healer

So I recently realised one of my life-long dreams - owning my own drum kit. It's just a simple (ringy) 5-piece kit with a tinny hi-hat and crash, but I fucking love it.

What I'm looking for is advice, in all areas. I've got basic rhythm and my coordination is getting better with every practice session. I just want to make sure I don't develop any bad habits that are going to be difficult to rectify later on. I've been playing along to some of the music I like and I can 'keep up' with the more basic songs.

I know from hours of playing piano scales that practice is not a glamorous thing and that I'll probably have to spend alot of time in front of that kit perfecting rudiments and such. I've downloaded some instructional videos outlining basic rudiments as well as the more advanced ones...I just wish my left hand wasn't such a lazy bastard.

Drum-tuning is also something I need to get my head around. I'd like some general guidelines for producing specific sounds i.e. "if you want a flatter sound, do this etc." I've played around with some of the toms and fear that I've fucked them up to such a point that I can't remember what the original sound was.

I know there are more than a handful of experienced drummers on the board, so I'd appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks.

__________________

Fly

dude...........tighten your lugs on the top skin as if it were a car tire.

this side,that side,this side.......don't go crazy on it,just nice and taught.

if i hold one of my sticks between my thumb and index finger,right near the end of the stick.....and just lightly drop it to the skin right at all lug locations...the stick should give me 3-4 bounces.......that's where i like mine.

then...........to tune it.........you do the same as above but on the under skin....this is where the drum will go up or down in tone.


hope that helps,good luck and keep on playin' man.

__________________
BASTARD

SterlingStudios

Martian

I'm not a drummer. I just wanted to pop my head in and say good on ya, and it sounds like you've already got a good handle on how to go about learning.

For left hand being a lazy bastard, I had the same problem when I started on the keys. You just gotta work at it until it catches up. Do your thing, have fun and rock hard.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Redlemon

There's some good advice in a little help from the drummers/musicians of TFP...? - Tilted Forum Project.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

allaboutmusic

Congrats on taking up the drums!

I'd really recommend taking a few lessons with a good teacher, at least when you're starting.

Firstly, you'll get started off with good habits and posture. Posture is important for all instruments, but particularly drums as it is so physical.

Secondly, you'll start to get a feel for how drummers think (I'm resisting the urge to insert a joke here about drummers and thinking being in the same sentence), and it will make your future drum learning more efficient.

Thirdly, drum lessons are really fun. I took four drums lessons when I first started playing drums and after a few lessons I can handle most beats up to a moderate level of difficulty. Last year I took a ten weekend lessons just to get my act together on basics again.

The cool thing is you don't necessarily have to have regular drum lessons all the time to progress. If you don't want to commit to weekly lessons, I'd say take a month or two of weekly lessons, and then maybe take a lesson every month or two just to keep you on the right track.

Good luck!

Martian

Here! Inspiration.

<embed src="http://www.seeqpod.com/cache/seeqpodSlimlineEmbed.swf" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="80" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playlistXMLPath=http://www.seeqpod.com/api/music/getPlaylist?playlist_id=7db57f2903"></embed>

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Fly

fuckin' eh Martian.....fuckin' eh!!!!!!

__________________
BASTARD

SterlingStudios