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New Practice Tips

   There are a lot of ways to improve your drumming skills, but like you've heard from most, the best is practice. Practicing comes a lot easier to those who love to play, so if you don't enjoy playing--you won't be as good as you can be. Learn to have fun with the drums before you attempt anything extremely difficult to you.

   Some of the strategies I use is practicing until you sweat a lot and it hurts to swallow (about an INTENSE 45 minutes). Then I drink a lot of water, take a 5 minute break and continue. However, when practicing make sure that you do not do repetitive things. This is a mistake that I made and I regret.

   For instance: When you find a beat, like a cool double bass beat with toms or something that sounds awesome to you, and you love to play--don't keep playing it. Master it and then move on to more complex rhythms. Remember, you wont get any better if you practice things that you already know. Do the 26 rudiments every day for 30 minutes, even if you do them slowly. This way you will be able to move your hands around quicker and not having enough speed won't slow you down as much when attempting challenging rhythms.

   The most important thing though, is to play along with CD's and songs. On my iPod, I listen to a song that has awesome, and complex drumming and mimic what the drummer does, and use these techniques in other variations. Some good songs are:

Tool - Schism (especially the last minute)
Tool - Sober
Sevendust - Broken Down
Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons
Dream Theater - Home
Dream Theater - Pull Me Under
Dream Theater - The Dance of Eternity
Slipknot - (sic)
James LaBrie - Drained (last 20 seconds especially)

   And any song with odd time signatures. I learned all these at the age of 13 and it really helped me later on. Many of the double bass techniques and odd times make you an excellent drummer. Practice a lot, and never give up. A lot of times you will get angry (I know I do) so just stop playing for a few minutes and just do something fun, even if it's a simple 2/4 rock beat.

   Remember, just have fun with it.

    Kyle Tompkins


   In my 23 years as a gigging drummer the best advice on practice has been to keep it fun, play to various kinds of music not just your favourite band, get to know other drummers, we all have different skill levels, and approaches and I have learnt as much from new drummers as older drumers.

    Get the rudiments going but don't get bogged down in them, feel is as important as skill, skill will develop with use but feel (and time keeping!!!) will keep you in the band.

    Lawrence Pledger

    http://www.escapade.org.uk


   I am a Pittsburgh, PA American playing in a "Melodic Progressive Metal" band in Germany. My tips to practicing...before & after...begin with the following:

  1. Equipment: Use a long, thin felt under the right or left side head of your snare to dampen high ear-piercing overtones (especially all-metal chrome snares). Felt may be used on one headed toms also. Check & apply tightness of your snare screws after long time play. For cymbals: Make sure the wing nuts are screwed down to safe level.
  2. Mental/Physical: Think about what you desire to play. Master your rythms by applying strength to help keep an even volume balance & distiction between all drum sounds. If using wooden tip sticks, check tips for fragmented loss of wood after each session. Drink plenty of water during rigorous training. Use a sweatband(s) For..i.e.: to stop possible eye irritation, excessive hand wetness. Wear loose, lightweight clothing & change out of wet clothing during cold winter months(Depends where you live).
  3. Style: Be yourself. We all learn from others, but, develope a combination of all what you learn & apply to become original in your direction of drumming fashion. Learn to read drum notations to at least a small extent. Be patient. Try not to compare yourself with other drummers you know personally or on professional music CD,s. Do not be intimidated by what others may say negative about your playing. True drummers last a life time.
  4. In Closing: Get involved with musicians who play other instruments. Your playing ability strengthens during the practicing with others and may lead to rewarding live performances in any event.

   Thanx for listening. As I say in Europe.....ROCK ON!!! (Chuck West/Drummer: Liquid Horizon)

    Chuck West
    www.liquidhorizon.de


   If you're just starting out, play along with your favorite music. You'll learn the style of music you like. But for example if you like rock, try learning other styles of music such as reggae, or rap, or maybe even country. Just try to figure out the kinds of beats they use. Maybe you will find a beat you haven't heard in rock before.

   Also try to imagine a set of exactly what you want, or what you think you might want as your perfect kit. Imagine where the drums and cymbals will be. Trust me, by the time you have money for it it would have changed alot. But try playing just sitting by yourself on a chair, and picturing your kit. That can improve your muscle memory.

    Bobby James


   When playing with a band, no matter what style it is, keep it simple. Or at least try it. You could always go back to the original beat, but you'll never know how it would sound with a simple beat until you play it through at least once. Sometimes, that's all that a song needs. Some people like it when the drums are going nuts and filling every gap, but those are most likely the people that don't really understand music. I'll admit, some songs and styles definately call for that stuff, but don't overuse it. It just gets annoying and repetitive.

