[Alec57]

hey
i finally got my drum set!
its a Sound Percussion drum set, 5 drums and a hi hat and a cymbal and the whole set including hardware, cymbals, and drums was about $450 so i think its pretty decent. and since im a beginner, im asking for any tips that u think might b helpful for me ^^
thanks!

[Der Trommler]

Sweet! The only tip I can give at this point is have fun with them.

[Alec57]

hmm i like that tip
after how long do u think i can start using a beginners book for the drum set?

[Der Trommler]

Do you have any music background like band or choir?, if not I would start reading that right away. You will need to know things like how to hold the sticks (traditional and/or matched grips) if you don't already know and the drum rudiments which are the basic elements in drumming.

When I started drumming I took snare drum lessons for a couple of months. They taught me how to read single line drum music and the rudiments. After that I watched and listened to other drummers and never looked back. Nowadays lessons can be had for free online and you can learn at your own pace pretty much stress free. Here is a link to free lessons online that someone here was kind enough to post earlier: » Free Drum Lessons - Learn How To Play Drums Online

Go get em Alec, and remember all of us are here to help you so don't be afraid to ask. We have a great group of members here with hugely varying experience.

[slingerland]

TO ALEC 57 you can use a book anytime you think your ready or want to. I have been playing for over 40 years and teach as well. I start my students with a practice pad and eventually move to drums. Your case is obviously different,even though you should use a practice pad everyday to streghten your hands. A drum won't do it you need something hard to use to build your hands.When a boxer works out he uses a heavy bag to streghten his arms hands the bag is hard and he builds strength, you need the hard rubber pad to build your hands and condition them. If possible get some lessons if that's not possible an excellent book that I teach from is called Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK it will teach you how to hold the sticks if that's a problem. You can get it at Guitar Center I know other people are going to say there are other books and there are but this book has been revised several times I used it when I began 42 years ago and it's still out. That's saying something. GOOD LUCK and if you have any questions send me an e-mail SLINGERLAND PS if your hands start to hurt after using the pad your making PROGRESS.

[Der Trommler]

There ya go Alec there is good sound advice, from a drum instructor no less. Take advantage of what the slingerland tells you.

slingerland,

Reading through your post brought back some memories. My first teacher started me exactly the same way you start yours. I had the Gladstone style practice pad used on a snare drum along with the Remo tunable practice pad, as a matter of fact I have them both to this day. I don't think I would have developed the chops without them. I didn't have a drum set until I had a couple of years of experience on the snare by itself.

	Remo Drumheads Shop for Remo Drumheads at Musician's Friend

[slingerland]

HEY DER TROMMLER I know what your talking about I started with the pad and the 3rd week I bought a set of drums from my teacher of course he sold them as well and practiced on the pad everyday for 4 or 5 hrs while the drums sat there.The 3rd or 4th week I begged him to teach me a Rock beat and he did and I just took off, I found more guys that played drums and they showed me a little here and there.But I practiced so much on the drums 12 -14 hrs a day one time I was living in an apt. house and a Booking agent was coming over to hear me, while I was practicing the elderly lady living upstairs had a heart attack and her son came down and told me I had to stop and what I did to his mother Do you believe that so i'm a firm believer in quieting drums down at least when your neighbors are home.And by the way the booking agent booked me and my group and I have been playing gigs for many years and that elderly lady who had the heart attack she had indigestion not a heart attack
Talk to you SLINGERLAND

	Attack Drumheads Shop for Attack drum heads at Musician's Friend

[slingerland]

Treatarrawl what does this mean

[slingerland]

you have to speak ENGLISH for me to understand you or if you know someone who can translate for you.

[Meddy]

Yay nice one alec. Hope you have fun. Most beginners books are for very beginners, and teach you the basics for you to start off on.

But slingerlands advice is good. If only i'd that before i started drumming... jumped straight into the deep end. =P