Q&A for How to Read Drum Tabs

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How do I improve my drumming skills?

Bart Robley
Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author
Bart Robley is a Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author based in Ontario, California. Bart has been sharing his expertise in drumming knowledge through teaching for over 30 years. He makes his teachings globally accessible by offering lessons in an online format. Bart has authored three instructional books and created three instructional DVDs. He received a Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for his DVD "School Of Hard Rocks. Additionally, Bart has been the drummer for the Sam Morrison Band for over 25 years.

Bart Robley

Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author

Expert Answer

Play with musicians who are better than you. This was the best advice that I got when I started playing drums. You will learn a lot when playing with someone who is more experienced while also pushing you to become a better one.

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Do the high hat cymbols stay open or closed when at rest?

Community Answer

In drum tabs, the high-hat should stay closed unless it is written in the music.

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What do the letters CC, LT and MT mean on drums?

Community Answer

Crash Cymbol, Left tom (usually higher) and Medium or Middle, usually the middle sounded tom.

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If there's a China Cymbal on a beat, how do I write it? CC can mean both China and Crash cymbal.

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Community Answer

For China Cymbal, you can write cC. For Crash Cymbal, you write CC. That way you can differentiate between them.

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How can I play without a kit?

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Community Answer

Technically you can't, but you can get the Aerodrums which are drumsticks that don't require a kit. They are quite expensive though.

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I want to be a skilled drummer––how can I be a skilled drummer?

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Community Answer

To develop a new skill, you obviously have to learn the basics first. So, don't rush to be skilled! Take it nice and slowly. Join a drum class and start with the basics. Then advance ahead slowly. You will see that you will become a skilled drummer soon!

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What is the difference between low floor tom, which is abbreviated LFT and floor tom, abbreviated FT?

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Community Answer

When it comes to more intricate and larger drum sets, distinguishing LFT and FT is the same as Tom Tom versus Floor Tom. Some drum sets will have 3 Tom toms, so the lowest one is represented by Low Floor Tom, whereas the independent Tom is the floor Tom.

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What is the difference between a loose Hi-hat and an open Hi-hat?

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Community Answer

It boils down to the tone coming from the Hi-Hat. A lot of jazz standards would notate loose hi hat as a muddier, yet closed sound. Fundamentally, open Hi-Hat means you don’t press down the Hi-Hat pedal whatsoever, while Loose Hi-Hat means you close it, but not completely so there’s a rattle texture to the sound.

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What does TB stand for in a drum tab?

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Community Answer

Depending on the piece, TB may represent cues for another instrument in the band. When you have jazz standards and big band music, there will be cues for other instruments entering or accenting, thus TB possibly representing trombone.

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