   The placement of the kick drum is, to me, one of the most crucial parts of the groove. Whenever I hear a kick beat that takes away from the music and is in the wrong spot, I just cringe because if only that person just changed it up even a little, it would sound a whole lot better.

   So to sum it all up, don't fill every gap. Let the other instruments have a turn to do a fancy fill or something. And keep the bass drum solid. Don't make it fancy unless it calls for it. I'm not going to say that I always leave every gap open and never put a bass drum in the wrong place, but I'm working on it and so should you.

   Thanks for listening and never give up. God Bless.

    Ben Marino


   Well, I listen to a song, prefably one with a drum beat (not some hip hop rubbish). Then I add to the beat and keep adding untill it souds like a totaly new beat that you have never play again. I also try to put a lot more fillings in to it and put 16ths and 32s in to it.

   Don't forget to keep practicing your paradiddles!!!!

    Peter Ruff


   Well some of the most important things in drumming is stick control. I'm sure you have heard me mention many times that it is important in my other tips. Stick control is obviously the control over your sticks. And yes also mallets and anyother sticks to drum. Email me for a better description.

    April Lara


   The very first thing I do when I sit down on my drum throne is play a couple of songs. Not necessarily the same songs everyday.. but I vary them between some Steely Dan to some Buddy Rich Tunes. And then I lay what my drum teacher has given me to work on or just some things that im really into. I also thinks it's important to listen to the music that you play so that you'll get an unlimited feel for the style you play. And to develope a good sense of versatility, I play along to several different types of genres... it'll really benefit you in the future.

    Mark M.


   My best practice tip would be to take 2 hours a day and divide the practice time in 20 minute increments. Each increment should comprise different style playing and techniques...you pick. Make 1 increment performing to a musical composition that requires perfect performance and reading. Make 1 20 minute increment performing a style of music you don't usually play like Latin, Jazz, Metal...etc...Try to take 20 minutes to just listen to a musical piece that inspires you. Take 20 minutes to perform syncopation, ostinatos, rudiments...etc... The list is long and there's always something to learn. The last 20 minutes can be spent by listening to a piece of music and breaking it down instrument by instrument and try to comprehend how it all fits together. Most importantly, please, please,.... always play to a metronome! HS Keep up with the Flams!

    Christophe Zatan D'ouaron


   When you double bass I have found if I keep going when it hurts; the burn goes away and you actuallly start to run the doubles pain free. So anytime your calfs or thighs burn, don't stop. Run though it. It will pay off in the end. Soon you'll have no pain at all.

    Spine


   Before setting down at your kit, remove any rings and/or wrist watches. This will give your hands an even balance.

    Ron Geraci


   I have to admit that my tip may seem a bit lame but just spend time playing your drums. Live with them if you must but spend time with them. I learned by just loving them and playing records and trying to sound like Ringo or Ginger Baker or Buddy Rich. Play, Play, Play and when you're sick of it, play some more. Later in life it will be like riding a bike, it will just be part of you.

    Lee Paulin


   well drumming takes a lot of dedication. it takes work and thats why sometimes people dont continu drumming. Sometimes you need to be encouraged. NEVER give up on becoming a eve better and faster drummer. Email for any help you guys need.

    April Lara


   drumming isn't fun ,it's about who is playing,how he us playing,how he got to knw how and what he is playing. remember escusses are the nails used to build the house of a failuar.practice all round researche,create,and think high drum thinking.email me if u fell like and i'm in for 'u'.if u can do practicing for hours do it for it will take u where u want to.

    kwame


   Hi, thanks for all the useful tips. Here are a few of my own.

  1. While you are driving (works great if you have an automatic), listen to music and play quarter notes with your left foot. This is great for independence, as your brain is dealing with many things at once, concentrating on the road, accelerating, braking etc. If you want to make it even more difficult, sing along at the same time. Try not to kill yourself in the process!
  2. If you play right hand lead, work hard to get your left hand lead working. This is fairly obvious, but it is amazing how few people actually master it properly. At your next gig take the leap and actually play a bit of left hand lead, and alternate between the two. You will be amazed at how this opens up your playing, and breaks any right hand lead bad habits you may have. Here's the good news, if you really nail it, your new left hand lead creative possibilities are easily transferable to your right hand. Another good independence exercise.
  3. When you practice always leave a little time to play along to your favorite drummer(s). Don't get too bogged down in the technicalities. This also reminds you of a. why you are a drummer in the first place and b. what the purpose of your hard work is.
  4. Roy


   Here are some ways to improve your speed, endurance, and coordination. I'm actually going to give 3 tips in one.

