Eighth Notes and Eighth Rests with Quarter Notes
Syncopation starts with off-beat eighth note patterns. Practice playing between the beats, alternately resting on the beat and playing on the "and" position between the beats, combined with quarter notes played on the beat.
Practice Tips
Practice reading eighth notes and eighth rests with quarter notes on the snare drum. Learn to read sheet music for the drums with this play along video.
In this video, we'll practice the 15 different combinations of eighth notes, eighth rests, and quarter notes. We'll play each pattern four times, then continue directly into the next one.
Try slowing it down if you need to, or speed it up if you want a challenge!
Happy drumming :)
Download the sheet music for this exercise as a PDF. Use it for your own practice or with students. 🆓 Care of Drummism!
⬇️ Download it!