a practical guide to drums and drumming

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A Practical Guide To Drums And Drumming

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Find out why most people find it hard to play drums and things you need to get started. What you need to know about beginner drum sets - tips to find a bargain and for buying a drum kit for your kid. Get to know the basic arrangement of acoustic drum sets, as well as the basics of cymbals and how to choose the right ones Discover 7 Tips to Master Playing the Drums and learn how to tune them. Find out about the right warm up exercises before playing the drums and why rudiments are important for you. Learn how to play drums through online drum lessons. Want more? Join a very active drumming community on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/drums.outlet

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: A Practical Guide to Drums and Drumming

A Practical Guide To Drums

And Drumming

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Index

Learning To Play Drums: The Reasons Why Most People Find It Difficult ................................... 2

Things You Need To Get Started ................................................................................................ 4

All About the Beginner’s Drum Set ............................................................................................ 5

Buying a Used Drum Set: Tips to Find a Bargain ......................................................................... 6

Buying a Beginner Drum Set (for your kid)................................................................................. 7

The Basic Arrangement of Acoustic Drum Sets .......................................................................... 8

The Basics of Cymbals ............................................................................................................... 9

Play Drums Perfectly By Choosing the Right Cymbal for Your Drum Set ................................... 11

7 Tips to Master Playing the Drums ......................................................................................... 12

Basic Drum Kit Tuning: Never Play Out Of Tune Drums Ever Again .......................................... 13

Warm Up Exercises to Play the Drums..................................................................................... 14

Drum Rudiments and Why They Are Important ....................................................................... 15

Learn How To Play Drums through Online Drum Lessons ........................................................ 16

Learning To Play Drums: The Reasons Why Most People Find It

Difficult

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We all know for a fact that the drum set is the coolest musical instrument in a band. It is also

considered as the heart of the band because without the drums, there will be no life in the

music. Playing the drums may look easy but the fact is, it’s really harder than it seems.

If you don’t have any past experience in playing the drums, then you may find it very difficult

to learn how to start playing this particular instrument. However, you will also find that

learning how to play the drums is very cool and can be a lot of fun. Like any instrument you try

playing, you need to practice a lot in order for you to get better at playing it. And, you

shouldn’t give up.

When you do decide to practice on a day to day basis, you will start to see that playing the

drums will be as easy as walking. In fact, you can even develop your playing skills to the point

that you will be able to play your favorite songs with the drums by ear.

If you want to learn how to play the drums, the best way to start is by learning about the

history of the instrument. You also need to find out about the different types of drums that

exist today. The size of the drum set you use is also important for you to learn, as well as the

different brands and different sticks being used by drummers today.

You also need to learn about the different types of drums. So, for starters, here are the most

common drums that will likely end up in your drum set.

The first is the bass drum. This is the big drum that sits on the flower and offers the low

pitched sound that goes boom when you hit it with a foot pedal.

You also have the tom-toms. In a drum set, it comes in a set of three. You have the floor tom,

the medium tom, and the high tom. In any drum set, you will also find the cymbals. Basically,

these are the metal round objects. In drum sets, you will find the crash, ride, splash, and the

high hat.

You also have the snare drum, which you will usually find on a drum set. This particular drum is

usually hit with the drummer’s non-dominant hand.

These are the basic things that you will see on a drum set. After learning about the different

type of drums used in a drum kit, the next step is to learn how to properly hold the drum stick.

Basically, you can hold it any way you can as long as you are comfortable. But, it is best to get

some advice on how to hold the drum sticks as it can have a great impact on the way you play

the drums.

You can start playing the drums with simple notes and try to coordinate your hands with your

feet at the same time. This is the hard part in playing the drums and it will take time and

practice for you to completely have coordination on your whole body when playing the drums.

You can enroll in classes, buy tapes, videos, and even access the internet to get lessons.

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It is a fact that learning how to play the drums is very difficult especially when you get to the

part where you need to coordinate your hands and feet. But, with time, practice and

dedication, you will be able to play the drums like a pro.

