On Line Drum Lessons
By
Jeremy "JD" Sheehan
LESSON 3
"TIME SIGNATURES"
-----The following material assumes you are familiar with measures, barlines,
tempo, and rests.
-----Time Signatures are represented in the form of a fraction, such as 4/4, and let us interpret notes in different values.
The most important thing to remember is that the relationship of notes to each other never changes. This means that a whole
note always breaks up into 2 half notes, or 4 quarter notes, or 8 eighth notes, or 32 thirty-second notes. A quarter always
breaks up into 2 eighth notes. An eighth note always breaks up into 2 sixteenth notes, and so on.
-----The value of each note in relation to other notes is always the same. The time signature tells you how to interpret the note.
In a time signature, the top number tells you how many beats are in a measure. The bottom number tells you which note
receives 1 beat. The easiest way to remember the bottom number is the number on the bottom is equal to the note
that fits into a whole note that amount of times.
-----So in the time signature of 4/4, the top 4 tells us that there are four beats in a measure. The bottom 4 tells us which note
receives 1 beat. Which note fits into a whole note 4 times? The quarter note does. The quarter note receives 1 beat, which
means the 8th note receives 1/2 beat, the 16th note receives 1/4 beat and so on. Remember, the value of notes to each
other is constant.
"2/4 TIME SIGNATURE"
-----The first time signature we will learn other than 4/4 is 2/4 time. The only difference is that there are 2 beats per measure.
All note values are the same as in 4/4 time.
-----Here is an example of the previous 4/4 drumbeat written in the time signature of 2/4. Notice it plays exactly the same but
must be repeated to equal the same time as the 4/4 beat.
Hear the above rhythm ( 4 measures of beat )
-----The second figure in 2/4 will be the use of the single stroke roll in tempo. This figure is written in 2/4 time as 16th notes.
You could also play it in 4/4. Play this figure with alternating strokes, RLRL, and play the bass drum on the count of 1 .
Also play it with the bass on 1 - 2 . Try to increase your speed. Next we will connect it with the drumbeat we learned to
form a "fill".
Hear the above rhythm ( 4 measures of roll )
-----We will now connect the sixteenth note roll to the drumbeat to form a "fill". Watch your tempo and don't rush the "fill".
The bass drum should remain at the same tempo and play the same pattern.
Hear the above rhythm ( 2 measures drumbeat with fill )
-----We will now make a "2 bar phrase" by connecting together the drumbeat and fill with another measure of drumbeat
Again, the bass drum plays the same pattern repeated across both measures.
Hear the above rhythm ( 2 bar phrase of drumbeat with fill )
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
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