  1. Remove the sticks from your hands, as hard as that may be, and lay your forearms on a table (or whatever else) in a rested position. Now do a single stroke roll with just your hands, increasing and decreasing tempo. Do not let your forearm move from it's resting position. Soon, your upper forearm will burn. KEEP GOING! This exercise strengthens your wrists for better control over your sticks. Do it for about 10 minutes a day. The burn means it's working... ;)
  2. Flip your sticks around, and practice using your last 3 fingers to make the tip of the stick hit your forearm. I find triples on each hand great for this (LLL RRR). Use your wrist as little as possible and concentrate on making your fingers do the work. This strengthens those fingers for faster playing.
  3. Practice left hand lead. Drummers have a tendency to always use their right hand to tell the left hand (and every other limb) what to do. A great way to crush this habit is to set up your kit lefty sometimes. Do everything opposite than what you are used to. This excercise also makes you remember what it was like when you were learning all over again... Good times... :D After a while, those fills you used to not know how to get into/out of start becoming easier to play.

       [There's that "Left-Hand Lead" Ambidextrous drumming thing again! - Ed.]

    Jason


   Try practicing your grooves real slow with a metrenome at around 60-70 bpm, gradually incorporating fills, rudiments and other chops you're working on. You'll be surprised how tricky it is to really nail the beat. As you get more into the groove, try switching styles without losing the pulse: say from a straight 8th note rock into a swing feel, into a half time shuffle, quarter note rock, 12/8 feel and so on. I'm a pro drummer and this workout really helps get control over your playing, so you can maintain great time without speeding up during fills and choroses, etc. Works for me anyway!

    Simon


    I find that it takes patience first and foremost to be able to practice, practice, practice. I force myself to practice rudiments on a simple mouse pad, but the click click of the metronome tends to get on my nerves after a while, so instead I just do it to music. With my mp3-player set to shuffle I get all kinds of music and lots of different tempos, and it's never boring.

    erik


    Use all limbs while practicing. Practice stick control exercises (rolls, paradiddles, flams, etc.) while you are holding down 16ths with your double bass. I practice while playing a latin bass/HH beat while I'm playing rhythmic phrases and crossovers on all toms and snare. This helps loosen you up, develop stamina, and allows you to be more multi-functional on your kit.

   I always go into a practice session like I'm going into the gym. Treat it as a workout.

    Scott Frederick


   Some cool things to practice for big hard rock beats are synching up single strokes on both hands and feet; LRLR / RLRL with right hand and right foot together and the same for the left. Try keeping the feet going (most effective on double bass pedals) and use the hands for accents around the snare, cymbals and toms, try double strokes with the hands and try to squeeze as much energy out of it as you can using dynamics. It's real cool for intros to more straight 4/4 hard rock beats, or for breaks.

    Check out the intro to 'Let's Go To War' by the Murderdolls or perhaps the Pantera album 'Far Beyond Driven', I can't recall which song. Also, to develop the left hand/fingers for blast type beats or even little ghost note press type strokes for jazz or funk, try keeping a quarter note ostinato with the right hand on the ride (or hats) and play sixteenths with the left. Try using only fingers and gradually increase the pace of the right hand, to see how fast you get with the left hand keeping up. Try using rebound and a controlled press stroke to add intermittent 32nd notes without losing the next 16th on the left. Don't forget to play with dynamics.

    Then once you've improved, try applying it to beat on the kit, playing "drags" (ie. llL, or lllL -caps indicate accent) on the snare with the left sounds really cool in a funk groove and you don't have to stop the right hand ostinato so it really keeps the flow going. This type of skill is great to apply to Cuban or Brazilian type beats. Keep a snare groove with accents going with the left and play a clave rhythm on ride bell or cowbell while playong quarters on the kick and the 8th notes on all the AND counts with left foot closing the hats.

    Practice every day and listen to all music, no matter what your taste, especially the technical stuff, anything you learn from one style of music can be applied to your favourite style in SOME way. Enjoy playing even when it's tough. Some people will never know the joys of having an instrument to learn.

    Seb


   If your on a [drum] line try to balance your sound as it cleans dynamics up a whole lot.

