Lesson 1 – Part 4

The Rimshot

In this session you will learn how to make a velar plosive to make a rimshot sound.

What is a Rimshot?

Rimshots are made on a real drum kit using a drum stick and the rim of a snare drum. They have a more wooden click of a sound than a traditional snare drum.

This is the drum symbol used for a rimshot.

The Velar Plosive

The classic rimshot sound sounds like the letter ‘k’ in English.

This is the iconophonic for a velar plosive:

And this is what it sounds like:

The Velar Plosive is made by using your soft palate (that’s the soft part of the roof of your mouth) and the back of your tongue.

The air is stopped between the the tongue and soft palate and then the air is released to create the sound.

Watch this video to learn how the sound is created:

Note how the sound is made without breathing out.

Rimshots in Beat Patterns

In a beat patterns, rimshots can be played by clicking on the square rimshot icon. This rimshot uses a velar plosive.

Click on the rimshot icon below to play the sound four times.

When you are ready, click on the QUIZ button below to take the rimshot quiz.