Teaching myself drums

I want to learn drums but dont really have the time(or money)for lessons is there a good site or book or something to help me out? What do you suggest?

I want to learn drums but dont really have the time(or money)for lessons is there a good site or book or something to help me out? What do you suggest?

Echo_742

If you can't get help like that, then free style is the best way to go. Read up on styles of different drummers, pay close attention to songs with drumming. You have to adapt and learn beats, melody's, articulations, and so much more. Its very over whelming if you learn it by yourself and usually discourages a majority of beginners.

Drumming can be very hard to get into, its not just about "hitting" notes to sound right, its about giving music a heart. To learn how to drum correctly takes not only years of dedication but also years of knowledge and practice. Adapt your own style, learn from it, learn from others, take things very slowly and be patient. And most importantly have fun with it, get into the music you are doing. It helps with the process and reminds you how amazing music can be.

youtube maybeTrav57

[QUOTE="Echo_742"]

I want to learn drums but dont really have the time(or money)for lessons is there a good site or book or something to help me out? What do you suggest?

mexicangordo

If you can't get help like that, then free style is the best way to go. Read up on styles of different drummers, pay close attention to songs with drumming. You have to adapt and learn beats, melody's, articulations, and so much more. Its very over whelming if you learn it by yourself and usually discourages a majority of beginners.

Drumming can be very hard to get into, its not just about "hitting" notes to sound right, its about giving music a heart. To learn how to drum correctly takes not only years of dedication but also years of knowledge and practice. Adapt your own style, learn from it, learn from others, take things very slowly and be patient. And most importantly have fun with it, get into the music you are doing. It helps with the process and reminds you how amazing music can be.

Very well said!

I'm sure lessons are the best way, but i simply cannot afford it, are there any other ideas?

I am a self-taught drummer of almost 2 years and I plan to continue. All I did was buy a decent kit, and just listen to and watch a lot of music and try a play what they played. Of course, being self taugh you inevitably develop quite a few bad habits (which is the benefit of having a teacher at the start) but honestly I am having tonnes of fun and I am at a decent skill level, so it is definitely possible to self teach. Just keep at it, because it doesn't come instantly. It's worth it though!

[QUOTE="mexicangordo"]

[QUOTE="Echo_742"]

I want to learn drums but dont really have the time(or money)for lessons is there a good site or book or something to help me out? What do you suggest?

pianist

If you can't get help like that, then free style is the best way to go. Read up on styles of different drummers, pay close attention to songs with drumming. You have to adapt and learn beats, melody's, articulations, and so much more. Its very over whelming if you learn it by yourself and usually discourages a majority of beginners.

Drumming can be very hard to get into, its not just about "hitting" notes to sound right, its about giving music a heart. To learn how to drum correctly takes not only years of dedication but also years of knowledge and practice. Adapt your own style, learn from it, learn from others, take things very slowly and be patient. And most importantly have fun with it, get into the music you are doing. It helps with the process and reminds you how amazing music can be.

Very well said!

No joke either...

YouTube?

I'm sure lessons are the best way, but i simply cannot afford it, are there any other ideas?

Echo_742

Are you in school? The suggestion of joining the school band is a good one, because you will get free instruction as a result. At least that's how it worked in my high school when I attended a decade ago. :lol:

[QUOTE="Echo_742"]

I'm sure lessons are the best way, but i simply cannot afford it, are there any other ideas?

pianist

Are you in school? The suggestion of joining the school band is a good one, because you will get free instruction as a result. At least that's how it worked in my high school when I attended a decade ago. :lol:

I've been playing drumset for 21 years, and I played tinners (quints) in high school. Usually, if you have no musical experience or experience with your instrument at all, they won't even let you join the band. He needs to get lessons outside of school.

And having witnessed people who exclusively taught themselves how to play drums, take my word for it...it's the worst thing you can do. You will have no way of learning to read music, no way to learn proper technique (which I would venture to say is more important on drums than any other instrument), and you won't learn the proper rhythmic building blocks that should ideally serve as the foundation for everything you will learn to play in the future. In short, if you ever want be a respectable drummer in the eyes of other respectable musicians, do not teach yourself how to play drums. Put it off, get lessons, and do it right.

look up "how to blast beat" on youtube. also how to double bass.nimatoad2000

No.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="Echo_742"]

I'm sure lessons are the best way, but i simply cannot afford it, are there any other ideas?

