Play the Drums Like a Pro

Do you want to learn to play the drums like a pro? You've got to start with a mindset that you want to be the best. You must decide to be totally dedicated and prepare yourself to do whatever it takes. Keep reading for instructions on playing drums like you were born to do it.

Steps

Working Hard

  1. Practice! If you don't practice then you'll never be good. It takes a lot of hard work.
  2. Take drum lessons. Many drummers will tell you that they are self-taught. This leads some drummers to think that lessons are not necessary and they'll often avoid it altogether. We're here to tell you that, without a firm foundation, you could pick up some real bad habits that may take you years to "unlearn". Find a reputable, qualified teacher and study the foundation of drumming before you do anything else. Make sure you know how to read music and that you know the different styles of drumming.
  3. Have the best gear. Remember that a drum kit is as good as the person playing it. A fantastic drum kit tuned and played by a beginner will sound awful, whereas a cheap no name drum kit that is tuned and played by a seasoned drummer can actually sound wonderful. That being said, sturdy hardware is no unnecessary luxury. Get a drum throne that suits your height and supports your weight, and that you can keep proper balance on. Make sure your pedals rum smoothly. And last but not least, make sure your drums and cymbals are stable on their stands.
  4. Market yourself. There is an old saying; "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" and it is one of the truest things ever written. You can be one of the best but if no one sees you play, you can't possibly get hired. Learn marketing techniques and get out in front. Make sure everyone in town knows who you are. Sit in on jam sessions and hand out business cards. Leave no stone unturned.
  5. Follow the "no pain, no gain," mantra. One thing weightlifters understand is that progress in building a muscle really starts when you push past that point where you want to quit. The same goes for drumming too. If you'll really dedicate yourself and practice diligently, you will see a remarkable difference in your playing. Go the extra mile and don't settle for mediocrity.
  6. Be professional. Warm up before every gig, play for the music (not for yourself), be on time, and act professionally. Your reputation will determine how much you work. If you don't take yourself seriously, other musicians won't take you seriously.
  7. Play with other musicians at every opportunity. You will learn much more playing in bands than practicing in your bedroom. Never turn down a gig and always be willing to play unfamiliar styles of music.
  8. Develop your own style. You won't know what your style is if you only copy beats, and once you join a band you can't copy beats for your own music. Never double book yourself and if you really have to cancel a gig, make sure you recommend a reliable dep to fill in.

Playing with More Experienced Musicians

  1. Push yourself to perform with more experienced musicians, even if it's for a rehearsal or a jam session. Don't be afraid; this kind of practice will take your game up to the next level. Of course, they shouldn't be way more experienced than you or it'll lead to some awkwardness. But if you can hold your own in a jam session with them while learning something, then go for it.
  2. Be keen and listen to what the bandleader says. Don't be stubborn about how awesome you are. Take his advice instead. Listen to what you can really take away and use to improve your playing.
  3. If the bandleader says you are too loud or need to calm down, don't take it too personally. He's probably right. He's just trying to get you up to speed with everyone else. Remember that you want to learn to work together with other band members, even if it means you have to adjust your style a bit.
  4. Be aware of your surroundings. Be sensitive to the environment you are playing in, if it's a small room you need to adapt or play quieter, in a large venue you may need to play a bit louder.
  5. Master the dynamics. Set yourself at least 10 different volumes of playing. You can say to your bandleader would you like 1 - 10.



