Inexperienced drummer practice advices

[Meckie]

Hi guys! I started playing drums few months ago and I've been progressing a lot since that. However, I start to find myself pretty stuck.

And it's because I lack some sort of structure in my practice "schedule". Unfortunately I have no teacher right now - of course working to get one. So, uhm, I have no clue on what to start practicing at this point. So far I've focused on these things:

- Paradiddle
- Reading notes
- Going quarter notes with HH-pedal while playing eight notes on ride with bass and snare drum on various counts.
- Listening to a lot of music trying to jam to it.
- Making a beat for three measures then a self-made fill in fourth measure using a metronome.

I feel that my stick control, grip and left hand are actually my weakest links, so I'd like to work a bit on those. So if you could recommend some exercises or a book or a DVD or some homepage please write!

I've recently bought a practice pad but right now the only real thing i can practice is the paradiddle. My double strokes simply suck 'cause I'm lacking some technique in my hands and I don't feel very confident about my grip either. So.

If you have some other exercises or advices on what to practice please write aswell. I love drumming and I'm really motivated at getting better. If you could write it like "first you go practice this, once you get better, move on to that, then do that" I'd be very happy. :D Just some advices on how to constantly progress!

Also I'd like to say that I'm a big admire of the whole drumcommunity and often find myself reading a lot of stuff in here. Thanks to all the people helping out there.

Regards, Meckie.

[jeffwj]

Let us know where you live and maybe someone can recommend a teacher in your area.

For hand technique, try Joe Morello's DVD.

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Morello-1-Approach-Technique/dp/B000E6FVVI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1257634220&sr=8-2

There are some clips from the DVD here (http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Joe_Morello.html).

Jeff

[Meckie]

Oh, I watched Dave Weckl's "back to basics" some time ago and he mentions that the stick has to be in the first joint in the index finger.

Now I just watched Dave Weckl's Natural Evolution and here he recommends NOT putting the stick in the index finger but in the second finger.

Is this a question of personal preference or should I start practicing the grip in Natural Evolution? Also, I have seem to have a problem with the stick falling into the seond joint on my finger. Is that a huge problem and should I work on keeping it in the first joint?

[Meckie]

Hi Jeff, unfortunately (hehe) I live in Denmark and I'm not under the impression that there's a lot of danish drumteachers around here. I am intensively searching for a teacher - but of course if there's a danish dude who knows a teacher around VEJLE (even though I highly doubt it) feel free to throw me a pm :D

And thanks on the DVD-advice, I'll look into it.

[wy yung]

Hi Jeff, unfortunately (hehe) I live in Denmark and I'm not under the impression that there's a lot of danish drumteachers around here. I am intensively searching for a teacher - but of course if there's a danish dude who knows a teacher around VEJLE (even though I highly doubt it) feel free to throw me a pm :D

And thanks on the DVD-advice, I'll look into it.

I recommend Jim Chapin's DVD.

Dave Weckl changed his style in the years following BTB. That is why he offers different advice.

I can recommend this drummer who offers online lessons. He will not steer you wrong.

http://www.funkydrummer.com/

[Meckie]

Thank you wu_yung. However, would like some more opinions on the grip. Should I start practicing the grip Dave recommends in his newest DVD or should I stick with the "original" grip.

[Cottontop]

i learned ALOT from youtube. you can search "online durm lessons" and there will be a bunch of videos about how to hold a stick properly and how get get good rebound. the onlinedrummer's channel has some very helpfull videos

ive never had a teacher (well i did for a few weeks just to help me with sight reading snare music) and im one of the better drummers in my school's drumline as far as technique goes

its seems like your on the right track with practicing though so keep it up.

[Therma lobsterdore]

Yep plenty of stuff on youtube, watch every lesson and every drummer from every style that you can! For hand technique get the 'Secret weapons of the modern drummer' DVD by JoJo mayer, it's the best out there, for foot technique get Matt ritter's 'Unburying the beater' DVD

[yesdog]

Check out Todd Suchermans DVD. It is loaded with tips, advice, applications of rudiments
and printable practice sheets.

[larryace]

Just be aware that there will be more than one method presented on how to work a drumstick. It's up to you to determine what works best for your hands.

