Learning how to play drums is a great hobby and skill anyone can learn. There is no age limit on playing the drums, but it takes years of practice to become good enough to play with other musicians. The drum set is one of the most challenging instruments to master because many different components play the drums. Learning to read music and play by ear will tremendously speed up the learning process. But how do you put this into practice and master the skill? Here are some tips.
Get a Drum Kit
When you’re first starting, it’s best to purchase a drum kit that is affordable and beginner-friendly. There are many different drum kits on the market, but the more preferred ones are electric especially to those always on the go. When choosing one, consider the size of your space and budget. When purchasing an electric drum kit, look for the number of pads, type of sounds available, connectivity (USB or MIDI), and weight/size. If possible, try out some drum sets before buying them, so you know what kind of feel each one has when playing on it personally. It will help ensure the product works best suited for your style. In addition to getting a drum kit, ensure you also buy sticks (pairs), pedals, and a stool.
Master the Different Parts of the Drum Kit
The drum set comprises four different parts that are crucial when playing the drums. You have your bass drum, snare drum, toms, and cymbals. When you learn how to play drums, you will start by mastering these components before moving on to other music styles. The best way to learn how to play these drums is to go online and watch various tutorials explicitly made for beginners. You can also research the different types of beats, rudiments, and techniques used in playing the drum kit.
Master the Art of Holding the Drumsticks
The best way to practice this is by going online and watching various video tutorials designed for beginners. By practicing long enough, you will eventually develop your technique of using the drum sticks properly to perform professionally.
Work On Your Hand-Eye Coordination
Good hand-eye coordination is essential if you want to become a good drummer. Playing the drums is more than hitting the drumsticks against the drum head. It also involves striking at the correct time and in the right place. It may not be easy at first, but your hand-eye coordination will improve quickly with enough practice.
When drumming, you will use both your hands and eyes simultaneously to hit different drum set pieces and monitor the sound levels. It would help if you learned how to do this effectively from the beginning.
Work On Your Footwork
The drum pedal is one of the essential parts of learning to play the drums. You won’t keep time on the drums if you don’t know your footwork. Learn all of the basic drum pedal techniques before advancing further. The four basics steps to learning how to play the drums with a pedal are:
- Learn where and how to set up your drum pedal for the first time
- Practice foot positioning for different beats and rhythms
- Learn the basic bass drum techniques and how to use them when playing drums
- Master keeping a steady beat by coordinating your hands and feet together.
Play With Other Musicians/Bands
One of the joys of learning to play an instrument is sharing your songs with other musicians/bands. If you want to learn how to play drums quickly, you must get out there and start playing, finding like-minded musicians who are willing to jam with you and share their ideas on writing songs and playing the drums. By playing with other musicians/bands, you will improve your musicality and gain knowledge from their experiences.
Learn How to Play Drum Rudiments
These rudiments set musicians apart from novice drummers, so you must master them before moving on to other types of beats and techniques. In simple terms, drum rudiments are the different techniques used in playing the drums, similar to how notes are played on a guitar. They are the foundation of drumming, and you will learn a lot more about them as you progress in your musical journey.
Get a Drum Tutor
Even if they’re teaching you the basics of drumming, having an experienced tutor by your side can help improve your confidence when playing the drums. The best way to find a drum tutor/teacher is through word-of-mouth, social media, or the internet.
If you want to learn how to play drums quickly, you need to understand the drumming basics thoroughly. The above steps will help improve your drumming skills, give you more confidence in the drums, making playing drums a lot of fun.
