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....