Need Some Help Teaching Myself Drums

[Hungryfreak]

Well, I've boasted being a drummer for a while, but now I actually want to practice and get somewhere with the instruments in hopes of a band in best case scenario and well-needed focus and exercise at the very least. Before I embark on this quest, though, I need a couple questions answered and any other advice possible.

How much time daily should I set aside for myself? Where are some good places to find drum beats to practice, just to get me off the ground? What other sorts of things should I do or watch out for?

[SuperRocker47]

i started playing a year ago and i probably play drums for about an hour a day.
i use a good drum tab website heres the link
http://www.ttabs.com/index.php?instrument=Drums

[Hungryfreak]

Thank you. And tablature's good, but for now I want basic types of beats and stuff to practice rather than full songs.

[franticfish]

When I first started my practice ranged from 15 minutes to an hour a day but you its really up to you. Alot of budding drummers push themselves to do an hour a day to the point where it becomes almost like a chore.

[Hungryfreak]

When I first started my practice ranged from 15 minutes to an hour a day but you its really up to you. Alot of budding drummers push themselves to do an hour a day to the point where it becomes almost like a chore.

I understand it can be troublesome, but that's why I want to push myself there and keep myself, there. If I stopped practicing whenever I wanted, I would end up like I have the past four or so years of owning a drum kit, haha. Thank you, though. Hour's starting to sound good.

[SuperRocker47]

i probably play about and hour a day but i only practice in about 15 minute increments i rarely play for an hour straight

[Hungryfreak]

That's helpful to know. How do you divide those increments? I'm guessing how I do it will change with my habits, but its nice to have a point of reference to start with.

[Onslaught_fei]

I used to get home from school and play guitar all night through dinner and to bed.

[AxlVanHagar]

I practice when I am in the mood. Sometimes that means for about 5 minutes, other times it can be for an hour or more. All depends on how I feel. That was the same way I was with guitar. My drum teacher has said he's the same way and feels you should never force yourself. He's told me a few times if I ever get behind the kit and I'm just not feeling it don't play, if you force yourself you wont really learn anything cause you don't want to be there.

As to practice itself he's got me on a pretty big rudiment routine. He's all about the rudiments. Paradidles, Double Paradiddles, etc etc. He really wants me to get my weaker side more independent and stronger. Every lesson is a new rudiment and a new beat to learn. And now that I'm getting the rudiments down to memory and don't have to think about them as much he's got me moving them around kit and turning them into fills. Fun stuff. One of the first things he had me work on was separating my right foot from my right hand. According to him that's one of the most important first steps. Hope thats of some use to you.

[Hungryfreak]

That's certainly helpful. I do have a desire to practice for a long time, only because that's how I operate. I have to dive in and make it routine or Ill keep forgetting about it, haha. But I'll try to keep things loose so they aren't a chore. In retrospect, that is kind of what drove me away from drum lessons (I did take them for a short while).

And I'll have to look up some more rudiments, since all I remember is basic paradidles. I guess it makes sense that they're used to strengthen the weaker half and that's something I need desperately (since it my left's timing screws up my rolls at higher speeds). Thank you!

[ThrobingCane]

How much time daily should I set aside for myself? Where are some good places to find drum beats to practice, just to get me off the ground? What other sorts of things should I do or watch out for?

I practice for 2-2.5 Hours a day.

It helps to learn the rudiments, Practicing these rudiments helped my left and right hand be more independant.

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.html

This place has some drum beats to play.

http://www.onlinedrummer.com/

And dont try to do any thing that you know you cant do, When I first started Drum set I got really pissed cause I couldnt do some stuff so I quit for a while. So yeah dont quit because practice makes perfect.

[Hungryfreak]

That rudiment site is very nice, especially with the samples. Reminds me of why I use Vic Firth sticks, haha. Thank you.

[ThrobingCane]

That rudiment site is very nice, especially with the samples. Reminds me of why I use Vic Firth sticks, haha. Thank you.

