[Nicko McUlrich]

i just got recently interested in drumming, and i now own a kit, any tips?

[don11817]

Take some lessons. Seriously--that's not a jab. In the meantime, work on independence of your hands and feet--the earlier you start getting your hands and feet to work independently, the faster you'll be able to pick up more complicated rhythms and fills/beats.

I would start by doing some exercises with my hands on the snare and then incorporating my feet in as I get more comfortable with my hands. You can use your hi-hat pedal as a stand-in if you don't have a double kick. Here, try this:

LH=Left hand
RH= Right hand
LF= left foot
RF = right foot

LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH = single stroke roll
LH LH RH RH LH LH RH RH LH LH RH RH = double stroke roll

After you get this up to some speed, incorporate feet in --it will be hard at first but will get easier with practice:

LH LF RH RF LH LF RH RF LH LF RH RF LH = SAME SIDE SINGLE ROLLS
LH RF RH LF LH RF RH LF LH RF RH LF LH = REVERSE OF ABOVE ORDER

PARADIDDLES:

RH LH RH RH LH RH LH LH RH LH RH RH LH RH LH LH = PARADIDDLE
RF LF RF RF LF RF LF LF RF LF RF RF LF RF LF LF= PARADIDDLE WITH FEET
RH LF RH RH LH RF LH LH RH LF RH RH LH RF LH LH=MIXED HANDS & FEET
LF RH LF LF RF LH RF RF LF RH LF LF RF LH RF RF=REVERSE HANDS & FEET

And so on.. I'd also recommend getting a book at a music store on rudiments to start developing some stick work so you can identify patterns and play them. "Rudimentary drumming" was a good one, it has follow along charts and will help you learn how to read drum music while you develop some hand technique...

Hope this helps-- trying not to throw to much out at once...

[UPSTROKE]

Hi Nicko;
Sorry for the late reply to your post. Probably way too late now. My only advice after over 60 years of playing drums and teaching for most of that time -
1. GO TO A GOOD TEACHER AND LEARN TO HOLD THE STICKS CORRECTLY. 2.LEARN TO READ DRUM MUSIC. 3. PLAY RELAXED.
You should NEVER be tense or have ANY blisters or any other kind of pain while
playing drums. (well maybe a pain in the butt for sitting too long while practicing) Please let us know how it is going.

[Tainojim]

Drum lessons for beginners at YouTube.

YouTube - drum lessons for beginners

[lucius borich jr]

Hey its LB JR. What i did when i started drumming is starting lessons, when you do that work on your arms and rolls heres a few beats and rolls that will help your speed;

PARRADIDLES: RH LH RH RH LH RH LH LH & SO ON
DOUBLE STROKES: LH LH RH RH LH LH RH

& HERE ARE SOME FOOT EXERCISES: LF RF LF LF RF LF RF RF [LIKE A PARADIDLE.

These exercises should help build up speed.

But most of all HAVE FUN!!!!! never play if you dont enjoy

LB jr

[PS: IT MAY BE BORING BUT SOON ENOUGH IT WILL COME NATURALLY AND U WILL ENJOY IT MORE:]

[slingerland]

NICKO if your serious invest some money in yourself and take some lessons from a teacher he can get you started right.
GOOD LUCK SLINGERLAND

[sara]

love your instrument and all things will follow

[Golden_Child27]

I have been looking up spikeydrummer (or spikey drummer) on youtube, teaches lessons beginner-to-intermediate...could give it a try, more for general set info than drumming info, you could combine it with things like the pariddidles the other person posted...I know doing rudiments suck, so occasionally do set exercises make you feel like your piecing things together, and doing all this work for something...rudiments are still primary focus when starting!

[Paulo]

spikeydrummer is a riot, and the same time he's very articulate.

Anyhoo, best advice from me would be to be as regimented as possible when you are starting out. Get the basics nailed, even though it's boring and repetitive. Let yourself warm up before each practice, stay relaxed and loose throughout, and later on start improvising and bringing in more and more parts.

But truly, I'm all for sticking to snare work for the first couple weeks and building from there.

Best of luck and never give up.

[drummer001]

Hi There,

To learn see video of basic drum lessons, got to DrumChannel “Free Lessons.”

There you find “ How to set up your drums with Stephen Perkins and Chad Smith" is a free Drum Channel lesson designed to answer questions you might have when assembling your drumset. Whatever brand of drums you have chosen, the basic design of most drumsets is the same.

Hope this will help you.

You can find lessons at Drum Channel > ClassRoom