Drum charts
Drum charts are musical charts written for drummers. They are used to help guide the drummer through the music. Sometimes they are meant to be read literally and other times they are used as suggestions for what the drummer should play. Drum charts include their own musical vocabulary. The music written for drummers is not the same as, say, a pianist. Drummers use their own symbols and language in their charts. For example, a "middle C" note written on a staff for pianists is equivalent to the "snare drum" for drummers. Or, the note "F" on the piano staff is equal to the "bass drum." There is no set standard for writing drum music. But there is a guide that is usually adhered to. For example, in Steve Houghton's book "Studio & Big Band Drumming", p. 9, under "Rock Patterns", Steve writes each drum or cymbal used in a percussion staff and states the assigned "note." The placement of the drum notes is very typical of a drum chart but may not always be the same within the drum community.
Writing Drum Charts As I see it, there are three ways of scoring drum music. You can write a transcription, just the groove, or groove and form. What you need may differ from song or gig.
Let's investigate the three styles. Transcriptions are note for note what the drummer played on a song. They are Great for education. Transcribing drum grooves and solos is an invaluable way to expand your vocabulary, but drum transcriptions should be left in the practice room.
Writing just the groove can be useful but dangerous. If you have to play many songs with little preparation time, writing the groove for each song can help you remember how to start; and just use your ears from there. But, if you have more time you shouldn't do this. Often, even the simplest song will have something to remember, a stop, crash, or signature phrase that you should play.
Now, groove AND form charts are the best. You have all the information you need with the space to play inspired music. To write a groove and form chart listen to the song top to bottom, while writing down the skeleton of the form. EX: verse 8bars chorus 12bars etc. Then write the groove at the begining of each new section to illustrate how it changes. Finally, put in all the hits and stops you might need to catch.
While playing on a gig, use these charts as a guide. Before the song starts, take a glance at the tempo, intro, and groove. Then, use your own judgement of what to play. While in the song, only glance at the chart as a reminder of what's coming up. Playing with your nose in the chart can make you sound sterile. Your attention should be on the musicians around you.
Sources
- Houghton, Steve. Studio & Big Band Drumming. Iowa: C.L. Barnhouse Co., 1985
- Giannelli, Gabriel. [1]