BASIC DRUM NOTATION.

What do all the notes on the lines and spaces represent? Let's look at the drums first, cymbals second.

Snare Drum is written most commonly on the second top space, or rarely on the middle line

Bass Drum is written on the bottom space

First Tom is written on the top space

Second Tom is written on the second top line

Floor Tom is written on the second bottom space

Hihats (closed) are written sitting on top of the top line as an X

Hihats (open) are written on top of the first line as a open circle

Hihats (with foot) written as an X below the bottom line

Ride cymbal written as regular note on top of the first line

Ride cymbal bell written as regular note with dot above it, on top of the first line

Percussion - Cowbells, Woodblocks etc are generally written with an unusual note head, like a diamond or black box, on top of the first line.