4 notes. As you tap along with the ticks count “1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4.” only hitting the Bass Drum on the 1 and the Snare Drum on the 2 and 4. On the second and fourth ticks hit the Snare Drum. On the first tick (the louder tick) tap the Bass Drum. Goal 2: Now you will use your right index finger. As you tap along with the ticks count “1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4.” Get the tick and tap of the Hi-Hat to sync. Goal 1: Tap with your left index finger the Closed Hi-Hat at the middle left of the drum kit for every tick. Once you have demonstrated that you can play a basic beat, you can explore the GarageBand app. When you have accomplished Goal 4, let Mr. In this activity, you will be using the Bass Drum, Snare Drum, and Closed Hi-Hat. Click the question mark at the top right to see all the parts of the drum kit. H that you can do what the goal asks before moving on to the next. Now get comfortable with each goal and show Mr. So four ticks together makes one 1 whole note. Each tick from the group of four represents a quarter 1/4 note. You will hear one loud tick followed by three softer ticks. The purpose of the metronome is to assist you with your timing. Hit the play button at the top middle and you will hear the metronome click. Click on the wrench symbol at the top right and set the tempo to 80 bpm (beats per minute). Click the question mark at the top right to show all the different components of the drum kit. Slide left and right, find the drums option, and select "Acoustic Drums." Make sure your volume is up and put on headphones. Click the "+" at the top left of the screen and select "Create New Song." Select "Tracks" at the top middle. Click "My Songs" at the top left if you are already in a project. One iPad is for following these instructions and the other is for using GarageBand. You will take turns completing each step of the activity. Use the splitter and plug in to one iPad. Purpose: To develop an understanding of how fractions are applied to music.Īcitivty: Partner up with someone at your table. Note: One iPad is for following these instructions and the other is for using GarageBand Materials: 2 iPads, 2 pairs of headphones, and 1 splitter