Things You Need To Get Started

Playing the drums is a fun hobby. However, you need to remember that it’s also one of the

most difficult musical instruments to learn. If you want to play drums like rock legends Travis

Barker or Lars Ulrich, then you need to be ready to work hard and to practice a lot.

Also, you need to get proper lessons from a professional drummer. They will be able to teach

you the basics of playing the drums and also teach you the right way to play the drums.

So, what do you need in order to get started?

First of all, you will obviously need a drum set or a drum kit. But before you go to your local

music store to purchase a drum set, you need to keep in mind that as a beginner drummer,

you don’t have to get a drum set with an elaborate set up. The basic drum set will do.

The basic drum set will include one bass drum, a snare drum, 3 tom-toms, a crash cymbal, and

a hi-hat. You will also need a chair, a bass pedal, and drum sticks.

Next, you will need to get proper lessons. You can go for online lessons, or you can also hire a

professional drummer to give you private tutorials or lessons. There are also DVDs and video

CDs, which contain drum lessons that you can purchase.

There are quite a lot of DVDs and CDs today that can teach you about the different drumming

techniques and how to learn it the easy way. There are even exercises that you can do in order

for you to practice your dexterity and coordination, which are very important in drumming.

Now that you have the equipments you need as well as a professional drummer to teach you

on how to play the drums along with the DVDs and CDs that contain drum lessons, the next

step is to make sure that no one will be upset by the noise you make when you play your

drums during lessons or during practice.

Try creating a quiet room. If you have the cash for it, you can convert an entire room to a

studio complete with fancy soundproofing and high tech acoustic materials. If you don’t have

the money for high tech soundproofing, you can still create a quiet room with a little ingenuity

and elbow grease. To make your own quiet room, you can line the walls and ceiling of the

room with egg trays and carpet scraps.

This is basically a cheap way to sound proof a room. And, it works just as well as a

professionally made quiet room.

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Or, you can also get cymbal mutes and drum practice discs. Although these things may still get

your drum set to produce noise, the noise levels will be a lot lower.

So, unless you want your neighbors or the police banging at your door and complaining about

the noise, you may want to do these mentioned sound proofing methods.

All About the Beginner’s Drum Set

Have you always dreamed about becoming a great drummer? Do you want to learn how to

play the drums like rock legends, Travis Barker of Blink 182 and Lars Ulrich of Metallica? If you

answered yes to any of these questions, then it may be time for you to shop for your own

drum set or drum kit.

It may seem really simple to shop for a drum set but it’s not. You also need to remember that

even the cheapest drum set will cost you some money. So be prepared to bring 400 to 1,000

dollars when you go shopping for a beginner’s drum set. If you want to go for cheaper drum

kits, then you can always try buying used drum kits.

So, here are some of the things that you need to consider before you buy a drum kit. By

keeping these things in mind, you will be able to buy the right drum kit for you to learn how to

play the drums on.

As a beginner drummer, you need to start with a beginner’s drum kit. When learning how to

play the drums, you don’t need to buy drum sets that professionals use. The beginner or

starter drum kit will have all the things you need to start learning how to play the drums. The

other accessories will follow soon after you master the basics.

The regular beginner’s drum kit will include a snare drum, a bass drum, two mounted toms,

and a floor tom. The cymbals will not be included in the set and you will need to purchase

them separately. For the cymbals, you will need a hi-hat, a crash, and a ride. These things are

enough for you to start playing drums at a beginner level.

The hardware will include the stands, pedals, and the drum seat or also known as the throne.

If you can, try buying a medium or professional quality drum pedal and drum seat. A beginner

drum seat and pedals may break easily.

You should also research a bit about the drum kits that are available in the market. Compare

the quality by taking a look at reviews and also check the prices. Go for a set that you are

comfortable with and also go for a store with a knowledgeable staff in order for you to get a

good advice on what kind of drum kit you should go for.

