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Drums, and where to begin
Zombiemambo
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I took an interest in maybe playing the drums recently, but it's not exactly clear to me where I need to start. There are quite a few different pieces to a drum set. How many do I need to start, and what are they? Should I buy them new or look on Craigslist or the classifieds? What kind of money should I expect to spend to start? Also, lessons? Are there books and videos?
Zombiemambo on
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Most people start playing just the snare drum, to learn the basics of left-right sticking, drum rolls, flams, and rimshots. Then you add in the bass and two cymbals (hi-hat and ride) to learn how to work your feet into the mix. A mounted tom and a floor tom and you have all the basics covered, after that it's just adding differently-tuned toms and more cymbals and cowbells etc.
I'd definitely suggest you stop by the local music store and ask about beginner lessons. or at least ask around and see if anyone has a friend who plays/used to play. It's not that hard to get started, but having an instructor there to give you instant feedback is a big jump-start compared to a video. Chances are you're within two degrees of someone who at least played in high school.
What should I be looking to spend, and what companies make good equipment? I don't want to drop down any money on something that isn't any good.
Big brands are Yamaha, Ludwig, Tama, and Pearl. Cymbals are generally Paiste, Sabian, or Zildjan.
If you can find a local drummer who will let you have a go on their kit, it would be a good way to start out without the commitment of a full kit yourself.
Also (and I prepare to be shot down by this) in my opinion you wouldn't go far wrong by playing Rock Band / Guitar Hero on hard drum difficulty to see if you even have an aptitude/enjoyment for the co-ordination that drumming requires.
A friend of mine spent an afternoon at my place playing Rock Band 2 drums, and the next week went off and picked himself up a starter Pearl kit in the UK for £400. (Around $700-$800 I guess)
Oh - and sticks - I started with Hickory 2B drumsticks. You'll find there are different options but the 2Bs are sort of beginner level playing. I'll see if I can find any of my old drumming books but the name John Savage sticks out in my mind as a good starter for books. look for the "Art of the Drummer" books. They are great.
I don;t see why anyone should shoot you down on that. The drums are not a bad simulation of really playing a basic kit - way more so than the guitar controller. The caveat is that they are not going to teach you any actual stick techniques, but you do get the muscle memory of using feet and hands together and keeping time.
Rock Band is a fun way to practice, it doesn't teach you anything about dynamics or cymbals or a lot of things but it does practice sticking and timing especially if you keep in mind what you're learning on the real kit. And you'll find that if you play a song a lot on Rock Band it actually helps you break it down so that you remember how it goes on the real kit even easier. And it's fun so don't let anyone bitch about it not being real.
It's a good idea to learn your rudiments and such, starting with just the snare and a book. You really should, but remember this doesn't mean you can't jam out on a full kit while you're learning. Learn your rock beat while you work on paradiddles, whatever! Mixing it up keeps the early bits fun.
I've never spent serious time with the guitar but I look at the above as solid advice to avoid the whole guitarist can play tabs but can't play guitar type thing. You will want to know rudiments and practice practice practice the building blocks, having the ability to improv and pick up a new song by ear quick, or simply play your own part to one, is way more important. And it's where the real fun is.
Here's the book I practiced with.
mean while, music store should have practice pads for like $20 (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Evans-Apprentice-Pad-?sku=443275)
should give you a quietist way to practice and build up strength.
taking lessons can't hurt. especially since, as a phsycially demanding instrument, you can get bad habits quick. and get hurt.
However, there are bands that have drummers with just a single snare, a single kick, and a single hat. You can do a LOT with those three pieces, and it also gets you working your feet and both hands.
Of course, the most important tool for you starting out is a metronome.
This is why I recommend having a kit, if you can't attempt to play your favourite songs it's hard to stick with and gets boring. You want a full kit, a cheap one, but a full kit. A 4pc is enough, not hard to get a 5pc, with hihat/crash/ride cymbal. That's enough to play along and rock out for sure, and I don't see how you'd save any money by buying pieces instead of a like-new used kit that is complete, the latter being much more available.
Just make sure you spend time practicing your sticking. Grab a practice pad and keep your sticks handy around the house, play on your thigh, whatever. Use that book if you can, it's dirt cheap and you can probably find it in the book section of a local music store, I did.
I started playing in earnest in grade 7, where I signed up for percussion in band. I also played in the jazz band, so I had to learn concert snare, timpani, etc. while also having time to play some big band and rock set stuff. I did this until graduation. It was a great way to learn and keep things fun, imo.
tl;dr Learn your rudiments but take time to rock the fuck out.
PSN: TheScrublet
I haven't shopped for them so it sounds like we're ultimately in agreement -- get a small kit because they're cheap and a lot more fun/interesting than a single drum
Ooh, good suggestion. Any software I can use to emulate drumming?
http://www.dxprog.com/entry/rock-band-drums-on-windows/
Go there, then here:
http://andrewrudson.com/drummachine/main.php
i also developed some bad habits, but sitting at a real kit is so different from sitting in front of the RB kit that it's easy to forget them.
Saying you practised drums on Rock Band is like saying you practised for Driver's Ed on GTA or something.
You seem to think that you can't play Rock Band with appropriate technique.
Rock Band isn't bad so long as you're learning real drum technique before/during.
My basic drum lessons (and the first few lessons in the John Savage Art of the Drummer book I suggest) were not that dissimilar to the Rock Band Drums tutorial. That's why I suggested it.
Of course, what Rock Band does not teach is the "feel" of the drum skin, and you can't do fully authentic rolls and get a good feel for stick bounce, but it's a cheap and easy start. That's all. Also, there is the hihat/snare hand over hand configuration to get around. But like I said, RB is just an initial starter.
I think the best route to get into drums without the huge financial outlay is to find friends that play music and see if you can tag along and "jam" with them on drum-kits. (That is, if you've got muso friends, not everyone will have