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Jazz drum pattern

Swung eighths (triplet feel); the ride and walking bass drive it. Here are its drums on a step grid, at the tempo it starts at, to hear and to change.

140 BPM · Jazz brushes · 1 bar · 66% swing

The pattern, step by step

Each step is a triplet, three to a beat: step 1 is beat 1, 4 is beat 2, 7 is beat 3 and 10 is beat 4. A lit square is a hit; a fainter one is played softer.

  • Hit
  • Softer hit
The jazz drum pattern: the steps each drum plays
DrumSteps
Ride1, 4, 6 (soft), 7, 10, 12 (soft)
Snare9 (soft)
Kick1 (soft), 4 (soft), 7 (soft), 10 (soft)
Open these drums in the editor

They open as one drum lane on a step grid, at 140 BPM. No account needed to start.

How jazz drums go

The ride "spang-a-lang", hi-hat foot on 2 and 4, a feathered kick, comping snare.

The bass, chords and sounds are on the Jazz page.

Questions about jazz drums

What BPM is jazz?

Usually 100 to 220 BPM. This pattern plays at 140 BPM.

How do you make a jazz drum pattern?

Start with the kick on steps 1, 4, 7 and 10, the snare on step 9 and the ride on steps 1, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12. Each step is a triplet, three to a beat: step 1 is beat 1, 4 is beat 2, 7 is beat 3 and 10 is beat 4. Open it in the free editor to change any step.

Do jazz drums swing?

Its hits are written on triplets, three steps to a beat, which gives the groove its lilt without any swing setting.

More jazz and blues drum patterns

Make a jazz beat

The free editor opens with a whole jazz beat: drums, bass and chords, each part yours to change, add to or take away.