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As you can see, it’s not that difficult to buy your first drum kit or drum set. With a bit of

research, you will be able to get the right drum kit for you to learn how to play the drums on.

Always remember that even if you have a professional drum set, you will not be able to play

like how the rock legends do. You need to take it one step at a time and you should also try

getting proper lessons from a professional drummer. They will be able to teach you the basics

and get you ready to rock out on jam sessions with your friends.

Buying a Used Drum Set: Tips to Find a Bargain

If you think that you have what it takes to become the next Lars Ulrich or Travis Barker, then

you need to buy a drum set first. Besides, even if you know how to play the drums, it doesn’t

automatically mean that you are really good at it. Practice makes perfect and what better way

to practice playing the drums than by having a drum set of your own right in the comforts of

your home.

Besides, you can’t visit your friend who owns a drum set everyday in order for you to practice

your skills, right? If you really want to become a great drummer, then you have to have your

own drum set.

Now, what if you don’t have the money to buy a new drum set?

Well, you can always buy a used drum set. Today, you will be able to find a lot of people off

and online selling their old drum sets. In fact, you’ll see that a majority of the sellers will be

parents who are trying to get rid of their child’s drum set because their child lost interest or

already moved out to go to college.

You will also see people selling their old drum set because they want to upgrade. You’ll

discover that there are all sorts of people selling used drum sets.

If this is your first drum set, make sure that you keep it simple, especially if you are just a

beginner in drumming. It may be tempting to buy a large drum set but as a beginner, you will

not really need that many drums. Start with the basics. Normally, you will want to get a 5 piece

drum set. This set will include the snare, bass, two mounted toms, and one floor tom. It should

also include the basic cymbals, which are the crash, ride, and hi-hat.

Another rule when buying a used drum set is that you should never go for cheap store brands

that are usually found at large shopping stores. It may be cheap but the quality will usually not

be good. Look for used drums that are manufactured by well known drum manufacturers, such

as Ludwig and Pearl. For the cymbals, look for brands like Zildjian.

Lastly, always take a look at the condition of the drum heads. This is one of the expensive parts

to replace and if they are not in good condition, try to tell the seller to lower the price even

more or get them to buy a new set of drum heads.

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These are the tips that you need to remember whenever you are in the market for drum sets.

By following these tips, you will be able to start playing drums without encountering any

problems.

Buying a Beginner Drum Set (for your kid)

If your kid has decided that he or she wants to learn how to play the drums, then you need to

know that as a parent, buying this kind of musical instrument can be a daunting task. You need

to decide whether you are going to buy the best drum set that is available in the market or will

you be going for the cheapest one just in case your kid will not stick to this new found hobby.

In most cases, it really doesn’t matter, but for some people, this can be a big decision and it

will matter a lot. Besides, even the cheapest drum sets out there can be still be quite expensive

for some people.

When buying a drum set for your young rocker, one of the most important things that you

need to consider is the throne or what most people know as the drum chair. Most people think

that the throne is just something that the drummers sit on but it’s really more than that.

You have to remember that the body moves a lot when drumming. This is why it is important

to purchase a throne or a drumming chair that is sturdy and well-balanced. This will help

prevent injuries and will also get your young drummer to play better.

The drumming chair or the throne is one of the kits in the drum set that is used all the time.

This is why it is important to get one that is sturdy and one that is easy to move in. Most

beginner drumming chair or throne is a pain to move up and down. This is why most people

just leave it at one height, which can be quite uncomfortable. When buying a throne, choose

the one that is considered to be of good quality.

For an entire set, go for one that is marketed as a beginner set. Although they won’t last as

long as professional sets, they are great to develop a person’s drumming skills with. Also, the

beginner set will not sound like real drums and your young rocker will often mistake the sound

for their own playing deficiency.

