Warming up the entire body....how?

[hvymtlmike]

Here it is, I am an experienced drummer, been playing for about 13 years. I play metalcore so I use all 4 limbs pretty heavily. With all of that being said, I have recently realized that I have no consistent warm up routine. I understand you want to get the blood flowing to play better, but all I have usually been doing is playing a double bass lick builidng up, or playing one of our songs to warm up. I have really started noticed how lacking my warm up is compared to when I see some of my favorite drummers strategies. Anyone have any tips on how to build my warm up routine or where to start? I want all four limbs to be well warmed and my body loose. Thank you for any input!

[Spreggy]

First, a brief stretch, like a sun salutation.
I get my best warm-ups by playing super clean technique very slow. Especially for feet, playing single strokes and double strokes and paradiddles nice and easy but firm, with a focus on keeping the feet sounding identical to each other. I hit every skin with the best technique to set the foundation of playing to come. The purpose is to lock and load all your weapons, so to speak, not impress the sound guy.
Tommy Igoe's Lifetime Warm-up is a good one. I find it best to play it slow, then play it again faster, and incorporate feet.
I also think it's important to use the same warm-up for practice and gigs.

[Anthony Amodeo]

a warm up that has worked well for me for many years is this

I whip brushes without hitting any surface for about 5 minutes......first one hand then the next ...then both in a single stroke motion.......warms up your arms amazingly
the resistance the brush creates in the air warms your muscles fantastically

then I'll do some jumping jacks or run in place....or if its nice out Ill run and stretch outside for just a few minutes until I feel the blood flowing and my body temperature slightly rise ...then Im all set....my whole body is warm and flexible

[hvymtlmike]

From both of your great responses, I can tell I have not been approaching it the right way, and have definately not been warming up to the extent I really need to.

[Bo Eder]

General physical activity works great for me. I find that if I do the miles on my mountain bike first thing in the morning at least three or four times a week, that generally keeps the body prepared for anything strenuous. But the key is to do it every week, or every day for some people. Bassist Victor Wooten said his best warm up is playing basketball before a show. However, one must be able to avoid injury when doing things like that if you make your living playing.

[hvymtlmike]

Originally Posted by Bo Eder

General physical activity works great for me. I find that if I do the miles on my mountain bike first thing in the morning at least three or four times a week, that generally keeps the body prepared for anything strenuous. But the key is to do it every week, or every day for some people. Bassist Victor Wooten said his best warm up is playing basketball before a show. However, one must be able to avoid injury when doing things like that if you make your living playing.

I work out about 3 times a week but no cardio, running, or muscle endurance exercises. What your saying is that if I do things like that that the endurance will carry over to the kit? That seems almost like a given lol but I never really though of it in that way.

[Spreggy]

Originally Posted by hvymtlmike

I work out about 3 times a week but no cardio, running, or muscle endurance exercises. What your saying is that if I do things like that that the endurance will carry over to the kit? That seems almost like a given lol but I never really though of it in that way.

I would say yes, endurance carries over in a big way. I feel everybody should have some kind of endurance habit, like running, cycling (my fave), or any of a hundred different ways to increase your aerobic endurance. Look at the shape Pridgen is in here, you can't tell me he can work like that through a whole show if he doesn't have some considerable aerobic capacity. Same thing for us mortals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Tk...layer_embedded

[Bo Eder]

Originally Posted by hvymtlmike

I work out about 3 times a week but no cardio, running, or muscle endurance exercises. What your saying is that if I do things like that that the endurance will carry over to the kit? That seems almost like a given lol but I never really though of it in that way.

It's physics really. A body that's in motion tends to stay in motion, that attitude. The problems I've encountered as I've gotten older are directly linked to how much activity you do. Pains and injuries are more severe when your body has stiffened up from lack of movement. I would say a cardio workout is more beneficial just to keep your blood flowing and muscles working instead of bulk building from a standstill. The idea is to be nimble and stealthy, not necessarily ultra strong and powerful. Although both are benefits. And don't forget about eating right. Working out is good but if your fuel is burgers, fries, and pizzas you're defeating the purpose. But things in moderation are ok. Everyone who I know who tried to do a cold turkey thing ultimately stopped. Just be smart about it.

[zambizzi]

Before a show...well...before I pack up and haul my gear to a show...I sit down and solo over a Samba foot pattern for about 20 minutes. For me, this warms up everything, gets me loose (both physically and mentally), and covers all bases.

Start slowly and build up to moving around the kit...watch your dynamics, etc.

[Zero Mercury Drummer]

At a gig, warm up can be complicated. You might be short on time and space. I usually find it difficult. For one, if you're in a room with a bunch of people, it's annoying to bang on things.
I take a little Realfeel pad in my cymbal bag and at least loosen up on it for a few minutes.
Otherwise, to be honest I have gone into a lot of gigs cold.
Sometimes you have to pace yourself first couple of songs so you don't cramp up. I am talking about rock gigs here, where you don't have a lot of time usually.

[Chunky - Hellraizer]

I do lots of stretches, I stretch slowly, make sure my hamstrings are stretched, my ankles rotated, thighs, abdoman, shoulders, wists and fingers.
Then I jump up and down on the spot with a smooth motion.

I look like a bit of a dick at gigs but, it's for the greater good and I usually find somewhere quiet to do it.
Then I do rudiments and slow double bass patterns,gradually upping the tempo each time I restart. I even practise my breathing.

