I personally feel that being able to read music is an important part of being a well rounded drummer. Not that you can't be a fantastic drummer and not read a lick but what do you guys think?








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its part of being a well rounded musician imo. but interpretation is equally as important once you learn to read.

Reading standard notation is just another tool of communication. I always tell my students "Can you imagine going through life not knowing how to read or write?"

It's not very difficult to learn. The thing that scares most people off is a page that has lots of foreign chickenscratch-looking oddities on it, and someone perceivedly better than them sits down and rips out a badass-sounding thing based on it. It assaults not only the senses but also the ego.

If you start with basic quarter notes (quavers for you english folks) then move into 8th notes, then combinations of these you are able to slowly digest the concept. Ever play Tetris? Could you imagine being a stone-cold beginner and starting at the fastest level? Wouldn't be too enjoyable. Start slow and easy, work your way up gradually. Eventually you will get the hang of it.

As to the "drum tabs", they are good for one thing- drummers communicating between each other. A Drum tab is not going to help you in the long run with writing out a rhythmic figure and having it for recall....say, at a recording session or an audition. Standard notation is just as easy to learn as drum tab and is far more flexible. Me, I can't....don't even look at the stuff. Guess I'm oldschool like that.








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i think its important to learn how to read music, i use both sheet and tabs

yeah reading music via sheets or tabs is really important espcially if you wanna learn alone... but this was an old topic I think...nevermind

BillRayDrums wrote:

Could you imagine being a stone-cold beginner and starting at the fastest level? Wouldn't be too enjoyable. Start slow and easy, work your way up gradually. Eventually you will get the bang of it.

good lord, man! there are youngsters here!

sorry, just kidding.i couldn't resist.

i started learning to read sheet music for drums a while ago. You're absolutely right, it starts really really hard, but just start with simple pieces and learn them, play them, make the connection between the little scrawls on the page and what it is you're doing. Then just keep building on that.

It'll come easier than you think.

I would say its important, but you don't absolutely have to know how to read music.
Its good to know what your playing rather then just playing it.
I personaly don't know how to read music very well, and I really want to learn more.

i think it can hold people back, i mean that in reguards to fills, you may get too used to plying whats on the page and not experiment, it can take away some artistic liscense








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I think that knowing how to read is pretty important. Despite most of my influences not knowing or didn't know how to read, I believe that it's pretty vital later on, especially in the writing process, and in recording situations. In my case I was in band all of middle school and high school, so that really helped a lot. As for Actual charts vs. Tabs, I would choose the charts. Tabs, in my opinion, don't really express the music as well as actual Sheet Music.

well i can read standard notation for regular music, never tried or seen any for drumset, not looked though. drum tabs work but i dont like em, i find it easier and quicker to just sit down and put on the headphones and knuckle down. i can read some snare tabs, like for school band. but thats about it for perc, im still gettin there. it comes in handy, and being able to read sheet music also is a good plus on a resume for an audition








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When I first started playing, I didn't really see the big deal about not being able to read music. I knew how to make up and imitate beats and fills. However, it's definitely a great tool to have to work your way up to becoming a great drummer. I taught myself how to play the drums at the age of 12. I'm 21 now and I just learned how to read drum music this past year. It was a required subject as part of my music major and drum lessons. I would have to say that it has helped me take a step to the next level of playing.








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Playing the occassional studio/recording gig, there's been more than one time that I've gone into the studio and immediately been handed sheet music for a song or score. Doesn't happen all the time- I've been lucky to have at least minor input into the material most times- but it does happen.

I am a firm believer that there are alternate ways of learning that work better for some people. Not knocking those who are well able, but reading isn't the "end all be all" approach to learning.
I've been on the fence about taking lessons lately. I don't want it to stifle my creativity, yet I feel almost forced to for this "next level" I always hear about.








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I am teaching one of students, a 45 year-old how to read. He is becoming a better drummer because of it. It really is inspiring to see someone absobing and improving!








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it depends on the music.. i mean writing with your rock band isnt going to be hindered becuase you cant read. But sitting in for a jazz gig wont go very well if you cant follow a lead sheet. Tabs are horribly jumbled and easily misinterpreted IMO.. Plus being able to read and write music is nice to convey ideas easily with other drummers....

im noticing a lot of people saying they dont really like reading music because of it effecting their creativity or their fills or whatever. If you see a drum fill or exact beat written out note for note its because thats what the composer or producer NEEDS you to play. its written that way for a specific reason. otherwise, a lot of the music out there is basically an outline for the measure counts showing the ensamble figures you'll need to know for specific patters or ostinatos while you do your own thing around it.

when someone like a producer or a composer hires you and hands you the music, its not like these charts you see in highschool that have every note of every beat written out for you. besides, the parts that are written out need to be played in these cases, otherwise someone who will play the music will be hired to replace you. but many many charts out there offer you creative control with just the figures you need to hit to match hits with the rest of the group.

and as BillRayDrums wrote, "Reading standard notation is just another tool of communication. I always tell my students "Can you imagine going through life not knowing how to read or write?"

that sums it up right there. you dont need to know how to read music. but you're only holding yourself back if you dont take the time to learn.

PhillEX wrote:

it depends on the music.. i mean writing with your rock band isnt going to be hindered becuase you cant read. But sitting in for a jazz gig wont go very well if you cant follow a lead sheet. Tabs are horribly jumbled and easily misinterpreted IMO.. Plus being able to read and write music is nice to convey ideas easily with other drummers....

