It is time for another installment of Musician’s Corner, where we discuss all things musical. Here, you will discover apps and accessories for musicians and diehard music fans.
Last week, we told you about Yellofier. Yes, I made a song out of the sound of cats meowing and I’m not afraid to admit it.
This week, we found an app for new drummers.
TheDrumDictionary is a reference tool to help you practice your beats. If you want to learn rudiments, or just practice a wide variety of beats, this app offers all the sounds you need to get your rhythm down.
Users have access to 40 standard snare rudiments, plus more than 100 full drumbeats, including rock, jazz, world, and funk.
Under the rudiments section, practice drags, flams, paradiddles, and rolls. Each section includes a wide variety of individual practice loops. For example, there are 11 different types of flams to practice. Each one features an audio track of what that rudiment sounds like, plus a visual section of what the notation looks like so you can also learn how to read drum sheet music. To hear the sound loop, tap the play button. You can either play along on your drum set or listen once and try to copy it. Each rudiment includes a quick description and recommended tempo of play.
Beats are similar, but offer a whole drum beat sound so that you can learn things like 8th-note rock beats, reggae rhythm, and the jazz waltz. All beats can be looped for practice play-along. You can also view beats listed by time signature instead of musical genre.
Speaking of practice, the app also includes the ability to track your practice on specific rudiments or beats, and keep a record of the total amount of practice time you’ve put in. You’ll even be able to see the date of the last time you practiced.
TheDrumDictionary costs $3.99, but if you aren’t sure it is the practice app you are looking for, you can download the
free version to take it for a test drive. The free app includes the rudiments, plus samples of the full drum beats.
Thanks for stopping by Musician’s Corner. If you have any suggestions for apps or accessories you think we should feature, just
drop me a line or leave a comment below.
This week’s Question: How much is too much when it comes to cymbals?
