All About Drums and Drumming
On Becomming a Drummer
The how and where of instruction
We have all heard that practice makes perfect. I submit that PERFECT practice makes PERFECT! If you are not practicing with the proper technique you will eventually become very good at being average. Since you want to excel at drumming, you need to approach it with certain level of technical caution. To grow into a great drummer you must practice as a great drummer. Here's how you do this:
1) Commit, Commit, Commit
If you are not committed to putting in the time required, you will end up playing drums at your family reunions....and that's it.
2) Find a qualified instructor
You cannot do this alone! You need someone to structure your practice method, critique your progress, give you realistic feedback, and most of all, provide accountability for your effort. This person needs to be qualified! A band instructor is a great start if you are a young beginner (economical as well). However, you will want to supplement that instruction at some point, particularly if you intend to develop into a professional drummer. You will know when it is time. In some cases, your school instructor will tell you when that time comes, particularly if you let him or her know of your intentions and they have your best interests at heart.
If you are not in an educational environment where you can take advantage of an instructor, and you can't afford to pay for a music instructor, there is still hope! There are several great instructional programs available on both video and print media. They will provide some technique
and structure, but you will have to provide the motivation and discipline. Some of those instructional materials are available below.
3) The Right Instrument
A kid learing to drive a car doesn't practice on a motorcycle. Sure, you can learn how to read traffic signals, traffic laws (though not all of them apply the same), and so on. You want to learn on the type of equipment you wish to master. That is not to say that you need a $20,000 drum kit to start with. You will benefit, however, from some reasonable sembelance of what your ultimate instrument will be. So if you are going to learn to play a snare drum...get something that plays like a snare drum. Likewise, if you are going to learn to play a drum kit....get the equivalent. There is a wide spectrum of percussion instruments available, at widely varying prices. Get advice on the set-up you are interested in and find something that fits into your budget. You can even use a practice pad, which mimics the tension (bounce) and feel of a snare drum, for example. Then use your instructors (schools) drums to supplement your practice. Whatever your budget will allow is a great place to start. Don't, however, buy a broken down, ran out drum kit and play somethihng so "sloppy" that the "feel" is way out of wack. Your progress will suffer.
4) Practice, Practice, Patience, Practice
Learning an instrument takes time. Small improvements initially are the foundation that greatness is built upon. Realize that learning to play the drums is a lifelong process. Great drummers realize this and make practice a routine within their lives. Don't get discouraged at the slow progress at first. This is normal. Rely on the knowledge that you ARE a drummer. Drumming will come in time. Everyone starts out on that same footing, so quit whining and be assured by the certainty of the end goal.
This may seem a bit harsh but, no one ever failed to learn to play, who has not yet given up. Be patient!
5) Enjoy
This one should have probably been number 1. You play drums (or any instrument for that matter) because you like it. If you don't love it....why do it. There are easier things out there. Try fishing, watch a movie, take a road trip. The point is DO WHAT YOU LOVE and LOVE WHAT YOU DO! There will be times when you may get discouraged, but if it overrides you love of music, then you probably need to re-think the subject.
We wish you well on your journey. If you need resources for drums check out the rest of this lens. In addition, you can find drums and kits for reasonable prices at DrumFinders.com.
Drum Instructional Materials
Play Drums Today
The Next Step
Drum Lesson: Coordination and Groove Learn how to play intermediate to advanced drums instructional drum lessons video
Check Out These Tracks!
FIND GREAT DRUMS
New and Vintage Drums - All Brands
DrumFinders.com
Who Is Your Favorite Drummer?
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Everyone has a favorite artist. Share yours with us.
Let's Vote on Drum Brands and Models
Submit your own favorite drum brand and model for voting!
Please participate by submitting your choice of Drum manufacturer, as well as favorite model name or number. Let's see where these babies stack up! If you see one you like, you can vote on that one, too.
Many of these drum kits can be found new or used at DrumFinders.com.
Roland HD1 Electronic Drum Kit
This is a great, compact kit designed for the non- more...0 points
Reader Feedback
Diddyblogger wrote
I totally agree with your opinion about finding an instructor to boast your drumming skill. Totally! When I first started drumming, I didn't have anyone to be my tutor, But until I found a friend who willing to teach me some of his technique, my drumming skill improved significantly faster. For beginner out there, I suggests you to find a tutor, doesn't need to be a professional teacher, he or she can be just your friend who can play drum well. Good luck! By the way, If you get the chance, please check out my /electricdrumsetblog.com/">Electric Drum Set blog.
Flailin' Waylon wrote
Also remember it's hip to fit in with the other band members, but ~Drinkin' and Drums Don't Mix~
You are the meter, and much of the performance factor in any band...
Learn all the jokes, be the life of the party. But when the lights are on, you should be also...
Take care of yourself, and good things will come your way...
Buddy Rich Fan wrote
Have spent many many hours listening to all of the guys playing drums today and sorry to say none of them have anything worth listening to and their playing is sloppy and boring. I will say this once and once only BUDDY RICH is the only DRUMMER who made complete PERCUSSION SENSE. He had the fire the excitement and above all BUDDY RICH still today had no equals. There have been drummers out there who try to play like Buddy Rich but they fall flat on their face. So to summarize up my feelings I would say that BUDDY RICH and his drumming is the only and I will repeat the only Drumming worth listening to . Buddy Rich whether he played in the band eras of the l940s or up to his death in the eighties was the SINGLE GREATEST DRUMMER to make heads turn around. Buddy Rich and the Big Band was always a treat to listen to. Some people could never ever understand how much and how great Buddy Rich was because he played so fast and so accurate that it was hard to comprehend. Buddy Rich
Ryan M wrote
the Kit: Mapex Pro-M Ruby Red Pearl.....
Bass 24x18
Rack Tom 13x10
Floors 16x16 18x16
Pro M Snare 14x5.5
Black Panther Snare 13x6
Cybals: Paiste, Zildjian
Paiste 18'' Rude Rock Crash
Paiste 19;; Rude Wild Crash
Paiste 20'' Alpha Rock Crash
Paiste 16'' Rude Nova Rock China
Paiste 22'' Alpha Metal Ride
Zildjian 14'' Z custom Mastersound Hi Hats
Zildjian 16'' A custom Projection Crash
Zildjian 18'' Avedis Rock Crash
Zildjian Z custom Projection Crash
Pedals: Tama Iron Cobra Double Bass
Heads: Remo Aquarian
Ebony Pinstripes Batter Heads on Toms and Bass
Ebony Ambassadors Reso on Toms
Aquarian Hi Energy batter on snares
Remo Clear Ambassador Reso on snares
Sticks: Vater Vic Firth Pro-Mark
5A and 5B's from Vater and Vic Firth
Hot Rods Thunder Rods Web Brush from Pro-Mark
Hadware: Mapex and Yamaha

