Stamina

[Cusic]

Just wondering what people would suggest to build up stamina, cos currently I can't play as long as I would like to.

I know your gonna say excersize or something but can you be more specific? what kind of excersize and for how long etc.

thanks alot.

[toxegendrummer]

cardio is your friend...so get on that treadmill...it makes a difference...ive just started goin to the gym like 3-4 days a week...and im already startin to feel like i can hold out a 6 hr jam session

[Doom]

I air drum along with albums alot. I dont have to give any thought to my time or anything so I can concentrate on staying relaxed and breathing and such. I use heavier sticks than I usually play with and just play for as long as I can.

[Maytridy]

I find that practicing rudiments on pillows and blankets helps build up strength and endurance.

[hungrypo]

warm-up.
i do this:...RRRRRRRR LLLLLLLLL
RRRRRRR LLLLLLLL
RRRRRR LLLLLL
RRRRR LLLLL
RRRR LLLL
RRR LLL
RR LL
R L ....and back again. first between both feet. then both hands. then between right foot and right hand, left foot and left hand, RF/LH, LF/RH. or across, up and down, and diagonally.....it takes about 10 - 15 minutes. works for me.

[cantstandyourfunk]

Exercises and warming up, plus a little stretching before you play a gig. You can also swim; i do. Helps stretch the back muscles, legs and shoulders

[h3r3tic]

I think learning how to breathe while drumming is very important. It helps you with your stamina and specially the tempo. Learn how to breath with the tempo

[SickRick]

I think learning how to breathe while drumming is very important.

That is so true. The first three years of drumming I didn't know how to breath while drumming and always passed out after 5 minutes of practising. If you do that too often it might even cause brain damage. My solution was to play along with a record that I made: It was just a voice saying "breathe in - breathe out" over and over.

Really did help.

Edit: This post might feature sarcasm up to a certain degree. Lets see if that will be tolerated by the vicious dog.

DB, I'm just kiddin. Sorry, next time I'm hammered I'll post on another forum. I promise.

[frank0072]

Edit: This post might feature sarcasm up to a certain degree. Lets see if that will be tolerated by the vicious dog.

DB, I'm just kiddin. Sorry, next time I'm hammered I'll post on another forum. I promise.

dude, why do you poop on DB like that? it gets you nowhere, and it annoys me.

OT: I think the best way to build stamina is by playing sports. I don't do that, but I should if I wanted to have more stamina :)

[SickRick]

dude, why do you poop on DB like that? it gets you nowhere, and it annoys me.

OT: I think the best way to build stamina is by playing sports. I don't do that, but I should if I wanted to have more stamina :)

1.: I was making a joke, in case you don't know what that is, look it up here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joke

2.: I don't care if it annoys you - I am sure just as many guys thought it was funny.

[NUTHA JASON]

something no one has pointed out is that if your technique is correct you will need less stamina. watch the video by dom famularo and jim chapin over on the vic firth site for great advice on this. i applied the advice given there over three years ago and i can play flat out rock gigs three nights in a row with no cramping or pain. i know i've built up muscle as well but the right technique is at least half the battle.

j

[jazzin']

I found it mildly amusing :)

As to the topic, I would say do a daily set of drum exercises. It is drumming stamina you're after not general stamina.
Try single, double and paradiddle each for ten minutes without stopping at a medium tempo, like 140 - 170. Doing 16ths.
I promise that if you do this every day for 3 months as a warm up or something, you'll not only develop much better chops but you'll have all the stamina you need.

....as Nutha said though, this is taking for granted of course your technique is right which is very important.

[k3ng]

Yeah once you got technique down, gaining stamina is just a matter of lengthening your practice times.

i would actually suggest just playing rather than specific exercises. Put yourself in an actual playing situation like gigs or practice sessions with bands and see how long you can hold out before you exhaust yourself. I used to tire out after 45 minutes when I first started(and my technique wasn't very good then so its a double wammy) but now I can go for 3-4 hours straight and I'm fine and can actually do more. It's the guitarists who die now. Wuahahaha.

Anyway, you can try playing together with CD tracks as well and see how many CD's you run through before collapsing. Cheers.

[Cusic]

cheers for all the advice guys I'm gonna try and do as much of it as I can :)