    Mark


   Holding the stick in the most textbook correct position. 85% OF DRUMMERS HOLD THEIR STICKS WRONG (MABYE MORE). SO THIS PROBABLY MEANS YOU. EVER SEEN LOUIE BELLSON, BUDDY RICH...DARN NEAR ALL THE NEW GUYS...SOME, MABYE...BUT MOST NO...PLEASE...DRUMMERS WHO CANT AFFORD OR THINK THEY ARE TOO GOOD TO TAKE LESSONS...JUST LEARN TO HOLD THE STICKS THE CORRECT WAY AND LEARN A SINGLE AND DOUBLE STROKE ROLL AND ANY COMBINATION IN BETWEEN AND LISTEN AND ABSORB JAZZ AND LATIN...EVERYTHING ELSE WILL COME NATURALLY.....................................................................................................................IF YOU FOLLOW THIS ADVICE YOU WILL BECOME A GREAT DRUMMER...

   BUT SERIOUSLY LEARN TO HOLD THE STICK IN THE RIGHT POSITION...AND TO ALL YOU ROCK BASHERS...IF YOU HOLD THE STICKS WRONG YOU PROBABLY WILL GET CARPEL TUNNEL AND NOT BE PLAYING PAST YOUR THIRTIES...SO HOLD THE STICKS RIGHT...

   CHECK OUT DAVE WECKL...BUDDY RICH...TITO PUENTE

    PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND DRUMMING IN GENERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    James B ougill


   Try holding the sticks backwards, grabbing the tip now insted of the other end and play this way. It may feel weird at first, but very very soon you will be able to play comfortably. This will strenghten your wrists and you will be able to get a better, chunkier sound out of your drums, although you may get an inferior performance from your ride, but thats just my opinion. Try it out !

   Oh another thing that I've found useful when I'm practicing is wearing earplugs! This will level all the different sounds you get out of your drumset and lessen the attack, so you get a more clear sound out of basically anything you hit, and it will also keep your ears from ringing like a zil-bel after practice!

    Lega

    http://www.myspace.com/PHOENIXTHEORY


   Practice your rudiments on a pillow. Start off slow and then gradually speed up. Grip your sticks to develop your risk. Practice for atleast 30min to an hour. You will see how good you have become if you use my practice tips.

    Harold Lemons, Jr.


   For years I played side drum in various pipe bands in Scotland. One of our great - if not the GREATEST - side drummers was then, and is now, Jim Kilpatrick. He has won the World Solo Drumming title countless times and even works selling and promoting drums. I HEARD, but don't know how true it is, that Jim - while driving hundreds of miles a day as a rep for a drum company - used to relieve the boredom and get in even more practice by having small rubber practice pads glued to various parts of his car interior. He could thus practice (one hand at a time I hope!) as he drove...! Sounds a bit "urban myth" to me to be honest, but anyone who has heard Jum playing single strokes faster than you could EVER believe would agree that he's been doing SOMEthing over the years.

    Fraser


   This is for double bass I've found that by doing doubles in this pattern work well to keep your stamina and by accenting on the 1 2 3 and 4 counts give it a little touch its goes R L L R you can work in with your snare doing regular R L R L if you like or however you want to.

    Jeremy Menzer


   Man, I'm trying to learn double kick pedals. Not easy for me. I'm a traditional jazz head and have done the casino circuit playing just about everything here in Reno Nevada, but I'm just discovering what two little pedals can do! (I use DW 9000 pedals) I play barefoot which gives me a better grip. Strange maybe, but I think you need to find a comfort level first of all. Scooting up on the throne to free up the legs and create a nice free-flowing action with the legs helped too. I found a sweet spot on the pedals, halfway up with just the ball of the foot that allows me control and power at the same time. I vary this according to dynamics and sometimes play heel-down if it's something real light and jazzy. I think you have to experiment too. I don't like slop playing. I want my pedals to do exactly what my brain dictates. This means practicing everything SLOWLY at first. Pretty soon you're cooking and it feels great. I started alternating(example) RLRLRLRL on the snare then RLRLRLRL with the pedals, then did them both together at different tempos. I'd vary the rhythm with triplets, ruffs, whatever. Mixing it up with the toms came next. Cool stuff. Sounds like thunder, baby. Next I progressed to RLRLRL etc with the kick and did simple ostinatos on the ride and snare. SIMPLE to start. It's cool how the complex stuff kicks into your brain once you master a few simple things.While playing with my band I always try to slip in a double kick thing whenever I can...a fill, an ending riff...I'm doing more and more and I haven't been this excited about playing something new in a long time. Double kick is a whole new world. My hats off to you pros...I'm catching up though with some pretty good tricks, all my own. Who says girls can't? And I've already been playing for 30 + years!

