Drums are the instrument that combines kick, snare, hi-hat, cymbals, and more to build the beat and the rhythmic backbone of a song. They can come from a live performance, a drum machine, or samples.
The basic idea
The kick usually carries the low-end center of gravity, the snare marks the divisions of the beat, and the hi-hat handles the finer subdivisions. Knowing the role of each part makes it easier to build programmed patterns.
Using them in performance and programming
In 4/4, build the basic kick and snare pattern first, then add hi-hats on top. Add a short fill-in at the end of a section to shape the transition.
Difference from related terms
Drums are the instrument that creates the rhythm, while percussion is a broader term for struck instruments in general.
At first, focus on keeping the placement of the kick and snare steady rather than on adding more hits.
