How To Read Jazz Drum Sheet Music

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Want to stop feeling lost on when you play tunes? I’ll teach you how to read Jazz drum sheet music so you can groove through charts and lead sheets with zero stress.

Reading Drum Sheet Music Course

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Reading Jazz drum sheet music doesn’t have to be a headache. This course makes it simple so you can follow the music and just enjoy playing.

You’ll learn:
  • How to read and play lead sheets and drum charts
  • Pickup notes
  • Intros
  • Feel changes
  • Dynamic markings
  • How to set up kicks
  • And tons more!


You’ll finish this course feeling more relaxed and ready to play. Reading drum charts and picking up new songs will be a whole lot smoother.
Course Overview
Drum charts and lead sheets are basically the GPS for Jazz drummers.

If you’ve ever wondered how to read Jazz drum sheet music without feeling lost, this course is for you. I’ll break it all down so you can follow along and actually have fun playing.

  • 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

Not As Hard As It Looks

Ever looked at a Jazz drum chart and felt totally lost? You’re not alone. For a lot of drummers, how to read Jazz drum sheet music is one of the most confusing parts of learning Jazz. But once you learn the system, (and yeah, it’s totally a system) reading Jazz drum charts and lead sheets actually becomes a lot of fun.

In this course, I’ll walk you through everything step-by-step. We’ll break down all the music markings, teach you how to play from lead sheets, and show you how to follow the flow of any Jazz tune. The intros, pickups, feel changes, kicks, endings, you'll learn all of it. This is the stuff I've been using on gigs, in the studio, and in rehearsals for decades.

If you’re just getting started or already gigging and want to get better at reading drum charts and lead sheets, this course will take the stress out of the whole process.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll get the tools and confidence to finally feel good about reading drum sheet music for Jazz. Here’s what’s inside:

 • How to read Jazz drum sheet music, one symbol at a time
 • Playing from lead sheets and drum charts with confidence
 • What pickup notes, intros, and kicks actually mean
 • Reading jazz drum notation like a pro (without guesswork)
 • Following feel changes and dynamic markings
 • How to set up kicks that make the band smile
 • And a whole lot more!

By the end of this course, you’ll be way more comfortable with Jazz drumming chart reading and ready to play in all kinds of musical situations.

What Are Jazz Drum Charts and Lead Sheets?

Think of drum charts and lead sheets as the road maps for Jazz music. They don’t tell you everything, but they give you all the cues you need to navigate a song and play like you belong there.

In this course, you’ll learn exactly how to read Jazz drum sheet music so you can confidently follow these road maps in small group gigs to big band settings. We’ll go over how song form works, what all the symbols mean, and how to read and play drum sheet music in a way that feels natural (not like decoding alien language).

Why This Course Works

I made this course because I know what it feels like to stare at a confusing drum chart and have no idea where to come in or what to play. That’s why I teach how to read Jazz drum sheet music in a way that’s clear, simple, and relaxed.

This isn’t just for readers or theory nerds, this is real-world Jazz drumming sheet music for real gigs and rehearsals. I’ll demystify the common stuff that shows up in almost every Jazz chart and make sure you actually understand it.

Plus, you’ll get my Shady Side drum chart and walk through it with me on video, from reading it to playing it down.

Feel More Confident On The Kit

After this course, reading Jazz drum notation won’t feel scary anymore. You’ll be able to:

  • Jump into jam sessions and rehearsals without hesitation
  • Read drum sheet music and know exactly what to do
  • Understand how to follow lead sheets without getting lost
  • Set up kicks and accents like a total pro
  • Play with more confidence in every musical situation

If you’re just starting out or you’ve been faking your way through charts for years (hey, no shame), this course will help you finally get it. Let's get swinging. 

PREVIEW THE COURSE

Here's the lesson of me playing the drum chart included with this course. Learn 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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Jazz Drums Total Lessons Pack

From clueless to gig-ready! Start from scratch and groove your way up to advanced Jazz drumming. Grab all my courses to go from your first beat to stealing the show!

Includes the Reading Drum Sheet Music course!
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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

The Reading Jazz Drum Sheet Music Course

FOCUSED

This course saves you time and money by breaking down how to read Jazz drum sheet music and play a typical Jazz drum chart or lead sheet.

By the end of these online drum lessons, you'll be able to read Jazz drum sheet music and play the course drum chart for the song Shady Side. 
  • 1 hour of online drum instruction
  • 8 drum lesson videos
  • 2 PDF drum charts
  • 1 drum practice track
  • Drum Lab Monthly Drum Class

AFFORDABLE

One-Time Payment. Lifetime Access to your course. Pay once, drum forever!

Pocket-friendly subscription plans also available through Groove Pass. 

PAINLESS

Learn with a relaxed, step-by-step method at your own pace.

You can also track your progress and see how much you have accomplished. Example below is from the Brushes Mastery Course.

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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