Beat Reading Drum Patterns and Beat Reading 2

Question 1

What is 'hand-to-foot coordination' in drum beat reading?

Accepted Answer

Synchronizing hand strokes with bass drum and hi-hat pedal patterns

Answer

Hand-to-foot coordination means aligning the hands' rhythms precisely with the foot-operated bass drum and hi-hat pedals.

Question 2

What does 'open hi-hat' notation look like?

Accepted Answer

An x with a circle above it

Answer

An open hi-hat is marked with a circle (°) above the x notehead, indicating the cymbals are separated.

Question 3

A 'fill' in drum beat reading refers to:

Accepted Answer

A brief passage departing from the main groove, usually at phrase endings

Answer

A drum fill is a short melodic or rhythmic departure from the groove that marks transitions between sections.

Question 4

What is a 'flam' in percussion notation?

Accepted Answer

A grace note immediately preceding the main note

Answer

A flam consists of a soft grace note stroke followed immediately by a louder primary stroke on the same drum.

Question 5

In drum notation, what is a 'roll' marking?

Accepted Answer

Tremolo slashes on a note indicating rapid repeated strokes

Answer

Rolls are indicated by three tremolo slashes through the note stem, meaning to rapidly alternate strokes.

Beat Reading Practice Test