Let’s face it – learning how to drum is not something you achieve in a day. It’s a skill like any other, and if you put in enough effort, you may join the list of some of the greatest drummers in the world.
When you hear experienced drummers talk about how they developed their skills, they’ll tell you that they still set apart some time away from the band and other people to sharpen their skills and technique. Why? Because learning doesn’t stop.
So how do you practice?
In this article, we’d like to dive in and provide some tips you can use to take your drumming to the next level, especially if you feel like you’ve hit a plateau or help you start playing the drums from the beginning.
Stick around to learn more.
Buy a new drum kit
In most cases, this is something you may not hear from many people, but it’s essential. You may have a friend who has a good kit, but you won’t be spending most nights in someone’s house trying to learn how to play the drums- no.
Purchasing a drum kit can help you practice your routines at your most preferred times, including at night when everyone else is sleeping. You won’t be bothering anyone’s privacy when you have your kit.
In a case where you live in an apartment, buying electric drum kits would be the best option for you. You can practise silently by connecting the sound to headphones; they don’t occupy much space and sound like regular drums.
Hire a Drum Teacher
If you are starting, you have two options. You can decide to learn by yourself using free online resources such as YouTube, or you can hire a professional to help you get started.
For me, I’d prefer the second option. Hiring a professional is an investment – since you have to pay them. But the benefits that come with that are many. For instance, you save time and won’t spend much time figuring out where to start. The teacher has adequate experience to help you learn the basics quickly.
Online resources such as YouTube can be helpful, but the only problem with freebies is that sometimes, these drum teachers don’t tell you everything in those videos. They will leave out some essential information so you can buy their courses.
Start with the basics
Many beginners make the mistake of learning the difficult techniques first before they learn the basic technique or ideas behind them. Just note that every good drummer uses basic hand and foot coordination techniques to play good beats before moving on to anything more advanced.
Therefore, don’t be afraid or insecure to start from the basics. You need that foundation to build on to as you continue to learn.
You can start by learning the theory behind specific techniques before you even start playing along or jamming to songs. Although most people may not agree with this, with time, you’ll notice that you can figure out even the most challenging solos if you have the basics right.
Identify your end goal
Before sitting on any kit, you must write down your goals for each session. That way, you’ll be able to analyse your development.
You can start by identifying your weaknesses. For instance, if you notice that your feet and hands are not coordinating, you need to tell your drum teacher. They will show you the best exercises to help you improve your hand and feet coordination.
It would also be great to have a technique you’d like to be good at in mind by the end of your course. For instance, if you have a drummer that inspires you in mind, make it your goal to achieve the touch they developed. But be assured that even though you might have the same technique, every drummer has their unique signature moves.
Other tips you can use:
- Join a community of drummers or surround yourself with experienced musicians
- Learn to jam along to songs as often as possible
- Invest in good drum sticks
- Use a metronome when practising
- Learn different genres – don’t stick with one
Final Thoughts
Remember, learning the drums is not a skill you can achieve in a day. Although some online teachers can tell you can do that, this is not the case. You’ll need to do a lot of practice. Be patient with yourself; with time, you’ll start seeing results.
Besides that, keep a positive attitude. Don’t be depressed when you can’t find a way to figure out a particular technique. Instead, keep practising and do your research on better ways to achieve your goal.