If you want to get a truer sound from a drum set, go for a mid-level set. This is more durable

and it will also provide you with better performance. Most of the top brands have mid-level

sets, such as DW, Yamaha, Pearl, Gretsch, Ludwig, and Mapex. You can’t go wrong with these

brands as these brands will provide you with good construction, quality wood, etc.

However, you still need to check the set. Try to see if the stands are double braced or not and

if the bass drum pedal is flimsy. You also need to take a look at the cymbal stands and look for

boom arms, which will provide better cymbal placement.

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For beginners, you will need 3 cymbals, which are the crash, hi-hat, and ride. Your young

rocker will probably want more cymbals but tell them that these are only the cymbals they

need in the set to get started. When you think they are ready, you can always purchase

additional cymbals later on.

For the drum heads, go for the most widely used brand, such as Remo. They are what most

professionals use and they are also highly recommended for beginners as they last longer than

other brands.

These are the things that you need to know when buying a drum set for beginner drummers.

You really don’t need to purchase a high end drum set. Just go for one that is considered to be

of good quality when it comes to construction and sound, and you will eventually get your

young rocker to play like a pro.

The Basic Arrangement of Acoustic Drum Sets

Now that you have a complete acoustic drum set, the next step is to set it up. First of all, you

need to remember that the drum set should be arranged in a way where you will be able to

play all of the components in a comfortable sitting position.

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Whether you have a four-piece, five-piece, or six-piece drum set, the arrangement for it will

vary with one drummer to another. There are really no rules in the arrangement of the drum

kit. This means that the arrangement will largely depend on you.

To start arranging the drum set, you need to know how large your kit will be. If you have the

basic drum set, you will have a four or five-piece drum set. This means that you will have a

bass drum, a snare drum, two mounted toms and one floor tom. For the six-piece drum set,

you will have one bass drum, one snare drum, two mounted toms, and two floor toms.

Just keep in mind that the larger the drum set, the more space you will need for setting it up

and you will also have more equipment to transport.

When you are positioning the drums, you need to make sure that each drum is easy for you to

hit with the drum stick in just one stroke. And, you should be able to do so comfortably while

you are sitting down on the drum chair or what most drummers call the throne.

You can also try adjusting the angle of each drum if you are not comfortable with the initial set

up. And, adjusting the angle will allow you to execute rim shots comfortably if it is called for.

You also need to keep in mind that you should try placing the entire set on a rug in order to

prevent it from sliding away from you, which will happen if you place it in a smooth surface.

Electric drum kits can also be mixed in with the acoustic drum set. Again, you should place

them where you are able to hit them with the drum stick easily and comfortably.

After setting up the drum set, the next thing that you should set up are the cymbals. So, just

what are the types of cymbals you need in order to complete the entire kit? For basic kits, you

only need three cymbals, namely the crash, hi-hat, and the ride.

You need to remember that cymbals are available in different brands. Always go for reliable

brands that are known to produce good quality cymbals, such as Zildjian, Sabian, or Paiste.

Although it is recommended that you buy the same brand together, you can still mix it up a bit.

A good quality cymbal may cost a bit more money but because of its quality in terms of sound

and durability, it will be well-worth your money.

The stands for the cymbals should also be considered. If you have heavy cymbals, you need to

have a stand that is more solid in construction.

The Basics of Cymbals

Now that you have purchased your first drum set, the next step is to buy the cymbals. Most

drum sets may include cymbals but are usually not the good kind of cymbals you will want. If

you are serious about drumming, then you have to purchase the cymbals separately.

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Just like choosing your drums, choosing your drum cymbals is just as important. With good

quality cymbals on your drum kit, you can be sure that you will be able to get high quality

sound from your drum playing, which will accompany the sound of your drums perfectly.

If you can, buy cymbals of the same brand or you can also mix and match different brands as

long as it also mixes with each other when it comes to the way it sounds.

You have to remember that brand is everything when it comes to purchasing cymbals. So, stick

with branded manufacturers. You may be tempted to go for an off-brand cymbal set because it

will allow you to save a few bucks, but you will soon find out that this will be a waste of

money. Stick with recognized quality manufacturers of cymbals, such as Paiste, Zildjian,

Istanbul, Meinl, Sabian, and UFiP.