    Michelle Zito


   As a drummer who is blind a suggestion is practicing with the lights off in a dark room.

   It sounds weird but if you think about it it makes you much more instinctive when you are hitting your drums.

   When practicing with a click track use a setting that gives you a hight pitch for the mark of the 1st beat of the bar this is more definite in sound and is more difficult to ignore .

   When I practice fills I always play fills that get me around the kit with out having to look at what I am doing as I do not have the luxury of this.

   Happy playing

    Steve Burge

    http://www.access2all.co.uk


   Greetings to all drummers out there. The way I practice which I think it will work for you is listening to what other drummer play and improve on what they play.

    tosin bello


   If you are working on your rhythm, try this... Hit the snare drum twice, then the bass with the kick pedal in the same rhythm. Do this for a little while, then try hitting the snare three times, then the bass three times, and always switch it up.

    kyle


   A practice technique I've used for speed (which i always get comments on) is pretty simple:

   RLRLRL RLRLRL RLRLRLRLRLRL

   Start out doing it at a normal speed then increase it in a 5 min time period.

    jeff lewis


   Hello, I am a drummer from Jax Florida. I have been playing about 30 years. My best practice tip is to practice all your rudiments with your hands and feet; play them fast, slow, hard, soft, over and over and over. You will be amazed over time what this does for you.

    kenneth phillips 3rd


   First things first... Always practice groove. When practicing fills always be thinking groove 100% of the time. Although very fun to play, chops dont really get you very far. Let the crazy fills and chops come out naturally through the groove and always play in context with the song.

   Secondly, here is a wicked single pedal foot excersize:

    Play triplets between the hands and feet (RFFRFF) or (LFFLFF) to a metronome followed by doubles between the hands and feet (RRFFRRFF) or (RLFFRLFF) or (LLFFLLFF), then go back the triplets. Do each rhythm for 5 minutes and alternate back and forth for as long as you like. Your bass drum foot will be nasty in no time. Oh, and take it real slow at first always using a metronome. Trust me it pays to do this. The notation would be 8th note triplets to 16th notes so the triplets will sound slower then the 16ths.

   Best of luck,
   KevO

    Kevin O'Beirne


   This tip helps people with thier paradiddles and back-sticking. For the first right and first left of the paradiddles you should back stick R(back stick)LRR L(back stick)RLL RLRRLRLL and just speed up until you get used to it and you should get better at both.

    Ezequiel Amparo


   It may be frustrating to practice at times or to get in the "Groove" of practicing. one of the reasons is because there is so much information and things to practice. I have found this to help....

   Just sit down at your kit or practice pad and practice anything with a metronome. Just set the click to 120 bpm's (or any number) and just work up and down the metronome. Before you know it, you will find things to work on or ideas will come to you. Make up anything, the ideas will flow............

    Stuart Barrett


   When drumming fast and/or when speeding up, loosen your grip on your drum sticks and make yourself and your muscles as relaxed as possible. You will find it easier to drum faster and will find yourself able to drum faster than if you were tense and had a hard grip on your sticks.

    gunther


   Someone may have already said this, but I would also like to thank everyone for the great tips on this site as they really helped me. From these I realized that the most important thing is to play for yourselve and enjoy your drumming no matter how good or bad you are.

    Mark


   Hey! I've been playing drums now for five years and I was just introduced to a great technique for practicing double strokes. It's simple really, all you need is an old pillow and a heavy marching stick or (what I personnally used) a mini-baseball bat (it was the same length as a stick and it was heavy). Simply play constant 8th's or 16th's on one hand at a time for about 5 minutes each back and forth. The pillow doesnt give you any recoil so you can't cheat when you play doubles! After doin this for about a week me and other percussionists around me noticed that I had almost doubled my speed whenever I had to play doubles, whether it be a cadence or a concert piece. This works very very well and it doesn't cost a thing!

    Jordan


    I would like to say hi to everyone out there and a big thanks to Mr.Howie for his time and effort.

    I would like to share some thoughts that have helped me to constantly grow in music. On the technical side, make sure each limb can do the same thing, excluding buzz rolls, of course, as if in one hand can do 16th notes or a shuffle, for example. Teach the other limbs the same rhythm at all tempos and then break those same rhythms up between the limbs, your singles, doubles, rudiments or whatever rhythms you may come up with, so that you will eventually be able to play the drums with your body.

