Notes on Notation

The Symbols

D stands for “Dum” – The low note played near the center of the drum with the dominant hand.

T stands for “Tek” – The high note played at the edge of the drum with the dominant hand.

K stands for “Ka” – The high note played at the edge of the drum with the non-dominant hand.

Lowercase t and k are unaccented (unemphasized) notes.
Capital T K and D are accented (emphasized) notes.
. (a dot) represents a silent placeholder in time.

In the NWR book, bold usually indicates a stroke played on the pulse (see p 111). In some notation, bold may indicate an accented or emphasized note.

Numbers count out the numbers of pulses (or "beats") into which a rhythmic phrase will be placed. Dots will mark the regular increments between pulses.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . shows a 4-pulse rhythmic structure with regular increments between the pulses. 

Ds, Ts, Ks and dots are placed beneath these in the “spots” they occupy:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K . 

Here's another example:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D K T K D K T K 

And here's Joshua explaining it himself: