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Learning to Play Drums, Help!!

sween	Date: October 16, 2004 @ 12:56 PM Hi, Im currently learning to play the drums, any tips or lessons to get my speed and rhythm up to scratch? Im an absolute beginner. Cheers
gothian	Date: October 16, 2004 @ 2:04 PM Hey buddy..... playing drumms is very easy if you have a little of cordination, you don't need to learn much... just practice a lot. Before people start yelling at me for that statement, I play drumms and even gave some lessons. Anyway.... my recommendations (for metal music): 1) Get a double kick pedal and work a lot with it. 2) Learn some basic rhythms and combinations and master them.... a great drummer is not only the one that can play fast, is the one that can have a total independence between each feet or arms... that is, that can play something very diferent (even with different rhythm or tempo) at the same time.... independence is very important, because once you can do that, you can play pretty much anything. 3) It is better to play something slow but fine that fast and dirty. 4) Don't just practice one music style, jazz, blues or even pop has a lot to learn from. 5) Get one or both Mike Portnoy's videos.... they rock !! Anyway... my 2 cents
Adam4321	Date: October 17, 2004 @ 3:03 PM Hey Gothian, your retarded, lol I know pros that have been playing for years and still arent the best, it gets more difficult as oyu progress.
sween	Date: October 18, 2004 @ 6:59 PM Cool, cheers guys, I'll checkout those vids, so far Ive got two drum sticks... yep, that's it Know what you mean about independance, sometimes my left arm wants to go with the right and vice versa Think it's like any instrument, it does get harder before it gets easier
gothian	Date: October 19, 2004 @ 12:41 PM Adam4321, I would like to meet some of your friends... I'm sure that would explain your comment
doomroot	Date: November 13, 2004 @ 1:21 AM In my opinion you shouldn't start with a double bass pedal - learn to master the single bass first and the basic drum setup. Start off trying to play a basic 4/4 beat and try putting in roles and work from there. Try not to focus on speed this early on it takes AWHILE to get "fast" - it may take months just to perfect a quick 32nd note role. As far as independence - get confortable playing simple grove and then fine tune your independence from there. If you want to get improve quicker - you should buy a practice pad or play on your lap or pillows in your spare time. Good Luck and always be patient with yourself.
MCCUBED	Date: November 13, 2004 @ 2:01 AM TRY THIS DRILL...GO AROUND AND HIT EACH DRUM TWICE IN A CIRCLE THEN GO BACKWARDS UNTIL YOU MAKE NO MISTAKES. THEN GO TO THREE HITS PER DRUM AND SO ON. IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR MECHANICS.
Mteck	Date: November 14, 2004 @ 11:32 PM Hi: I have been playing drums for 30 years. I have been playing in clubs for 25 years. I do not claim to be an expert. If you wish to hear some of my drumming,I have a cover tune posted on this web site. It was recorded live at a club using a 16 track digital recorder. I played the drums on this track. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, you just need to go to some clubs, if you are old enough to get in, and watch the drummer in the band play and watch every move. You can also buy a video at a music store. Or even get lessons at a music store. People there always can help to connect you with someone. Practice every day for at least an hour and be consistent. Listen to songs. Try to play along if you have a set of headphones. There are web sites on the net where you can get rudiments and techniques and print them out on paper. Rudiments are the backbone of drumming. Every drum track can be broken down to basic rudiments. The most important thing is you have to have a sense of timing. If you can't keep time you can not play drums. Because you are the time keeper. It doesn't matter if you can do tripplets and paradiddles at blinding speed, if your timing sucks and you can not play along with a band as a unit and you will not make it. You also need to be able to pick out the drum licks ( bass, snare, toms cymbals hihat)and be able to hear them in your head. I have talked to several musicians who were trained to read music and played in a high school band and could play great but couldn't hear the music in their heads and play it without sheet music. It really helps to have an ear for music. And finally, be patient. drums is one of the hardest instruments to play. You have to be really coordinated. Dont worry about screwing up. If you are dedicated and have the motivation and a little talent doesn't hurt, you will bee able to play in no time. My first set of drums was a coffee table that I played on with my hands because my pareents couldn't afford to buy me a set of drums. After I played it until the legs broke off from under it, they bought me a set. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you that you suck or that you will never make a drummer. I was told that many times growing up. Sorry for the long post. I just love playing music. It has soothed my soul, supported me when I didn't have a real job, and found me girl friends. Good Luck to ya.