   When practicing, count everything out loud and make your voice and play as one. Every beat has a special place to be. On playing well with others, we need to be open and willing to give what is needed to make a piece of music happen. Many times it will be less than you think. Sometimes, people need to hear their idea is not working as opposed to us just telling them. And sometimes those ideas will be just what the doc ordered.

   When we listen to our favorites play, 'what' they are playing should be the last thing we hear. Let's try to hear how (dynamics, when, where, where not, drum balance, band balance, etc.) they are playing what they play. Wishing you all the best from someone who has been there and I'm still there.

    Anon


   Hi! Firstly, great site by the way, some fantastic tips here for budding drummers! I have been playing for about four years now and play very often with my band.

   Mmy first tip is take yourself away from your band/usual music style. This will enable you to play very openly on your kit and will allow you to see how easy it is to play the same old same old stuff; don't get frustrated I know its easy too!

   Nextm I find the best way to start a practice regime is to have a goal for me. I usually aim to master at least one small new thing to make a practice session productive in the sense of gaining something new. A good way to start is laying some soft-heavy beats down, get warmed, and then go straight into what I call "kit mapping". Apply your sticking in easy single strokes evenly round the kit go from snare to tom always returning to the snare and get a good feel around the kit. People often wonder how I can go so fast/solid round my own kit and its because I practice this religiously. No matter how well you know your kit, get to know it better everytime by doing this.

    After about 10 minutes of this I tend to attack certain techniques; i.e. working on my double bass patterns and snare fills, etc.

    After about 15 more mintues take time out and sit away from the kit on your pad, if you haven't got one GET ONE! These are the golden nugget of drumming, sit and put yourself through some rudiments; remember speed isn't always important. Start slow and gradually get faster; you want each rudiment to sound "tight" and hear each stroke clearly. My favourite thing on the pad is to use only my left hand (I'm right handed) and do single strokes on it gradually speeding it up. This will help increase your left hand's stamina. Remember, this hand doesn't get a work-out like your right hand! (Vice versa for left handed players.) This will help with your overall stick definition when playing chops/fills, etc., and give it more balance of sound.

    Anyway if you want any more advice feel free to email me or just look through this fantastic site. It is going to be my bible from now on!

    Stephen Elvin
    devilboy680@hotmail.com
    http://www.somedaymusic.co.uk


    I am 28 years old and I've been drumming for 19 years now. I'd like to cover a few topics which I find to be the challenging ones especially for beginners and intermediate alike. However, I'd like to first give my own insight of how to dramatically improve in both art and science of drumming.

   First, you have to be clearly aware of the important topics which include the technical aspects: rudiments & notes (which are very important), time signatures, grooves, pull-offs, and independence. -- This is actually the part where most drummers feel their very own limit of the ability to execute.

   Secondly, you have to develop your own set of skills to help you build technique. Always try to have a good pace -- once you are in action, or whenever on the kit, concentrate on a certain progression and let everything build up. This is basically the same concept that applies to every musical instrument that you try to study. If you feel a little more rush, drag, hang-ups, don't make haste. Just practice more, and like I've said, find a good pace to which you can easily adjust. Go back to your basic rudiments if necessary. Review more about notes and tempos (i.e., snare rudiments, tom-tom rudiments, quarter notes, eighth notes, fills, and the like)

Speed
-----
If it is still necessary, try to make good use of the metronome. It's the same thing that I did when I started playing. Once you are adjusted to a certain tempo/speed in the metronome, increase by another tempo, and practice on that tempo. Just let it build up. Allow the metronome to do its job for you. It's basically up to you how you will be able to get comfortable with every tempo/speed. This is another important aspect of drumming and general rhythm. -- DO NOT concentrate too much on slow tempos. Sooner or later, you'll find playing on fast speeds much more beneficial than just playing laid-back or half-time fills.

Techinque
---------
Normally, the instinctive thing to do for a drummer is to listen carefully to a piece and use by-ear transcriptions of sounds and tempos. There's nothing wrong about this. Though, in the longer run, most drummers who are much used to doing this, find it difficult to be more technical with the style of play that they want to be able to execute. What if you are to use odd time signatures? How can you embellish the grooves? How can you make the groove develop? Bear in mind that execution is always an important part of playing an instrument. In drumming, though it is generally a percussion instrument, a player should not always rely on what he hears through a musical piece or progression. Oftentimes, a drummer must be very technical in the music that he plays. The idea of by-ear transcriptions are helpful in a way, but sometimes, it also contributes to lack of technique and good handling of the instrument. Rather dwell on writing the piece by yourself -- if necessary, seek help from those who are good in writing notes, then, have enough time to practice the basic beat. You can include additional percussions later on. The important thing is that the technical aspect of a musical piece or progression must first be considered.

