Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 7
Timbral contrast in an R'n'B groove
I can create timbral variation in an R’n’B drum groove.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 7
Timbral contrast in an R'n'B groove
I can create timbral variation in an R’n’B drum groove.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The contrasting timbres in a drum kit provide the interest in the drum grooves you listen to.
- Toms typically have a less harsh timbre than the snare and cymbals, and a wide range of pitches.
- Toms are often used in drum fills.
- The snare usually plays the backbeat as it has a strong attack which helps to emphasise the pattern.
- Clicks and claps have a similar attack and can be used instead of the snare to play the backbeat.
Keywords
Timbre - the timbre of a note or instrument is the sound quality e.g. metallic
Tom-tom - a tom-tom, usually shortened to tom, is a cylindrical drum that makes a rounded sound
Attack - the attack of a sound describes how quickly we hear the beginning of the sound
Common misconception
Toms are only used in fills. Use of the snare/claps/clicks will automatically be a backbeat.
Toms can be used in the main groove just less commonly than the kick/snare. For a backbeat the snare/claps have to play on beats 2 and 4.
To help you plan your year 7 music lesson on: Timbral contrast in an R'n'B groove, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 music lesson on: Timbral contrast in an R'n'B groove, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the Fills and variation in RnB drum grooves unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
A DAW or other suitable compositional tool or instrument
Licence
Sign in to continue
Our content remains 100% free, but to access certain copyrighted materials, you'll need to sign in. This ensures we’re both staying within the rules.
P.S. Signing in also gives you more ways to make the most of Oak like unit downloads!
