How to Play the Drums

Drumming might look easy, but it's not; it takes lots of practice. Here are some basic steps to get you started on the road to rock-and-roll stardom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• CD Players
• Drum Sets
• Drumsticks
• Music Stands
• Tapes Or CDs
• Sheet Music
• Musician's Earplugs
• Modern Drummer Subscriptions
• Cymbals
• Cymbal Cleaners

1. Listen to a song of your choice and count along to the beat.
2. Count the beat in fours: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. In this example, we'll use the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."
3. Put your right foot on the bass drum pedal and your left foot on the high hat pedal.
4. Keep the high hat pedal pressed down while you play.
5. Begin with the music playing, and use only your right stick on the high hat.
6. Hit the high hat once for every syllable in the chorus: "Lu-cy-in-the-Sky ..." Keep this steady rhythm throughout the song.
7. Add your bass drum pedal on beats 1 and 3 when you can keep a steady beat on the high hat. For our example, the bass drum would sound on "Lu-," "Sky," and "Dia-."
8. Add the snare drum to complete the beat.
9. Use your left stick on beats 2 and 4, which is when you might naturally clap to a song. In our chorus, it would be played on "In" and then just after the word "Sky," and on "-monds."
10. Try playing your rhythm throughout an entire song without a missed beat.
11. Try new songs with different tempos.

Tips & Warnings

• Hold the drumsticks in the middle, loosely between your thumb and second and third fingers.
• Keep your arms and shoulders very relaxed.
• If you're having trouble coordinating your hands and feet, try playing the high hat and bass drum until they are automatic. Then you can work on adding the snare drum.
• If you're having trouble keeping a steady beat, practice with a slower song.
• Play softly at first, until the rhythm becomes more automatic.
• Most new drummers put a death grip on the sticks, which can cause fatigue and/or injury. Relax your grip, and your arms and shoulders, as much as possible.