Time Signatures

In music, we have time signatures. These are represented by the signs of having two numbers placed on the stave, one above the other. These signs always come at the beginning of a bar, just after the clef. The top number is called the numerator and the bottom number is called the denominator. The numerator specifies how many beats there are in each bar of the music, from the point of that time signature, through to the point of the next time signature, where the amount of beats in each bar would then change to the number of the numerator of that sign. The denominator of a time signature specifies the note value/note length of every beat of each bar, from the point where the time signature is placed through to the point of the next time signature, where the note value of every beat of each bar would then change, depending on the number of that denominator. Of course, there might not be a change of time signature within a piece of music, it may keep the same time signature throughout the whole piece.

Each number of the denominator represents a specific note value/note length.
The number 1 means a semi-breve, which is a whole note.
The number 2 means a minim, which is a half note.
The number 4 means a crotchet, which is a quarter note.
The number 8 means a quaver, which is an 8th note.
The number 16 means a semi-quaver, which is a 16th note.
The number 32 means a demisemiquaver, which is a 32nd note.
The number 64 means a hemidemisemiquaver, which is a 64th note.

Examples of time signatures:

There are also two signs which represent certain time signatures, which are placed at the same points in the music, at the beginning of each bar, but after the clef, like how the signs above are. 

Structural Markings

Structural markings/symbols/signs define and change the structures of music that they are applied to. These signs can mean that you have to repeat certain sections, or go to a different part in the music, rather than the one which follows from the next bar, etc.

The signs below are a form of repeating bars. All bars, whether it be few or many, that are encompassed by the markings which sit on the bar lines, have to be repeated round one time, immediately after you have reached the end repeat sign, which is one vertical thick line, with another thinner line to it's left, and then two dots to that left that line, the repeat starting from the other similar beginning repeat sign, also sitting on the bar line, which is one thick vertical line, with another thinner line to its right, and another two dots to the right of that.


After you have repeated round and reach the end repeat mark for the second time, you then simply carry on in the music from the next bar following after that end repeat mark. This is unless you have the marks included in the music below, where there are added caps over the bars with numbers written on them, one cap over however many bars just before the end repeat sign and the second cap over however many bars just after the end repeat sign. With these signs, it just means that you play whatever is in the first cap in the first time you play through that repeated section, and play whatever is in the second cap the second time you play through the section, when you repeat round it, instead of playing what is in the first cap, missing those bars out entirely, and then of course, carrying on playing with the next bars that follow after that.

 

This next mark as another repeat sign. This mark, which looks like diagonal line with two dots next to it, goes in the middle of a bar, filling an entire bar, because it means to repeat the bar previous to it.



The mark above and the mark below are very similar as you can see. The first (above) is a one bar repeat mark, but the bar below is a two bar repeat mark. This mark again goes in the centre of a bar, filling an entire bar, and it means that you have to repeat the two bars previous to that sign, in the order those bars came in, before then continuing in the music, from the next bar onwards. This sign is similar to the one bar repeat sign, the difference being that there are two diagonal lines instead of one, as well as a vertical line going through the centre of the mark. There are more repeat signs like these two, the rule being that however many diagonal lines there are included in the sign, is the amount of bars previous to that sign, that you then repeat round once, following the original order of the bars, continuing on from the next bar after the repeat sign, after you have played the repeat, and all repeat signs that are two or more bars have the vertical line through the centre, unlike the one bar repeat sign. It is also quite common for the specific number of bars that a repeat sign like these dictates to repeat round, to be written above the repeat sign, above the stave.



The next signs direct you to jump to certain points in the music. D.S. which is an abbreviation of Dal Segno, means 'from the sign'. From the point at which you come across this marking, at the end of a bar, it directs you to then immediately return to a spot earlier in the score that is marked by the S symbol which has a diagonal line with two dots going through it. You play on from that S type sign, but if the first sign you come across says D.S. al Coda, instead of D.S. then you still immediately return to play on from the S type sign, but then instead you will eventually come across a 'To Coda' marking, which means you then jump from where that marking is to a coda sign, which looks like a circle, with a horizontal line and vertical line going through it. From here, you then just play on through to the end of the music.

