Writing for Drum Kit

[Kevin]

Can anyone enlighten us about writing for a standard drum kit at all?

[Ed Sharpe]

Depends on what you are trying to achive. Most durm parts are just a guileline of what is needed, id est style or how many bars to play.

Sharpe Curves
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/76706.html
See the Appendix at the end.

Black Fire
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/88632.html
Short Cruise
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/38402.html
Wasuremono
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/15902.html
What Ever
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/22044.html
Eous
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/89516.html
Ultra Dry
www.scoreexchange.com/scores/14921.html

and these examples have a bit more than many drum parts have.

[Kevin]

Thanks for the examples Ed. I was wondering if you have any symphonic examples about Kit writing as well. Surley these would have to be fully annotated?

[Ed Sharpe]

Aug 25, 2011 7:59:37 GMT Kevin said:

Thanks for the examples Ed. I was wondering if you have any symphonic examples about Kit writing as well. Surley these would have to be fully annotated?

Again it would depend on what you are trying to achive. If you are talkign about "pop" concert id est an orchestra with a drumset no, the drum part would probally still be a guide line.

Take a good look at Bloack fire. The way "hits" are cued in the drum part. But for the most part all the drummer is told is to "play time" and the style to play.

[Kevin]

I get all that. Let's say that it was for a wind/brass band is the same going to apply?

[deepdrummer]

Here is one file I have been adding to over the years that may give you some starting points.
deepdrummer.webs.com/44grooves.htm
I believe there are over 250 bars of random drum beats, grooves and fills in there.
That site may or may not allow you to download it though. At least it won't let me but it can be printed.
Often you'll find that on kit the hi hat is used to maintain the pulse to an extent. I often modify grooves to that end. This gives the other muscians something to watch (if there is no conductor) and listen to in order to keep time.
There are also a number of standard drum grooves (styles) available depending on the type of music being played.
A great resource for those are Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials version one and 2 (with book included).
Pretty handy stuff although it may or may not be what you're looking for.
Sibelius seems to use a non standard way of notating an open hi hat hit with a diamond shaped notehead (which of course can be changed) and as there seems to be no completely universal notation for drum kit, a legend is generally included in the score especially for non standard things.

[Kevin]

Thanks for that! I was doing it correctly then. Unfortunately I work mainly with youngsters and I like to get them to read notation. I am sure that when they move on they get a chance to use the music as a guide.