The Eighth Note
This is an eighth note and is worth half a count or a half a beat (3) in * time.
There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time.
Groups of two or four eighth notes are joined together with a beam;
This is an example of a commonly used basic rock pattern containing eighth notes on the hi-hat and a "four on the floor" bass drum pattern.
Eighth notes are introduced into the bass drum line of this example.
The following two examples vary the rhythm of the bass drum.
Eighth notes are introduced into the snare drum pattern as follows.
The following fill-in uses an eighth note rhythm and the single stroke sticking pattern.
This drum fill uses eighth notes over two bars.
The following sticking pattern is called a "double stroke roll".
This example uses the double stroke sticking for the fill-in.
This sticking pattern is called a "paradiddle".
The following fill-in uses the paradiddle sticking "broken up" between the small tom, snare and floor tom.
The paradiddle sticking in this example is again "broken up" between different sound sources to create a different rhythmic effect.
The Accent
This symbol indicates that the note is to be played louder.
This solo introduces the accented crash cymbal and incorporates the three sticking patterns; single strokes, double strokes, and the paradiddle.
The following examples introduce rhythmic variations for bass drum under a quarter note hi-hat pulse.
This example varies the rhythm of the snare drum.
This example introduces the sidestick (see explanation of notation in Introduction). A small tom is used to create a more "latin" feel.
In this example a continuous eighth note pulse is played on the snare drum. The accents on beats 2 and 4 create the "back beat" feel.
The following four examples contain a continuous eighth note pulse on the snare, with accented rhythmic variations.
Rhythmic variations are introduced to the hi-hat line of the following examples.
The Eighth Note Rest
This is an eighth note rest and indicates silence for the count of one eight note.
