Drumable Snare Drum Method

Book Pages

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  p.1 — Quarter Notes & Quarter Rests

  The quarter note is one of the fundamental building blocks of rhythm. It receives one full beat, so when you play quarter notes, each stroke aligns directly with the beat of the music. Count it clearly as “1, 2, 3, 4,” keeping your strokes steady and even. The quarter rest represents silence for the duration of one beat. It’s just as important as the notes you play—so be sure to respect its full value. Count quarter rests silently, making sure your sticks remain still above the drum head.

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  p.2 — Etude – Quarter Notes & Quarter Rests

  In this etude, you’ll practice playing strong quarter notes and counting carefully through quarter rests. Remember: strike cleanly on the notes, and stay silent but steady during the rests. Stay relaxed, and keep your tempo even!

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  p.3 — Eighth Notes & Quarter Notes

  Eighth notes move faster than quarter notes. Two eighth notes fit into the same amount of time as one quarter note. When you count, say “one and, two and” to keep the timing even. Quarter notes still get one full beat, while each eighth note gets half a beat. As you play, listen carefully to keep the rhythm steady and the notes balanced.

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  p.4 — Eighth Notes, Quarter Notes & Quarter Rests

  You’ve already learned how to play steady quarter notes, how to count through quarter rests, and how to move evenly through eighth notes. Now you’ll put them together. Quarter notes still get one full beat, eighth notes share a beat with “one and,” and quarter rests stay silent for a full beat. Stay relaxed, count out loud if you need to, and focus on keeping a smooth, steady rhythm all the way through.

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  p.5 — Etude – Eighth Notes, Quarter Notes & Quarter Rests

  This etude uses everything you’ve practiced so far: quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. Remember to give each quarter note and rest a full beat, and fit two even strokes inside each beat for eighth notes. Keep your hands relaxed, your counting steady, and your sound consistent from beginning to end.

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  p.6 — Whole Notes & Half Notes

  Now it’s time to slow things down with whole notes and half notes. A whole note lasts for four full beats—hold the sound steady and strong. A half note lasts for two beats, halfway between a whole note and a quarter note. Keep counting carefully, and make sure longer notes stay full and even without rushing.

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  p.7 — Eighth Rests 1

  You’ve learned how to play eighth notes—now it’s time to learn the eighth rest. An eighth rest is a short silence that lasts for half a beat, just like an eighth note. When you see an eighth rest, stay quiet but keep the rhythm moving. Count carefully so that the rests feel just as strong as the notes.

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  p.8 — Eighth Rests 2

  This page gives you more practice with eighth notes to build speed and control. Keep each note even and balanced, and make sure the rhythm stays steady from beginning to end. Focus on a relaxed grip and smooth movement, letting the sticks do the work as you count “one and, two and” all the way through.

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  p.9 — Etude – Eighth Rests 1

  This etude mixes eighth notes, quarter notes, and eighth rests. Stay focused on keeping the rhythm even, especially through the quick silences. Make sure the eighth rests are just as clear as the notes by keeping your counting steady and your hands relaxed.

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  p.10 — Etude – Eighth Notes 2

  In this etude, you’ll combine eighth notes, eighth rests, quarter notes, and half notes. Keep a steady pulse as you move between faster rhythms and longer held notes. Make sure the eighth rests stay sharp and the half notes stay full. Keep counting out loud if you need to, and aim for a smooth, connected feel from start to finish.

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  p.11 — Dotted Eighth Notes & Dotted Quarter Notes

  Now you’ll learn dotted eighth notes and dotted quarter notes. A dot adds half the value of the note it follows. A dotted eighth note lasts for three-quarters of a beat, and a dotted quarter note lasts for one and a half beats. Take your time counting carefully, and listen closely to how the rhythms stretch and move across the beat.

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  p.12 — Etude – Forte & Piano Dynamics 1

  This etude introduces forte (loud) and piano (soft) dynamics. Focus on making a clear contrast between the two. Stay relaxed, even when playing louder, and use controlled strokes to keep your sound clean. Listen carefully and shape the music with your volume, not just your speed.

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  p.13 — Etude – Forte & Piano Dynamics 2

  This etude gives you more practice switching between forte and piano. Pay close attention to the dynamic markings and work on making smooth, clear changes in volume. Stay relaxed and let your sticks do the work, whether you’re playing loud or soft.

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  p.14 — Sixteenth Notes 1

  Now it’s time to move faster with sixteenth notes. Four sixteenth notes fit into one beat, counted as “one e and a.” Keep your strokes light and even, and focus on staying relaxed as the notes move quicker. Start slow, count carefully, and build speed only when you feel comfortable.

