Part 8 · Reading & Musicianship · Chapter 96
In a band you will often read a drum chart: a map of the song rather than every note. Charts use a few special symbols.
| SYMBOL | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Repeat signs (thick bar with two dots) | Play the bars between the signs again. |
| 1st and 2nd endings | Play the 1st ending the first time, skip to the 2nd ending on the repeat. |
| Slashes (/ / / /) | Play time: your own groove in the style of the song. |
| One-bar repeat (a slash with two dots) | Play the previous bar again. |
| Section letters (A, B, C) or names | Verse, chorus, bridge. |
| Rhythms above the staff | Band “hits” or “kicks”: play these with the band, usually with a crash and bass drum. |
The most important skill is catching hits: rhythms the whole band plays together. Keep time, and play the hit with a crash and bass drum.
Time on the hi-hat, then band hits on 1 and the & of 2 in the second bar.
While you play one bar, your eyes should already be on the next. Charts reward drummers who look ahead.