How to Create Your First Drum Chart:
The Step By Step Method
Build Simple Charts Without a Lot of Detail for Best Playing Results
Open The Chart Template
From the dashboard select the chart icon in the bottom menu to open the chart library. At the top of the chart library select + Add Chart to open a drum chart template.
Add Your Song Link
Select the headphone icon to add you song link from your Music provider.
Upload your song link to your chart template and use a mini player to listen and control your song playback as you chart.
Play Your Song and Determine Time Signature, Tempo, Feel, Genre and Who Starts the Song.
Time Signature
Determine the time signature and count it out. Remember, your most common time signatures are: 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8. Select the time signature line to open the dropdown menu and choose the correct time signature of your song.
Tempo
Determine the tempo with a metronome. Select the metronome icon to open the dropdown menu. Choose the tap icon, (the 5th gray circle icon) and tap out the song tempo with your mouse or the space bar on your keyboard as you listen.
Feel and Genre of the Song
Determine the feel of the song. Your most common choices are: Straight, Shuffle, 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8. Select the feel line to see the dropdown menu and choose the correct feel then select the genre line to open the dropdown menu and choose the correct genre.
Who Starts the Song?
Select the left Enter Start dropdown menu to choose who starts the song. Is there a pickup, a guitar start a drum start? Select the what you hear.
Start Counting Out The Song Form in Real Time
While listening to your song, select the first box to open the Song Form dropdown list and select the song form heard from the recording, then select the Bars dropdown to count out the bars or measures for each section (i.e., Intro, Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Solo, Bridge, Tag, and Ending).
Add Drum Patterns for Each Song Form
Custom Drum Patterns
Select Add Pattern to open the Drum Pattern editor. Select the edit button at the bottom right to open the drum pattern template. Use the Drum Pattern Editor to notate the drum patterns at the bottom of the chart for each song form.
Label each pattern with the appropriate corresponding section name (i.e., Intro, Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Solo, Bridge, Tag, and Ending) so you know what pattern to play in each song form on your chart.
My Patterns library and Shared Patterns preset library
Select Add Pattern From Library to use your own saved patterns or scroll down the page to the Shared Patterns library to find the preset patterns ready to go. ones you hear on the recording or build your own and create your own library of patterns.
Add Fills, Accents and Lyric Cues
Select the Drum Instruction line to open the Instruction & Figure Library dropdown menu.
Select from a list of instructions such as Fill, Accent, Play Snare, Rim, Stop, Vocal Only, etc., under the correct song form section as you listen to the song.
Select the Notes dropdown to add notation, rests and symbols and anything you need to know to play the chart correctly. Notate these patterns, if necessary,
And That's It!!
Review your work. Follow along with the chart you’ve just finished to double-check the song form. Play along with the song to double-check the drum patterns, fills, and accents you notated to make sure they will work with the song.
If you have any questions, contact us.