Score with snare on 3rd beat or on 2nd and 4th beats half speed

1. Is the snare on 3 or 2 and 4?
2. Is the snare on the down beat?

Is the snare on 3 or 2 and 4?

In most genres, the snare is found on beats 2 and 4 (the backbeat), providing a sense of push and forward motion.

Is the snare on the down beat?

Usually you have a snare drum beat that is directly below the X on counts 2 and 4. This is called a "BACKBEAT" as you learned in lesson one. By adding bass drum on downbeats in the first example on this page we now have a complete backbeat using three limbs!