Why do we count to 4?

Dividing the tempo into groups of 4 beats helps us to know what to play and when.

These groups of 4 give each section of the music a clear structure. This makes it easier to follow th

It’s not the only way that we can count the tempo, but it’s by far the most common.

Once you’ve counted the first ‘1 2 3 4’ out loud, the music begins.

The instruments play as if you were still counting ‘1 2 3 4’ over and over again.

But instead of counting out loud, you’re now going to mark these numbers (known as beats) with d

Let’s explore this concept further by jumping straight into our first song!

2. Learning how to play your first beat or song

One song that very clearly marks the tempo of the music with a drum played on every beat is ‘Do I

Have a quick listen using the link above before we dive into how this song is played.

Can you hear how the same sounds are repeated again and again? The drummer, Matt Helders, is very clearly marking each b

Every time you hear a drum, that’s one beat of music.

But if you listen closely, you’ll hear that there are two different drum sounds.

Every beat, the drummer swaps to the other drum.

3. Introducing the bass and snare

The first drum you hear on the trackThe second drum you hear on the track
The first drum you hear on the track is the bass drum, followed by the snare drum.

The bass drum is played on beats 1 and 3 and the snare drum is played on beats 2 and 4.

Try this: Count ‘1 2 3 4’ over the music so that you hear the ‘boom’ of the bass drum on 1 and 3 an

Can you hear how the drums and the counting link up? If you’re not sure how this works, I’ve provi

If you think you’ve got it, it’s time to start drumming!

1) Tap your right foot to represent the bass drum.

2) Then tap your left hand on your leg to represent the snare drum.

Tap your right foot on beats 1 and 3, along with the ‘boom’ of the bass drum.

Tap your left hand on beats 2 and 4, along with the ‘snap’ of the snare drum

See if you can tap along to the song and stay in time with the beat. If you’re having trouble with thi

If you are keeping time, great job! You’ve aced it!

Try this variation: If you are listening through bass-heavy speakers or are wearing headphones, y

You don’t have to play these, but if you wanted to have a go at including these, you’d just play a ba

Translating this tapping to the drum kit isn’t too tricky; the right foot and left hand are exactly what

In no time at all, you’re already playing along to a famous track.

When you’re next listening to your favourite music, listen out for that low ‘thump’ of the bass drum

4. Understanding 8th notes and playing your second so

If you feel like you’ve understood what we’ve covered so far in this article, the next step is to look a

Like a gymnast jumping between two bars, we use the beats as support, but we can also express

The simplest type of note that appears both on the beat and off the beat is the quaver or 8th note.

If you were to count these out loud, you would count ‘1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and’

Playing these 8th notes on and in-between beats gives you more options to create interesting rhyt

The drumming from ‘We Will Rock You’ is probably the most famous example of 8th note drummin

Again, have a listen before you find out more about this pattern.

If you were to count the rhythm out loud that is being played, it would sound like this ‘1 and 2, 3 an

Note how on this track we don’t play the ‘and’ after 2 and the ‘and’ after 4. We don’t have to play e

When we don’t play a note, this quiet space is known as a rest.

All this is very interesting, but I’m ready to play ‘We Will Rock You’!

‘We Will Rock You’ uses a clap to represent the snare drum.

The pattern basically goes like this: bass bass clap. bass bass clap. This follows the count of 1 and

Now it’s your turn. Hit play on ‘We Will Rock You’ and use your right foot to tap out the bass drum

You can probably see how this rhythm is one step up from the first song that we learnt.

As you get better and better, you’ll learn to play incredibly complex rhythms, using all four limbs at

5. Learning how to play drums with the world’s most po

Congratulations on getting this far and understanding a few of the basic elements of drumming.

If you’ve been following along so far, hopefully you’ll feel that learning drums is not as hard as you

It’s time to make things a bit trickier now by testing your three-way co-ordination with the most pop

Helpful to know: A drum beat is not the same as a beat of music. A drum beat is typically played

In this next drum beat:

The right-hand plays constant 8th notes (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and).
The left-hand plays on beats 2 and 4.
The right foot plays on beats 1 and 3.

Here’s how it looks visually:

The new addition (the right hand) represents the hi-hat cymbal, which is a key part of most drum beats.

