Does this make me a bad drummer?

[Muffled Tom]

Ok, so a thing I have is that I don't want to drum all the time. I mean I just don't have that yearn to do percussion all the time. Many times I'll prefer watching TV or sitting at my computer over going to my drums. This is partially because I don't want to bother other people, and because my drumset is very bad and it discourages me sometimes, but regardless, I still feel that if I were a real drummer, I'd want to sit at my set every opportunity I have. I mean I'm always tapping rhythms out on my legs, all the time, but when it comes to sitting at a drumset, for a number of reasons, I don't.

Anyone else feel this way, that you don't play nearly enough as you should? and does it make me a bad drummer that I DON'T want to spend all the time drumming, for whatever reason?

[fourstringdrums]

No, it doesn't make you a bad drummer. I'm the same way. There are a lot of times when I don't want to play. It's better if you don't force it. The most important thing is that when you play you put all you can into it. There is no set rule on how much you should want to play.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Everyone's fun meter pegs at a different level. I wish I could play more but have restricted my play as to not bother the neighbors. Not playing too early or too late at night. There are times when I sit down to play that something just doesn't feel right, so I walk away. Other times I want to play all night.

[burnthehero]

The world we live in today offers us so many more distractions than it once did. TV, internet, video games, sports, movies, etc. etc. It's nearly impossible to do only one thing all the time. In fact, your life would be very counter-productive if all you ever did in your free time was play drums.

[Late Bloomer]

Unfortuntely, acoustic drums are a fairly loud instrument. If you practiced all the time, the cops would be visiting you. Also, it is probably not good to fully consume yourself playing them all the time. You may burn yourself out. You mentioned that your kit is a bit crappy. It is always more fun playing a nice kit. I know that since I purchased my gorgeous new Le Soprano kit, I can't take my eyes off it(I have it set up in my lounge room). I probably practice on it every day or 2 for a hour or so. Only when I am home alone though. When I am driving, I am constantly air drumming. Other drivers must think I am a bit wierd.

[jay norem]

I don't think it makes you a bad drummer now, but it could make you a bad drummer in the future. One word: practice. If you're not practicing then you're not getting any better.
My hands are to the point where they don't feel right unless they're holding sticks. Question: do you have a practice pad? Have that and a pair of sticks with you while you're watching TV. Also, THINK drumming, all the time.
You have to live as a drummer to be a drummer. And that means playing the drums. I'm not putting down the idea of not being behind the kit every minute of your life, but sooner or later you're going to have to put the time in. That is, if you really like playing the drums to the extent that you can't imagine doing anything else with your life.

[beatsMcGee]

well i dont think it makes you a bad drummer, but i force myself to play 2 hours a day on the kit whether im super tired or not, i very rarely miss a day. i tell you this cause its made me even more addicted to my instrument cause ive grown so much on it. i dunno if that helped, but no it doesn't make you a bad drummer. but if you give yourself a chance i.e ( force yourself to play sometimes) you might develop a greater love for it.

[hawk9290]

nothing wrong with that at all. You should not be playing drums all the time. Even a lot of the professional and touring drummers will tell you that whenever they can they'll head out hiking or take a nice cruise over drumming. Last year I was practically addicted to drumming, it was all I wanted to do, and then last September I more or less crashed because it was becoming so much of my time and I wasn't enjoying it. Now, I might go a few days without touching my drums and I won't regret it, everyone needs time away or else you will develop strict routines that will be very hard to break.

[Muffled Tom]

There are times when I sit down to play that something just doesn't feel right, so I walk away. Other times I want to play all night.

This is pretty much how my feelings are split when it comes to drumming. Sometimes I'll decide to play, and I'll sit and my foot will be particularly slow or out of synch, or my speed will be terrible, and I'll just be discouraged and I'll go watch some more CSI. But other times I'll sit, hook up some Incubus, and it all feels so right (you used the perfect term there) and that I'll sit there, literally, for 2 hours and a half, until someone from the "outside" comes along and tells me to stop.

everyone needs time away or else you will develop strict routines that will be very hard to break.

