Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit develops pupil understanding of drum grooves, specifically how to create variation through adding embellishments around the basic rock groove. Pupils also learn about the fundamental shared features of pop music.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to create timbral variation in an R'n'B drum groove.

Key Notes

• The contrasting timbres in a drum kit provide the interest in the drum grooves you listen to.
• Toms typically have a less harsh timbre than the snare and cymbals, and a wide range of pitches.
• Toms are often used in drum fills.
• The snare usually plays the backbeat as it has a strong attack which helps to emphasise the pattern.
• Clicks and claps have a similar attack and can be used instead of the snare to play the backbeat.

Vocabulary To Learn

• timbre: the timbre of a note or instrument is the sound quality e.g. metallic
• tom-tom: a tom-tom, usually shortened to tom, is a cylindrical drum that makes a rounded sound
• attack: the attack of a sound describes how quickly we hear the beginning of the sound

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Toms are only used in fills. Use of the snare/claps/clicks will automatically be a backbeat.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Phrases in drum kit writing and composing a fill Study Guide
• The feel of the kick and snare in an RnB groove Study Guide
• The role of the open and closed hi-hat in an RnB drum groove Study Guide