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  p.15 — Sixteenth Notes 2

  This page gives you more practice with sixteenth notes to build control and consistency. Focus on keeping all four notes in each beat even and balanced. Stay relaxed, keep your counting strong, and remember that accuracy is more important than speed at first.

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  p.16 — Etude – Sixteenth Notes 1

  This etude uses sixteenth notes along with quarter notes and rests, dotted quarter notes, and eighth notes and rests. Keep your counting steady and focus on making every group of sixteenth notes even and controlled. Start at a slow tempo if you need to, and build up speed as your hands feel more comfortable.

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  p.17 — Etude – Sixteenth Notes 2

  This etude gives you more practice combining sixteenth notes with other rhythms. Watch for smooth transitions between note values, and keep all your strokes relaxed and even. Stay patient, stay steady, and let your hands build speed naturally over time.

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  p.18 — Eighth Notes Connected to Sixteenth Notes

  Now you’ll start connecting eighth notes and sixteenth notes within the same beat. Eighth notes feel slower, and sixteenth notes move faster, but the pulse stays steady underneath. Focus on counting carefully and making clean, even transitions between the two rhythms.

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  p.19 — Etude – Crescendo

  This etude introduces the crescendo, where the sound gradually grows louder. Start soft and build your volume steadily, without rushing or tensing up. Focus on making a smooth, even increase in sound while keeping your rhythm strong and controlled.

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  p.20 — Sixteenth Notes Connected to Eighth Notes

  In this exercise, you’ll move from faster sixteenth notes into slower eighth notes within the same beat. Keep the underlying pulse steady and make sure the transition feels smooth and natural. Focus on controlling the speed of your strokes without changing the tempo.

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  p.21 — Etude – Decrescendo

  This etude introduces the decrescendo, where the sound gradually gets softer. Start strong and slowly let the volume fall without losing control of the rhythm. Keep your strokes even and focus on making the dynamic change as smooth as possible.

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  p.22 — Eighth Notes & Sixteenth Notes (Connected Both Ways)

  This exercise practices connecting eighth notes and sixteenth notes in both directions. Sometimes you’ll move from eighth notes into sixteenth notes, and sometimes from sixteenth notes back into eighth notes. Stay focused on keeping a steady pulse, and make each transition clean and even without speeding up or slowing down.

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  p.23 — Etude – Eighth Notes & Sixteenth Notes (Connected Both Ways)

  This etude helps you practice switching between eighth notes and sixteenth notes in both directions. Keep the beat steady underneath and make each transition smooth and controlled. Focus on even strokes and clear counting to keep the rhythm strong from start to finish.

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  p.24 — Sixteenth Rests

  Now you’ll learn the sixteenth rest, a short silence that lasts for one quarter of a beat. Just like with sixteenth notes, you’ll count “one e and a,” but stay silent during the rest. Keep your pulse steady and make sure the rests are just as clear and controlled as the notes.

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  p.25 — Etude – Sixteenth Rests

  This etude uses sixteenth rests mixed with sixteenth notes, eighth notes, and quarter notes. Focus on keeping the rhythm even, making the rests just as clear as the notes. Count carefully, stay relaxed, and let the beat flow through both the sounds and the silences.

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  p.26 — Dynamics (pp, mp, ff), First & Second Endings, and Measure Repeats

  Now you’ll add new dynamics and new notation symbols to your playing. Dynamics like pianissimo (pp), mezzo-piano (mp), and fortissimo (ff) show how soft or loud to play. First and second endings guide you through different endings of repeated sections. Measure repeat signs tell you to play the previous measure again. Take your time, watch the symbols carefully, and focus on keeping your sound and rhythm consistent.

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  p.27 — Dotted Eighth Notes

  A dotted eighth note lasts for three-quarters of a beat. You’ll usually see it paired with a sixteenth note to complete the beat. Count carefully and listen closely to keep the rhythm smooth and even. Stay relaxed and let the longer dotted note stretch naturally before the shorter note.

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  p.28 — Etude – Dotted Eighth Notes

  This etude helps you practice the long-short feel of dotted eighth and sixteenth note patterns. Focus on stretching the dotted eighth note just enough before moving into the quick sixteenth. Keep your counting steady and make sure the rhythm stays smooth and even.

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  p.29 — Dotted Eighth Rests

  A dotted eighth rest lasts for three-quarters of a beat, just like a dotted eighth note. You’ll stay silent for most of the beat, then play a quick sixteenth note. Count carefully and stay relaxed so the rhythm stays steady through the silence and the note.

