Ability to edit symbol and positioning notes | Voters

Ability to edit symbol and positioning notes

PUHH

I miss the option to change the Head of the Note or the position to my needs.
For example - I want my crash cymbal on an extra line with an triangular shaped head or my ride cymbal with an diamond shape. 
Is this or already possible or could you please integrate it?

September 20, 2024

The Practicing Drummer

I would also love to be able to change note heads. I use ‘x’ for hi-hat, ‘x with a circle’ for crash, and a ‘diamond’ shape for ride. I totally agree with standardizing drum set notation… and we need to stop using an ‘x’ for every cymbal lol. Beginner students have a really hard time differentiating between the three when using ledger lines. Even sight reading a chart for more experienced players is a pain. We have the capability to make the head whatever we want these days so why not change it? With that being said, I understand your reasoning and won’t hold it against you if don’t incorporate this into your app 😊. Great app by the way! Been using it to replace MuseScore for my drum videos. Looking forward to being able to export video.

Derek Lee

The Practicing Drummer Thanks so much for your thoughtful message and for supporting Drum Notation by Beat Note! I really appreciate you sharing both your perspective and how you’re using the app, especially as a replacement for MuseScore for your drum videos. That’s awesome to hear!
I completely agree that standardizing drum set notation is important. To give you a sense of where I’m coming from: imagine a piano player showing up to a gig and the band leader hands them a chart that says, “I know you’re used to the ‘C’ note being here, but we moved it over, changed the notehead, and swapped out the sharp/flat symbols—cool?” 😅
That’s the kind of inconsistency I’m hoping to avoid with Beat Note. I’ve referenced a wide range of method books, magazines, and published materials to replicate a widely accepted standard, and I’m working toward a broader collaboration with educators and organizations to see if I can help move drum set notation toward greater consistency across the board.
That said, I completely understand your point about cymbals. Using ‘x’ for everything can definitely make things harder to read, especially for beginners. Your suggestion of differentiating cymbals with distinct noteheads like ‘x with a circle’ for crash and ‘diamond’ for ride is a really thoughtful approach. I can see how that could help with sight reading and clarity.
Technically speaking, yes, it’s possible to build in that kind of customization, but with that comes the added cost of significant complexity. One of the core principles behind Beat Note is simplicity and ease of use. Adding this level of configuration, especially without a clear standard across users, could compromise that clarity and increase the learning curve for everyone. So while I don’t plan to add this feature in the near term, I really value your input and will continue collecting feedback like this to revisit the decision if enough momentum builds. 👍🏻
> “Great app by the way! Been using it to replace MuseScore for my drum videos. Looking forward to being able to export video.”
That’s amazing! I’d love to check out and support your content! Feel free to tag @beatnoteapp on Instagram or YouTube, or send me a message with your links. The video export feature has been one of the most requested by creators, and I’m really excited to bring it to you soon. Your feedback once it’s live will be invaluable. 🙏🏻
Thanks again for being part of this journey and keep the ideas coming!

Derek Lee

Hello PUHH and thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback!
I understand that different drummers may have personal preferences for how drum notation is displayed. While it’s true that there are many ways to write the same thing, one of my goals with Beat Note is to promote consistency in drumset and percussion music notation. This consistency helps make music easier to read and communicate across players, much like how standardized notation is used for melodic instruments like piano.
I’ve also noticed variations in drumset notation across different countries, which can be really interesting! I’d love to learn more about your specific needs and preferences. Could you help me understand why you prefer certain symbols or positioning for instruments like the crash or ride?
Please share explicit examples of how you would like the notation to look for all the instruments you want to customize. This will help me better understand your use case and how it might differ from the standard notation that Beat Note currently supports.
Looking forward to hearing more from you and exploring how we can continue improving Beat Note together!