Try this: Start by seeing if you can play 8th notes with your right hand. Simply count ‘1 and 2 and

The next step is to add the bass drum. While keeping your right hand going, see if you can play a

That means that you’ll play four hi-hats (right hand) for every bass drum (right foot). You’ll be playi

This is the start of learning co-ordination, and it’ll probably make your brain ache a little!

If you think you’ve got it, try the hi-hat with just the snare drum. Play your constant 8th notes (1 and

That means that both of your hands will be tapping on beats 2 and 4.
This will probably take some practice while your brain learns these new movements.

Like riding a bike, you have to wobble and crash a few times before you learn how to remain stead

You can practice this beat along with me by watching and tapping along to the video below.

Bringing it all together

If you think you’ve got that part down, the next step is to try bass, hi-hat and snare all together.

A quick reminder of how that works:

Right hand (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and).

Left hand (Beats 2 and 4).
Right foot (Beats 1 and 3).

In fact, we’ve made a little demo video for you below.

If you’re starting to get the hang of it, congratulations! You’ve just learnt the most popular drum be

This is the most crucial beat in our ‘how to play drums for beginners’ guide.

In fact, becoming comfortable with this beat will take you a long way towards being able to play ma

This drum beat is the first of 11 crucial drum beats that I recommend all drummers should learn.

Together, these beats provide an extremely solid foundation for your playing. They are the most es

If you’d like some help putting this beat to some world-famous music, you can follow the link here t

6. What drum equipment do I need to learn drums onlin

 and when.

makes it easier to follow the tempo and sound musical.

t common.

ers (known as beats) with drums rather than your voice.

r song
ayed on every beat is ‘Do I Wanna Know’ by the Arctic Monkeys.

ng is played.

ders, is very clearly marking each beat of the tempo here.

nare drum.

d on beats 2 and 4.

e bass drum on 1 and 3 and the ‘snap’ of the snare drum on 2 and 4.

e how this works, I’ve provided an example in a short explainer video below.

u’re having trouble with this, don’t worry. Keeping time is a skill that takes several practice sessions to devel

are wearing headphones, you might be able to hear extremely quiet bass drums played under the snare dru

g these, you’d just play a bass drum (right foot) on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4) rather than just on 1 and 3. The sna

left hand are exactly what you’d use on a drum kit to play this beat.

w ‘thump’ of the bass drum and that high ‘crack’ of the snare drum.

your second song

e, the next step is to look at notes that don’t always fall on the beat.

, but we can also express ourselves in the space between them.

is the quaver or 8th note.

s to create interesting rhythms and musical patterns.

ample of 8th note drumming ever.

und like this ‘1 and 2, 3 and 4, 1 and 2, 3 and 4)

4. We don’t have to play every single 8th note when we want to use them, we can just choose the ones we l

s follows the count of 1 and 2, 3 and 4.

t to tap out the bass drum and your hands to clap on beats 2 and 4.

that we learnt.

hms, using all four limbs at the same time.

world’s most popular drum beat

elements of drumming.

rums is not as hard as you thought it was!

dination with the most popular drum beat of all time.

um beat is typically played across many beats and is just another name for a repeated rhythm played on the
drum beats.

Simply count ‘1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and’. Every time you say a number or an ‘and’, tap along with your right h

oing, see if you can play a right foot on the 1 and 3.

(right foot). You’ll be playing a right hand and a right foot at the same time on beats 1 and 3.

ain ache a little!

ur constant 8th notes (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and) with the right hand and play on beats 2 and 4 with the left ha
 movements.

learn how to remain steady.

to the video below.

and snare all together.

the most popular drum beat of all time.

wards being able to play many thousands of the world’s most popular songs.

drummers should learn.

aying. They are the most essential patterns that I use every day as a drummer.

ou can follow the link here to find out more about my beginner’s drum course, which takes you through every

arn drums online?

 practice sessions to develop.

played under the snare drums on ‘Do I Wanna Know’.

an just on 1 and 3. The snare drum (left hand) would stay the same, being played on the 2 and 4. That mean
just choose the ones we like!

ated rhythm played on the drums.

 tap along with your right hand.

ats 1 and 3.

eats 2 and 4 with the left hand.

ch takes you through everything you need to know about the world’s most useful drum beats.
on the 2 and 4. That means that on beats 2 and 4, you’d play a right foot and a left hand together.
drum beats.
ft hand together.