[Random Name 123]

Yep plenty of stuff on youtube, watch every lesson and every drummer from every style that you can!

I actually disagree with this. I'd advise not to take in too much at once and instead practice a handful of basic things until you get them to a good level. When I started, I jumped straight into paradiddles without having practised its predecessors, singles and doubles, and I couldn't diddle to save my life until a year later, after having broken it down and taken it steady. It's all a big build up of skills, for any drummer.

[mikeveny]

My advice would be to:

Pick up Dom Famularo's book, It's Your Move. This book contains very detailed text on stick technique. In fact, it is an excellent supplement to the DVD, A Natural Approach to Technique with Joe Morello.
Begin practicing the material slowly in front of a mirror. A mirror is an excellent teacher.
Record a video of yourself practicing and play it back. Pay careful attention to things you notice and take notes.

While this doesn't compare to an actual lesson, it really helps you get the most out of practicing on your own. Ultimately, you don't want to develop bad habits. Hope this helps.

[Meckie]

Thanks a lot guys! Sure did help me!!

Keep drumming out there!!

[RollingStone000]

Oh, I watched Dave Weckl's "back to basics" some time ago and he mentions that the stick has to be in the first joint in the index finger.

Now I just watched Dave Weckl's Natural Evolution and here he recommends NOT putting the stick in the index finger but in the second finger.

Is this a question of personal preference or should I start practicing the grip in Natural Evolution? Also, I have seem to have a problem with the stick falling into the seond joint on my finger. Is that a huge problem and should I work on keeping it in the first joint?

Basically it is two different versions of the German grip, one with the fulcrum at the index and thumb and the other at the middle index and thumb (mainly the middle finger).

Personally, I'd say learn both types. It'll come in handy and you won't even realize it.

[Garvey]

I may be old school, but you can't go wrong with the following classic books: Stick Control (George Lawrence Stone) and Syncopation for the Modern Drummer (Ted Reed). Go through them one time with just hands, a second time adding right foot and a third time adding left foot. The excercises in these books are timeless and will do wonders for your independence.
Also, it's great to play along with tunes but record yourself as well! Sometimes what you THINK you sound like isn't really what you sound like. I remember being horrified the first time I heard myself recorded (many years ago). I was no where near as smooth as a thought I was with my time keeping and fills.
I am VERY envious of young players coming up now, with all the tools at your disposal to help learn - you tube, DVD's, etc. Back in the early eighties you never got to see a drummer play, you just had to sit in your room with your tape deck and try and figure out what the heck they were playin!
Good luck with the studies!

[Matty G.]

You are on the right track, Meckie! Some good advice on this thread.

A general concept about practicing is this: you have to know what sound you want to achieve, then you need to know HOW to achieve it.

The first part comes from listening to your favorite music and players, going to see live musicians, seeing what tickles your ear and what excites you. Then you need decide what it is that you'd like to study. It can be a specific groove or lick, or it can be more general, like developing solid technique, good time, your own sound/originality etc.

Then comes the practice. Slowly working out the coordination till whatever you are playing feels natural, then gradually working up to speed, then recording yourself and listening back, etc. Sometimes it is necessary to learn a lot of basic exercises first, since most ideas on the drums require a certain technical competency before attempting them. This is where a good teacher comes in handy.

Good luck, and another quote that I like is: if you're not having fun, you are definitely doing it wrong.

Best, Matt

[davidr]

My advice would be to:

Begin practicing the material slowly in front of a mirror. A mirror is an excellent teacher.



Great tip. The mirror will tell you whether your technique is symmetrical. Your grip is by far the most important thing to get right. Once you get that down move onto Stick Control by George L Stone for practicing on the pad. Always play to the metronome, start slowly, and aim to get to the level where you can bury the metronome (hitting the pad exactly as the metronome clicks so that it cannot be heard)

MOST IMPORTANT TIP: HAVE FUN. Don't spend all your time on drills, play along to simple songs, play around on the kit.

Also, controversially, I think that getting a teacher straight away is not the best idea. I think that if you go down this route, you lose that early phase of rooting around and patching random things together in a haphazard way. I think that this is what will define a lot of your original style. Sure, you might go for a while making some mistakes which isn't great, but teachers tend to take you down a very standard road.