PURPOSE:To ensure the simple programming without having any redundant programming, by connecting the function of a drum type sequencer directly to the substance of the control contents of the sequencer by means of a programmable controller and therefore excluding an intermediate logic process. CONSTITUTION:In order to attain the function of a drum type sequencer, a start signal S, a signal U/D which designates the up/down counting of a counter, an advance signal CK and a reset signal R are used respectively in a drum counter instruction. The signals S, U/D, CK and then R are set successively as a load instruction LD, and then a drum counter instruction DRUM is set. Then a certain bit of a state memory 61 corresponding to an output number is set at ''1'' and ''0'' if the counter value is within and outside the range of upper/ lower limit value respectively corresponding to each drum output number of a set table when the instruction DRUM is executed.