Learn to play the drums: Beginner lessons
Learn to play the drums: Beginner lessons
Learning to play the drums is a fun and rewarding experience, but it can be daunting to know where to start. Here are some beginner lessons to help you get on your way:
1. Get the right gear.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on drums to get started. A good beginner drum kit will include a snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and a hi-hat. You’ll also need a pair of drum sticks.
When choosing a drum kit, it’s important to consider your budget and your needs. If you’re not sure what kind of drum kit to get, ask a salesperson for help.
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2. Set up your kit.
Once you have your gear, it’s time to set up your kit. There are many different ways to set up a drum kit, but here’s a basic layout:
- Place the snare drum in front of you, with the cymbals to the left and right.
- Place the bass drum behind you.
- Place the hi-hat to the left of the snare drum.
You can also adjust the height and angle of each drum to fit your comfort level.
3. Learn the basic grips.
There are two basic drum grips: matched grip and traditional grip. In matched grip, both hands hold the sticks in the same way. In traditional grip, the left hand holds the stick upside down.
Most beginners start with matched grip, but there’s no right or wrong answer. Experiment with both grips to see which one feels more comfortable for you.
4. Learn the basic rudiments.
Rudiments are the building blocks of drumming. They’re simple exercises that help you develop your coordination and technique.
Some basic rudiments include:
- Single paradiddle: RLRR LRLL
- Double paradiddle: RRLL RRLL
- Flam: R-L LR-L
- Drag: RLR LRL
- Ratamacue: RLLLRLLR
You can find many different rudiment exercises online and in drum books.
5. Start playing basic beats.
Once you’ve learned some basic rudiments, you can start playing basic beats. A basic beat is a simple pattern of drum hits that is used in many different songs.
A common basic beat is the quarter-note beat:
Hi-hat: 1-2-3-4
Snare drum: 2-4
Bass drum: 1-3
You can also try playing different eighth-note beats. For example, here is a simple eighth-note beat:
Hi-hat: 1-e-&-a 2-e-&-a 3-e-&-a 4-e-&-a
Snare drum: on the 2 and 4
Bass drum: on the 1 and 3
There are many different basic beats that you can learn. Once you’ve learned a few basic beats, you can start playing along with your favorite songs.
Watch the below video to learn 5 Easy songs for beginners:
6. Practice regularly.
The best way to learn to play the drums is to practice regularly. Try to practice for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
As you get better, you can start learning more complex beats and rudiments. You can also start playing along with more challenging songs.
Watch the following video to for 5 Beginner drum techniques:
7. Find a drum teacher.
If you’re serious about learning to play the drums, consider taking lessons from a drum teacher. A good drum teacher can help you learn the basics of drumming and develop your technique.
A drum teacher can also help you learn how to read music and how to improvise.
Find a drum teacher near your location.
8. Have fun!
Playing the drums should be fun. If you’re not enjoying yourself, you’re less likely to stick with it.
So relax, have fun, and enjoy the journey of learning to play the drums.
Here are some additional tips for beginner drummers:
- Focus on developing good technique. This includes things like learning how to hold the sticks correctly, how to hit the drums with good form, and how to maintain a steady beat.
- Learn the different parts of the drum kit. What is a snare drum, a bass drum, a cymbal, etc.? What do they all sound like?
- Learn how to play basic drum beats. There are many different types of drum beats, but some basic ones to learn include the quarter-note beat, the eighth-note beat, and the rock beat.
- Start playing along with your favorite songs. This is a great way to practice your skills and have fun at the same time.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes