Jazz drum beats

Jazz ride pattern
The key signature in jazz drumming is played on the ride cymbal. It can also be played on the hi-hat or with brushes on the snare for smoother sound. The hi-hat is often used with the foot on 2 and 4, which are accented. The bass drum is sometimes played very softly on each time as a driving beat. In Jazz, the drummer's task is to accompany the others musicians (and particularly the soloist), therefore the drums must be played with a moderate volume. Comping is often used as an abbreviation of accompanying.

4 Rc|X--X-XX--X-X| - Hf|---X-X--| 4 Bd|o--o--o--o--| 1..2..3..4..

Jazz beat examples
These basic jazz beats are great to practice limb independence ! 4 Rc|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X| - Sd|o--o-oo--o-o|-oo-o--oo-o-|-o--o-oo-oo-|o-o--o--oo-o| 4 Bd||||| Hf|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--| 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4..  Rc|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X| Sd||||| Bd|o--o-oo--o-o|-oo-o--oo-o-|-o--o-oo-oo-|o-o--o--oo-o| Hf|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--| 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4..  Rc|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X|X--X-XX--X-X| Sd|o---o---o---|--o-o--o|--o---ooo---|--oo--o-| Bd|--o---o---o-|-o--o-o-|o---o-o-|o--o| Hf|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--|---X-X--| 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4.. 1..2..3..4..