How To Read Jazz Drum Sheet Music

Learn about how to read Jazz drum sheet music and how to play Jazz drum charts and lead sheets. 

This course is now part of the Total Lessons Course Pack and Monthly Groove Pass. Choose below to learn more!

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Learn how to read Jazz drum sheet music and enjoy playing Jazz drum charts and lead sheets. Drum with more confidence in any music situation!

Reading Drum Sheet Music Course

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This course helps you take the stress out of how to read Jazz drum sheet music, making it easier to follow music and play with confidence. You’ll learn how to read and play sheet music step by step.  Learn the road maps, and recognize key details like pickup notes, intros, and feel changes.

My lessons guide you through real playing examples, breaking everything down so you can read and play the music smoothly. By the end, you’ll feel more comfortable reading drum charts, making it easier to play with bands and learn new songs without hesitation.

See the list of all the lessons.

Learn with a relaxed, step-by-step method at your own pace. Track your progress and see how much you have accomplished! Example below is from the Brushes Mastery Course.
Course Overview
Drum charts (drum sheet music) and song lead sheets are the music road maps for Jazz drummers. Knowing how to read Jazz drum sheet music is a really important skill in Jazz drumming. 

In this course, you'll learn how to read Jazz drum sheet music and play both drum charts and music lead sheets.

  • Drum Lessons Video: 1 hour
  • Drum Lessons: 8
  • Drum Practice Tracks: 1
  • PDF Drum Charts (Drum Sheet Music): 2
  • Drum Lab Monthly Drum Class
  • Lessons In 10+ Languages:
    English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano, Português, Suomi, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어, 日本語, हिन्दी

PREVIEW THE COURSE

Here's the lesson on pick-up notes, intros and changing feels. Play Learn more about how to read Jazz drum sheet music and play both drum charts and lead sheets when you enroll in this course. 

Click on the "CC" in the video screen to select your language. 
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What Are Jazz Drum Sheet Music and Drum Charts?

Reading Jazz drum sheet music and drum charts is about understanding how to read the road map for a song.  Translating the written rhythms and symbols on the page to the drum set is essential in Jazz drumming.

Drum sheet music shows you exactly what to play for specific rhythms, while drum charts and lead sheets provide a guide for the overall structure of a song. This includes cues for fills, comping, and more.

Why Learning to Read Drum Music is Important

Being able to read Jazz drum sheet music, lead sheets and drums charts opens up more opportunities as a drummer. It allows you to quickly learn new songs, follow a bandleader's instructions, and communicate with other musicians more effectively. Plus, it’s an essential skill for playing in professional Jazz settings.

How My Course Will Help You Master Reading Drum Sheet Music

In my Reading Drum Sheet Music course at Jazz Drum School, I’ll teach you the fundamentals of reading drum notation and interpreting drum charts. With step-by-step lessons and real playing examples, you’ll learn how to read rhythms, understand chart symbols, set up kicks in the music and confidently navigate through Jazz drum charts and lead sheets.  By the end of the course, you’ll be able to read and play most Jazz drum music with ease.

The Lessons On How To Read Jazz Drum Sheet Music

Take the anxiety out of knowing how to read Jazz drum sheet music!
  1. INTRO - 00:56
  2. SHADY SIDE SONG - PLAYING EXAMPLE - 06:35
  3. THE MUSIC ROAD MAP - PART 1 - READING THE MUSIC - 17:51
  4. THE MUSIC ROAD MAP - PART 2 - READING THE MUSIC - 20:13
  5. PLAYING THE MUSIC - PART 1 - 21:09
  6. PLAYING THE MUSIC - PART 2 - 13:22
  7. PICKUP NOTES, INTROS AND CHANGING FEELS - 04:19
  8. CONCLUSION - 01:04

Need a little more help with how to read Jazz drum sheet music?

Send me a direct message in the School and ask your questions in my monthly Drum Lab class. Just some of the perks for joining Jazz Drum School! 

Von Baron

Jazz drummer, educator, composer

About YOUR TEACHER

Performing regularly on stage and in the recording studio for 35+ years, Von Baron is one of the busiest drummers in Japan. 

Playing with Stanley Jordan, Benny Golson, Eddie Henderson, Geoff Keezer and many others gave Von the opportunity to hone his Jazz drumming skills. 

It's with this real world experience, Von created this course to give you a solid foundation for your Jazz drumming.
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Kobe, Japan

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