Internet Drum Instruction
January 10, 2020 9:57 AM Subscribe
I want to learn to play the drums. I would like to be taught from the internet. I have a music background. Point me in the right direction.
One of my 2020 goals is to learn to play the drums! In high school I played the flute, and I was also a member of our marching band's pit. I can still read music pretty well, and my time in marching band spent with the drumline means I have a familiar relationship with percussion.
I'm mostly approaching this from a very technical perspective, just because that's how I was taught music. My first plan is to by sticks and a drum pad and just start working on stick technique, paradiddles, etc. Videos on how to do these things properly would be great.
But also videos of other self-taught drummers just talking about how they learned, or tips on how to buy a used drum kit, or idk literally anything that you think could help.
One of my 2020 goals is to learn to play the drums! In high school I played the flute, and I was also a member of our marching band's pit. I can still read music pretty well, and my time in marching band spent with the drumline means I have a familiar relationship with percussion.
I'm mostly approaching this from a very technical perspective, just because that's how I was taught music. My first plan is to by sticks and a drum pad and just start working on stick technique, paradiddles, etc. Videos on how to do these things properly would be great.
But also videos of other self-taught drummers just talking about how they learned, or tips on how to buy a used drum kit, or idk literally anything that you think could help.
Best answer: Probably a random thing, but I've always found the 5B sticks to be basically optimal. They are the true middle ground for practicing. For more lighter stuff you want narrower and lighter sticks (I used 7B for an electric kit), and for some brutal metal you need heavier ones (2s)
And in case anyone cares, the number indicates the weight and the letter the width. Generally. There is no rule. Use what feels comfortable.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:28 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
And in case anyone cares, the number indicates the weight and the letter the width. Generally. There is no rule. Use what feels comfortable.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:28 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: And also, and sorry, just as unhelpfully, here's my all time favorite drumming video, the Purdie shuffle. This rhythm pattern is so difficult that I can't play it at all. But, just look at the video.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:34 AM on January 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:34 AM on January 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I'm a mostly self-taught drummer who is learning drum set as an adult. A practice pad and sticks is a great place to start! You can pick up a book like The Drumset Musician and work on rudiments.
This book published by Tom Tom Magazine - DIY Guide to Drums - is well worth the cost and is really helpful. Tom Tom Magazine has videos and other great resources for drum students (and it's the only magazine focused on female drummers).
The hardest thing for me to pick up (in terms of drum set skills) was limb independence - being able to do different things/play different rhythms with each arm and leg. I've found some pretty great YouTube videos that are helpful for teaching drills and stuff. I like Emanuelle Caplette, ThisIsLisa, and some of the ones on the Drumeo channel like Sarah Thawer.
Have fun! Drumming is great for the brain and good exercise, too.
posted by acridrabbit at 1:18 PM on January 10, 2020
This book published by Tom Tom Magazine - DIY Guide to Drums - is well worth the cost and is really helpful. Tom Tom Magazine has videos and other great resources for drum students (and it's the only magazine focused on female drummers).
The hardest thing for me to pick up (in terms of drum set skills) was limb independence - being able to do different things/play different rhythms with each arm and leg. I've found some pretty great YouTube videos that are helpful for teaching drills and stuff. I like Emanuelle Caplette, ThisIsLisa, and some of the ones on the Drumeo channel like Sarah Thawer.
Have fun! Drumming is great for the brain and good exercise, too.
posted by acridrabbit at 1:18 PM on January 10, 2020
Best answer: There are tons of video resources.
This playlist on rudiments from Vic Firth might be a good start.
Drumeo also looks good.
posted by thelonius at 2:27 PM on January 10, 2020
This playlist on rudiments from Vic Firth might be a good start.
Drumeo also looks good.
posted by thelonius at 2:27 PM on January 10, 2020
Best answer: https://www.empowerdrumming.com/
I know very little about music, but fwiw, I have seen this woman play and she looks and sounds awesome, and I see she offers online instruction, so you may want to check this out. Also on Facebook.
posted by littlecatfeet at 5:20 PM on January 10, 2020
I know very little about music, but fwiw, I have seen this woman play and she looks and sounds awesome, and I see she offers online instruction, so you may want to check this out. Also on Facebook.
posted by littlecatfeet at 5:20 PM on January 10, 2020
Best answer: I’m a self-taught drummer, no technical genius but I can keep a beat ok. This will seem like an oddly specific suggestion but when it comes to learning limb independence ( I called it “growing your second brain”), I sometimes tell people to try the first thing I ever did: start playing the Sgt. Pepper drum riff with just the bass drum part and the snare part (BOMP—chhhh—BOMP BOMP chhhh) and work on adding the hi hat later. It works!
posted by O. Bender at 6:28 AM on January 11, 2020
posted by O. Bender at 6:28 AM on January 11, 2020
When I was looking into this, everybody mentioned two fundamental books
Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer
Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer
These are extremely dry and very old incremental practice books, and drummers absolutely swear by them. They’re also cheap, especially used, where they should be less than $5
(I also thought the idiot’s guide was pretty good, personally)
posted by churl at 9:22 AM on January 11, 2020
Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer
Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer
These are extremely dry and very old incremental practice books, and drummers absolutely swear by them. They’re also cheap, especially used, where they should be less than $5
(I also thought the idiot’s guide was pretty good, personally)
posted by churl at 9:22 AM on January 11, 2020
Oh, sorry: as far as more internet-specific stuff: I’ve used the iOS app Drum Guru and liked it; topic-specific training videos from drum pros you buy a-la-carte.
posted by churl at 9:37 AM on January 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by churl at 9:37 AM on January 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by FirstMateKate at 9:58 AM on January 10, 2020