Beginner's Guide to Drumming

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Chris Bulilan

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Introduction
Qualities of Great Drummers
Top Drummers in Each Genre
Set Up Your Drums
Understanding Drum Notation
Developing Basic Drum Rudiments
Easy Beginner Drum Songs

Beginner's Guide to Drumming

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henry

6 min read

Beginner

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Learning to play the drums is an exciting journey that can bring a lifetime of enjoyment. With the right approach, some dedication, and a bit of practice, you'll be rocking out in no time.

Qualities of Great Drummers

didgeproject.com

Being a good drummer is all about having a great sense of rhythm and being able to keep a steady beat.

It's like being the heartbeat of the band - you set the pace and keep everyone in sync.

A good drummer also knows when to take the lead and when to step back and let others shine.

It's not just about playing fast or doing fancy fills, but about serving the song and making the whole band sound their best.

To be a successful drummer, you need to have dedication and a love for your craft.

It takes a lot of practice to develop your skills, but if you stick with it and keep learning, you'll keep getting better and better.

Being a team player is also key - you need to be able to work well with other musicians and communicate effectively.

So why should you be excited about drumming? Because it's an incredibly fun and rewarding way to express yourself and connect with others through music.

When you're grooving behind the kit, you get to be the driving force that makes people want to dance and sing along.

Plus, drumming is a great stress-reliever and can even give you a full-body workout!

Whether you're jamming with friends, playing in a band, or just practicing on your own, drumming is an exciting journey that can bring a lifetime of joy and satisfaction.

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Top Drummers in Each Genre

musicgateway.com

Here are some of the most common music styles and famous drummers to listen to in each style:

Rock: Rock drumming is known for its powerful beats and driving rhythms.
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Some legendary rock drummers include:
- John Bonham (Led Zeppelin): Bonham's hard-hitting style helped define the sound of rock drumming.
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- Neil Peart (Rush): Peart was a master of technical proficiency and innovative drumming.
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- Keith Moon (The Who): Moon's wild, energetic playing was a key part of The Who's sound.
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Jazz: Jazz drumming is all about creativity, improvisation, and keeping the groove.
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Check out these jazz greats:
- Buddy Rich: Known for his incredible speed and technical skill, Rich is considered one of the greatest jazz drummers ever.
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- Art Blakey: Blakey's powerful, polyrhythmic style helped define the sound of hard bop.
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- Gene Krupa: Krupa was a pioneer of drum solos and a major influence on modern drumming.
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Funk: Funk drumming is characterized by tight, syncopated grooves and a heavy emphasis on the bass drum and snare.
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Here are some funky favorites:
- Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown): Stubblefield's breakbeats have been sampled countless times in hip-hop and electronic music.
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- Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters): Modeliste's unique style blended elements of funk, soul, and R&B.
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- David Garibaldi (Tower of Power): Garibaldi's complex, syncopated patterns have become a hallmark of funk drumming.
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Metal: Metal drumming is known for its speed, precision, and aggressive sound.
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These drummers are masters of the genre:
- Dave Lombardo (Slayer): Lombardo's fast, powerful playing helped define the sound of thrash metal.
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- Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death): Hoglan is known for his technical skill and use of double bass drums.
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- Tomas Haake (Meshuggah): Haake's polyrhythmic, mathematically complex style has pushed the boundaries of metal drumming.
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By listening to these legendary drummers, you can get a feel for the different styles and techniques used in each genre. Try to focus on how they use the various parts of the drum kit to create unique grooves and rhythms. With practice and dedication, you'll be able to incorporate these influences into your own playing and develop your own signature sound.

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Set Up Your Drums

Setting up your first drum kit can seem daunting, but with a little guidance it's a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get your drums ready to rock:

Start with the bass drum: Place the bass drum in the center of your setup and attach the bass drum pedal. Adjust the legs so the drum is stable and level.
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Add the snare drum: Position the snare drum between your legs, slightly to the left of the bass drum for right-handed players. Adjust the height so the top of the drum is about the same level as your belt buckle when seated.
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Set up the toms: Mount the rack toms on the bass drum, with the smaller tom on the left and the larger tom on the right. Place the floor tom to the right of the bass drum. Adjust the heights and angles so they're comfortable to reach.
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Install the hi-hat: Place the hi-hat stand to the left of the snare drum. The cymbals should be about the same height as the snare drum.
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Add the crash and ride cymbals: Position the crash cymbal stand between the hi-hat and the left rack tom. The ride cymbal typically goes on the right side of the kit, above the floor tom.
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Fine-tune the setup: Sit behind the kit and make any final adjustments to the heights and positions of the drums and cymbals. Everything should be within comfortable reach without straining.
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Remember, the exact setup can vary based on personal preference and playing style. Experiment to find what works best for you, and don't be afraid to make adjustments as you develop your skills.

With your drum kit assembled, you're ready to start your drumming journey!

5 sources

Understanding Drum Notation

schoolofrock.com

Learning to read drum notation is like learning a new language just for drummers.

Instead of using symbols to represent notes like in standard sheet music, drum notation uses symbols to tell you which part of the drum set to hit and when.

The five lines and four spaces of the musical staff act as a map, with each drum or cymbal having its own unique position.

The bass drum is usually on the bottom, the snare in the middle, and the cymbals up top.

As you read from left to right, you'll see notes as circles for drums and X's for cymbals, with stems attached to tell you how long to play each one.

Drum notation also borrows some things from regular sheet music, like bar lines to separate measures and time signatures to tell you the rhythm.

It might seem tricky at first, but with a bit of practice, reading drum notation will become second nature - like figuring out the drum parts to your favorite songs just by glancing at the page.

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Developing Basic Drum Rudiments

Basic Drum Rudiment...

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Drum rudiments are like the ABCs of drumming - they're the essential building blocks that every drummer needs to know.

Just like how you learned to put letters together to make words and sentences, mastering rudiments will let you create cool drum beats and fills.

Some of the most important rudiments for beginners are the single stroke roll, double stroke roll, paradiddle, flam, and drag.

It's kind of like learning to dribble a basketball - start slow and steady, and focus on getting each stroke or bounce even and controlled.

As you keep practicing, you'll get faster and smoother, until you can pull off some pretty sweet moves!

And here's a tip: you don't even need a drum set to practice rudiments - just grab some sticks and a practice pad, or even a pillow, and start grooving.

Before you know it, you'll be ready to rock out and show off your new skills on the kit!

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Easy Beginner Drum Songs

The 5 Easiest...

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Here are some great easy songs to learn when you're first starting out on drums: "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen has a simple, steady 4/4 rock beat that's perfect for beginners. The bass drum locks in with the bass guitar, teaching you how to groove with other musicians.

"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson is based on a basic 4/4 drum pattern that repeats throughout the song. Once you have that main beat down, you can start adding some simple fills to spice it up.

"Come As You Are" by Nirvana is a good choice for learning to play a 16th note hi-hat groove with a driving rock beat underneath. It's a great way to develop your coordination and timing.

"Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes has a simple, powerful beat that's fun to play along with. The song uses just kick, snare, and crash cymbal, so it's easy to learn but still sounds impressive.

"Yellow" by Coldplay features a straightforward drum part based on 8th notes. The slow 86 BPM tempo gives you plenty of space to really lock into the groove.

Remember, the key is to start simple and gradually add more as you improve. Focus on playing steady time and locking in with the rhythm of the song.

With practice, these easy drum beats will start to feel natural, and you'll be ready to tackle more challenging songs.