any drummers in here?

i just signed up for drum lessons. is it feasible to learn how to play if you dont own a drum set at the moment? like, can you practice just hitting different things and whatnot?

  Burger said:

i just signed up for drum lessons. is it feasible to learn how to play if you dont own a drum set at the moment? like, can you practice just hitting different things and whatnot?

I'm afraid you're going to have to buy some drums dude. It will be pretty useless to practice the skills on non-drum stuff, if that's what you're shooting for- the response will be different.

HOWEVER,

You can definitely practice the coordination of hands and feet on any surface at all, and for stick skills, try an overturned bucket.

BTW not a drummer actually. Hand percussionist. Good Luck!

well, it helps to have drums for sure, but you aren't going to be starting out doing crazy complex stuff involving lots of drums and stuff. Youll probably be started doing rudaments (sp?) and learning to keep steady time, and basic patterns. This will be with just your hands for now. You probably wont move to using your feet until later. (this is how I started).

To practice, you can buy a drum pad. they are pads that are made to feel as much like a real drum as possible (they dont feel exactly like one, but close enough) and arent that loud. theyll make dull thud sounds, so you wont drive your lady crazy, if you do it in the next room. I think they run for like 20-40 bucks or something. That, and a pair of sticks, and youll be set for practicing and getting your arms/hands going.

good luck man! drums are lots of fun. I played for 4 years, but sold my kit to buy a synth and sampler. I wanted to take them up again, but then I was living in an apartment in Rome so obviously I couldnt play drums, which is why I picked up the bass guitar.

Someday in the future, when I have money and live in a house, I will be going back to playing drums. I miss them a lot

actually, now that I think of it, the pads arent THAT quiet... but not as loud as a real drum

duely noted dudes.

i figure i'd just get a head start before i eventually do get a house and am able to get a drum set, which probably won't be for another year.

i'm scheduled to talk to my intructor about a plan of attack before i actually fully commit to anything, so that's good. yeah that drum pad was about what i had in mind, hopefully not TOO loud . . . :grin: i might have to set up a little practice area outside the apartment or something

hey kcinsu how much practice did it take you to get "good"

um, I dunno. I played just snare drum in 6th grade band class, so I did that for a year, then in 7th grade I got a cheap kit, and started taking lessons. I continued until mid-9th grade. Its hard to say. Probably took 1/2 a year to get decent beats on the kit, and a year to actually be musical? It takes a little while to get used to having all of your limbs doing different things at once.

I also noticed that whenever I played drums later (like 2-3 years after I stopped) I was actually better, without any practice, because even though my technique deteriorated, my musicality had improved, and so I was doing more interesting things. Youll probably be better at it in a shorter amount of time then I was, because you write music, play guitar etc. Youve had musical experience, which goes a long way in learning new instruments. For me, it was my first experience, so it took longer. Im pretty sure youll move along faster then I did.

i play drums, among other instruments.

there is nothing wrong with practicing with some sticks and a few 5 gallon buckets. do things your own way

listen to the man - buckets can orbit this planet

demonstration:

Yup, i've been playing for almost 20 years (i'm 25 now)

If you don't have drums, practice on pillows. It might sound silly, but the fact that you're hitting a dead surface will keep you from relying on the rebound and will make your hands much stronger. Also, get a metronome. Nothing will tighten you up more. Buy a copy of "advanced techniques for the modern drummer" by Jim Chapin and have your teacher walk through it with you. With enough dedication and practice you'll be off to a much better start than ALOT of drummers. myself included.

yes, drums are great. i miss playuing drums. you dont need a set to practice a paradiddle though or any other kind of practice/warm up techniques.

yep...drummer in a funk band.

i'll let you in on a secret of the trade man...just promise not to tell anyone:

ok now, it's very important you keep this secret. if it gets out, suddenly any average joe will be able to play the sick beats, and then we'll be screwed.

that aside, i once went 2 years without playing a physical set, but just worked on a lot of beat programming and using my hands on different surfaces. after getting a physical set back, i'd dramatically improved my drumming ability. half of it's mental man...

I'm learning (by myself - can't afford lessons), and I find I actually play a lot better after a drink or two.

It's weird though, I'm usually really good at tapping things out with my hands, but when it comes to sticks I'm a bit sloppy. I guess it just comes down to what you're used to.

The electronic thing mentioned above is a good idea - I've done this briefly and it sounds excellent (also good for technique), I'm thinking of converting a midi keyboard into a bunch of triggers for my kit, hehe.

Yeah same here. I usually down a couple of long islands and an energy drink before going onstage. That's about the threshold between being loosened up enough to not be self conscious, but not so loose I lose coordination. Weed is great for drums though. I focus 100% on what i'm doing whilst comafried.

I have some drums with mesh heads hooked up to a roland tmc6 (trigger/midi convertor) that goes into my soundcard and triggers sounds off my pc in kontakt/bfd/whatever I wouldnt recommend it for improving technique or anything. The rebound on mesh heads are more extreme than a regular drum so it will make you lazy if you let it.