8 Very Easy Drum Beats For Beginners (Free Notes)

Learning very easy drum beats is a great idea:

As a beginner, you

• can memorize them quite fast,
• play them to many popular songs or
• use them to expand your drumming vocabulary.

Each of the 8 drum beats I’m going to explain in today’s guide is perfectly suited for beginners on the drum set.

Plus:

I’m sharing a free sheet music PDF with our 8 very easy drum beats as well.

Just download the notes and add them to your collection of drums sheet music.

Very Easy Drum Beats – Free PDF Sheet Music

So, these are our 8 very easy drum beats for beginners.

As you can see, they contain only three instruments:

1. The hi-hat,
2. the bass drum or kick
3. and the snare drum.

Are you already familiar with drum notes?

If not, you might want to read my guide on how to read drum notes before taking a closer look at each groove.

Also, don’t forget to buy a music stand and folder for your drums sheet music.

Both help you be more organized, and simplify your everyday drummer’s life a lot.

Helpful Tips For Learning Each Drum Beat

Every beat presented in this drumming guide is written in the 4/4 time signature.

Also, the first five grooves only contain quarter notes.

Beats 6, 7 and 8 include eighth notes as well.

If you like to count each of our grooves – which I recommend – look out for the smallest note value in each bar:

Your drum beat is solely based on quarter notes?

Then count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 etc.

Each number stands for a quarter note.

Your beat does include quarter notes AND eighth notes?

Now, I recommend counting

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + etc.

Each + is pronounced as “and”, while standing for a single eighth note.

If you like, you can also verbalize each groove first.

That’s what I highly recommend as well, but your way of learning the drums is up to you.

And with that said …

Let’s Have A Closer Look At Each Beat

What makes our very easy drum beats that easy?

Some helpful words before we find out:

Please practice each of the following grooves until you can’t play it wrong anymore.

You might also want to practice each bar

• in different volume levels (especially soft and loud)
• and in various tempos, including a slow, medium, and fast pace.

Also, memorize your favorite grooves.

This will prove outstandingly helpful when jamming with others or songs.

It’s also great fun to build your own drumming vocabulary over time.

Feel free to add our first beat to it:

1. The Very First Drum Beat

This drum beat contains four quarter notes, played between the bass drum and the snare.

Make sure to play a stable rhythm, and please don’t rush.

Take your time.

Focus on the one thing you want to learn.

Also, play the snare with

a.) your not-leading as well as your

b.) leading hand.

You can also

c.) play a flat flam on the snare, meaning both hands play the stroke at the same time.

2. Adding The Hi-Hat To The First Groove

Our second grooves adds a new instrument, the hi-hat on 2 and 4.

This changes the feeling of the groove, so practice it slowly at first.

However, also don’t forget to increase the tempo if you feel good playing the beat.

You can also play it to drumless tracks, or practice with your metronome for a better timing.

3. A Drum Beat Inspired By The Beatles

Sina is absolutely right: Ringo Starr is a great drummer.

Beat number 3 is a wonderful example for this:

It is inspired by the drum beat he plays in Twist and Shout.

However, I’ve simplified it.

So basically, beat 3 almost equals number 2.

There is one difference between these grooves.

Can you spot it?

4. Very Easy Drum Beats With 3/4 Of Your Limbs

In each of our very easy drum beats so far, you’ve been playing one instrument at a time.

This makes each of the grooves linear.

Now, we’re about to change our linear drumming style:

Starting with the upcoming beat, you will also play two limbs at a time.

In terms of coordination, this can be demanding for novice drummers.

For this reason, it’s important to really nail our first grooves.

There’s another reason why this is crucial:

Please take a look at our first beat in your drum notes PDF.

Now, compare it to groove 4.

Notice it?

Yes:

Drum beat 4 basically equals number 1, except for the added strokes on the hi-hat.

5. Another Similar Looking Drum Groove

Drum beats often share similarities.

Groove 5 might remind you of the disco groove, for example.

If you know about the similiar character of rhythms, you can simplify your practice time a lot.

My advice is to look for similarities each time you learn something new.

Ask yourself:

Does this groove, fill or exercise look familiar?

And I’m sure beat 5 does.

Hint:

2 is a lovely number.

6. A Very Easy Drum Beat With Eighth Notes

Drum beat 6 is one almost everybody knows.

You can hear it in Queen’s hit We Will Rock You.

It’s probably the most famous drum beat in the world, so it’s definitely worth learning.

In addition, it’s relatively easy to learn:

You play two eighth notes in the bass drum, followed by a quarter note on the snare.

Basically, that’s it.

But remember to play the quarter note as a quarter note!

Some drummers tend to shorten them unintentionally, which you should avoid.

Make sure to count if you’re having difficulties with a stable timing.

And of course:

Listen and play to We Will Rock You.

Groove 7. And 8. Are Adding The Hi-Hat Again

The two remaining very easy drum beats are variations of the Queen beat.

As you can see, groove number 7 adds only a hi-hat stroke to the snare:

In drum beat number 8, a hi-hat is added on top of each bass drum stroke:

Practice both beats carefully again.

A good timing is crucial to feel the groove.

Plus:

• Count,
• play to songs
• and practice with a metronome like the Korg MA-2.

This will help you not only learn, but also feel each drum set rhythm better.

Bonus Tips: How To Learn Your Very Easy Drum Beats

There are many ways you can learn a new beat or drum fill.

The most important step is to know what you’re going to play.

So, look at each groove and try to understand what’s going on:

For example, figure out what you’re playing

• on the cymbals,
• with your bass drum and
• snare.

Of course, rhythms on the drum set or e-drums include other instruments as well.

If you’re learning with sheet music, read the explanation for the notes.

Also, make sure to play each note value and rest correctly.

This will take some practice time, but trust me:

Understanding what you’re playing on the kit is outstandingly helpful.

And sure:

It remains the first step of learning something new on the drums.

Feeling the rhythm is crucial, of course.

You can simplify the learning process by understanding.

That’s also helpful when playing the drums by ear:

If you understand what you’re hearing in a song, you can play it or write it down.

It also doesn’t matter if you’re listening to one of our very easy drum beats or more complex stuff.

• Understanding,
• correct repetitions
• and feeling the rhythm

will help you become a more skilled drummer over time.

With that said, have a fun time learning our 8 very easy drum beats today.

And don’t forget to make music with them!

Cheers,