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  p.30 — Etude – Dotted Eighth Notes & Dotted Eighth Rests

  This etude combines dotted eighth notes and dotted eighth rests. Focus on the timing of the longer silence or note followed by a quick sixteenth. Keep counting steadily and listen carefully to make sure the rhythm feels natural and even all the way through.

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  p.31 — Solo 1 – Accents & Dynamics on Repeat

  This solo combines accents, dynamics, and repeats to challenge your control and musicality. When a second dynamic mark is given, such as mf – f, the second dynamic should be used on the repeat. Focus on making the accented notes stand out clearly without rushing. Watch the dynamic changes carefully, and keep your rhythm strong and steady each time you repeat the section.

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  p.32 — 2/4 Time Signature 1

  Now you’ll start working in 2/4 time. In 2/4, there are two beats in each measure, and the quarter note still gets one beat. Count “one, two” steadily, and feel the strong pulse on beat one. Stay relaxed and make sure your rhythm fits neatly into the two-beat pattern.

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  p.33 — 2/4 Time Signature 2

  This page gives you more practice playing in 2/4 time. Keep feeling the strong, steady two-beat pattern, and make sure your rhythms stay even. Focus on clean transitions between notes and rests while keeping the pulse clear and consistent.

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  p.34 — Solo 2 – 2/4 Time Signature

  This solo lets you apply everything you’ve learned in 2/4 time. Focus on keeping a steady two-beat pulse, making your accents and dynamics clear, and playing with confidence from start to finish. Stay locked into the rhythm and feel the energy of the shorter measure.

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  p.35 — Solo 3 – 2/4 Time Signature

  In this solo, you’ll push your control and musicality in 2/4 time. Stay focused on the quick, steady two-beat pattern, make your accents pop, and shape your sound with clear dynamics. Keep the energy flowing from the first measure to the last.

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  p.36 — 3/4 Time Signature 1

  Now you’ll start working in 3/4 time. In 3/4, there are three beats in each measure, and the quarter note still gets one beat. Count “one, two, three” steadily, with a strong feeling on beat one. Keep your rhythm smooth and even across all three beats.

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  p.37 — 3/4 Time Signature 2

  This page gives you more practice in 3/4 time. Focus on feeling the three-beat pattern, with a strong pulse on beat one. Keep your notes even, your rests clear, and your counting steady as you move through each measure.

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  p.38 — Etude – 3/4 Time Signature

  This etude lets you practice the flow of 3/4 time. Feel the strong first beat in every measure and keep the rhythm even across all three beats. Focus on smooth transitions between notes and rests while maintaining a steady, flowing pulse.

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  p.39 — Five-Stroke Roll

  Now you’ll learn the five-stroke roll, one of the most common drum rolls. It uses two quick bounces on each hand followed by a single stroke to finish. Focus on keeping the bounces even and relaxed, and make sure the final stroke is clear and strong. Note: in a “closed” roll (as heard in the audio on this page), each stick buzzes instead of having two clear bounces.

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  p.40 — Etude – Five-Stroke Roll 1

  This etude helps you practice the five-stroke roll in different rhythmic patterns. Focus on keeping the bounces even, the final stroke strong, and the overall rhythm steady. Stay relaxed and let the sticks do the work for a smooth, controlled sound.

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  p.41 — Etude 2 – Five-Stroke Roll

  This etude gives you more practice placing the five-stroke roll inside different rhythms and dynamic changes. Focus on keeping the rolls smooth and even, and make sure the final stroke lands cleanly in time with the beat. Stay relaxed and listen carefully to keep everything flowing.

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  p.42 — Nine-Stroke Roll

  Now you’ll learn the nine-stroke roll. It uses four quick bounces (or buzzes if it’s a “closed” roll) on each hand followed by a strong final stroke. Keep the bounces even and relaxed, and focus on making the last stroke land cleanly with the rhythm. Start slowly and build up speed as your control improves.

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  p.43 — Etude 1 – Nine-Stroke Roll

  This etude helps you build control and timing with the nine-stroke roll. Focus on keeping all the bounces even and relaxed, and make the final stroke strong and right on the beat. Stay patient, keep a steady pulse, and let your hands flow smoothly through each roll.

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  p.44 — Etude 2 – Nine-Stroke Roll

  This etude gives you more practice fitting the nine-stroke roll into different rhythms and dynamic changes. Keep your bounces even, your final stroke clear, and stay locked into a steady pulse. Focus on staying relaxed and letting the roll feel natural within the music.

