Learn and Practice Percussion

New to percussion? Start by learning how to hold your sticks and play your first rudiments. Then move to bells, learn to read snare and mallet music, and practice with free interactive tools.

Practice in the Percussion Trainer

Rudiments
Play-along
Tap a rudiment along with the click.Start
Tempo Ladder
One pass at a time. Score 90% and the tempo goes up.Start
Rudiment ID
Hear a rudiment or see it written, then name it.Start
Mallets
Find the Bar
See a note, find it on bells, xylophone, marimba, or vibes.Start
Mallet Scales
Play a scale on the bars, one note at a time.Start
Drum set
Play-along
Read a groove and play it on the kit while it plays with you.Start
On your own
Play the groove with only a click, and see every note marked.Start
Free play
Just the kit: no music and no score.Start
Practice Reading NotesGet faster at reading notes for bells and xylophone. Opens in treble clef.
Charts and sight-reading
Snare sight-reading
Tap along and check your timing
Mallet sight-reading
Play it on the bars
Tools
Metronome
30 to 240 BPM
Piano
One octave, C to C

Start here

PercussionHow to hold drumsticks: matched grip for beginnersFind the fulcrum and let the stick rebound.PercussionDrum rudiments for beginners: which 5 to learn firstFive rudiments to learn first, and how to build speed.PercussionHow to hold mallets and play your first notes on bellsHold the mallets and play your first notes on bells.PercussionHow to read snare drum musicRead the rhythms, sticking, accents, and rolls in a snare part.

What should I practice first?

  1. 01Start on a practice pad with single strokes, hand to hand. Keep your grip relaxed and let the stick bounce back up.
  2. 02Learn your first rudiments slowly with a metronome, then practice them in Percussion Trainer.
  3. 03On bells, find a few notes by their landmarks and play them with alternating mallets.
  4. 04Speed up a little at a time. Raise the tempo only when a rudiment feels even and relaxed.

More to explore

PercussionReading music on bells and xylophone: a guide for drummersFind notes on bells and xylophone without staring at the bars.PercussionBuzz roll vs. double stroke roll: which one does the music want?Tell which roll the music wants, and how to play each one.PercussionHow to play accents on snare drumPlay accents with stick height and stroke speed, without squeezing the stick.PercussionHow to practice percussion at homeA 15-minute plan for pad and mallets.

Drum set

PercussionHow to read drum set musicWhere each drum and cymbal sits on the staff, and how to read a beat.Percussion10 common drum beats: rock, pop, disco, swing, bossa nova, and moreTen common grooves, from rock to bossa nova, with playable examples.

All percussion guides

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