Chart Overview

Most of our charts follow a simple formula. Nearly all of our songs have four beats to a measure (quarter notes), and each beat is subdivided into four sixteenth notes.

Sixteenth notes are grouped into groups of four, each group representing a beat. Each group of four beats is delineated by a vertical bar.

The following notates four notes, each on one beat of a measure: | X--- X--- X--- X--- |

The following, using R and L for right and left hands, notates a paradiddle: | RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL |

Sometimes, a measure or group of measures is to be repeated. These are notated with colons next to the vertical bars (resembling repeat bars in music notation). If a passage is to be repeated a fixed number of times, that number can appear afterward: |: X-X- ---X XX-X XXXX | X-X- ---X XX-X :|   (2x)

Some instruments have specific notation; please see the Instruments page for details. In general, here are some common letters/symbols and what they mean:


 * X
 * A capital X is a generic hit, used when it does not matter which hand makes the hit.


 * R or L
 * A regular hit with the right or left stick.


 * r or l or x
 * A lighter hit (sometimes referred to as a "ghost note") with the right or left stick. Sometimes a lower-case x refers to a rim click on the caixa.


 * Z
 * A buzz, achieved by letting the stick bounce rapidly on the surface. Sometimes seen as Zz or Zzz to indicate that the buzz gets quieter over time.


 * or
 * An underlined letter (sometimes a red letter) is used to refer to a rimshot (In this context, a rimshot refers to a hit where the stick hits both the rim and the head of the drum at the same time). Some songs only use rimshots and ghost notes (and no regular head hits); in those charts, a capital letter is sufficient to indicate a rimshot.


 * A hyphen indicates a rest and is used in these charts to mark time.
 * A hyphen indicates a rest and is used in these charts to mark time.

Note that all charts are notated in a monospace font so as to line up instruments together.