Style
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Style is also one of the major factors that affect execution and free play. What particular genre/kind of music do you play? Me, I have always been fond of playing metal music and progressive rock, but less likely those with very limited musicality. I have always come from the mentality that the drum part of a music should be very musical and interesting. This is the same concept that I have learned from certain artists that I have covered: Buddy Rich, Gene Kruppa, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, and Mike Mangini. Always try to look at it from this view, though less likely convincing that it counts. -- How will you be able to incorporate other genres/kinds of music into your preferred genre/kind of music? I am basically referring to the idea of sticking to only one genre. It helps a lot if your exposure to music is not limited in such a way that you generalize that you only play that kind of music, but in fact, just to discover, that you have a very limited style of play that is why you cannot incoporate other styles. Try on jazz, funk, rock, salsa, rhumba, son, and clave. These music styles have wide coverages and probably employ the use of different playing techniques.

   There is much more to drumming. These tips are merely suggestions. Just always try to have a good pace in playing. Keep playing, keep listening, and most of all, practice. How much you practice determines how you can make interesting parts, phrasings, and music itself.

    JM Anderson


  This tip is from all of my teachers. When playing drums try not to follow the drum beat in the muzik. Try to make your own beat. I've tried it and I love it .

    underground
    drummer_ug@yahoo.com


   My name is Doug and I've been playing drums for roughly about 4 years. I actually started in a punk band at the 4 months into drumming. I've always found, the best way to get better is to play to better drummers. I was in a punk band, rock band, metal band (presently), and jazz band. Other than strenghtening my hands/feet, I always play play play through headphones with bands I enjoy or diff music in general. I put my style with those drummers and create my own beats which then jump out at real band practice. Playing with bands through headphones is amazing and has helped me greatly!

    Doug K
    muscleman_457@hotmail.com


   Hi, I'm 23 and i've been drumming for 15months. Mentally i've been for 18years! My practise tips consist of, keep an open mind.

   Remain not locked in the beat of one style. Treat everything as a Drum/pattern. When i'm walking, i practise singles/doubles and triplets. Walking is natural, so it gets your hands and feet moving in rythm. Because your walking, you tend not to think of what your feet are doing. Just your hands. Try diferent combinations from your rudiments.

   Try singing drums (boom boom clap, boom ta boom ti ti boom). Combine all of this whilst walking in your natural motion. Use a watch or a clock as a metronome, tap intime with the ticking hand, then look away! Aim to return locked in time.

   Use wrist weights, or stick weights to develope speed. Always practise with all four limbs. Your feet can play what your hands can too! Take away two/three items from your kit, then play and improvise. Try to achieve the same sounds as what you could before this.

   And keep practising. Listen to different styles of music. Listen to different instruments (guitar), then try and play your own version. Suggest the guitar melody, but with the drums!

   All or most of our Drum heros were in a simular stage once. But P.M.P (practice makes perfect). When your playing, honor the space and the time.

   Have fun, and just enjoy the music. Be creative and seek inspiration if in doubt. Be patient. Keep the pulse, and never give up! your drum kit is self inner body expression. So speak out and be heard!

   I hope I've helped somebody, as you have all helped me.

    Lee Drumster
    viciouslee@hotmail.com


   Work on your rudiments alot. Because in alot of music there are rudiments and if you know them music will be easier.

   I know that when drumming one hand is stronger than the other. If you have problems with making your hand or fingers stronger try to practice more on the weak hand. When drumming always try to stregthen your weak areas so that it will make you a better drummer.

   Drumming is something absolutly awsome to do. It may be hard to see what to practice. What I can tell you about an important thing in drumming is stick control. if you dont know what that means email me. It helps yopu with all the rudiments and your speed. Weather your a begginer or an advanced player you can practice stick control. Practicing will get you to the most greatest things in drumming. If you are dedicated to drumming and practice alot you will see how great it is. And always continue practicing. If you have any questions about anything on drumming email me.

    April Lara
    marysernas@yahoo.com


   I've been playing for 27 years. I have taken lessons in one form or another from the age of 12 onward.

