The invention provides a realistic drum experience in a video game. It operates in the context of a video game platform in communication with a display and a drum controller having at least one cymbal and at least one drum pad. It involves determining if a cue to be displayed on the display in a particular sub-lane should be a cue indicating a cymbal input or a cue indicating a pad input. Then, the cue is displayed in the particular sub-lane, indicating the cymbal input or pad input (dependent on the previous determination). Then, input is received from the player via the drum controller; and the input is given a first score if the input was a cymbal input associated with the particular sub-lane and the input is given a second score if the input was an input other than a cymbal input associated with the particular sub-lane.