A good drummer will need no more than 3 different types of cymbals that will accompany the

drums when they play. These cymbals are the hi-hat, crash, and ride.

Keep in mind that because the cymbals will represent the drummer’s vocal range or voice, you

will see that there are so many different types that have been added to a cymbal selection.

Here are the different cymbals available and also a brief explanation of its function.

The hi-hat is considered to be the time keeper. It’s basically a pair of cymbals that is attached

to a stand. With a pedal, the drummer will be able to raise and lower the top cymbal.

The ride is another type of cymbal. This is the largest cymbal in the group and it is also used for

time keeping. However, it will have a more open and fuller sound than the hi-hat.

The crash is another type of cymbal that is used for emphasis. Another type of cymbal is called

the splash. This is the smallest cymbal in the crash family and this particular cymbal produces a

lower volume voice.

Another member of the crash family is the china. This produces a sharp voice, which can be

described as trashy.

There are also other types of cymbals available for sale in the market today. Different cymbals

produce different effects. There are even oriental gongs, cowbells, and even drum bells.

By experimenting with cymbals while you play the drums, you will be able to come up with

your own unique sound and identity, which will really set you apart from other drummers.

These are the factors that you need to consider when purchasing cymbals for your drum set.

By knowing about the different kinds of cymbals available, you will eventually be able to create

your very own music from your drums and also know what kind of music you want to play with

your drums.

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Play Drums Perfectly By Choosing the Right Cymbal for Your

Drum Set

Most basic drum sets that you can purchase on the market today will already come with

cymbals. Usually, it will include the ride, the crash, and the hi-hat cymbal along with the

hardware, such as the stands and pedals. However, the included cymbals available are really

that that good when it comes to quality in terms of sound and construction.

If you are serious about drumming, then you may want to try replacing these things with

better quality cymbals. Today, there are so many cymbals that you can choose from. If you are

just starting out as a drummer or you are considered as an intermediate level drummer, you

can be overwhelmed by the available choices.

You need to remember that you have to choose the right cymbal for the specific type of

musical genre you are playing. This means that you need to buy a cymbal that will sound good

to the type of music you play.

It’s really not easy to narrow down the type of cymbal that is perfect for you but you can

always do a little research about it.

Researching about the different types of cymbals is the best way to begin your search for the

perfect cymbal for your drum set. Today, thanks to the internet, there are numerous websites

that will tell you all about the different kinds of cymbals. In fact, you can even visit video

sharing websites and see people doing a demo on different kinds of cymbals.

Most of the popular cymbal manufacturers can provide you with listing of all the cymbal types

and what kind of music genre each cymbal is best suited for. Just make sure that you know

how the cymbal will sound before you buy online. Most websites that sell cymbals will provide

you with an audio clip that will help you determine how a specific cymbal they are selling

sounds like. Besides, you know that it’s really quite impossible to tell how a particular cymbal

will sound just by looking at the photo.

You should also keep in mind that the weight and the size of the cymbal as well as the material

that it is made out of can have an impact on its sound quality. This is why you need to know

about the weight and the material of the cymbal you are considering buying.

For example, a mid-weight cymbal is the perfect cymbal for you to start out. This way, you can

gauge the cymbal’s response to the type of drumming you do. Heavy cymbals will sound very

different from medium or light weight cymbals.

Once you determined the weight of the cymbal you need, you can start playing the cymbals

yourself. This is where you will start to identify the various sounds you create. So, you will

eventually know what kind of cymbal will complement your type of music.

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Keep in mind that heavy cymbals will have a brighter sound and will have a long sustain. On

the other hand, light cymbals will provide you with light sounds and less resonance.

If you play with rock music, then you will want to go for heavy rides and crashes in large sizes.

