Drum notation symbols
— visual guide.
A complete guide to reading drum sheet music. Every note head, staff position, rhythmic value, and special symbol explained with clear descriptions.
Note Heads
Normal note
Standard hit at normal velocity. Used for most drum voices.
Open note
Open hi-hat or open sound. Let the cymbal ring.
Cross note
Hi-hat, ride cymbal, or other metallic sounds. Placed on specific staff lines.
Ghost note (parentheses)
Very soft hit, barely audible. Written in parentheses in traditional notation.
Accent
Hit harder than normal. Emphasized stroke. Shown above the note.
Staff Positions
Crash / Hi-Hat
Cymbals sit on the top space or above the staff. × for closed hi-hat, ○ for open.
Ride Cymbal
Ride typically sits on the top line of the staff.
Snare Drum
Snare sits in the third space from the bottom. The most common voice.
High Tom
High tom in the second space from the top.
Mid Tom
Mid tom on the second line from the top.
Floor Tom
Floor tom in the bottom space.
Bass Drum
Kick drum in the bottom space of the staff.
Hi-Hat Foot
Hi-hat foot pedal shown below the staff with × note head.
Rhythmic Values
Whole note
4 beats. Rare in drum notation but used for sustained cymbal rolls.
Half note
2 beats. Used for longer ring-out notes or half-bar patterns.
Quarter note
1 beat. The basic pulse unit in most time signatures.
Eighth note
Half a beat. The backbone of rock and pop drumming.
Sixteenth note
Quarter of a beat. The grid resolution for most detailed patterns.
Special Symbols
Fermata
Hold the note longer than written. Used at the end of phrases or for dramatic pauses.
Repeat signs
Play the section again. Essential for looping patterns.
Slash notation
Repeat the previous beat or bar. Keep playing the same pattern.
Roll
Buzz or press roll. Sustain the sound with rapid alternating strokes.
Grace note
Small note before the main note. The grace note is softer and leads into the primary stroke.
See notation come alive
DrumShed's notation view renders these symbols in real time as patterns play. See every note, hear every hit, and connect the symbols to the sounds. The best way to learn notation is to watch it play.
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