What is the equivalent of tablature for the drums?

Question

What is the equivalent of tablature for the drums?

Answer 1

correction- those two solid lines ARE the clef. its called a Percussion Clef.

Answer 2

a waste of time. play by ear.

Answer 3

There are tabs. Most are horribly inaccurate. Learn to play by ear, it helps you much more in the long run.

Answer 4

There are many and varied versions of drum notation.

Most commonly drum notation can either be on a single line - if it's a solo instrument like a snare, tambourine etc or across 3-5 lines. For drum kit a standard 5 stave layout is most often used. There is no clef marking (ususally just two solid black lines between the centre 3 lines). Generically (and it often changes) the snare drum would be written on the 3 space from the bottom (C in treble clef), the kick on the lowest space (F in treble clef) and high hats on the top line. High hats are often written with a cross headed notation and also with a "+" or "o" above the note to define if the hat is open or closed. Toms would be written between the high hat line and the kick drum taking as many lines as required. Cymbal crashes / rides etc are usually written upwards of the high hat line.

If writing a drum part it would be good practice to put a reference chart for how you are using the stave at the top of the part to avoid any confusion.