Mark_the_Lie

Are you in school? The suggestion of joining the school band is a good one, because you will get free instruction as a result. At least that's how it worked in my high school when I attended a decade ago. :lol:

I've been playing drumset for 21 years, and I played tinners (quints) in high school. Usually, if you have no musical experience or experience with your instrument at all, they won't even let you join the band. He needs to get lessons outside of school.

And having witnessed people who exclusively taught themselves how to play drums, take my word for it...it's the worst thing you can do. You will have no way of learning to read music, no way to learn proper technique (which I would venture to say is more important on drums than any other instrument), and you won't learn the proper rhythmic building blocks that should ideally serve as the foundation for everything you will learn to play in the future. In short, if you ever want be a respectable drummer in the eyes of other respectable musicians, do not teach yourself how to play drums. Put it off, get lessons, and do it right.

I disagree with everything you have said. I don't know why you are so anti self-taught, perhaps you are trying to justify the necessaity of lessons to youself or maybe you are a teacher I don't know, but it isn't good advice at all because a) He already said lessons are out of the question and b) Your advice just appears be bashing the self-taught way and not actually anything conrete that can help him.

I am self-taught for 2 years and I can read music very easily, as well as understand all drum rudiments, have a grasp of time signatures and many other musical concepts. It is not like drum teachers have some amazing knowledge that only they know and they won't tell anyone else. All of this stuff is easily available online if you just take a small amount of time to sit and learn.

[QUOTE="Mark_the_Lie"]

[QUOTE="pianist"]

Are you in school? The suggestion of joining the school band is a good one, because you will get free instruction as a result. At least that's how it worked in my high school when I attended a decade ago. :lol:

PerilousWolf

I've been playing drumset for 21 years, and I played tinners (quints) in high school. Usually, if you have no musical experience or experience with your instrument at all, they won't even let you join the band. He needs to get lessons outside of school.

And having witnessed people who exclusively taught themselves how to play drums, take my word for it...it's the worst thing you can do. You will have no way of learning to read music, no way to learn proper technique (which I would venture to say is more important on drums than any other instrument), and you won't learn the proper rhythmic building blocks that should ideally serve as the foundation for everything you will learn to play in the future. In short, if you ever want be a respectable drummer in the eyes of other respectable musicians, do not teach yourself how to play drums. Put it off, get lessons, and do it right.

I disagree with everything you have said. I don't know why you are so anti self-taught, perhaps you are trying to justify the necessaity of lessons to youself or maybe you are a teacher I don't know, but it isn't good advice at all because a) He already said lessons are out of the question and b) Your advice just appears be bashing the self-taught way and not actually anything conrete that can help him.

I am self-taught for 2 years and I can read music very easily, as well as understand all drum rudiments, have a grasp of time signatures and many other musical concepts. It is not like drum teachers have some amazing knowledge that only they know and they won't tell anyone else. All of this stuff is easily available online if you just take a small amount of time to sit and learn.

Then you happen to be a very, very rare exception. I do indeed teach percussion, and I've seen more "self-taught" kids than I can count. Though you may have some mastery of musical concepts, I would not go so far as to say you did just as well as you would have with lessons. In my experience, which is vast, trained musicians are on a completely different level from self-taught musicians. Not only do they, in the case of drums, have an understanding of time signatures, rudiments, reading, etc., they understand much more thoroughly how all of those concepts are inherently linked through theory and composition, and they are able to map percussion patterns much more effectively by applying those concepts in a practical way to their playing.

I'm not trying to discredit you but, despite what you may believe, I just don't think you quite understand the scope of what I'm talking about. Of course, the only way I would know that would be to see you write and play something though. I'm glad you were able to teach yourself some sense of musical awareness. Again, you're a 1% minority in that respect. For the other 99%, lessons are unquestionably the way to go.

[QUOTE="nimatoad2000"]look up "how to blast beat" on youtube. also how to double bass.Mark_the_Lie

yes.