No problem man,

Its really nice of Vic Firth to put those on the site, Im sure it has helped a bunch of drummers learn the rudiments.

They also have an entire educational section with videos and stuff like that on there.

[Hungryfreak]

Started my curriculum today, halfway through the hour and I'm having fun with this. How I thought of myself as a drummer was crushed in a good way and Im picking things up from the beginning. Even seeing a bit of progress. Been working on the rudiments, flams in particular since they're giving me trouble. Alternating between the first five types listed on that site for now and moving on when I've got a better grip of them.

Thanks for your input people. In time, I should hopefully evolve into a more competent drummer. One more step towards my dream, haha.

[WhiffleBallTony]

I don't really play drums, but I can play them fairly well.

I would say that if you don't a great intuitive sense of rhythm, just start with a basic rock beat. Then I would say move to a swing beat. And then play "Dopesmoker".

[WhiffleBallTony]

Started my curriculum today, halfway through the hour and I'm having fun with this. How I thought of myself as a drummer was crushed in a good way and Im picking things up from the beginning. Even seeing a bit of progress. Been working on the rudiments, flams in particular since they're giving me trouble. Alternating between the first five types listed on that site for now and moving on when I've got a better grip of them.

Thanks for your input people. In time, I should hopefully evolve into a more competent drummer. One more step towards my dream, haha.

Okay, some day, you and me are going to form a band so that I don't have to deal with my current close-minded bandmates.

[Hungryfreak]

I would say I at least have basic sense in rhythm. If you used Rock Band as a measure, hard mode was easy for me out of the box while easy gives my friends some trouble. Playing consistently for an hour, though, would make good practice.

I'm also already seeing some improvement with my rolls, as my flams get better, which makes me hapy.

[Hungryfreak]

Okay, some day, you and me are going to form a band so that I don't have to deal with my current close-minded bandmates.

Definitely. I keep telling you, get out here to PA, haha.

[Fizzeler]

I may not know how to play drums, but a good way to learn an instrument is practice the beats of songs you love to play it was how my uncle learned how to play bass and I learned to keep a good pitch :)

[WhiffleBallTony]

Definitely. I keep telling you, get out here to PA, haha.

Haha. Yes, I may have to go to college somewhere out there. It's a shame that's 3 years away, though.

[ThrobingCane]

I'm also already seeing some improvement with my rolls, as my flams get better, which makes me hapy.

Flams FTW

You should practice Flam Taps, Probably one of my favorite rudiments

[Hungryfreak]

Definitely. I'm pretty good at those compared to others. They are indeed fun, haha. I've got the first ones through single flammed mill down okay (at least silver-gold according to Vic Firth), though running into trouble with the Paradiddle-diddle. In due time, though, and with practice.

[Hungryfreak]

What's the best way to practice speed and endurance? Should I just practice rolls for that, initially?

[ThrobingCane]

What's the best way to practice speed and endurance? Should I just practice rolls for that, initially?

What I do is

Right hand- 1 e & ah
Left Hand 2 e & ah

for a couple minutes and so on at various speeds.

then

RH- 1 e
LH- & ah

then I start alternating

Or another thing I do is all RH for 1-2 minutes then LH for the same time.

I do the same for feet except i will add a easy little beat with my hands

[Hungryfreak]

Stupid question, but what do you mean by e & ah? I need to brush up on the lingo...

[ThrobingCane]

Stupid question, but what do you mean by e & ah? I need to brush up on the lingo...

Thats how you count 16th notes 1 e & ah, and so on...

8th is 1 &

[Hungryfreak]

Ah, I see. It just looks more confusing than it is to me, haha.

[ThrobingCane]

Ah, I see. It just looks more confusing than it is to me, haha.

Yeah I can see how it can be confusing.

One of my old drum teachers told me that when im playing to count in my head, it helps develop your rythem and timing skills. I dont know many people that do that when they first start.