Tips for absolute beginner

FatGaz

Junior Member
So I've just won my first drum kit on ebay.

Any tips or advice most welcome, on what I should and shouldn't be doing. Things that I need to have, eg: drum key, etc. Also, any free online guides to get me going.

Also, being based in the UK...is there a good magazine that I can get, being a beginner? Looking to play most styles eventually, but should imagine Rock will be played the most.

Thanks
Gaz
 
Firstly, welcome to the addiction of drumming, and to this excellent forum!

I started to play 2 1/2 years ago and the first thing I found was that it's a lot more difficult than I thought it would be and that I needed lessons!

Rather than give you a list of things you'll need, I'll tell you what I needed apart from lessons, and you can decide for yourself.

New heads
New cymbals
Hot rods (quieter sticks), I prefer bamboo because they're light and I'm only little but plastic ones are more robust
Rubber muffler pads
A new stool
Most importantly, I needed somebody to show me how to use all this stuff. You can and should do a lot of playing by yourself, but you certainly need an informed pair of ears and eyes listening and watching, even if it's only once a month.

What kit do you have, by the way, and have you said hello in the other forum? I'll just toddle over and have a look :)
 
Welcome, glad to have you here.

And yes, post some pics of your kit. We all love drum porn. ;-)
 
A teacher is a great idea. I began by learning how to do some things on the snare drum and then later added the footwork of bass drum, hi hat etc. Learn to play a long roll, slow then fast. Most of all, Have Fun! Don't be discouraged because it is a labor of love. Work towards
playing the music you love most of all. Getting better is a lifelong pursuit. Yes, wanna
see photos! Congratulations!
 
Never, ever, ever (and I mean never, ever, ever) watch an Expert Village video on Youtube...unless it's for comic relief.

Welcome
 
Besides finding a good teacher, I highly recommend getting a membership to the Drum Channel. TONS of great lessons, performances, master classes, etc. You can even submit videos of your playing and guys like Peter Erskine, Terry Bozzio and Gregg Bissonette will critique them. It's $5 a month and cheaper if you go 6 months or a year at a time.

If you do go that route, start with the Chad Wackerman masterclass on the Murray Spivack method. I wish I started on that path, rather than the stiff, strict German "drum corps" stuff I learned. When I took a private lesson from Chad years ago, it completely changed my way of playing in a more relaxed and easy way. To this day, I'm all about the Spivack relaxation method.

My main suggestions for you would be to listen to as much music from as many different genres as you can. Focus on timekeeping and keeping steady grooves and being solid. Don't obsess with speed and power until you gain a solid understanding of basic rhythm and basic grooves. You will get a lot more gigs and get a lot further being solid and versatile, than being "the fastest guy in town". Basically aim to be a musician, not "just a drummer".
 
Welcome FatGaz!!

I just got my first kit two weeks ago, so I know what its like to be just getting started! I have been using books and the internet until my first lesson, my instructor just got a professorship at UNF, so he's a bit busy with the transition right now.

The book I use, (and I really like it) is Drums 1 from the Fast Track series. I'm not sure if they are available in the UK, if not maybe ebay international. It comes with a CD of grooves to play along with and examples of what the drums and cymbals should sound like when you play them with different parts of the sticks or areas on the cymbal. (The CD let me know how bad my cymbals really were) As much as I have been able to pick up from the book, I agree with the rest of the guys - get an instructor. I won't know if I have everything tuned correctly or if my "technique" is adequate until someone can give me live feedback.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it, but get a stick holder of some sort. This was the one thing I was surprised to find out I needed. I only have two sets of sticks, but then I got another set for my kids. Even with a single pair, its nice to have a permanent location for them.

The last thing I would recommend is a lot of time on this forum. I have learned much more from these drummers in the last two weeks than everything else I have been utilizing put together.

Happy Drumming!!

(PS we do love the porn - let's see your kit!)
 
Welcome, and as you're a 'newbie', to spare any blushes, when "drum porn" is mentioned, it's JUST pictures of the drums, OK?


wouldn't want to get you started on the wrong foot!




and most importantly, welcome to DW, with a great deal of information from some great people, who also happen to play the drums.
 
Wow. No idea where to begin.

I think the most important thing about learning drums is to not let your frustration get the better of you. There are going to be times where you want to just kick your kit over in frustrations. Know when to just walk away because sometimes you're just going to have to.
 
Also, being based in the UK...is there a good magazine that I can get, being a beginner?
Gaz

I'd say Rhythm is the most accessible. They have a good CD every month with 2 playalong tracks and numerous lessons. A lot of the lessons tend to be intermediate level or even above but they have the basics included every month which are aimed at beginners.

I also like the way they have video accompanying all the lessons so you don't have to rely on reading music solely.
 
So I've just won my first drum kit on ebay.

Any tips or advice most welcome, on what I should and shouldn't be doing. Things that I need to have, eg: drum key, etc. Also, any free online guides to get me going.

Also, being based in the UK...is there a good magazine that I can get, being a beginner? Looking to play most styles eventually, but should imagine Rock will be played the most.

Thanks
Gaz

You could be a cool experiment, save 'every' receipt from any/all purchases regarding your drum set for the next 5 years.

Every head, stick, snare wire, case/bag, roll of duct tape etc.etc.

Avoid reviewing/adding up the receipts periodically tho, might be too depressing.
 
Definitely get a decent teacher. Even if it's just for the basics. You definitely need someone experienced to help you build the foundations of timing and whatnot.

Also, don't set your kit up anything like these

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/drums/139620-worst-drum-setup-2.html

not only does it look bad, they're incredibly hard to play and may even damage your wrists.

Keep it nice and tidy like this and it'll make playing a lot easier!
http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/yamaha-stage-custom-22-fusion-5-piece-kit-matt-black-600hw.html

Most of all, have fun and welcome to the forum! :D
 
Even if you want to play super heavy music, double bass can wait.

Double bass can wait.

Double bass can wait.

Work on rudiments and their application across the kit before going near a double bass pedal. Also, use a metronome at all times (unless you're practicing playing without one in some weird context).
 
best thing my parent ever did for my music carrier was put me in lessons right away. I took lessons for 6 years and about every 5-7 years i go back for 8-10 weeks of just refresher lessons.... that was 32 years ago and im still going strong. I believe if you learn with the proper grip and technique you will progess so much faster then trying to learn on your own. Plus a teacher will keep you on the right path, he\she wont just let you play along to your favorite songs all day.
 
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