One of the headaches of learning to play an instrument is juggling the techniques until one finds the one they are comfortable with. Sometimes what the instructor teaches and one’s favourite musician practices may be so far diverse that it is hard to adapt the techniques.
With all the different tips and techniques to go through, it’s not uncommon for beginners to neglect some of these tips.
Can One Teach Oneself To Drum?
With discipline and commitment, just about anyone can teach themselves to drum. Among the sites and reading materials, the world of YouTube makes it possible for dreamers and musicians all over to realize their dreams.
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Setup the Practise Space
When drumming at home, get ready to stop being friends with the neighbours. When there is a budget for it, consider buying practice pads or an electronic kit. Search for some DIY methods to “sound-proof” the house but still alert the neighbours, so they’re not caught off-guard.
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Plan a Timetable
Consistent practice is what separates good musicians from great ones. Set a time, preferably up to an hour daily instead of three hours on one day a week. Be realistic when placing the timetable and goals and make sure that it fits the drummer’s everyday life.
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Have Structured Sessions
There are many session plans online, though these are often very generalized and one-size-fits-all compared to ones from music instructors. These will vary according to the artist’s skill level and how quickly they grasp concepts.
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Master the Right Form
Assuming the correct sitting posture while drumming is a large part of mastering how to play like a pro. Adjust the drums to the perfect level, and make sure they’re tilted at the right angle (90-100 *). Besides helping one play better, it reduces the strain on the body.
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Develop a Keen Ear
Practice with instrumentals close-by to catch all the beats and rolls to be able to play well. Getting a drumming set from an online drum store is an excellent place to gain this skill.
Frequently Ignored Drumming Tips By Beginners
Seasoned musicians have mastered certain things in playing instruments that they often try to impart to rookies. Some of these tips may not be received well and are often ignored by beginners. By mastering these common mistakes, rookies can save themselves future stress.
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Stepping on the Bass Drum Pedal
It is one of the most common errors made by learners when they start consolidating the bass drum into their play. The control needed to work a bass drum pedal isn’t something one can learn elsewhere except drumming. What usually happens is beginners take their foot entirely off the pedal (20cm) and then slam it down forcefully. Unfortunately, this doesn’t produce the sound they’re going for – resulting in a loud, dead bang.
One of the biggest reasons this is discouraged is that the sound usually throws off the entire set play. Secondly, applying so much pressure for long periods might put someone at risk of developing repetitive strain injury (RSI).
The process of lifting and stomping means one will not be able to play quick beats. The time and effort it’ll take to catch the next beat will be thrown offbeat. Keep in mind that the further one has to move the feet, hands, or sticks, the drumming slows down.
To counter this problem, always ensure that part of the foot is glued to the pedal. It could be achieved in two ways: heel up or heel down. That is perfect for louder sets like a rock where the bass needs to be heard clearly with the former. More movement is required here to achieve the desired sound.
With the latter, a quieter noise is produced and affords the drummer greater control and precision. For a more subtle sound, try ringing a bass sound; this is a perfect position. It will also play a role when people buy drum kit to play on.
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Ignoring the Weaker Foot
Most learners, especially those interested in rock or pop, commit to a similar way of developing four-way coordination between the hands and feet. Generally, the pathway goes like this:
- Begin with the dominant hand.
- Introduce the weaker hand.
- Add the stronger foot.
- Lastly, incorporate the non-dominant foot.
As a rule for most drummers, they may diligently follow the four steps at the beginning of their drumming careers. However, with time, most will drop the fourth step. Most people’s experimental drum groove has a hi-hat and snare drum in the more robust and weaker hands, respectively. The bass drum, on the other hand, commonly exists in the stronger foot.
Adapting to the different variations often ends in people completely neglecting the non-dominant foot. It brings the process into three-way coordination, missing out on a whole quarter of our bodies’ capacity to play the drums. Buy drum kit to practise at home to master the correct posture and technique.
Undoing this bad practise isn’t complicated. For starters, make sure to train oneself to go back to using the weaker foot. Start by practising regular beats on the hi-hat pedal without being concerned about the other three limbs. This way, one can acclimatize the weaker foot to the pedal action of playing.
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Rehearsing Without a Metronome
There’s common confusion about maintaining a consistent beat and steady sense of time – that this is inborn and can’t be learned. The truth couldn’t be further from that – while these things do come naturally to some people, anyone can learn them.
There’s a different way how every artist plays. Such things can be unlearned by practising with a metronome to keep the playing in time.
Metronome reduction decreases tempo, softening the click in every beat. One can keep better time as well as show longer intervals while maintaining the pulse. Metronome displacement, on the other hand, helps displace the click once the artist has decreased the metronome.
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Tight Grip on Stick
The sticks should be free to move in a characteristic circular movement between the thumb and index or middle finger while drumming. Most beginners make the mistake of holding the stick in their palm, limiting the stick’s motion. With the limited movement, the upper arm, wrist, and forearm have to be exerted more to achieve the necessary motion.
The sound produced is also affected. To avoid all this, permit the sticks to rebound freely from the drum. Make sure to hit the drum without moving the arms. To practise, drummers can find an online drum store to get a kit.
How to Pick a Beginner’s Drumming Set
As a drummer, the tempo must be just right so that the rest of the band’s play is impeccable. Purchasing can be done from an online drum store, and there are a few things one needs to know before buying the first set.
- Consider the drummer’s age
- Skill level
- Quality and cost
- Hardware used on the drums
- Try and get bundled hardware
- New or used
- Check the shells and cymbals
Conclusion
Once drummers start ironing out these common mistakes from their techniques, they are well on their way to becoming a better drummer. Remember that whatever bad habits one may have picked up can be unlearned with due diligence. Find drum kits for sale online and begin the journey to becoming the best drummer.
References:
https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/drum-sticks-grip-guide/
https://www.electronicdrumadvisor.com/teach-yourself-drums/
http://thevault.musicarts.com/7-drumming-tips-for-beginners/
https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/common-mistakes-beginner-drummers-solutions/