Learn and Practice Snare Drum

New to snare drum? Start by learning how to hold your sticks and play your first rudiments on a practice pad. Then learn to read snare parts, play accents and rolls, and practice with free interactive tools.

Practice in the Percussion Trainer

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
Practice Reading RhythmsHear a rhythm and pick the notation that matches. Snare parts are almost all rhythm.
Charts and sight-reading
Snare sight-reading
Tap along and check your timing
Tools
Metronome
30 to 240 BPM

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 read snare drum musicRead the rhythms, sticking, accents, and rolls in a snare part.PercussionHow to play accents on snare drumPlay accents with stick height and stroke speed, without squeezing the stick.

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. 03Read short snare lines out loud before you play them: count the rhythm, then say the sticking.
  4. 04Speed up a little at a time. Raise the tempo only when a rudiment feels even and relaxed.

More to explore

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 practice percussion at homeA 15-minute plan for pad and mallets.Rhythm1 e & a and other ways to count rhythmCount eighths and sixteenths out loud.Band skillsWhat is a chair test in band? How to preparePrepare rudiments and etudes for a chair test.

All snare drum guides