[QUOTE="Mark_the_Lie"]

[QUOTE="nimatoad2000"]look up "how to blast beat" on youtube. also how to double bass.nimatoad2000

No.

No, they will not.

[QUOTE="nimatoad2000"][QUOTE="Mark_the_Lie"]

yes.

Mark_the_Lie

yes, they will.

yeah, very good for extending your legs and arms endurance over long songs and definately speed.

this is a cool video of a cover that shows a very skilled player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xCAF2liO9o

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="Echo_742"]

I'm sure lessons are the best way, but i simply cannot afford it, are there any other ideas?

Mark_the_Lie

Are you in school? The suggestion of joining the school band is a good one, because you will get free instruction as a result. At least that's how it worked in my high school when I attended a decade ago. :lol:

I've been playing drumset for 21 years, and I played tinners (quints) in high school. Usually, if you have no musical experience or experience with your instrument at all, they won't even let you join the band. He needs to get lessons outside of school.

And having witnessed people who exclusively taught themselves how to play drums, take my word for it...it's the worst thing you can do. You will have no way of learning to read music, no way to learn proper technique (which I would venture to say is more important on drums than any other instrument), and you won't learn the proper rhythmic building blocks that should ideally serve as the foundation for everything you will learn to play in the future. In short, if you ever want be a respectable drummer in the eyes of other respectable musicians, do not teach yourself how to play drums. Put it off, get lessons, and do it right.

Oh, trust me, I'm not a fan of self study. And I too have regular experience with the results of this form of learning. As such, I've always been a proponent of seeking lessons from a qualified instructor. As far as I'm concerned, it's by far the best way to learn to play an instrument well (assuming you study with someone competent), and the ONLY realistic way to learn to play to a modern day professional standard within a reasonable time frame in certain fields, such as cIassical (my specialization). However, I think he should definitely look into the high school option. I'm not saying it WILL be a possibility, but you never know if you don't ask. And if money is an issue for him, that's the best way to try to get some free instruction. It's a simple truth that not everyone has the money for private lessons, and to be denied music altogether on account of that is even less ideal than finding some enjoyment in self study.

His goals are a very important part of this decision. The simple truth is that most people are not interested in playing to a high standard. They just want to play some easy music for fun, don't want to work especially hard, and have no interest in making music a major part of their lives. For these people, self study is a better option than expensive private lessons, because frankly the lessons will be wasted on a person who is not willing to commit even an hour a day to practice.

I am self-taught for 2 years and I can read music very easily, as well as understand all drum rudiments, have a grasp of time signatures and many other musical concepts. It is not like drum teachers have some amazing knowledge that only they know and they won't tell anyone else. All of this stuff is easily available online if you just take a small amount of time to sit and learn.

PerilousWolf

The big problem is that you can't sit down and learn to play an instrument by reading about it. The most important thing a music instructor offers you is a second set of eyes and ears, and far more experienced sets to boot. So he or she will notice that your shoulders are tensing up when you're busy focusing on trying to hit the right drum at the right time. Or he/she will save you the agony of finding the best way to play a certain passage through trial and error by showing you what the best way is - which ironically will often NOT feel like the best way to play the passage until you've practiced it. And then later on, he or she can be your mentor and guide as you use the technical skills you have slowly developed to delve into musical interpretation and a sense of style. Again, there is a great deal that you miss in your own playing - perhaps something that becomes more apparent as you hone your listening skills and then hear yourself in recordings.

Basically, an instructor is there to actively work through the process with you, and that is not something that can be obtained in any book or Youtube video. I've taught piano to a great many people, and the most interesting thing I've noticed is that although there are common goals you are trying to achieve with them, all of them come to you with different strengths and weaknesses. And they learn in different ways. A video or a book can not tailor its lessons to an individual, and that, for me, is by far the greatest fault with the self study route.

...Does Rockband drums help any?

...Does Rockband drums help any?

Sliceofevil

I hear it can actually help give you a headstart prior to taking lessons.

It DOES train you for the limb separation (minus one leg) and it DOES teach you some basic beats.

