Learn how to play the drums

Different Basic Drum Kit Patterns

2010-10-26T01:08:00.002+01:00

Rock

Here is an example of a basic rock beat

(Blue = Hi hats, green = Snare drum, Black = Kick drum)

Swing

Here is an example of a basic swing beat

(top x = Ride Cymbal, bottom x = Left foot hi hat stamp , Black = Kick drum)

Bossa Nova

Here is an example of a basic Bosa Nova beat
(top x = Ride Cymbal, bottom x = Left foot hi hat stamp , Black = Kick drum)

more to follow... (updated daily)

Applying Rudiments to the Kit

2010-10-25T17:35:00.000+01:00

When you apply rudiments to the drum kit you will find that things that sound difficult suddenly become much easier. Just in the same way that if a piano student leaned the C major scale he or she would then be able to read and play much more easily anything built around that scale, since the scale is etched into the students mind and muscle memory.

Here is how you might apply a paradiddle to the drum kit.

** (Lowest note=Floor tom, Middle note=Snare drum, Highest note=High tom.)

(example 1)

R L R R L R L L

(example 2)

R L R R L R L L

more to follow... (updated daily)

Pacing yourself.

2010-10-25T17:12:00.000+01:00

Learning any instrument can be fun, providing that you allow it to be fun. If there is something that you are practicing and for whatever the reason you cant quite grasp it then don't let your frustration take over. If it does, then stop, try something else and come back to it when you feel less frustrated. However sometimes, relentless practice can pay off, depending on your personality and how easily agitated you get.

Give yourself realistic goals. For instance, telling yourself that you will get to grade 8 in a month is not a realistic goal and after a month you will be dissapointed and likely to quit. Realistic goals (not too high) will keep you working and give you plenty of things to practice. A good realistic goal for a beginner would be to be able to play double stroke rolls and paradiddles on the snare drum (in time & at a medium tempo) with a metronome after 1 week.

Play along with music that isn't too challenging. Oasis is a good place to start (not to belittle the band because I like them myself) the drum patterns are pretty basic and fun to play along with. That would be FAR more instantly gratifying than trying to try and play along with the Mahavishnu Orchestra for instance.

Rudiments

2010-10-25T16:58:00.000+01:00

Rudiments are the drummers equivalent to playing scales. The point of rudiments is to allow you easy access to the kit, i.e. to stop you wrapping your arms up in a knot and instead, make things look effortless.

Here are the basic rudiments: (L=left hand R=Right hand)

1. Single stroke roll: R L R L R L R L
2. Double stroke roll: R R L L R R L L
3. Paradiddle: R L R R L R L L
4. Double-Paradiddle: R L R L R R L R L R L L
5. Paradiddle-diddle: R L R R L L R L R R L L

It is a good idea to practice these with a metronome at many different tempos. Ideally on JUST the snare drum at first to save you getting distracted. Later, once a good amount of control has been achieved you will apply these to the drum kit. I found that practicing them on a pillow really helped me improve my grip and technique, this is because there is very little or no "bounce" from a pillow... the energy you put into the stroke needs to be pulled back out by you and this will help when it comes to playing on toms that have far less bounce (especially low toms) than the snare drum.

Listening Skills

2010-10-23T00:18:00.000+01:00

As a musician the most important skill that you will need to have is to be able to listen and not just hear. I'll explain further. Listening to as much music as possible, including things that you would not usually choose to listen to will form opinions in your mind about what you consider to be good, bad, boring and interesting, this in turn will make you analyze and listen more closely and pay attention to detail. After analyzing music you have listened to (you don't write this down, you do it in your mind to get used to responding quickly to music) your are able to pick and choose ways you want your drum kit to sound (there are many different sounds that a single drum can produce) and this will be probably in line with a particular genre that you have grown fond of. After learning the basic drum patterns (this usually takes around 2 weeks depending on how much you practice) the best thing to do in my opinion is to put on a pair of headphones and try to play along with your favorite music, but remember to keep listening closely. Closing my eyes helps me.

Listening closely will make you a better musician and therefore a better drummer.

Welcome

2010-10-21T04:17:00.000+01:00

Here I will share (free of charge) the information that you need to pass your drumming grades.

Topics that I plan to cover in posts:

* How to enjoy learning (learn without the stresses of teachers orders)
* Basic drumming techniques (from the start)
* Rudiments (most importantly, applied rudiments on the kit)
* Reading drum music
* Listening skills
* Creating your own rhythms
* Time signatures and polly rhythms (advanced)
* Buying a drum kit that is matched to you as an individual

I would like as much feedback as possible, learning is the padlock to life and sharing knowledge is the key.