Eighth Notes

We have established that four quarter note values divide a measure of common time into four equal parts. We can further divide a measure of common time. Beginning with a quarter note value, we can divide the time it demands into two halves, arriving at our next type of note value: the eighth note value. This relationship between eighth note values and quarter note values is very important, and will govern how we can combine them in a measure of common time.

With this relationship, we can see that it will take eight eighth note values to fill a measure of common time. Since two eighth note values require the same amount of time as one quarter note value, we can devise a way to count eighth note values in a similar fashion.

Quarter Notes

To begin understanding note values, we will define a measure of common time as a measure completely filled by 4 quarter notes. Think of a dollar bill. Then every quarter note value would be worth 25 cents. If you ask someone for change for a dollar, then you would expect them to give you exactly four quarters.
Counting is as important to the drummer as actually playing the drums; playing can not happen efficiently without counting. For example, to count this set of four quarter notes in one measure of common time, we assign one number to each quarter note value.


Since every quarter note value is the same, and every value demands the same amount of time, it is important to count slowly and evenly to guarantee even spacing.
A quarter note rest, as shown below, is a way of reserving a quarter note worth of time without playing anything. Think of rests as space holders. We count quarter note rests just like quarter notes, but do not play anything for the rest.

All combinations of quarter notes and quarter note rests are possible, so long as no more and no less than four quarter note values are placed in a single measure of common time.

Before we begin...

Each note value can be thought of as some division of time. Two key concepts come into play when someone is attempting to understand the fundamental differences between each note value. When a pianist strikes a key, a small hammer strikes a string inside the piano, thus producing a sound. The immediate sounding is called the attack of the note. Attack can be described as how quickly a sound is produced. Notice also that a note sounds for as long as the key is held down. That is, the note has a duration occupying a certain amount of space in time. How long it takes that note to quiet down and eventually silence is called decay.

In addition, we must establish an important distinction between note values, and notes. We will define notes as tones played on a drum or cymbal, and note values as the duration of those tones.
Now strike a snare drum. Notice that the drum has a very sharp attack, and a very quick decay. That is, as soon as you strike the head a sound is produced, and that sound silences a fraction of a second later. Drums on average have very quick attacks and very quick decays. This leads to a problem when transcribing drum set music: any two notes played on the same drum can sound identical if no note succeeds them. For example, a quarter note will sound exactly like a sixteenth note given that no note is played after either one. To remedy this problem when writing drum score, careful attention should be paid to the space between the notes. To do this in a comprehensive manner, we will use one of the most important tools available to a drummer: counting.

More to follow...