Nearly every contemporary song recorded in the past 50 years is played with chords, which are a bunch of notes (sounds) played at the same time.

The good news is that to get started on the Drums, we don't have to worry about learning 8 chords, OR transposing into easier keys to sing and play.
We just need to learn ONE RHYTHM. (Then you can add variations and different timings to your heart's content.)

Just that one rhythm will let you play along with probably 75% of all contemporary songs written in the last 50 years or so. Once you master it, you’re ready to play more songs than you’ll ever fit in your lifetime!

And remember everything you click in these four steps is absoutely FREE!!
But you'll need your own Drums unless you’re playing “Air-Drums ” or maybe an IRONING BOARD (see Latest News on the right!)

Ready...here is the basic Rock Beat used in most songs...

Music mostly counts beats evenly from 1 to 4 then starts again.
It happens over and over in every song.
And each 4 beats is called a bar.

Contemporary music (Rock/Pop) is an endless-loop of the same four beats (with lots of possible variations).

The kick drum (big bass drum) plays beat 1,
and the snare drum answers back on beat 2…LOUDER!!

Adding the snare on beat 2 is what makes rock rock.
It’s called the back beat.

That simple pattern is repeated on beat 3 and beat 4
(the second half of the bar)

Here's a video of the rock beat for you.

See if you can play that.
Right foot beat 1 (keep your heel down)
Followed by left hand on left thigh beat 2.
Foot, Thigh, Foot, Thigh, 1, 2, 3, 4

Meanwhile the cymbals (called hats or hi-hats) fill out this basic rhythm pattern by playing two pulses on each beat.

Instead of counting 1 to 8, just say “&” between each main beat.

"1&2&3&4&" on your left elbow.

That makes it a bit easier to keep track of where you are each bar.

Don't forget the "&" after 4 (lots of people do!)
And don't forget to start SCHLOWLEE. It may even be easier to start by trying just the kick and snare, then just the kick and hats, then just the hats and snare to get used to this variation of patting your head while rubbing your tummy!

Here's a video of the rock beat for you.

Make sure you know what happens on each beat in the basic rock beat.

The drums are the foundation of the band, and the foundation of contemporary music. They are the driving force behind contemporary music.

There are so many ways to combine the three "voices" of kick, snare, hats by playing them on different beats across different instruments.
Listen for variations in the songs you like...

Reckon you've got the hang of how to play the rock beat?
Click here to make sure you can play the basic rock beat
Click here to play along with 10 minutes of rock beat SCHLOWLEE.
Or here's a 5-minute mp3 version to play along with if that's easier.

Click here to get to know the names of the Drums and how they sound.

And THAT'S IT for Step One on the Drums. Just ONE RHYTHM!!

Take your time to really master the Rock Beat.
Once you're sure you've done that, you're ready to PLAY A SONG!!