Identify the type of musical staff used. Percussion instruments may be notated on a standard five-line staff, a single-line staff, or a custom staff. Identify the time signature.
Find the space or line on the staff reserved for snare notes. On a five-line staff, this is the third space or line up from the bottom of the staff. On custom or single line staves, this will be indicated by listing the names of the instruments to the left of the staff. The instrument listed at the top will use the space or line nearest the top of the staff, the instrument listed next will use the next highest space or line, and so on to the instrument listed last.
Locate any instances of cross-sticking. Cross-sticking is notated with a hollow note head with an "x" in the center. Locate any rolls. These are notated with three diagonal slashes across the note stem.
Play the notes indicated for the snare drum. Notes that are vertically parallel with the notes for the snare drum will be played at the same time as the snare drum, but on different instruments.