Beginner Questions

little elf · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 04:26 AM

Hi Everyone,

I've just started learning drums and am feeling a bit frustrated by the lack of control I have over my beats - I hear time really well but I guess I don't have the wrist strength (or something) yet to play exactly on time. My left hand too is a real bugger, given I'm right-dominant. How long do you think it takes to develop decent technique? I play to music as my metronome but my hands just feel so unco, like I couldn't hit in time even if I wanted to.

I'm practising about an hour of rudiments every day. I pick up drum patterns very quickly, so these aren't generally a problem and I'm already playing along to simple songs like Yellow (Coldplay). But I'm hanging to be in time!! Will I get there with practice??? WHENNNNNN?

Oh, and anyone got some good exercises for bass drum control?

Thanks for any tips.

butter · #2 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 03:35 PM

to increase the strength of your left hand, play doubles on a pillow.
just hit RR LL RR LL RR LL. it forces you to use your wrist to pull the stick back up from the pillow, instead of using the bounce you usually get from a drum head. do it for about 10 minutes a day, if not more. youll be able to tell the difference.

keep going with the rudiments. youll get there

-butter

little elf · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 02:39 AM

Cool, thanks. I have been playing on a cushion, so I'll keep it up and try not to be so impatient!!

Thanks for the encouragement.

**Tainojim** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 08:41 AM

On YouTube there are lots of rudiment techniques. If you learn how to read drum tabs, you'll also have a great advantage of learning quicker. So between the vids and the reading of music, will advance your learning at a much faster pace. You can practice on a mouse pad on a table that is much better than tapping a pillow.

YouTube - Rudiments

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=moeller+method&search_type=&aq=1&oq=moeller

YouTube - bass drum technique

butter · #5 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 04:30 PM

i dont doubt you jim, but how is a mouse pad better than a pillow?

**Tainojim** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 09:07 PM

Control of the drumstick by the force of the bounce causes the wrist muscles to strengthen. There for waving the drum stick in a circular fashion. If you look into the Moeller Method, it is explained explicitly.

phillywillis · #7 (**permalink**) 07-16-2009, 11:52 AM

Little Elf,

I know your frustration! When I started playing, I could hear a beat or song and I knew how to do it but when it came to playing it, it took no longer than about 30 seconds before I was way off time and had completely lost the rhythm. It is VERY frustrating, but the only way to get through it is keep on doing exactly what you are doing and before you know it you will have it! If you are diligent, it should not take you more than a few months before you feel more in control of everything you are doing. Happy drumming!

-Philly

little elf · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 07:07 AM

Hey guys, thanks for your responses. I am trying to master the Moeller technique, so I will give the mouse pad option a try. I'm going to do a lot more work with the metronome. I can test my accuracy on my electronic kit, so that should give me some idea of my progress. Was talking to my drum teacher today about it and he reckons it's more about making the brain/body connection than technique and that this will improve with more practice. It's all good. I just wanna be a wicked drum-mistress NOW...