Drumming is lots of fun. And it looks so straightforward. After all, you are simply hitting drums with sticks, right?

Professional drummers make it appear like a piece of cake. What they do not show is the hundreds or thousands of hours of practice and hard work that goes into it. There are no shortcuts. All the greats, from Travis Barker to John Bonham, had to begin somewhere. What made these drummers great was their dedication, determination, and patience.

In this article we will share handy tips for beginner drummers to assist you in developing good habits early on. It is crucial to avoid progress killers and common pitfalls from the beginning.

Plan a realistic schedule

Like other electrifying hobbies such as surfing, skateboarding, acting, etc, drumming requires commitment and practice. You need to create a consistent practice schedule that you can follow religiously. We cannot hide the fact that practicing 30 minutes a day is preferable to doing it for 3 hours on Saturdays only.

However, you should not set idealistic goals; otherwise, you will end up frustrated. 4-5 practice sessions per week will prove to be effective if you are consistent.

Learn the basics of drumming

It is vital to get the fundamentals right. A recommendable first step is to learn how to hold the drumsticks correctly.

The most used grip technique is the matched grip. Matched grip is where the right and left hand hold the drumsticks in the same manner. The fulcrum is between the index finger and the thumb, with the other fingers wrapped around the stick.

Never hold the sticks too tightly or closely. Instead, let them move freely. More so, they should bounce every time they hit the drum head. This bounce is usually what professional drummers capitalize on when they want to play with power, speed, and consistency.

Once you learn how to grip the drumsticks properly, it makes the entire drumming process relatively easier. You know how to work with the drumsticks as opposed to getting in the way of them.

Take professional drumming lessons.

While you may have seen several lesson plans online, it is wise to register for professional drumming and music lessons. Having a teacher watch you practice will really help you. The teacher is best placed to identify your strengths and weaknesses and advise on how you can improve.

Again, most of the lessons available online are usually one-size-fits-all. On the contrary, when your teacher generates a personalized lesson plan for you, it will entirely focus on your skills.

Practice with a Metronome

Metronomes may sound boring, however, they are among the most crucial tools for a beginner drummer. There are several great metronome apps for drummers online, but you can also opt for a standalone metronome.

Timing in music is measured as Beats per Minute (BPM). Learn basic drum beats and rhythms and practice playing your regular drum fills and beats to a metronome. When you feel that you are not in sync with the beat, slow the BPM down. Always practice playing slowly, and only accelerate when you feel comfy doing so.

Expert drummers mostly play to a click-track, especially when recording; therefore, learning timekeeping will become a valuable asset to you as a beginner drummer.

Once you are familiar with some basic beats, you can proceed to learn a few easy drum songs. You can get some great songs on YouTube, or pick your favorite drummer’s collection of recorded songs and play them in the background as part of your practice.

Watch professional drummers do their thing

Not all lessons are undertaken in classrooms. Much like you can improve your math skills anytime, even when shopping for groceries, you can boost your drumming skills by watching experts do their thing.

Try to pick their techniques and styles, and that will do wonders over time. As we have already mentioned, you can watch their videos on YouTube or other video streaming sites. Also, if you can, why not catch your favorite band’s live performance the next time they visit your town?

Protect your hearing

This is particularly important if you are dealing with a child. But even adults are encouraged to wear earplugs or in-ear monitors when they are behind the drum kit.

If you don’t take precautions early enough, you might experience continuous ringing in your ears in the long run, which is very irritating.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

The bottom line

If music is a universal language, then drums can be deemed as the universal instrument. Their sound relates to people from all over the globe; thus, learning how to play them is a significant achievement.

What is important in your case is to start with the foundations and then level up little by little. Without a doubt, the first steps will be the most challenging. However, once you get past that stage, there’s no turning back.

Always ensure you take time out of your busy schedule to practice regularly. Most importantly, follow your teacher’s counsel and act on it accordingly. In no time, you will be amazed by your progress!

Drumming Tips a Beginner Drummer Should Learn