Are You Learning Drums Now? First Identify Your Learning Style If you are ready to start learning drums, first determine your preferred learning style. Are You Visual Learner Looking for Pictures or Outlines to Aid In Learning? Consider instructional books.
Start practicing using a metronome; making sure your drums and cymbals hit in sync is essential to great drumming!
1. Decide What You Want To Learn
Though self-teaching drumming is possible (and many have), finding the ideal teacher will ensure faster progress. These professionals know your strengths and weaknesses well and will tailor lessons specifically to you, helping maximize practice time by tailoring lessons around you and your unique needs. Doing this also makes maintaining an organized practice routine simpler!
One of the main pitfalls for novice drummers is developing bad habits that impede their progression and complicate the learning process. One such habit is neglecting basic coordination and technique. Furthermore, practicing patterns incorrectly can make playing consistently more challenging as well as lead to injury – for instance grabbing sticks too hard with a “death grip” can result in wrist problems like tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Another bad habit is failing to practice all available drumming patterns. Working up to faster tempos helps become more versatile while strengthening muscles, but it is important that this be done gradually for optimal results and not overexerting yourself physically.
New drummers often underestimate the significance of practicing with a metronome. A metronome provides an effective way of making sure you’re playing in time with the rest of the band and learning drum fills, and practicing without one may lead to inconsistencies that make your beat out of sync with what song you’re playing.
Timing is key for being effective as a drummer in a band setting. A drummer’s job involves setting the pace, so accurate timing is absolutely essential in maintaining steady rhythmic patterns. Utilizing a metronome will help develop your internal clock which will become invaluable once playing live band performances!
Drummers may become confused when it comes to how best to hold their sticks. There are various kinds of drum grips available, but it is essential that one grip is chosen and learned consistently – using 15 styles at once may cause mental confusion and result in less-than-stellar performances.
2. Pick Your Equipment
Aspiring drummers will require various equipment. The most essential piece is undoubtedly a drum set; there are numerous kits on the market; some cost as little as a few hundred dollars while others could cost thousands of dollars or more.
No matter the size or price of your kit, quality should always come first. Check that drums have smooth finishes free from cracks or chips and check for cracks along their faces and edges; any signs of these could eventually crack across their entire surfaces and require replacement.
Once your equipment is assembled, it’s time to learn the fundamentals of drumming. Your first few lessons should focus on developing a basic drum beat which you can play along to your favorite songs; this beat will serve as the foundation for later adapting different playing styles and genres.
As you start learning the basic beat, focus on mastering both hi-hat and snare drums – the former providing rhythm and structure, while the latter providing its signature sound. For added dynamics and interest it would also be wise to learn some basic drum fills which can be utilized across different genres of music.
Many novice drummers make the mistake of moving too quickly on to more complex patterns before they are fully prepared, which can result in both frustration and wasted time. Therefore, it is always recommended to take things slowly, practicing basic patterns until they feel natural to you.
Key to learning the drums properly is developing an optimal drum grip. Without one, your stick could strike the drums with unequal pressure, leading to many issues with technique and timing. A good teacher can assist in helping you develop one which allows you to continue playing great technique for years.
As part of your drumming education, it can be extremely helpful to acquire instructional books and videos on drumming. These will assist in learning the fundamentals, with books featuring teachers who share your playing style making for an enjoyable learning experience that you can adapt directly into your own playing. Choosing one with teachers you connect with ensures you enjoy using this method book as much as possible and can apply its techniques directly.
3. Get a Teacher
A drum teacher can provide invaluable guidance as you develop your drumming abilities and increase your playing proficiency. They will teach you to read music and play along with songs while sharing techniques you would never learn on your own. However, before searching for teachers it is essential that you establish what exactly it is you wish to learn and how you want to practice.
Some teachers are experienced performers and know how to guide their students through the process of getting ready for live performances, while other may possess extensive musical education or hold degrees in music from universities. You should inquire as to their source of knowledge and how their teaching style varies; some students prefer teachers who offer encouragement while others appreciate constructive criticism from their instructor.
One of the key tasks a teacher can fulfill for their student is setting priorities and keeping them on track. By creating a clear plan of attack for your time spent playing drums, a clear strategy will ensure you focus on what matters first while avoiding time wasted learning drum fills for songs you aren’t yet capable of playing.
A drum teacher can also help you become a more versatile drummer. By teaching visually (reading sheet music or watching videos), aurally (listening), and kinesthetically (trying things out on the drums), they will help you develop skills to adapt easily in any setting you encounter as a musician.
A good teacher will know when it is time for you to move onto the next stage in your drumming journey. While it can be tempting to want to jump ahead quickly and learn new beats and songs, without first building a solid foundation you will most likely regress later on if this approach is taken. Be patient and stick with your plan – the rewards will make the effort worth your while!
4. Practice
As soon as you start practicing, the goal should be to master all of the fundamentals. There are various areas you should concentrate on such as learning to read drum music, playing with a metronome, improving grip strength and working on rudiments – but also to ensure your time and energy is well spent during practice.
Knowing your goals, tracking your progress, and creating an ongoing record of all that you’ve learned are essential components to effective practice and will allow you to tailor it specifically towards what needs doing versus repeating techniques over and over.
Beginners often make the mistake of trying to do too much too quickly, leading them to experience frustration or even discouragement when their efforts hit an obstacle. A better approach would be to break your goals down into manageable chunks, and focus on mastering each one before moving onto another step.
As beginner drummers try to read drum music for the first time, many attempt to read all at once – which can be very challenging. Instead, it is recommended to take a sheet of drum music and look at each measure like a grid so as to understand rhythms and beats more easily.
Listening to constructive criticism is also key for effective practice, whether from your teacher or fellow musicians. Such feedback can help identify any weaknesses and help guide improvements towards specific areas.
Make sure to always maintain an open mind and listen to music that speaks to you – this will allow for faster, more effective learning! Good luck in your drumming endeavors! Let us know if any questions or comments arise. You can reach us through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or via our contact page; we look forward to hearing from you. Also don’t miss our free video series designed especially for new drummers: New Drummers Start Here (Click the link!). Check it out now.