   I think the best practice tip I can share is to not limit yourself to one genre of music, or style of playing. You'll find great drummers with something to offer you in top 40, rock, jazz, metal, salsa, Afro-Cuban, swing, progressive, zydeco, industrial, grunge, punk, etc...

   Sadly, there are an awful lot of drummers who can play nothing but metal, or country, or jazz. Don't be one of them! Build a strong foundation in several genres of music and you'll not only become a better and more versatile drummer, but you'll also get a lot more work and find yourself having a lot more fun.

   Combine musical genres in new and innovative ways and establish your own idiom. Before long, you'll notice other drummers are now copying you! Smile! Because you will have come full-circle and it will be time to go out and add something else to your bag of licks. And the cycle begins again...

    Tim L.


   I've been playing for about 7 years and I'm self-taught pretty much. What I first started to do is get to like all genres of music all styles not just one style. You need a variety of styles in your head and secondly when I'm at home bored I just grab my sticks and practice pad and get back at the simple stuff such as parradidles ect. Have fun.

    joseph
    josephmoujalli@hotmail.com


   I've been playing on and off for 10 years, and the last 2 years I have got back fully into the swing of things thanks to bands, etc. The first thing I found as a breakthrough for me was just getting good at the single pedal action; once that was cracked, I could move my feet any time at any speed, beats seemed so much better. Then, I discovered the double bass pedal. This invention is like no other. Once i became better and better, my hands started clicking together in time, I became a whole lot faster and beats just seemed easier. It's also well impressive to people who just haven't heard a drummer use both feet. The best advice I ever got was to buy a pedal; it's long, hard work, but tapping and stamping when you don't have your kit there pay off and help you quite a bit. Also, listen to drum beats in drum&bass and dance tunes, often they're quite complex and help you with speed and precision...

   Keep jammin!

    Chode


   I am 18 years old. I did not have any formal schooling on drums and I practically teached myself from the basics even now to advanced topics. I have learned a lot from just joining gigs, seeing other drummers of my age (some are older ones), researching on the net, reading, spending long hours of practice, practice, and practice. Finally, before I forget, I also learned to evaluate my playing in all of its aspects from the way I see others drummers play. I get the most out of listening to different music genres and trying my best to incorporate as much different sounds as I can with just the most standard components in a basic drumkit. A piece of advice (this should work for both beginning and intermediate drummers) -- do NOT concentrate on only one music genre nor only on one playing style of groove and patterns. Allow yourself to process as much creative musical thought as possible. I am referring to the way WE play, not the way a record/artist plays. Most of the time, we want to be able to play a record or probably an artist's song/music, but we are generally taking for granted our own musical thought and creativity. We all have this. We just have to devote more time in 'UNLOCKING' the secreted creativity in our minds. Be VERY patient. Do not rush, practice more, read, STUDY. And most of all, BE MUSICAL.

    Jeremy Santos
    jmsantos_jeremy@yahoo.com


   I’m sixteen years old and nearly at intermediate level on drums. Believe me the obstacles have been great but there’s one lesson I’ve learnt that in my opinion has helped me persevere. This is that people are born with talents different areas for example your friend my have a talent in drums but you may have a talent in maths (like me). You may have found an interest in drums later in life, like me, and it may not be an area that you have a talent in like me. This will mean that it will take harder work for stuff to come to you. Just because its not your talent doesn’t mean you still can’t work hard at it. Because you will work harder at it than the one who has a talent in it, you will learn it well using the right technique because you will do it over and over again whereas the one with talent will just browse over it because it will come to them quicker and they will not spend as much time on it. This will mean in the future you will be better at it than them because you persevered and worked hard. Just hang in there and remember ‘you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you’. If you can’t do it, check your technique and keep practicing and you will be amazed at how well you will be able to do it once you get it.

    Speedy


   I'm 16 and have only been playing for about 4 months, but when I was starting out, I found that messing around with my seat height alot allowed me to find an exact spot where the strain on all four of my limbs reduced dramatically. I was able to play so much more accurately.

   Also, having your drum kit in a spot where you subconciously worry about annoying the neighbours with the sound can sometimes lead to you getting absolutely nowhere whilst practicing. It's important to have no distractions.

   I hope this has helped.

    Steve
    irobotwillneverdie@hotmail.co.uk


   Be creative!! Every time you get on the kit , do somthing you've never done before: make a new beat, do somthing odd, challenge yourself!

    Harry


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