The only kinda jazz I'd ever want to play is based on feel and improvisation. Isn't that the definition of jazz. I know that's not your point here but, I have bigger issues.








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drummert2k wrote:

im noticing a lot of people saying they dont really like reading music because of it effecting their creativity or their fills or whatever. If you see a drum fill or exact beat written out note for note its because thats what the composer or producer NEEDS you to play. its written that way for a specific reason. otherwise, a lot of the music out there is basically an outline for the measure counts showing the ensamble figures you'll need to know for specific patters or ostinatos while you do your own thing around it.

when someone like a producer or a composer hires you and hands you the music, its not like these charts you see in highschool that have every note of every beat written out for you. besides, the parts that are written out need to be played in these cases, otherwise someone who will play the music will be hired to replace you. but many many charts out there offer you creative control with just the figures you need to hit to match hits with the rest of the group.

and as BillRayDrums wrote, "Reading standard notation is just another tool of communication. I always tell my students "Can you imagine going through life not knowing how to read or write?"

that sums it up right there. you dont need to know how to read music. but you're only holding yourself back if you dont take the time to learn.

It's just boring to me. I find I take a lot of inspiration from listening to music and playing lots of styles with lots of different people. I'll also admit that I'm not interested in becoming a fast or technical player though I have influences that are both.
I don't want to come off as bashing the scholastic approach, it obviously has many advantages. I just become stressed when I hear of students of all instruments quit because "the music is boring" and "I hate my teacher" and "I suck because I can't do a 'swiss triplet' like so and so". I often reinforce that sometimes it's just as important to put the book down and just play. No book, no rules, no wrong.








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FelterSkelter wrote:

drummert2k wrote:

im noticing a lot of people saying they dont really like reading music because of it effecting their creativity or their fills or whatever. If you see a drum fill or exact beat written out note for note its because thats what the composer or producer NEEDS you to play. its written that way for a specific reason. otherwise, a lot of the music out there is basically an outline for the measure counts showing the ensamble figures you'll need to know for specific patters or ostinatos while you do your own thing around it.

when someone like a producer or a composer hires you and hands you the music, its not like these charts you see in highschool that have every note of every beat written out for you. besides, the parts that are written out need to be played in these cases, otherwise someone who will play the music will be hired to replace you. but many many charts out there offer you creative control with just the figures you need to hit to match hits with the rest of the group.

and as BillRayDrums wrote, "Reading standard notation is just another tool of communication. I always tell my students "Can you imagine going through life not knowing how to read or write?"

that sums it up right there. you dont need to know how to read music. but you're only holding yourself back if you dont take the time to learn.

It's just boring to me. I find I take a lot of inspiration from listening to music and playing lots of styles with lots of different people. I'll also admit that I'm not interested in becoming a fast or technical player though I have influences that are both.
I don't want to come off as bashing the scholastic approach, it obviously has many advantages. I just become stressed when I hear of students of all instruments quit because "the music is boring" and "I hate my teacher" and "I suck because I can't do a 'swiss triplet' like so and so". I often reinforce that sometimes it's just as important to put the book down and just play. No book, no rules, no wrong.

very good points, and i respect that you are yourself when it comes to drumming and arent setting out to be some crazy prodigy behind the kit.

but i am a strong believer in knowing how to read music for the purpose of being a musician rather than just a drummer. to be well rounded you do need to know how to play things like differant styles and all that stuff. but if someone hands you sheet music, you need to be able to do that as well. besides, ever try watching something like the cadets spare time snare exercise and try to learn it from just watching and listening? its very very very hard to pick out thinks like sticking combinations and accents and diddles note for note for stuff like that. and practicing it note for note is what helps ya build the crazy chops. otherwise you're doing it the way that feels comfortable to you which holds you more in your comfort zone than expanding and really working on something to get better.

One of the things I can't stand is a player burying their face in the chart, as if THAT alone makes them a great player. It's the difference between "bad acting" and "natural acting". Bad acting by actors is literally being able to see them read cue-cards off-camera and natural actors just let it flow, even if they are drawing from an external source for "help". Put yourself in the actor's shoes.

The tool of reading music is there to help you. It's a roadmap of sorts. What happens if you bury your face in a roadmap while you're driving? You crash! The idea is to take in that small amount of info your brain is requesting....the form, the figure you're trying to pull off, etc.

Notes are merely black dots against white paper. It's up to you to add the color.








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BillRayDrums wrote:

One of the things I can't stand is a player burying their face in the chart, as if THAT alone makes them a great player. It's the difference between "bad acting" and "natural acting". Bad acting by actors is literally being able to see them read cue-cards off-camera and natural actors just let it flow, even if they are drawing from an external source for "help". Put yourself in the actor's shoes.

The tool of reading music is there to help you. It's a roadmap of sorts. What happens if you bury your face in a roadmap while you're driving? You crash! The idea is to take in that small amount of info your brain is requesting....the form, the figure you're trying to pull off, etc.

Notes are merely black dots against white paper. It's up to you to add the color.

Perfect analogy. Again, I'm not against learning because that would just be silly. I just don't do it any one particular way.








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I think its good 2 read music thats y i think being in music in middle and high school helped alot...cuz now i can do both just play and read along with other musicians








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Thanks for the replies!








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