How to Play the Drums: A Basic Guide for Beginners
Playing music can benefit your health in various ways. For one thing, it can help reduce stress. Not only that, but it can also improve your memory.
The best part? There are many instruments that you can choose from. For example, you can play the piano, guitar, violin, or flute.
Drums are another popular option. A percussion instrument, it has a long history that dates back thousands of years.
Thinking of getting into it? Want to know how to play the drums? If so, you’re on the right page. Keep reading for a short guide on how to get started!
Get the Proper Equipment
First things first, you want to gather your equipment. Generally speaking, a drum kit will consist of two tom-toms, a bass drum, a floor tom, a snare drum, and multiple cymbals.
Note: Not all drum kits are the same when it comes to quality so make sure to do your research. That way, you’ll be able to get the best drum set.
Learn How to Hold the Drum Sticks
As it is, there are two main ways that you can hold your drum sticks—you can either use the traditional grip or the matched grip, the latter of which is more common.
Traditional Grip: Hold the sticks in your non-dominant hand by resting the stick between your index finger and thumb.
Matched Grip: Hold the sticks between your index finger and thumb, a few inches from the bottom.
Learn How to Sit At the Kit
Posture is important when it comes to playing the drums. More specifically, you want to sit up straight with your elbows in—that will allow you to reach the drums more easily.
Also, you want to keep the floor pedals a comfortable distance from you. You shouldn’t have to contort your body in order to reach them as that will affect your playing.
Familiarize Yourself With Rhythm
Take the time to learn some basic drum-kit rhythms. For example, you can learn to count quarter notes, which is the most common note type. From there, you can move onto eighth notes, which are twice as fast.
Tip: Consider counting out loud—it can help you keep track of what you’re playing. If you want, you can also use a metronome; it will help you keep a steady, even tempo.
Work With a Teacher
Eventually, you can work with a teacher to enhance your skills. If anything, it’s the best way to improve. In fact, there are even drum lessons that you can take online!
Most of them are quite affordable as well.
Learning How to Play the Drums
And there you have it—a basic guide on how to play the drums. As you can see, it’s pretty straightforward. As long as you practice, you will improve!
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