I drink plenty watwr beforehand and I mean hours before not just 30 mins and take magnesium and vitamin D tablets which can help prevent cramp.
Your body depletes it's magnesium supplies pretty fast during physical activity.

I'm into bodybuilding aswell, I've said on here before that I don't think it really helps my drumming much. cardio does.
I have to be careful and re-arrange my training days when I know I have shows coming up 'cos if I beast myself lifting weight it DOES affect me the next day on kit, especially if I've worked my legs.

You just need to be smart about it.

And yes, eating healthy is a great way to start. Don't go crazy, just give your body what it needs and treat yourself still.
water is the ultimate magic potion though.

[Arky]

Chunky, that sounds quite reasonable and disciplined! I think you're right with cardio being a benefit for drumming, with pure muscle mass/strength... not so much of a help.

I don't warm up properly every time (doing stretching etc). Often times I'm just getting into it but starting slowly, gradually building up tempo over several minutes.

When I do stretch I would start with hip rotations, stretch the legs, do some wrist motions, shake/massage my forearms - that's about it.

[hvymtlmike]

Originally Posted by Zero Mercury Drummer

At a gig, warm up can be complicated. You might be short on time and space. I usually find it difficult. For one, if you're in a room with a bunch of people, it's annoying to bang on things.
I take a little Realfeel pad in my cymbal bag and at least loosen up on it for a few minutes.
Otherwise, to be honest I have gone into a lot of gigs cold.
Sometimes you have to pace yourself first couple of songs so you don't cramp up. I am talking about rock gigs here, where you don't have a lot of time usually.

At most gigs the pad is all I have access to so usually I'll try to move around and get the blood flowing. As far as warming up drumwise (pad and kick), I usually go in cold also; : p

Originally Posted by Chunky - Hellraizer

I do lots of stretches, I stretch slowly, make sure my hamstrings are stretched, my ankles rotated, thighs, abdoman, shoulders, wists and fingers.
Then I jump up and down on the spot with a smooth motion.

I look like a bit of a dick at gigs but, it's for the greater good and I usually find somewhere quiet to do it.
Then I do rudiments and slow double bass patterns,gradually upping the tempo each time I restart. I even practise my breathing.

I drink plenty watwr beforehand and I mean hours before not just 30 mins and take magnesium and vitamin D tablets which can help prevent cramp.
Your body depletes it's magnesium supplies pretty fast during physical activity.

I'm into bodybuilding aswell, I've said on here before that I don't think it really helps my drumming much. cardio does.
I have to be careful and re-arrange my training days when I know I have shows coming up 'cos if I beast myself lifting weight it DOES affect me the next day on kit, especially if I've worked my legs.

You just need to be smart about it.

And yes, eating healthy is a great way to start. Don't go crazy, just give your body what it needs and treat yourself still.
water is the ultimate magic potion though.

Awesome advice. I have been working out to bulk up, mostly for stage purposes. After reading all of this I am shiftin into more cardio type weight training (crossfit). I won't do it dramatically since drumming is the primary reason I am doing it to begin with. I deftinately need to work on my diet. Between those two, I am hoping that changes my cardio and muscle stamina limits. I rode the bike this morning. I figured that was a good way to start being that I have rehearsal tonight I didn't want to pound pavement and have my legs lock up and be sore. I'm easing into it. The stretching, I don't do near enough. Usually I am done stretching in under a minute. Based on the advice I have received here, I need much more than that.

[Zero Mercury Drummer]

Ever heard the story that Buddy Rich never warmed up? Didn't he tell an interviewer once that his warm-up routine consisted of taking his hands out of his pockets?

[groove1]

Buddy Rich stayed fit by practicing his black belt techniques regularly.

In my mid 60's my warm up has changed (and hey, I'm not playing rock anymore either but)
I do take a long walk, practice hatha yoga (to stay stretched), hold sticks in my hands and
play air drums covering an imaginary sphere above me, to the front and sides etc)...try to eat
healthy generally and just stay in good shape generally...water is my main drink on any gig.
I consider hauling the gear as part of the warm up and try to think about how I'm bending etc when I move stuff to get the most out of it.

[BacteriumFendYoke]

I play Rugby (and certainly used to a lot more) and before every match and every training session, the warm up was always the same. It's been engrained into me since about the age of five.

Start off with a short, gentle run. You can accomplish this on the spot if necessary. Approximately two hundred metres (two hundred and twenty yards). Then start at the bottom of the body with ankle rotations (gently), moving up to calf stretches, quad stretches and hamstring stretches. These can be of your choosing but should be equal on both sides, with the positions being held and never 'bounced'.

Then, run another two hundred metres and continue on up. Rotate the waist (like a 'hula' action) and the body, touching the toes (never bounce!) if you can and holding for several seconds. Then rotate the upper body with your arms outstretched. Run another two hundred metres and start on the arms - biceps, triceps, and wrists (very important - look up specific wrist stretches - there are many). You can choose also to stretch your neck muscles but be very careful when doing so and make sure to do some reading on what is medically sound before you do so.

There are plenty of options with each specific stretch. For instance, my personal quadricep stretch is different from most others because I am very flexible - so the standard 'standing' stretch doesn't work. Look up different stretches and try them out.

[Chunky - Hellraizer]

Hey Groove1 yoga sounds like an awesome way to not only warm up but, stay numble enough and keep your joints working.
I've never tried it but, I've only heard good things about it. Maybe I should take it up, especially seens as the bodybuilding can stiffen me up. Could counteract it.