This is true, but there are many people who say that strict routines are exactly what a good drummer needs to develop.

[jonescrusher]

If you can stick to a well structured and meaningful practice regime then you'll obviously benefit, and will see improvements quickly. It can be hard to keep focus when you may not have any particular goal to work towards.
Remember that good practice requires practice. The more you stick to a regime the more your concentration and practice stamina will increase, and fewer will be those occasions where you just can't get into it.
The worst thing about getting easily distracted is the passing of time. It's annoying to think back one day and realise that 2 years has passed where you had many opportunities to improve which were wasted to crap TV shows.
If you play for the joy of it, don't force yourself. If you have wider ambitions (ie. going pro) then 'push the burn' and get into good practice habits as soon as possible.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

No this would make you a bad drummer

http://break.com/index/korean-drummer-rocks-out.html

[Muffled Tom]

No this would make you a bad drummer

http://break.com/index/korean-drummer-rocks-out.html

I actually think its impressive. Its quite a feat to be able to headbang to that kind of music...

[burnthehero]

Now that I think about it, I think we make a lot of improvement on the kit as well as away from the kit. I don't have any way of quantizing that other than what I've seen in my own playing. It seems that when my practice sessions are more spread out, I play better and I enjoy it a lot more. Perhaps it's because I'm giving my muscles and my brain time to relax and absorb what it just learned.

[darkstar442]

dude i dont wana play my drums all the time and im usually asleep. but if i cant get my fills and even get to 170db i just get up leave and sleep or watch tv. im lazy. drumming isnt a compatition for the most part its about having fun. and when it consumes your life and your not happy at your set when its has consumed it you have forgoten thats its about having fun. thats why we all need to remember why we got our drums in the first place. to have fun with something thats good for you. i mean sometimes ill come home and i just wana play for 3-4hours or sometimes i dont wana get up. it doesnt make you a bad drummer unless you never wana play. even when you can. so if some1 calls you a bad drummer your not!

" i think im gona cry now after that speech" *sniffle

[Fur drummer]

Buddy Rich never practiced or played every chance he could and he wasn't a bad drummer. Of course if someone has the talent he had they really wouldn't have to.
The point is, too much of something is never a good thing. As Late Bloomer said, you may get burned out if you played all the time. As much as I love the drums I don't want to play them all the time.

However you should practice and not stop and go and do something else just because you are not able to play a certain rhythm or pattern right away. stick with it and don't get discouraged.

[Royal]

No this would make you a bad drummer

http://break.com/index/korean-drummer-rocks-out.html

Some things never change (Two days ago).
The hotel Royal coffee shop in Bangkok has bands (always with a hot chick) sounding just like that.

Music doesn't come into it :-))

[jonescrusher]

Buddy Rich never practiced or played every chance he could and he wasn't a bad drummer. Of course if someone has the talent he had they really wouldn't have to.



I fear this is incorrect. Buddy Rich wasn't born with the ability to do what he did. Obviously he had to practice hard, and there would have been periods when he would have been on the kit pretty much solidly. The truly great players are those that have the motivation and the self-belief to dedicate themselves to the instrument.

[fixxxer]

There are times (especially when I have drummed alot betweet two bands) that I have to "not" play to keep it from feeling too much like work. There are days that I sit down to practice and nothing seems to feel right or come together so I have to back off. And then there are times that I have to force myself to practice when there is a particular song or technique I have to learn.
There is definately more to life than drums. It's when you no longer want to play at all that you may get worried. But, even then, it doesn't make you a bad drummer- just, maybe- disinterested.

[zambizzi]

I want to play every spare minute that I can...does that make me a *good* drummer? Not necessarily, no. Don't have some sort of guilt or angst because you're not as obsessive about playing as the next guy.

[rhydianjlewis]

No, it doesn't make you a bad drummer at all. And i've wondered exactly the same thing before, especially reading about the disciplined practice routines of some people on this forum! However, it does depend on whether you play for fun or want to make drumming your career.

