The drums are an essential part of any piece of music, but they are a lot harder to play than you think – you need to have patience, strength, and a good sense of rhythm. If you want to become a master drummer, try out these seven tips for learning to play the drums that will greatly improve your skill and speed up the learning process.
Find the Right Style
Everyone knows that there are many different styles of music, so it’s only natural that there would be lots of different drumming styles also. When you’re learning to play the drums, it’s important that you choose your drumming style, as this will allow you to practice more efficiently. There’s no point in learning to play in the style of progressive rock when your true passion and ideal style is heavy metal. There are different techniques for different styles, so make sure you choose before you start to learn!
Know Your Drumkit
If you want to learn an instrument with as many individual pieces as a drumkit, it is essential that you learn the name of every part of your instrument. By doing this, you will not only find it much easier to follow tutorials, but you can also easily identify and replace any broken or damaged pieces of equipment.
Follow Tutorials
Trying to figure out everything on your own will never end well, as there is a specific method to drumming that you must learn in order to become a master of your craft. One of the best ways to learn, especially if you can’t afford a teacher, is by following online tutorials. There are many different tutorials available, ranging from written instructions to video tutorials that show you the basic movements and how to find your own rhythm.
Practice Makes Perfect
No one is perfect at anything on the first try, so don’t be so hard on yourself if you’re not as good as you hoped. Make sure that you set yourself regular times to practice so that you can develop your skills. If possible, practice with someone proficient in drumming so that you can follow their movements and ask them for advice on any areas that you are struggling with.
Start Slow
One of the best ways to learn anything is by mimicking it in a much slower fashion. By doing this, your brain can see and process the movements a lot better than if you were to start drumming very quickly. Try copying the beats of your favorite songs in half the usual speed so that you can train your body to do specific movements and hit specific drums – eventually, you will be able to speed up and it will become second nature.
Sit Properly
When practicing playing the drums, it is crucial that your posture is correct. By sitting with your body incorrectly lined, you will not only reduce the speed and strength that you can play with but can also cause an injury to your back and shoulders. If you start learning with the correct posture, then you will most likely carry this posture with you throughout your career, rather than having to correct a poor posture later in your career.
Learn Songs You Love
It is easiest to learn when we incorporate something that we love into the learning process. Therefore, it is important that when you begin to play the drums, you start by learning and playing along to your favorite songs. This will help to keep your interest but will also make the learning process easier as you will already be familiar with the tune and rhythm that you are learning.
Drumming is a great hobby to keep both your mind and body stimulated, but it is also a very hard hobby to grasp. Make sure that you follow these 7 tips for learning to play drums to ensure that you truly master your craft and become a wonderful drummer in no time.