Izekial	Date: November 17, 2004 @ 12:05 AM I think it all depends on how many hours you're willing to put in. You could try playing for eight hours a day, everyday. Then you'd get better. If you love it enough, the tricks come easily. Experts are just people that are comfortable with playing. Their actual skill level varies. I was an expert at 17. Play hard, play fast, but strive for precision, control, even if it means playing simple things. Play what you love, too, not what everyone else is playing.
DaveHall	Date: November 25, 2004 @ 11:33 PM If you have some extra cash and the time, take lessons. Learn to read basic beats and fills or rolls. And most of all, use a metronome to practice with. Become good friends with it. You can feel the timing and learn to play around it, over it, on it... A good practice pad with good bounce is a plus for decent chops. When your wrists begin to burn, back off a hair, slow it down a little until you feel it loosen up and you have a new sense of control. Then after you have some decent chops, and a good sense of timing, have your hands follow your feet on the kit. 2up 2down 4 up 4 down etc. For some drum to drum work try a single stroke roll... rl snare rl tom1 rl tom2 rlr floor tom lr tom2 lr tom1 lrl snare etc. enjoy!
jack	Date: December 13, 2004 @ 10:26 AM I started drumming by just air drumming along to bands I liked. It helped my technique a lot and I found it easy to pick up when I did actually buy a drum kit. The problem with this method is for a while you remain oblivious to the technical side of things (Or at least I did), so when someone asked me to play a paradiddle I simply replied with, "?" for a while. So it's a good idea I think to learn things like the double-roll and paradiddle when you feel comfortable because it helps your technique and coordination a lot. As for a double bass pedal, it depends a lot on how fast you want to learn and how much dedication you're willing to put in to the art. I'm not a double-bass player (yet) but my friend started out with one and now he's really fast on one because that's all he's practiced with. A good technique I found is to tighten your pedal springs up to practice with, and then loosen them for a gig or whatever- it's good to improve speed. Of course patience is a virtue.
StAnger	Date: February 13, 2005 @ 9:03 AM hello there, i have been playing drums for about 2 years now and i feel as if i have reached a barrier, i seem to be improving alot slower than i used too. Also does anyone have any tips on how to 'wow' people who are watching/hearing you play?
StAnger	Date: February 20, 2005 @ 9:05 AM not gonna reply huh
davidpartay	Date: March 1, 2005 @ 4:01 AM Everyone reaches barriers. It means you need to push harder and harder until you break through. Then it's only a matter of time before you reach another barrier. I'm going to plug my website - http://www.davidpardy.live.com.au where I have various tips on musicality and technique. I also have a solo available at http://davidpardy.dmusic.com Two of the most important steps in becoming a good drummer are: 1. Get a GOOD teacher. 2. Work on getting your technique PERFECT. By perfect technique, it means you are completely relaxed and completely in control of your sticks and feet at all times. Ensure you find resources to teach you how to hold sticks properly and how to best play your bassdrum pedals. I recommend you visit www.domfamularo.com and have a look at the educational videos (they're actually located on the Vic Firth site). Once again, play along to songs as much as you can and make sure that you get your sense of time as spot on as possible.
sullehigh	Date: March 22, 2005 @ 2:33 PM Click here to take survey" id="129340">I'm a student from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and I am working on a project to develop a digital drum machine that would connect to a personal computer. The purpose of the product would be to teach children/teenagers how to play the drums. It would work with existing drum teachers to allow the kids to practice with guidance when they are not with a teacher. In order to do this project I need to collect information, so if you could take 2 minutes of your time to fill out this survey it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Click here to take survey
imemine	Date: March 22, 2005 @ 3:26 PM Near as I can tell is you pick up a couple of those stick things and start banging on something!
