[Infero Exicution]

Hey guys and gals,
I've been wanting to learn how to read music better lately.
I have looked at one of my old books, and I do understand some of the basics.
Like 4/4 time, and basic hi-hat, snare, bass drum strings on paper.
I would also like to know how to read rudiments. I don't understand what R on top of L is. I know R is right hand and L is left (duh). And I'd just like to know what different symbols mean. Also different time signatures.
Post different exercises I could do and others could to you know, make us understand these things better.
i can't just go through drumming without learning how to read music.
Please help....

[butter]

By right on top of left, do you mean this:

| |
/ /
R L
L R

That's supposed to be 2 eighth notes, I'm not sure how clear it is

Also, check out Vic Firth's website for a list of the Essential 40 rudiments, as well as recordings of different bpms to check your progress.

What do you mean by "bass drum strings on paper"

	Vic Firth Drumsticks Shop for Vic Firth Drumsticks at Musician's Friend

[Infero Exicution]

For some reason I knew you where gonna be the first to post.
I have the 40 rudiments, and by strings, I meant measures. Like beats in a measure.
I know how to read only the basic-er beats in measures.

[blevinspercussion]

If you're serious about getting better at reading music, I would strongly suggest that you study with a private teacher. I teach drum lessons for a living and I couldn't even begin to show you the basics of music reading in a single forum post. I can, however, offer you some advice on how to find an affordable private teacher as well as some books that you may want to look at. The books that I suggest won't teach you how to read music, but they will help you get better at it if you work through them with a decent private teacher.

If money is an issue, I would suggest calling a nearby university, if there is one. Contact someone in the music department and ask them if they have any percussion majors that are offering private lessons. Usually, they will offer great instruction at dirt cheap prices. I live near the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (where I studied at one time) and I know that they currently have one masters candidate, one undergrad and a Ph.D. professor that teach private lessons to non-university students and they are all excellent teachers.

As far as books, these are some of my favorites to use for reading practice:

Syncopation, by Ted Reed
Advanced Funk Studies, by Rick Latham
A Funky Primer, by Charles Dowd
A Funky Thesaurus, by Charles Dowd (this one deals specifically with rock grooves in odd times)
The New Breed, by Gary Chester

Good luck!