My girlfriend just bought me a decent drum kit as an early birthday present. It's so sleek and sexy, and loud. Problem is I don't know how to play drums...or even where to start for that matter. Any tips and drills, or suggested reading, apps etc would be much appreciated.
Hm... It would be better if I could show you, but I don't have a drumset to record, and we don't live near each other... Get the Standard of Exellence books 1 and 2 for mallets and percussion. It's what I use in my band class (I'm the top of the class) and you can learn a lot with it. It only has snare and bass, though, because it's meant for classes. I can't tell you much about reading because I don't know the proper names for the notes, but when you see a note that would be A on the piano, it's snare, if it's lower than that, it's bass, if it has an X, it's high hat. I can't tell you much else though.
Oh no worries your reply is more than helpful. Starting with bass and snare actually makes a lot of sense. I'll take a look at the books you suggested. Also anyone know good ways to tune a drum set? I've googled it, but received ambiguous, vague results.
I taught myself when i was a wee lad, the best advice I can give is put some headphones on loud as hell and learn one song over and over and over... If you have any sense of rhythm you will eventually pick it up... remember it's just like rubbing your head and patting your stomach, then switch...
I'm a drummer. I've been playing for 7 years ever since elementary school. I have a basic Sound Percussion 5 Piece Drum Kit with Zildjian ZHT cymbals. They sound amazing! Anyways, i would suggest you to take private lessons and jam to some of your favorite songs. Also, watch some drum covers of your favorite songs on YouTube. They help a lot. Good luck!
Just a sidenote but playing Rock Band (expert drums) can really help you learn how to play songs. I learned how to play Souls of Black. Also, playing drums ups your level in Rock Band. As for tuning a drum set, I don't know. My drum set I borrowed over the summer was my band teacher's set.
Drumming on Rock Band helps a bit in fact. It helps you keep rhythm which is the most important parts of drumming.
That's the same kit I just got, but with paeste PST 5 cymbals. I really like it, and it was pretty affordable. I almost went home with the stock, tin, practice cymbals, but after hearing the difference, I had to have them. I'm stoked! Still need to figure out how to tune everything. Thanks guys, really appreciate the replys. Anybody know away to quiet the drums down a bit? My neighbor's are probably planning on killing me.
Brian!!! Thanks man, unfortunately I can't put headphones on as I got a standard drum kit with no pickups or anything. EDIT: I just realized what your were trying to say. Good advice. I've been listening to some slightly stoopid, while tuning everything out but the drums. Good stuff!
Sweet! My drum kit is black. I would go to a local drum shop or music shop to help tune your drums. They'll do it for you
there is some great videos on youtube, i think under expert village however you can find some great lessons and help online for free...
Thanks Jchamp! And congrats on your own new achievements! I've been looking at drummerworld.com which has been pretty helpful, so now I guess it's time to start really practicing. Problem is I don't have internet at home so no youtube for the time being Anybody know of some drum lesson apps or something?
Neighbours with babies and the addition of an audio-in socket is the reason I invested in some V-drums <3
Now I gotta come out there!!! I can show you a few things, now mind you I'm not great but I have been playing since the 6th grade, was in drumline in highschool for 2 years (Base drum baby!). I had a Pearl export series 5 piece with lots of addons (Cowbell, and a lot of splash/crash cymbals.. Zildjian) I need a weekend but I will come down (up?) there to *party* and jam!!!!
thanks... there are plenty of ways to save youtube videos either on your iphone or touch then you could watch them when you are practicing, that is what I would do. If you need help finding some good ones, give me a shout.
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, or if youve noticed but... all songs have almost identical drumming, in a sense. Its really hard to explain, but when my drum teacher back in the day first started teaching us he just turned on the radio and flipped through a few songs to show us that the beats are extremely similar. If you can learn that, which is fairly easy, you can pick it up pretty quickly.