                     











There is also another marking in relation to the ones above. This next sign is called D.C. al coda, or da capo al coda, literally meaning ''from the head (beginning) to the coda''. When you encounter this sign, which will be at the end of a bar, you immediately return to the beginning of the music, and play from the first bar onwards. Then, when you come across a 'To Coda' sign, like with the signs above, you skip from that point ahead in the music until you reach a Coda sign. You continue playing from the Coda sign through to the end of the music.

There is a particular sign which marks the end of the music, on the bar line of the last bar. It is what's called a double bar line, which is simply two vertical bar lines next to each other, the very last bar line being thicker then the rest throughout the music.





You can also encounter letters in music, written above the stave. They are always capital letters, and usually appear in boxes. These are structural markings, the points at which they are placed in the music separating it up into it's different sections/parts, like verses and choruses for example. These structural markings are usually found and used in music for group ensembles, and conducting/leading purposes.

Dotted Notes

Note values can be changed by turning them into dotted notes. In terms of what these types of notes look like, this simply means adding a dot just after the note, to it's right side. A dotted note means that half the original note's value is added to the overall length of the note.

Here are some examples of dotted notes and what they are equivalent to in terms of the length of the note values:

Dynamic Markings

For all music, not just drum music, there are dynamic markings/symbols to show what dynamic volumes the music should be played at. When a dynamic marking appears in music, you should at the volume that marking specifies, from where the marking is placed in the music to where another dynamic marking is put in, where you would then change to play at that dynamic volume. These symbols/markings also include dynamic meanings where you gradually change your volume over the length of time that that marking is placed over in the music, instead of just simply playing at one dynamic volume continuously.

Dynamic Note Variations

There are a couple of dynamic signs/symbols added to individual notes to be more specific in showing you what dynamic levels you should play the notes at.

Now this is what a normal note looks like, which you'll find is the most common type of note. This is not out of the ordinary and so it should be played at a medium volume.




This is what's called a ghost note. The term refers to the fact that this note should be played very quietly. These notes are most commonly found to be played on the snare drum. This type of note is made by simply putting a pair of brackets around a note.



This is called an accented note, or just an accent. The reason it is called this, is because it is supposed to played louder than your other notes, so it stands out more.

 

Technical symbols

There are some important technical symbols used in drum music, to show the reader exactly what to play, using what specific technical elements/concepts. 

This is the symbol for a flam, which is when you play two notes, not at different rhythmical places, but not in unison either. Instead they are played slightly apart, both notes falling on the same beat, but one being played slightly in front of the other. You can see that both individual notes are shown within the symbol, and usually there will be sticking markings with the symbol, showing which hand/foot to play before which other other hand/foot, like how is being shown here:

 

This is the symbol for a buzz note/buzz roll, also called a press note/press roll. This is when you control the rebound of the drum/cymbal in a specific way to get multiple quick, short strokes from each note you play with each hand, creating very closed (fast) rolls, for a long or short time, traditionally and most commonly played on the snare drum, creating a 'buzz' sound. As you can see, this symbol is comprised basically by writing the letter Z over a note. When the buzz note is of a short note value, like a semi-quaver for example, then you usually just play one buzz, as in one single press into the drum/cymbal with one hand, creating one short buzz sound, but if the note value is longer, like a semi-breve for example, then you would play with both hands, alternating buzz notes, creating one long drone, a continuous buzz sound, and so, a buzz roll. Essentially you play however many individual buzz notes that are needed to fill the length of time of the note value that the buzz note is. Another way to show that a buzz roll needs to be played as opposed to an individual buzz note is by putting a note-tie in, which is the curve symbol shown coming from the buzz note below. This shows that you need to play a buzz roll (drone), trying to achieve a continuous even sound from the note the note-tie starts at, with one end of the curve, to where the note-tie ends at the other end of the curve. 

This is the symbol for a double stroke, which is when you play two consecutive notes with one hand/foot. The symbol is basically made by putting a slash mark over the note.

This is the symbol for playing two double strokes between either your hands, or feet, which is when you play two individual double strokes alternating between hands or feet, creating four consecutive notes. This symbol is made by putting two slash marks over a note.

This is the symbol for playing four double strokes. These four individual double strokes are played by alternating the strokes between your hands or between your feet, like with the previous double stroke symbol above, except this time with four double strokes, you create a total of eight consecutive notes.

Shown below, you can also see the sticking clearly outlining each individual note of each stroke being played by which limb, and in this example, also followed by a quaver note at the end of each double stroke roll. Like how is shown below, you may find note-ties along with these double stroke rolls, simply emphasising the closed (fast) sound that you should be creating, as this is a roll and so, a type of drone.

Drum and Cymbal notes

Unlike with other instruments, the notation that accompanies the drum kit is not yet completely standardised. There are many different variations which you will notice from different drum books, transcriptions and sheet music. Although this notation varies, it is usually quite similar and easy to see the differences and be able to tell which notes match which kit orchestrations.

These notes though are probably the most common form of drum notation, so if you learn and stick by this, it will help and you will do well in understanding and being able to write drum music. 

            (You can also simply 

write choke above/next to a cymbal)

Hemidemisemiquaver

Hemidemisemiquaver:

A hemidemisemiquaver is a 64th note, which is a 1/64 of a 4/4 bar, so 64 of these notes equals the length of a 4/4 bar. This note value is half the length of a demisemiquaver and is the smallest note value.

This is what an individual hemidemisemiquaver looks like:        












If there are two or more consecutive hemidemisemiquavers
then you join them together by drawing a line between
them like this:





       




This is what a hemidemisemiquaver rest looks like:








                                       

Demisemiquaver

Demisemiquaver:

A demisemiquaver is a 32nd note, which is a 1/32 of a 4/4 bar, so 32 demisemiquavers equals the length of a 4/4 bar. This note value is half the length of a semi-quaver and twice the length of a hemidemisemiquaver.

This is a demisemiquaver:                                        




When there are two or more consecutive demisemiquavers, you join them by drawing a
line like this:




This is a demisemiquaver rest:

Semi-quaver

Semi-quaver:

A semi-quaver is a 16th note, which covers a 1/16 of a 4/4/ bar. It is half the length of a quaver and twice the length of a demisemiquaver.

This is a single semi-quaver:                                                










When there are two or more semiquavers,
you join them together by drawing a line
between them, like how is shown here:
 

This is a semi-quaver rest:

Quaver

Quaver:

A quaver is an 8th note, which is an 1/8 of a 4/4 bar, so eight quavers equals the length of a 4/4 bar. A quaver is half the length of a crotchet and twice the length of a semi-quaver.

This is what a quaver by itself looks like:                      










But if there are two or more consecutive
quavers, then you join them by drawing a line
like this:

                                                                               
                                                                                       




This is what a quaver rest looks like:

                              

Crotchet

Crotchet:

A crotchet is a quarter note. This covers a quarter of a 4/4 bar. It is half the length of a minim and twice the length of a quaver.

These are crotchets:                                                              This is a crotchet note rest:

                                             

Minim

Minim:

A minim is what's called a half note. This covers half the length of a 4/4 bar. A minim is half the length of a semi-breve and twice the length of a crotchet.

This is a minim:                                                               This is a minim rest:

                                                  

Semi-breve

Semi-breve:

A semi-breve is what's called a whole note, which covers the whole length of a 4/4 bar. A semi-breve is half the length of a breve and twice the length of a minim. 

This is a semi-breve:                                                           This is a semi-breve rest:

                                       

Breve

Breve:

A breve is the longest note value. It covers two whole 4/4 bars. It is what's called a double whole note, which is twice the length of a semi-breve, which is a whole note.

This is what a breve looks like:                                     This is what a breve rest looks like:

                            

Single Stroke Seven

                                                          Single Stroke Seven


                         

Triple Ratamacue

                               

                             Triple Ratamacue

Double Ratamacue

                                

                            Double Ratamacue

Single Ratamacue

                                 

                          Single Ratamacue

Drag Paradiddle #2

                                                           Drag Paradiddle #2


                         

Drag Paradiddle #1

                                                       Drag Paradiddle #1


                         

Single Dragadiddle

                                  

                          Single  Dragadiddle