If you are in to jazz or contemporary music with that acoustic feel, smaller and lighter cymbals

will do.

These are the things that you need to remember when you are shopping for cymbals for your

drum set. As you can see, it’s really very easy to find the perfect cymbal for your music. By

knowing about the different cymbals available, you will be able to choose the right cymbal for

your drum set and also for the type of music you play.

7 Tips to Master Playing the Drums

If you want to learn how to play the drums, you need to have a good reason why you want to.

You have to know what motivates you to get drum lessons. You also have to find it very

interesting to join drum lesson classes.

If you always dreamed about playing this instrument but you never got the chance to do so

when you were younger, then you will see that drum lessons are for everybody who is willing

to learn.

Whatever your reasons are for learning how to play the drums, you have to remember that

you alone can identify to your goals and you alone have the power to achieve those goals you

set. So, here are some tips that will help you master the art of playing the drums. By following

these tips, you can be sure that you will be able to keep your enthusiasm alive and more

importantly, have fun learning to play this cool instrument.

Obviously, the first step is to get started with this one of a kind hobby. Search for reliable

music schools around your area or you can also find a professional who will be able to give you

private lessons. Or, you can also enroll in qualified online websites that offer drum lessons.

Whichever you choose, make sure that you choose one that works for you and one that you

are comfortable with.

The next step is to identify what you need. Visit your nearest music store and look around for a

drum kit. Get a professional drummer to advice you on what kind of drum set you need. You

also need to get advice on the type of drum sticks you need as a beginner drummer. By

knowing about what is required of you, you will then be able to find it easy to get the things

you need to start playing the drums.

You also have to keep in mind that learning how to play the drums is not just about dexterity

and the coordination of your hand and feet movements but it is also about using your listening

skills.

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You also have to remember that learning how to play the drums takes time and patience. You

need to go through the process. Besides, you can’t expect to play the drums just like Lars

Ulrich of Metallica or Travis Barker of Blink 182 after just one or two lessons. It takes years of

hard work in order for you to play like these guys and really rock hard.

You need to study and review the lessons that have been given to you. By exercising the

lessons you learned, you will eventually master it and keep your skills fresh.

The sixth tip that you should remember is to practice. You may know about theories but if you

don’t apply it, nothing will happen to your drumming.

Lastly, stay motivated. This may be the simplest to do but it’s actually the hardest thing to

maintain. Some people give up after a few lessons because they simply can’t play the drums

like they wanted to in the beginning.

By keeping these things in mind, you will be able to master the art of playing drums. With

these 7 tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a great drummer.

Basic Drum Kit Tuning: Never Play Out Of Tune Drums Ever Again

As a drummer, you need to remember that playing the drums is not just about hitting and

banging the drum heads and cymbals. Well, for the most part it is, but if you really want to

produce great music, then you need to know how to accurately tune your drum kit. You have

to remember that nothing can make the drums sound better than by tightly tuning the drums

first.

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With an accurately tuned drum set, even the average drummer can sound really good. This is

why you have to learn how to tune your drums. By doing so, you will eventually increase the

level of your performance.

As you may already know, the basic drum set will include a snare drum, a bass, tom-toms, and

cymbals, such as the hi-hats, crash, and ride cymbals. When tuning your drum set, you may

want to start with the snare drum. Tuning the snare drum is considered to be very precarious

as the heads of this drum is known to bust easily.

To tune the snare drum, start by tuning the top head. Turn the lug with your drum key

clockwise to increase the tension, and counter clockwise to release the tension. When you

tighten the tension, you will produce a higher pitch and vice versa. To test the sound, tap on

the drum about two inches from the lug you just tightened or loosened. The second lug that

you should tighten should be the opposite lug to the first one you just tightened. When you hit

the drum near the second lug you tightened, it should sound similar to the first one you

turned. The third lug you should adjust should be the one next to the first lug you tightened

the next should be the opposite lug and so on up until you have tightened the entire lugs.

You can tune the tom-toms next if you want. You need to remember that the toms have the

most noticeable rendering of pitch, which means that it is very important for you to really do a

good job in tuning these types of drums. Use the same alternating technique you used when

you tuned your snare drum. After you get the bottom head to have equal tension, you can

now tune the head, which is how you will adjust the pitch of the sound. Try to match the pitch

with a piano, a pitch pipe or you can also match the pitch with a guitar.

After tuning your tom-toms, you can now move on to the bass drum. You have to start by

tuning the head. The pitch can be tuned by adjusting the lugs on the back head. The sound of

the bass drum will vary on the style of music you play as well as the other instruments your

friends play with you, such as the guitar and bass.

Knowing how to tune your drums will definitely improve the way you play your drums. It will

progress the way you sound and it will also increase your performance when you are playing

with the band.

Warm Up Exercises to Play the Drums

If you are a drummer, you need to remember that before you start playing, you should first do

warm up exercises. Generally, warm up exercises for playing the drums will involve drum

rudiments or chops. However, if you really want your body to be prepared when playing the

drums, you also need to prepare yourself physically.

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You have to keep in mind that drumming can be very strenuous on the body. By warming up

first, you will be able to play for hours while keeping your body relaxed. If you don’t warm up

your body before you start playing the drums, you will not last long in playing the drums as the

body will tense up and show signs of fatigue.

So, here are some of the warm up exercises that you need to do before you start playing the

drums. By doing these warm up exercises, you will eventually be ready to do long hours of

drumming.

The first thing that you need to do is do breathing warm ups. This is an important part of drum

playing as it will keep your body relaxed. Take slow, deep breaths and make sure that you fill

the lungs with air. Then, you have to slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this exercise 5

times and it will not really matter if you are standing up or sitting down when doing breathing

exercises.

You also have to do head warm ups. This will relax your neck muscles. To begin, you have to be

in a standing position and tilt your head downwards. Make sure that your chin touches your

chest. Then, tilt your head upwards as far as it can go. Do this 10 times. Then, you need to turn

your head side to side and repeat this 10 times as well.

Warming up your torso is also important in drum playing. To do this, get your hands in front of

you and interlock your fingers with both hands keeping them near the chest. With your elbows

pointing outward, raise your arms until they are level to the ground. In this position, gently

twist the torso from left to right. Repeat this 10 times.

You also have to warm up your fingers. To warm up your fingers, place them on a flat surface

and spread your fingers apart. Begin stretching as if you are reaching for something. Whenever

you are stretching, count up to 5 seconds and then relax. Repeat the process 5 times.

Also, you need to warm up your legs. In a standing position with the feet together, raise your

right leg up as high as it goes. Try to get your knees to touch your chest and bring it back down.

Do the same with the other leg. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each leg.

After warming up, you can start the drum playing warm up, which is basically doing the

rudiments. Once you are comfortable and relaxed, you can start playing the drums. You will

see that warming up before playing the drums will be able to get you to play the drums longer

and also let you play the drums at a very relaxed way.

Drum Rudiments and Why They Are Important

Learning to play the drums is not as easy as it may seem. If you can’t get yourself to play by

ear, then you will need to go through the basics of playing the drums. When you are learning

how to play the drums, you need to remember that it is very important to learn about the

grooves and beats. However, it is also important to know the rudiments of drum playing.

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So, what are the drum rudiments? For starters, you need to keep in mind that this is one of the

most important things to learn when you are learning how to play the drums. This is basically

the reason why they are called rudiments.

You have to remember that the drum rudiments are the foundation to anything that you will

play on the drums. To master the drum rudiments, you will need lots of time and also a lot of

practice. Also, after developing a great rudiment technique, you still need to practice it often.

All in all, there are 26 American rudiments. You need to learn the flam, three stroke ruff, flam

tap, paradiddle, five stroke roll, and the ratamacue just to name a few. These are just some of

the few rudiments that you will use frequently when you are playing the drums. By practicing

the drum rudiments, you will gain speed and endurance when playing the drums. Also, they

are great for practical use.