slayerrox	Date: May 4, 2005 @ 5:00 PM what i can't get is the timing for my double bass pedal, i've been playing for a little over four months but i'm pretty good with a single pedal, and my hands are fine, it's just my double pedal. what should i do?!?! tell me, i wont take it to heart, i'm clueless to it right now
DeadraveN	Date: May 6, 2005 @ 6:37 AM i used to drum in a metal band, and when I first went from a single to a double pedal it was tricky at first. I'm no teacher or expert or anything, but I did alot of practicing with just the bass, and then added in the rest of the kit when I was comfortable. That worked for me. and keep practicing! I've been living in apartments with sound restrictions and whatnnot so I hardly get to play anymore, and when I do sit down at a kit I can feel the rust...
Intergalacti...	Date: May 8, 2005 @ 2:41 PM Drummers are annoyin they always say on stage 'right who starts this one'. I mean I'm a drummer myself to an extent but bloody hell its annoyin and when the band is writing a song for the chorus they'll always say, 'why dont you go duh duh duh, d-d-d-duuuhhh' or some crap like that in a very untuneful way. its very annoying. The rest of my band must get really pissed off with me. (lucky I'm the only one in the band)
slayerrox	Date: May 9, 2005 @ 12:07 AM nah man!!!!, not all drumers are like that, i very my chorus's between fast and slow and fast music and slow lyrics and vice versa. and no, your not lucky your the only one in the band
CubedDrummer	Date: August 25, 2005 @ 9:32 PM i say that going slow to learn the beats is the best way use a metranome to keep time and as the beats get easier the speed will come
GeneHilbert	Date: August 25, 2005 @ 9:56 PM Bottom Line....... find a good teacher, going at it on your own is slow and a shot in the dark..... Learn your rudiments - and practice. There are no short cuts - there are no secrets.
hantu	Date: August 27, 2005 @ 1:56 AM hmmm i always wanted to play the drums... so yeh i haven't anything useful to say, but you already got tones of advise. Good luck
mattbanx	Date: August 27, 2005 @ 2:03 AM I really can't say for sure. But I plug in and play everything. I guess a lot of it is advice through critiques and repitition.
Glapagos	Date: August 27, 2005 @ 11:27 PM start with kick on 1,3. snare on 2,4. hihat playing 1&2&3&4&. count out loud if you need to.
drummer362	Date: September 13, 2005 @ 9:10 PM drum alot, in all of your free time, just have fun with it, and youll get better
Metalheaddru...	Date: September 18, 2005 @ 11:44 AM Ive drummed for about a year now and ive had to replace my heads twice ): and i take lessons still and i listen heavy metal and i dont have a double bass yet but i have trouble tuning my snare only drum i have trouble with anyonw listen to slayer here? well davelombardo their original drummer has a very good snare drum sound very hollow with a nice ring goes great with the music i have been trying to attain a good snare sound for a while but i cant anyone have any tips, and best thing to do is get lessons they work for me !
duckseatfree	Date: November 17, 2005 @ 4:36 PM for those of you that are beginning to drum...i found this website very helpful...it tells you good drills and explains some strategies for playing faster. http://www.tigerbill.com/subjects/drumlessons.htm
duckseatfree	Date: November 22, 2005 @ 1:18 AM anyone know the sound difference for tuning the drums if you tone the heads differently? ...eg. what kind of sound will you get if you tune the top head higher than the lower (vice versa, or tune them the same)?
CubedDrummer	Date: November 27, 2005 @ 10:35 AM LEARN TO READ MUSIC thats how i learn im definatly not the best but learning how to read the music helps bcuz u can read the notes and brake it up into sections master each section then put it together
hueseph	Date: December 3, 2005 @ 4:24 PM It's all about rudaments. There is no decent drummer that hasn't payed his debt by practicing rudaments.
hueseph	Date: December 3, 2005 @ 4:25 PM Uh rudiments. Sorry. Typos!