Learn the drumming basics!

Drums and percussion are the oldest form of instruments. As time went on, drums were made into newer and newer materials, until there were medals, plastics, and many others.

This is an instructable on how to play the Drum Set

Step 1: Pick your size drum stick

Okay, so there are many sizes of drumsticks. They will have markings such as 5b, 7a, and many others. Go to a music store like Sam Ash or Guitar Center. Go to the place with the sticks. Slide them out of the holders (usually no wrappers or tape). Some sticks may be to thick, some may be too thin.

Also, figure out how heavy you like them. If your favorite size is 5a, find 5a sticks that are your liking of weight. It makes a large difference

Signature sticks only come in one size, so if you want those awesome Joey Jordison Signature sticks, and you don't like the size, then don't buy them, or buy them and showcase them.

Sticks make a huge difference. If it is too thick, you are not capable of doing what you can do with the size you are comfortable with. Sticks that are too thin can make you feel like you are hitting nothing but air, and it is weird.

Comments

[metalfury]

Hi thanks for the instructable it has been really helpful.

I got a bit lost with step 11, I think because there is a lot of text and I'm not clear on the 'units' - maybe a graph version would help, either as tab, or using something like the editor in garage band:

HH      x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Snare x                  x
BD               x                      x 

It probably won't line up right in a comments field. But hopefully you see what I mean. However this is a minor comment, and your tutorial has been a great help :-)

[yourworstnightmare]

learn to count quarter notes go 1 2 3 4 eighth notes are the same but with an and in between every note1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and sixteenth notes go 1e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a

[elias.alberto]

 Why has the video been deleted?

[Flumpkins]

I deleted the account

[Llamaboy419]

Videos have been removed...?
And as a drummer myself, this is a good tutorial, but the cymbal section could use some work. Maybe add something like sizzles for hihats, or how to determine a good sounding cymbal from a bad one, etc. And pretty much all cymbals have bells except for flat rides. Not just regular rides.

[Flumpkins]

Yeah, i deleted my account on accident. I thought I was logged on a backup account :S

And... I may add that info. It just may not be right away.

Thanks for the suggestions! Did you wanna see a drum solo of mine on youtube?

 

[Llamaboy419]

Sure why not? :D

[Flumpkins]

Well... I have a few so i'll just give you a link to my channel.

http://www.youtube.com/Neuronucleardemon

[redsoxdrummer]

cool, tryin to teech a kid about drums, il show him this!

[Flumpkins]

Cool, thanks!

[kneecaps]

i sugest getting some of those plastic e-rings, by evans. they stop thohse annoying drum overtones. other than that, great tutorial! loved it.

[Flumpkins]

Hmm... Next time I can get some new stuff for my set, I will look into that. But first, my dad is taking me out to get hi hats one of these weeks. I have been waiting since summer started. And I'm glad you liked it!

[fabelizer]

I did enjoy your instructable! I have always wondered about drum sets and how different sounds are put together. You did a great job demonstrating how a beat sequence is built up from individual hits! Thanks for your efforts!! Oh, FYI, I am an "OLD" guy, with remaining curiosities, and you have just helped cure one of them. Thanks again! -fab

[Flumpkins]

Thanks! And if it isn't too much, can you please click the Vote Now button at the top? It would mean alot.

[fabelizer]

Vote done. Another Justin! Didn't notice that before...also my son's name! Keep up the practice! -fab

[Flumpkins]

Thanks! Haha, too many Justin's I've known. In elementary school there was me, a kid in my class, a kid 2 years younger than me, a kid 2 years OLDER than me, a kid on my soccer team, uhhh yeah. Haha.

[greglawlsalot]

i voted :)

[Flumpkins]

Sweet, thanks!

[PKM]

Step 6 is the "meat" of this tutorial. You could do with breaking it up into more steps, and possibly adding some videos, but the content appears to be sound- at the moment it's quite a big block of text though.

[Flumpkins]

What do you mean by "the content appears to be sound"?

[Flumpkins]

Would do you mean by "by the content appears to be sound"??? Oh. and I split up step 6 like you suggested

[PKM]

Much better- I don't fill my entire 1200-pixel-high monitor with one step now, and it's a lot easier to see how the playing advice breaks down. By "sound" I meant it looks like your advice appears to be correct and generally sensible- I'm not a drummer but I know enough of the basics to see that you aren't talking rubbish (unlike a certain musical Instructable that referred to sharps and flats as "nonsense notes" :P).

[Flumpkins]

LOL. Sorry about that, it was midnight when I wrote that step, I was tired,

_{and I want to win those damn awesome speakers}

And thanks!

[lemonie]

I'd post this as just videos, or add some text on how to play the things. Drumming isn't easy, so a good explanation would go down well. Most of what you've written so far just covers the drum types.
?

L

[Flumpkins]

OKay, thanks for the advice!

[sageserver]

also show different grips and how to hold a drumstick, maybe show brushes if you have them.