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  p.45 — Thirteen-Stroke Roll & Seventeen-Stroke Roll

  Now you’ll learn the thirteen-stroke roll and the seventeen-stroke roll. These longer rolls use more quick, even bounces, followed by a strong final stroke. Stay relaxed, keep the bounces smooth and controlled, and focus on landing the last stroke cleanly with the beat. Start slowly and build up speed as your hands feel more comfortable.

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  p.46 — Etude – Thirteen-Stroke Roll & Seventeen-Stroke Roll

  This etude helps you practice longer rolls with the thirteen-stroke and seventeen-stroke rolls. Focus on keeping all the bounces even and relaxed, and make sure the final stroke lands cleanly in time. Stay steady, stay patient, and let the rolls flow smoothly across the beat.

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  p.47 — Solo 4 – Dal Segno al Fine

  This solo introduces Dal Segno al Fine. When you reach “D.S. al Fine”, return to the sign (𝄋), and then play until you reach the word “Fine” to end. Stay focused on the road map, keep your rhythm steady, and make sure your dynamics and accents stay clear throughout.

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  p.48 — Eighth-Note Triplets

  Now you’ll learn eighth-note triplets. Triplets divide one beat into three even notes instead of two. Eighth note triplets can be counted “1 & ah, 2 & ah” (some people count them, “one-trip-let, two-trip-let”) to keep the rhythm steady and smooth. Focus on even spacing between each note and stay relaxed as you play.

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  p.49 — Etude – Eighth-Note Triplets

  This etude gives you practice playing eighth-note triplets in different rhythms. Focus on keeping the triplets even and flowing, with no rushing between notes. Count carefully, stay relaxed, and let the triplet rhythm move smoothly through each measure.

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  p.50 — Sixteenth-Note Triplets 1

  Now you’ll learn sixteenth-note triplets. These fit six evenly spaced notes into one beat. Count them carefully as “1 ah le & ah la, 2 ah le & ah la” (some people count them, “one-trip-let-and-trip-let”) to keep your rhythm smooth. Start slowly, stay relaxed, and focus on making each note even and clear.

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  p.51 — Etude – Sixteenth-Note Triplets

  This etude helps you practice sixteenth-note triplets in different rhythms. Focus on keeping all six notes evenly spaced inside each beat. Stay relaxed, count carefully, and let the triplet rhythm flow smoothly without rushing.

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  p.52 — Sixteenth-Note Triplets 2

  This page gives you more practice with sixteenth-note triplets. Focus on keeping the six notes smooth, even, and steady inside each beat. Start slow if you need to, and build speed only when your hands feel relaxed and in control.

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  p.53 — Solo 5 – Da Capo al Coda

  This solo introduces Da Capo al Coda. When you reach “D.C. al Coda,” return to the beginning of the piece and play until you see “To Coda.” From there, skip down to the Coda sign at the bottom, and then play until the end. Stay focused on the road map, keep your rhythm steady, and play with clear dynamics and strong musical direction.

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  p.54 — Seven-Stroke Roll

  Now you’ll learn the seven-stroke roll. It uses three quick bounces on each hand followed by a strong final stroke. Keep the bounces even and relaxed, and make sure the last stroke lands clearly in time with the beat. Start slow and build speed as your control improves.

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  p.55 — Etude – Seven-Stroke Roll

  This etude helps you practice the seven-stroke roll inside different rhythms. Focus on keeping the bounces even, the final stroke strong, and the overall rhythm steady. Stay relaxed, listen carefully, and let the roll flow smoothly into the beat.

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  p.56 — Cut Time

  This page introduces Cut Time by using quarter notes and eighth notes. In Cut Time, the half note gets the beat, so quarter notes are counted “1 &, 2 &” and eighth notes are counted “1 e & ah, 2 e & ah”. Focus on keeping the rhythm smooth and the pulse strong.

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  p.57 — Etude – Cut Time

  This etude gives you practice playing in Cut Time. Focus on feeling the strong two-beat pulse while keeping quarter notes and eighth notes even and steady. Stay relaxed, count carefully, and let the faster feel of Cut Time drive the rhythm forward.

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  p.58 — Solo 6 – Cut Time & Two-Measure Repeats

  This solo combines Cut Time with two-measure repeats. For a two-measure repeat, repeat the two previous measures, and then play on. Focus on keeping a strong two-beat pulse while following the repeat signs carefully. Stay steady, play with clear dynamics, and make sure each repeated section stays just as strong and controlled as the first time.

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  p.59 — The Flam

  Now you’ll learn the flam. A flam is a small grace note played just before a main stroke, creating a fuller, stronger sound. Keep the grace note very soft and close to the main stroke. Stay relaxed and focus on making the two notes sound like one smooth, blended hit.