IDK though, I was confident in my rock band drumming abilities till I started looking at drumming videos and came across this lesson. I would have never figured such a technique out on my own and now feel I will need lessons once I get myself a kit.

Drumming can be very hard to get into, its not just about "hitting" notes to sound right, its about giving music a heart. mexicangordo

[QUOTE="Sliceofevil"]

...Does Rockband drums help any?

LostProphetFLCL

I hear it can actually help give you a headstart prior to taking lessons.

It DOES train you for the limb separation (minus one leg) and it DOES teach you some basic beats.

IDK though, I was confident in my rock band drumming abilities till I started looking at drumming videos and came across this lesson. I would have never figured such a technique out on my own and now feel I will need lessons once I get myself a kit.

[QUOTE="LostProphetFLCL"]

[QUOTE="Sliceofevil"]

...Does Rockband drums help any?

Lockedge

I hear it can actually help give you a headstart prior to taking lessons.

It DOES train you for the limb separation (minus one leg) and it DOES teach you some basic beats.

IDK though, I was confident in my rock band drumming abilities till I started looking at drumming videos and came across this lesson. I would have never figured such a technique out on my own and now feel I will need lessons once I get myself a kit.

Yeah like I said after watching that vid I definitely feel the need for lessons once I get a kit. I already have timing down pat (was in band at school including marching band for 2 years which forces you to be great at timing) but I know theres quite a bit of difference between real-kit drumming and the rock band kit as there is many different techniques you can use on a real kit that you can't quite do on the rock band kit (mainly bass drum stuff).

I will say that I stumbled upon a great tool for one learning drums. That guy seems to know his stuff well and is really impressive on the drums. I have been surfing his vids since I posted my last post.

[QUOTE="Lockedge"][QUOTE="LostProphetFLCL"]

I hear it can actually help give you a headstart prior to taking lessons.

It DOES train you for the limb separation (minus one leg) and it DOES teach you some basic beats.

IDK though, I was confident in my rock band drumming abilities till I started looking at drumming videos and came across this lesson. I would have never figured such a technique out on my own and now feel I will need lessons once I get myself a kit.

LostProphetFLCL

Yeah like I said after watching that vid I definitely feel the need for lessons once I get a kit. I already have timing down pat (was in band at school including marching band for 2 years which forces you to be great at timing) but I know theres quite a bit of difference between real-kit drumming and the rock band kit as there is many different techniques you can use on a real kit that you can't quite do on the rock band kit (mainly bass drum stuff).

I will say that I stumbled upon a great tool for one learning drums. That guy seems to know his stuff well and is really impressive on the drums. I have been surfing his vids since I posted my last post.

Yes lessons will help drastically. And yes, there are phenomenal drummers out there who are self taught. BUT if you are only going to play rock music, DON'T WORRY. Because you don't need to be that good anyways. YAY.

Start with this, it's the bible:

Like the title says, it focuses on stick control, and all great drummers have gone through it.

Also focus on the fundamentals. Because a lot of drummers don't have them. And if you learn them then you will be better than them. There are tons of other books and programs which will help. Examples are Chapin's "Advanced swing solo's for the modern drummer"(which you should start after you have learned a natural swing groove. The books a ****) and "Rock Steady Drum Patterns" which is a nice doable but can be challengingbook when learning which will help with the standard rock groove.

[QUOTE="LostProphetFLCL"]

[QUOTE="Lockedge"] Limb separation(which is quite useful), but while it kinda teaches basic beats in the drum instructor, rock band kits don't really teach timing(as there's always that leeway afforded). So lessons would be the way to go. And a metronome, always. :PLockedge

Yeah like I said after watching that vid I definitely feel the need for lessons once I get a kit. I already have timing down pat (was in band at school including marching band for 2 years which forces you to be great at timing) but I know theres quite a bit of difference between real-kit drumming and the rock band kit as there is many different techniques you can use on a real kit that you can't quite do on the rock band kit (mainly bass drum stuff).

I will say that I stumbled upon a great tool for one learning drums. That guy seems to know his stuff well and is really impressive on the drums. I have been surfing his vids since I posted my last post.

Yeah he is REALLY good.

I really like this technique and wish I had a kit to try it on. Don't think I could use it on my rock band kit....