An All-Inclusive Guide To Learning Drums

Two of the most rewarding things i have done with my life so far are very closely related: learning drums and playing drums.

Just like anything else, learning the drums can be quite frustrating at times, and while you are learning to play the drums you will be better off with a mentor (other than me).

Having drum lessons in my early years of learning to play drums, as well as reading up on drum tips by some of the all-time great drummers, helped to keep me focused and encouraged; i'm sure it will be the same for you as you learn to drum.

You are probably here because you want to know how to play the drums. If you searched on Google, you probably used a phrase like "learn and master drums", "learn play drum", "how to learn to play drums", "free drum lessons", or "online drum lessons".

Although i am here as a drum teacher, this is not a comprehensive course that will teach you how to play drums.

I am simply here to tell you three things: that YES you can teach yourself to play drums, you CAN learn and master drums as i am doing (remember as you learn how to play drums that learning drums is a continuous process), and I am going to show you a 4 step, easy method that you can use to start learning drums.

For purposes of clarity i am simply going to call this method: LEARN TO PLAY THE DRUMS ONLINE.

If you really want to learn how to play the drums, the absolute first thing you should do is to buy drums, steal drums, borrow drums, find drums for sale or somehow get drums to practice on.

You would be really surprised at how many people who are learning drums skip this step.

At this point, I would also encourage you to get some knowledge base for learning drums, such as "how to play" drum books, or a "learn to play drums" DVD.

While a drum practice pad can suffice for a little bit, starting out with a cheap drum set or a beginners drum set will be a lot more fun for you.

If you are a kid, they make kids drum sets. If you are a junior, get a junior drum set. But if you are really learning how to play the drums, then you need drums.

Don't, please don't settle for playing on your leg in class, tapping on the steering wheel while you drive, or simply telling people you're learning to drum and hoping they'll let you play their drum set and embarrass yourself.

If you're learning to play the drums, don't you need something to play?

Once you've completed this step, you will truly be ready to start learning to drum.

One thing that most other "learn drums online", and "how to play drums for beginners" courses won't tell you is, that even if you don't know how to play the drums, or you are still learning to play the drums, you still need to take every opportunity you have to play the drums.

If you somehow couldn't get a beginner drum set from step one, and you moved on to this step anyway, that is okay.

In fact, I like your attitude. You will need plenty of it if you want to be a successful drummer.

But let me ask you something: With no prior experience, if someone offered you a paying gig playing the drums right now would you take it?

Your answer should be "Yes!" You should be eager. You should be hungry. You should be excited. You should have self-confidence and assurance that never gets cocky or overbearing, but says to others: "I'm a drummer. Its in my blood, It's who I am, It's what I do."

Even if you don't think you can, commit to playing the drums every day, if only for five minutes. Use your "learn to play the drums" time to reflect on your day (which sometimes means bashing the heads- don't worry, they can take it). Trust me, playing drums and learning new drumming skills will often be the most personally fulfilling and satisfying thing you do in a day.

When you think you have the required attitude needed to learn the drums, and you're ready and willing to play drums today, or anytime you're asked, go ahead and move on to step 3.

Ok, so you're at step three, well on your way to learning drums.

You've got a beginner drum set- hopefully-, and plenty of attitude.

But by now, you're probably starting to realize that this attitude can and will only take you so far as you learn to play drums.

People are starting to notice "Yeah, he's a pretty good drummer and all, but he doesn't have technique", or "She sounds great! She just needs to play with a metronome more..."

It's time to start working on drumming fundamentals and drum rudiments.

Now, I'm not going to give you specific exercises here, not because I don't have plenty, or because I don't believe in methods, but because this article is simply too long as it is. I will, however give you some practice tips:

1. Warm-up- Every time you practice drums (not just play) it is extremely important to do some warm-up. Warming up at the drum set does three main things for you: 1. Warming up on the drum set allows you to access how the drum sticks feel in your hands that particular day; 2. Warming up on the drum set allows you to assess your practice goals for the particular day, whether they are to simply explore a new rhythmic pattern, or to make marked progress on your Swiss-Army Triplets; and 3. Warming up on the drum set simply helps to prevent injury, which is critical to your longevity as a drummer.
2. Stay Focused- If you are simply sitting down to play the drums for a bit, then go ahead and do whatever you want; swim in the mists of time, take a bath 2000 years ago, I don't care. But if you are practicing, then at least set measurable goals and make a sincere effort to accomplish them. That's all I ask.
3. Play The Drums- as I've already said, there is a difference between playing drums, and practicing drums. That being said, I think an important part of any practice session- long or short- is to simply play the drums. If you only have 5 minutes, I would rather see you jam out for a bit than try to seriously work on your rudiments. Too many drummers make this mistake of not playing for themselves, and what happens is when it comes time for you to play drums at a gig- especially if you haven't rehearsed- you will be stressed out, because you aren't used to actually playing the drums. I will say this only once: BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PLAYING THE DRUMS IS TO BE RELAXED, 100% OF THE TIME.
4. Spend At Least 1000 Hours Playing With A Metronome- arbitrary number, but if you get close to that, i guarantee people will start to talk about how "solid" a drummer you are- and that's a good thing.

That's it. Those are my practice tips for learning drums.

When you are done with them, especially the last one, move on to step number four.

Congratulations!

You're a very good drummer now.

If you've really completed step three, then you've been learning drums for a while now- probably at least a year.

At this point, your rudiments are mastered, you can hold a metronome click like its your job, and you've got the flashiest drum fills in town.

Furthermore, you now understand how to learn drums. Understanding the learning process is critical to learning any musical instrument, or any other skill.

Three things now become critical to your continued growth as a drummer:

1. Branch Out- You probably first came here because you wanted to learn to play drum set, or to learn to play snare drum. And while I'll never tell you to do otherwise, by now you know that there are many other things out there- other styles of drumming, other bands that you could be playing in, even other types of drums and percussion instruments. At this point, i would fully encourage you to spread your wings for a while and just explore as much as you can. Learn how to play djembe, Learn how to play bongos- it doesn't matter but just keeping learning drums in some form or another and i guarantee it will make you a more well-rounded musician. BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST "A DRUMMER" ANYMORE, YOU'RE A MUSICIAN.
2. Stay Rooted- Don't go away from your original style completely. You still love it. Its what you dreamed of doing when you started learning drums in the first place. Make sure to keep listening to the great drummers of your genre, and to "keep up on your drum chops" by still playing the drums (even if you're now doing most of your practicing on another instrument or in another genre). You will be glad you still have your chops when you finally settle back on your original drumming passion.
3. STAY HUMBLE- There are *lots* of good drummers, percussionists, and musicians out there. I'm no better than them, I'm no better than you, and You're no better than them. Go out and find them, talk to them, and learn from them. The best way to keep improving from this point is to become part of a community of musicians. When you are constantly sharing ideas with other drummers and musicians, you will find that you are now improving without even playing the drums. You are now improving faster than you have even up to this point because you've surrounded yourself with great musicians.

To summarize: You are a very good drummer.

You should call yourself a musician now, but you need to keep your head on your shoulders because the only thing worse than a stuck-up musician, is a stuck-up musician who is talking to you.

But be proud of yourself- you've accomplished a lot with your dedication, patience, and persistence.

As good as you are, you can keep learning drums. In fact, If you can keep an open mind, and continue to practice, then the sky is the limit for where your drumming can go from here.

Good Luck! Enjoy Learning Drums!