Drum Beginner: Tips wanted
 

I've been wanting to play drums for a few years now, and I wanted to know if anyone on this music forum had any really good tips for someone getting started.

I'd like to play the music I listen to on said drums with friends. I listen to Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson.

Does anyone have any good tips for someone wanting to drum songs from those bands?

Start out with the rudiments. And practice those first before taking on songs.

Vic Firth Presents: 40 Essential Rudiments

Just play free jazz and you can be a pro right off the bat.

You of all people shouldn't be reinforcing that lame stereotype.

Probably not. Still, a "non-musician's" attempt at making free improvisation can be amazing in a "what you're doing doesn't make any damn sense, I think you're a genius" kind of way.

As a complete beginner, learning to play the drums is a lot of fun. It has the greatest sense of stepwise progression. You practice something which may initially seem almost impossible and then something clicks and you just get it and then it becomes simple almost instantly.

To start out, just learn the standard 4/4 beat. Four hits on the hihat, 1 2 3 4, then bass drum on 1 and snare on 3.

If you've never drummed before, your instinct is probably gonna be to hit both the bass drum and the snare at the same time. The first thing for your body to learn will be to neatly isolate the movement of your foot and the movement of your hands into separate actions. Suddenly you get it and it's easy.

Then you start to embellish that 4/4 by adding things to it. Double the bass drum occasionally, learn to use the snare and bass drum between the hits on the hihat (off-beats) and then learn to let go of the hihat pedal and play an open hihat on the last beat. Adding some simple fills, that's pretty much the basics of simple rock drumming.

You can also practice drums by drumming on yourself or things around you. It's an annoying habit many drummers have.

If you want to start drumming, definitely start out with simpler 4/4 rhythms to develop tempo and groove.

I also encourage using a single kick pedal from the beginning and mastering that before moving to a double.

Just my 2 cents.

The 40 drum rudiments develop touch & tempo. There's a website that will develop that skill. Google for online lessons. It's free but for the internet connection that you already pay for.

Steve Gadd & Vinnie Colaiuta are masters. They can play pretty much anything. :drummer:

Toss in Dave Weckl. This is ****ing amazing. I think Vinnie steals it though.

w00t! :yeah:

How did I miss out on Dave Weckl? :o: Wow! In this one, I agree. Vinnie rules.

:pssst: There's some more I like... :rolleyes:

I'll be back here when I can to post YouTube links. Right now, I'm not worthy. :jailed: