3 pieces of drumming advice you'd give yourself as a beginner

[porkpieguy]

If you could go back in time, what are your top three pieces of advice you would give to your beginner-self regarding playing drums?

[Johnny G]

1) Do not recover your 1968 Sonor bop kit in black!! It will be worth tons if you keep it the original blue swirl, stupid! (Still can't believe I did that.)

2) Practice independent coordination and open-handed playing a lot more.

3) Start playing double pedal right away so your feet can match your hands. Not to ignore hi-hat technique, just add the double kick stuff, too. (Instead of taking it on after 30 years of playing single pedal and sucking like crazy all over again.)

[late8]

1. practice
2. practice hard
3. practice often

[drummer5359]

I don't think that I have three pieces of advice. I'm sort of unique in that I've had three separate instances of beginning to play drums. (I'll explain.)

I was originally self taught. I started lessons after I had been playing drums about nine years and playing in bands for three. I wish that I could have started out with a good teacher and not had to fix bad habits that long after starting to play. That period was my first time to actually learn to play.

After I had my motorcycle accident in 1991, it took me a long time to get my playing back to where it was before the accident. I worked mainly on posture and the mechanics of playing, which had a profound effect on my playing. It wasn't that I didn't know how to play, but it took a while to develop muscle memory after the accident. Looking back at it, my playing was at it's highest level as far as chops goes.

In 2008 I had a series of strokes. This was entirely different in that I truly had to start at the beginning. The good news is that this time I had specific goals in my playing. It was no longer about chops for me. This time I focused more on time and feel. Although I am no longer able to play as flashy as I once could, I do not see this as a negative. I believe that in the end I support the song better than I ever did.

Drumming to me is not about a destination, but a journey.

[Sticks4drums]

Buy a good kit with good edges, and new heads

Learn how to tune

Take lessons from a seasoned teacher. If you don't like him, find one you do.

I have a fourth one. Don't spend too much time on these silly drum sites. You will waste lots of time, and never get any better at the drums.

[porkpieguy]

I know for me:

1. Buy the used 4-piece set of DW's instead of the new 5-piece set of Tama Rockstars (they were about the same price).

2. Try to enjoy each and every gig you play because this time does not last forever. Believe it or not, someday you will no longer be able to hang out with really great friends playing music every weekend. Everyone you'll play with with eventually get married off (some multiple times), get normal jobs, and raise families. A time will come, believe it or not, in which you will go through some pretty extended seasons without playing a single note. Enjoy having the drive you have, and enjoy each gig and every friendship you will make. There will come a time where you will go years without seeing people that mean so much to you right now. Enjoy your time because life changes.

3. Read Confessions of a Record Producer by Moses Avalon.


Twice.

[N2Bluz]

Buy a good kit with good edges, and new heads

Learn how to tune

Take lessons from a seasoned teacher. If you don't like him, find one you do.

I have a fourth one. Don't spend too much time on these silly drum sites. You will waste lots of time, and never get any better at the drums.

You mean this doesn't count as practice time ?

In all honesty, I think being on this forum has made me a better drummer. Knowing that there are others, much better than I am, who approach playing the same as I do has given me more confidence. More than that, it's caused me to develop a level of passion for drums and drumming that I didn't have before. All thanks to people like yourself.

[Ricardo]

3) Start playing double pedal right away so your feet can match your hands. Not to ignore hi-hat technique, just add the double kick stuff, too. (Instead of taking it on after 30 years of playing single pedal and sucking like crazy all over again.)

I agree with Johnny's # 3 above............great advice.

My other advice is this :
Do the "daily dozen" drill every day;
Practice on doubles every day (or as Ginger Baker says.............
Mommy Daddy, Mommy Daddy, Mommy Daddy...............)

[SpazApproved]

1) Never stop practicing

2) Books are useful tools

3) Play out as much as you can

[kay-gee]

1. Don't

2. Learn guitar, flute, harmonica...anything else. When you're old, the schlepping will be a pain in the rear end

3. Learn to sing. It will increase your musical intiutions.

all the best...

[MDK]

1) Do not sell your 1st kit (Sonor)

2) Take lessons and practice a few months longer (atleast 8 months) before even thinking of joining a band.

3) Do not get stuck playing one style of music only. ( I am pretty much 4/4 rock and that's about it)

[8beat]

1) Buy new drum heads for your kit
2) Buy good cymbals
3) Get that nice hi hat and stand that you wanted.

[SpazApproved]

1. Don't

2. Learn guitar, flute, harmonica...anything else. When you're old, the schlepping will be a pain in the rear end

3. Learn to sing. It will increase your musical intiutions.

all the best...

Haha I always wish I learned a smaller more compact instrument cause I hate packing up and setting up the kit every weekend

[gdmoore28]

1. Find a good teacher, and learn to read music

2. Learn the rudiments and practice them every day

3. Have a LOT more confidence that if the other guys can do it, so can you.

GeeDeeEmm

[rickthedrummer]

(1) Start playing at 9 years old instead of 10.

(2) Make a attempt to understand guitar players, but

(3) Whatever you do, don't talk to them because they know more about drumming than we do.

[crispycritters]

1. Practice frequently (try a 50/50 balance between practicing and 'playing')

2. Set up your drums for comfort - not looks.

3. Don't tense up - try to relax.

[Texdrumr]

Buy a used intermediate level shell pack for your drums.
Buy cymbals seperately, not as part of an all-in-one kit.
Take lessons.

[CB700]

Practice more and learn how to hit cymbal correctly with out braking them.
found a band sooner than 43. More like a teenager.
buy a better kit.

[inthpktplayer]

Practice
Practice more
Practice even more

[Kazaamski]

Chicks don't care about crazy time signatures

Axe is not a post gig shower in a can

If chick's can't dance to your songs, then they won't be interested in coming to your shows.

[SunDog]

Learn your rudiments (self taught)
Learn double bass (back when I started this required two)
Hook up with the hot chick from that festival you play! (missed opportunity)

[Northern Redneck]

Meter is everything.
Dont sell your granstars.
Dont tell Philip Bierk he's a douchebag and to not call you again lol

[Markadiddle]

Meter is everything.
Dont sell your granstars.
Dont tell Philip Bierk he's a douchebag and to not call you again lol

Philip Bierk? Oh you mean that crazy dude.... Sebastian Bach. LOL!

[NPYYZ]

1. Don't play an E kit only, always play acoustic drums as well.
2. Save the alcohol consumption for AFTER the gig, not before and during.
3. If you find a band you really like stick with them, don't move on just for the money.

My 3 biggest mistakes right there.

[Northern Redneck]

Philip Bierk? Oh you mean that crazy dude.... Sebastian Bach. LOL!

Jammed once when we were both in school.