Anatomy Of A Drum Beat There are many different kinds of drum beats and most of them follow similar rules. The hihat or ride cymbal plays either twice a beat (eighth note subdivision) or four times a beat (sixteenth note subdivision). The snare drum, clap, or side stick usually plays on beats two and four which is also known as the back beat. It can also be played on beat three of every other measure to create a half time feel. The bass drum plays on at least one strong beat (one and three) and can be played on one or more subdivision to change the character of the beat. Beat Maps and The Basic Rock Pattern A beat map is used to visualize different drum patterns. The subdivision is written on the top row, and instruments are written in the left more column. X’s are placed in boxes to represent what subdivision different instruments should. Here is a beat map of a basic rock pattern 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Subdivision Hihat X X X X X X X X Instruments Snare X X Kick X X Bass Drum Variation The bass drum is the conversational instrument in a rock pattern. Adding notes on subdivisions and subtracting one of the strong beats are examples of ways to vary a pattern. Here is a rock beat with a bass drum variation. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Hihat X X X X X X X X Snare X X Kick X X X Sixteenth Note Subdivision. The beat can be divided into four equal parts to create a sixteenth note subdivision. The hihat should play on most of these subdivisions and the bass can be played on them as well. Here is a funk pattern using sixteenth note subdivision. 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Hihat X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Snare X X Kick X X X X ©shedthemusic.com.