When playing the drum rudiments, it is highly recommended that you practice three of them

for one week in order for you to master them. On the next week, play another three drum

rudiments and practice the three rudiments you mastered a week before, and so on.

Whenever you are practicing the drum rudiments, try to practice them by starting out slow

and gradually gain speed when playing them. By practicing the drum rudiments this way, you

will be able to condition your hand and also practice in building your vocabulary of the

rudiments. Mastering the drum rudiments will enable you to play just about any song you will

want to play.

Practicing the drum rudiments will not even require you to practice them on an actual drum

set. You can practice them just about anywhere. You can practice them in the office, in your

car, in school, and even while you are sitting on the couch watching TV. In fact, you don’t even

need to have sticks to practice them. But, practicing with the sticks is much better as you will

know how the sticks will feel in your hand when playing the drum rudiments.

Using the drum pad is a great way to practice drum rudiments. It’s not as loud as the real

drums, and it is also very portable. The drum pad will also let you feel like you are playing with

the real thing.

Always remember that without learning the drum rudiments, there wouldn’t be any

drumming. So, by practicing and mastering the drum rudiments, you will eventually have an

easier time playing the drums. Remember these tips and you will eventually start playing the

drums like a pro in no time at all.

Learn How To Play Drums through Online Drum Lessons

In the past, learning how to play the drums would be very hard. There weren’t really any

instructors that will teach you how to play the drums and in most cases, you will need to learn

how to play this instrument by yourself using only your ears to learn a particular song.

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Today, you will find plenty of professional drummers who are now offering drum lessons for

people who are interested in learning how to play the drums. In fact, even the internet can

teach you how to play the drums.

If you want to learn how to play the drums, you’ll be glad to know that the internet can now

provide you with beginner drum lessons. Learning how to play the drums through the internet

is a great way for you to start learning how to play this instrument. Why?

First off is the price. It’s much cheaper to learn online than having a professional visit your

home and teach you how to play the drums. You need to keep in mind that these professional

drummers charge by the hour when they teach you how to play the drums.

If you compare the amount of money that you need to spend, you will find that there really is a

big difference between online drum lessons ad having a professional drummer to teach you

how to play the drums.

You need to remember that the internet is filled with valuable information when it comes to

learning how to play the drums. In fact, you can even access most of the information for free.

There are websites that provide lessons for free. In video sharing websites, such as YouTube,

you will find that there are plenty of beginner drum lessons that are available. You can access

these videos for free and really learn a lot from them. Some videos will also give you tips on

how to play the drums and also learn about the different techniques in playing the drums that

are not usually taught in traditional drum lessons.

There are also websites that offer live online tutorials. In addition to that, there are also

websites that offer DVDs for sale that are entirely dedicated to teaching anyone how to play

the drums. These DVDs will provide you with all the information you need to start learning

drum playing.

There may be some advantages that traditional drum tutorials have over online drum lessons,

such as being able to interact with the person teaching you and getting them to correct your

mistakes, but you will find that the perks that online drum lessons provide outweighs these

advantages.

It is basically cheaper and you can easily figure out the mistakes you make when playing the

drums. You just need to be aware of how you play and you have to follow every lesson.

More people are now using the internet to learn many different skills, such as playing the

drums. If you are planning to learn how to play the drums, you can easily gain access to

beginner drum lessons on the internet. It’s a lot cheaper than getting a professional drummer

to teach you personally and through online drum lessons you can learn how to play the drums

at your own pace.

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Last but not least, if you are a future or active drummer, make sure to join a large and very

active community on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/drums.outlet

- Submit a picture of your kit and see the feed-back you get from other drummers

- Ask other drummers for advice

- Tell your drumming story to the world

- Get your drum cover posted and seen by thousands of people

- See other drummers’ kits and get ideas for your own set-up

- And much more!

SEE YOU ON THE INSIDE!