Tips

  • Use dynamics. Don't just sit there and play everything really loud and in your face. Practice playing softly and using accents in your fills to really make your playing come alive. You will sound much better, and much more impressive if you play tastefully.
  • Learn to play beats in different time signatures, such as 2/4,4/4,3/4,6/8 or 3/8. This will improve your versatility as a drummer.
  • Remember not to be too stiff and caught up on trying to be precisely on time; it will have a noticeable detrimental effect on your timing if you try too hard. Have fun while you play, and if you're in the groove, so will the audience. Concentrate on your timing but don't let it overtake you!
  • Listen and hear to what other musicians play as well when you are jamming with them.
  • Warm up before you perform. Literally, a little practice before hand warms up your muscles and enables them to move quicker and more agile.
  • Listen closely to your favorite drummers! Playing along with your favorite drummers with headphones is more fun and every bit as effective as practicing with a metronome. Many professional drummers begin this way. Start with easy, slow songs to begin with, and eventually work your way up to playing with faster, more complex parts.
  • Record yourself playing. Many drummers are surprised at the quality of their playing, whether for better or for worse. When you listen to your recording you will be able to pick out rhythm/tempo inconsistencies and iron them out.
  • Learn more advanced techniques like the Molar Technique, the Heel-Toe Technique, or the One Handed Drum Roll to take your playing to the next level.
  • Practise your endurance. Time yourself to see how long you can maintain repetitive motions and practise to exceed your record. But while you're doing these exercises whatever you do STAY RELAXED. If you tense up and start gripping the stick too much your speed will gradually get slower over time not faster, as your technique deteriorates.
  • Use proper body posture."Sit up straight", this will improve your drumming dramatically and your comfort too.
    • This doesn't mean that you have to look like a pole, but it will help you when drumming difficult notes.
  • Learn to read music! There is such thing as professional notation for drums, just as there is for tone-based instruments. Learning this notation will allow you to not only learn from drum books and tablature, but also enables you to write down your own beats and share them with other drummers.
  • If you like to play along with music, purchase noise isolating headphones and plug it into the headset jack of your portable media or CD player. This is a great way to hear the music over the noise of your own playing whilst not damaging your ears.
  • Learn the basics of as may different styles of music as you can. It's OK to specialize (e.g. jazz, metal, funk etc.) but the more different styles you know, the more versatile you are and the more chance you have of getting work.
  • Play along with a friend! Knowing how to integrate and synchronize your playing into other people's music will ready you in the case that you ever join a band.
  • Play with a metronome. Your most important function in a band is to play in time and provide a solid base for the rest of the players. However, be cautious to not become dependent on it. Play with a metronome, then try the same licks without using the metronome.
  • Learn good technique! Learn the various "forms" of the matched grip and the traditional grip. These include various combination's of hand, whether with the back of the palm facing up for more efficiency, or with the thumb up for more control, and finger, whether you grip it with your thumb and middle finger or with your ring/little finger. This gives you more variety, allowing you to change technique for different feels, or alternating between grips/fingering so you won't be as tired in the end.
  • Effort = Results!
  • Drum steadily with even strokes. This is crucial to sounding professional and on time. Practising while counting aloud can be extremely helpful. Try accenting the first stroke of every measure to help keep time.
  • Practise anywhere and everywhere! You don't need to be behind the kit to improve. Tapping your hands on virtually any surface, even your knees, provides opportunity to improve. By simply coordinating a tap with what would normally be a stroke, you are training your mentality to familiarize yourself with the beat. Remember to tap quietly, as other people will be annoyed.
  • Learn your rudiments. Get a practice pad and spend time in front of the TV practicing sticking, rudiments and accents. It will vastly improve your playing behind the kit!
  • Relax the grip! The sticks (matched) are held between the thumb and middle finger, despite what many people think the index finger is only there to keep the stick in place; you don't actually use your index finger as the pivot point. Your two back fingers are also there to control the stick don't grip too tightly but also don't take them off the stick completely. If you use the proper technique and get a good middle pivot point your sticks will be flying in no time!

Warnings

  • Be nice to your ears!! The drum kit can produce volume levels of 100-120 dB. Wear earplugs when you practice and perform. You only have your hearing once...
  • PRACTICE PROPER TECHNIQUE! If you don't play with proper technique you will soon be faced with problems such as arthritis and strained wrists. As long as you use proper technique you can play 4 hours a day until you're 60 years old and have no physical strain caused by drumming!

Things You'll Need

  • A drum set
  • Drum sticks

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Sources and Citations

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