I started drumming because i enjoyed it, and have always only played when i want to. I know that if i'd been stricter about it or been forced into playing when i did not want to, i might not still be playing today. On the other hand though, if you stick to your practise (try and sit down for at least 30mins at a time) it becomes more rewarding, as you improve with warming up.

[kingy102]

Sometimes I can't be botherd to play my drums but I still do cause its fun .

I hate when I go on holiday because when I listen to my music it makes me want to play the drums but I can't..

[schist]

First of all, no it does not make you a bad drummer, unless of course you're still practicing in some way, shape or form.

For instance, I don't get the access I'd want to my kit as often (living in a house with 3 other people), and I usually spend 1.5 - 2 hours a day practicing on a pad (hands)/my bedside (feet) in my room.

And no, there is no "to be a good drummer, you should be practicing 24/7 nonstop" ... that, in the scheme of things, is a great big pile of bulls**t. As "GRUNTERSDAD' said, everyone's fun meter peaks at a different level - there are times where you'll probably want to be on the kit all day, and times where you just don't feel like playing. And it's perfectly normal, and nothing to stress over.

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

I fear this is incorrect. Buddy Rich wasn't born with the ability to do what he did. Obviously he had to practice hard, and there would have been periods when he would have been on the kit pretty much solidly. The truly great players are those that have the motivation and the self-belief to dedicate themselves to the instrument.

Actually he was, that's why he was able to have his own solo Drum act, "Traps, The Boy Wonder" starting about the age of three, maybe a little earlier, which was the beginning of his long career. From all published accounts he never practiced and never learned to read music, actually he was embarrased by the fact that he could barely read at all, a price he paid by being a gigging drummer while others his age went to School..............

LVDC

[Lynchie]

It's all what you want. I can empathize with you. I have realized, with my age (47), that I will probably never be an advanced or pro level drummer. Big deal. I can still get a huge kick out of playing and trying to improve. Everyones talent level, opportunities, time to practice etc. are different so if you don't have the desire to practice all the time...does that make you a bad drummer? Well...maybe technically. If you want to just bang away and have fun...who cares. If you want to be Jo Jo Mayer you'll have to eat, sleep and practice drums as a career.

[King Of Drums]

I fear this is incorrect. Buddy Rich wasn't born with the ability to do what he did. Obviously he had to practice hard, and there would have been periods when he would have been on the kit pretty much solidly. The truly great players are those that have the motivation and the self-belief to dedicate themselves to the instrument.

I'm pretty sure he's on the record saying he never practiced. I don't think he meant literally though. I just think he meant that as he got older he practiced less and less until he never practiced anymore. Obviously he had some natural talent as he was traps the drum wonder, but I assume he must have practiced like crazy as a teenager.

Don't forget though he was gigging nearly everyday for like 50 years.

On to the question itself. No it doesn't mean your a bad drummer. How much time you spend practicing should depend on how good you want to be. If you want to be a professional or get really good you have to challenge yourself. Try and learn new things and work on your weaknesses. It would be a good idea to practice everyday if you have these goals. It doesn't mean that you have to practice all the time though. If you just want to play them for fun and don't have any serious drumming goals than just play them whenever.

You can't expect to get good without spending time on the instrument that's for sure.

[norgo]

i was like you

until i bought ekits..

[Banzai]

YES, you ARE a BAd Drummer!!!!!!!!!!!!! I condemn you to spend the rest of your days in Drummer Hell playing only practice pads and Maxtone Kits.

Just kiddin': I believe it's normal if you sometimes just don't feel like playing, a drummer of my counrty says that if you don't want to practice: don't practice, if you aren't motivated you'll not earn anything. If you feel guilty you can simply listen to some good music, that counts as a type of study.

[maddrummr]

If you are ever at the computer or watching TV do you find yourself tapping?

I would consider this practicing.

[awe_1]

No but ive just realised over the last year, that the more things you try to learn or remember or redo, the more work you have behind the drumkit anyway so if you have more things to do behind the kit youll tend to stay behind the kit longer. also you can push yourself to try and get better and improve an aspect of your drumming, but remember you can also chill out behind the drumkit, play what you know already.