Terms and Definitions

The flam is a distinct sound created by two successive drum strikes made by the two sticks. It is essentially a way to embellish any given note and play it in a "fancier" fashion.

The flam consists of a main note, made by the second stick that hits the drum, and a preceding grace note that's played right before it. The main and grace notes must be played a small fraction of a second apart, or they will sound like two separate notes. They must also not be played too close together or both sticks will essentially strike the drum at the same time resulting in an ugly, choked sound.  read more »

The hi-hat is one of the central pieces of the modern drum kit. Much of its use is in keeping time and carrying the rhythm. The hi-hat is essential a pair of cymbals, mounted on a vertical rod, that can be made to come together or apart using a foot pedal. The two cymbals are mounted so that they come together at a slight angle, so that when they first touch, they only do so at a single point. This is to allow air to easily escape as the hi-hat closes.  read more »

The snare drum rudiments are a standard set of exercises used to build drum technique and stick control. Drum rudiments were not specifically invented for the drum set, but are important to playing the individual drums from which the set is made and learning how to control the sticks. Also, some rudiments can be practiced and applied on more than one drum.  read more »