© S. Wilkins 9 April, 2005

Drum Pattern Dictation
(Aural Activity)

One of the most important skills a musician can have is the ability to work out what an instrument is playing just by listening to it. This skill is even MORE important for the Computer Musician. Eventually, you should be able to work out what each instrument is playing in a whole song. So this activity starts with the basics.

Your task is to recreate each pattern below in a sequencer after listening to a recording of it and working out what is being played.

What to do:-

1. Click on an MP3 file below and listen carefully to what is being played.
2. Use a seperate track for each of the 8 patterns and save this acivity in one file called Drum Pattern Dictation
3. Set the channel number for each track to Channel 10.
4. As you play or record each track, make sure that it you press the SOLO button
5. Try anad play each pattern on a table, your lap or keyboard to get a better understanding of how it goes
6. Use the main Piano Roll Edit Window to enter the notes for each pattern
7. MP3 files (instruments used are included):-
   1. Basic Rock - kick, snare, hi-hat
   2. Rock - kick, snare, hi-hat
   3. Rock with ride - kick, snare, ride cymbal
   4. Rock 2 - kick, snare, hi-hat
   5. Swing - kick, snare, ride cymbal
8. These patterns require a bass guitar. Set channel 1 to a bass guitar and use 2 tracks for each pattern
   1. 4 plus 4 - kick, snare, hi-hat, bass guitar
   2. Up and Down - kick, snare, hi-hat, bass guitar
   3. Rock - kick, snare, hi-hat, bass guitar