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  p.60 — Etude 1 – The Flam

  This etude helps you practice playing flams in different rhythms. Focus on keeping the grace note soft and close to the main stroke. Stay relaxed, keep your timing steady, and make each flam sound clean and blended into the rhythm.

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  p.61 — Etude 2 – The Flam

  This etude gives you more practice using flams within different rhythms and dynamic changes. Focus on keeping the grace notes light and the main strokes strong. Stay steady, relaxed, and make each flam sound smooth and natural within the flow of the music.

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  p.62 — Flam Rudiments (Flam Accent, Flam Tap, Flamacue)

  Now you’ll start working on flam rudiments: the flam accent, flam tap, and flamacue. Each rudiment uses a flam in a different rhythm pattern to build control, speed, and musical expression. Focus on keeping the grace notes soft, the main strokes strong, and the overall motion smooth and even.

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  p.63 — Etude – Flam Accent, Flam Tap, Flamacue

  This etude helps you practice flam accents, flam taps, and flamacues in different combinations. Focus on keeping your grace notes light, your main strokes strong, and your motion smooth and consistent. Stay relaxed and listen closely to keep the rhythms flowing naturally.

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  p.64 — Solo 7 – Flam Accent, Flam Tap, Flamacue

  This solo challenges you to use flam accents, flam taps, and flamacues with control and confidence. Focus on making each flam clear and consistent, keeping your rhythms steady, and shaping the music with strong dynamics and smooth motion.

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  p.65 — 6/8 Time Signature

  Now you’ll start working in 6/8 time. In 6/8, there are six eighth notes in each measure, grouped into two strong beats. Each beat feels like a group of three notes. Count “one two three, four five six,” and focus on feeling the two big pulses in each measure.

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  p.66 — Etude – 6/8 Time Signature

  This etude helps you get comfortable playing in 6/8 time. Focus on feeling the two big beats in each measure while keeping the eighth notes flowing evenly. Stay relaxed, count carefully, and let the rhythm move with a smooth, natural swing.

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  p.67 — Solo 8 – 6/8 Time Signature

  This solo lets you apply everything you’ve learned about 6/8 time. Focus on feeling the two strong beats in each measure, keeping the eighth notes even, and shaping the music with clear dynamics and smooth phrasing. Let the rhythm flow naturally from start to finish.

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  p.68 — The Drag

  Now you’ll learn the drag rudiment. A drag uses two soft grace notes played just before a main stroke, creating a quick, tight sound. Keep the grace notes very light and close together, and make sure the main stroke is strong and clear. Stay relaxed and focus on blending the three notes into one smooth motion.

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  p.69 — Etude – The Drag

  This etude helps you practice using drags inside different rhythms. Focus on keeping the two grace notes soft, tight, and close to the main stroke. Stay relaxed, keep your timing steady, and make each drag sound smooth and natural within the flow of the music.

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  p.70 — Syncopation

  This page introduces syncopation using eighth notes and quarter notes. Syncopation means placing accents or notes off the strong beats to create interesting rhythms. When a quarter note falls on the “&”, the next note or rest also falls on the “&”. Focus on counting carefully, staying relaxed, and keeping a steady pulse even when the rhythm feels unexpected.

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  p.71 — Etude 1 – Syncopation

  This etude helps you practice basic syncopation with eighth notes and quarter notes. Focus on keeping a steady beat underneath while the rhythm shifts off the strong counts. Stay patient, count carefully, and let the syncopated feel stay smooth and controlled.

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  p.72 — Etude 2 – Syncopation

  This etude gives you more practice with syncopation, challenging you to stay steady as the accents and rhythms shift. Focus on keeping the pulse strong and even, and let the syncopated notes flow naturally without rushing or hesitating.

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  p.73 — Tied Notes

  Now you’ll learn about tied notes in percussion. When two notes are tied together, you only play the first note and let it ring for the combined value of both notes. Do not play the second note of the tie. Focus on counting carefully and letting the sound carry smoothly through the tie without breaking the rhythm.

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  p.74 — Tied Rolls

  This page introduces tied rolls. When you see a roll tied across two notes, continue rolling smoothly through the entire value of both notes. Do not stop or re-attack the roll at the second note. Focus on keeping the sound even, steady, and connected across the tie.

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  p.75 — Solo 9 – Final

  This final solo brings together everything you’ve learned. Focus on clear rhythms, strong dynamics, smooth rolls, and confident transitions. Play with energy, control, and musical expression from the first note to the last. Take your time, trust your practice, and enjoy the performance.