For new musicians learning how to play quarter notes on drums is a good early step in progressing as a drummer. The quarter note is a basic skill needed to progress on to other notes. Early lessons for drumming basics include mastering this note on various drum set parts. In order to play quarter notes, it is important to establish an understanding of time, count, and measures. A metronome is useful when first learning the basics as playing with a metronome helps to keep the new drummer in count and aids in establishing the beat and rhythm.

In a 4/4 measure, also known as playing in common time, the count is a simple count of 1-2-3-4 and a repeat for each new measure. Using the metronome, the drum is played for each count. Listening to the metronome, an accent or different sound can be heard each time the measure changes back to the 1 count.

For playing a single drum, such as in a marching band, the play is quite simple with a single drum stroke at each count in the measure. For playing on a drum set, once the single stroke is mastered on one drum, others can be added in. For example, to establish the basic count and play of the quarter note, begin by playing with the metronome on the snare only for the 4/4 count. Once confident with the beat, the drum set quarter note playing can take on many different variations.

A natural first progression is to add the hi-hat in to the play. Begin with alternating between the snare and the hi-hat with the snare on the first beat, hi-hat on second beat, back to snare on third beat and completing the measure with the snare for the fourth beat. This simple alternating between two parts of the drum set allows the quarter note play to take on a different sound. Progress further by adding the bass drum in on the second and fourth beat while retaining the snare on beat one, and the hi-hat on beat three. This combination is snare-bass-hi-hat-bass.

Further advancement with playing quarter notes on the drums could include playing the hi-hat on every beat and playing the bass and snare on others. A familiar drum play uses this method by adding bass on first and third beat with snare on second and fourth with the hi-hat accent on all beats.

In order to play quarter notes smoothly and be able to transition from one variation of quarter notes to another, practice often. The quarter note play variations can be used in drum fills, drum solos, or just warm ups before playing.

Check out the how tos below to learn how to play other songs on drums:

1. How to Play 16th Notes on Drums
2. How to Hold Drumsticks
3. What are Drum Set Parts
4. How to Play a Basic Rock Beat on Drums
5. How to Play a Snare Drum
6. How to Play Eighth Notes on Drums
7. How to Play Drum Fills
8. How to Play Quarter Notes on Drums
9. How to Set up a Snare Drum
10. How to Use a Drum Pedal
11. How to Tune A Snare Drum