How to Play Drums Like a Pro

You don't have to have years of music theory study behind you in order to be a professional drummer. All you have to do is make sure you're well educated on the instrument in order to play drums like a pro.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Study famous drummers like Neil Peart, Steve Gadd and Travis Barker. Watch how they play, their body movements and analyze their methods. Try to get a feel for each of their individual styles. This will help you understand the process of playing the drum well and start you on your way to playing a drum like a pro.

2. Hold your sticks with the proper form. Place the stick between your thumb and index finger. Your remaining fingers are curled around the stick for support and control. As you improve, you'll be able to snap those three fingers back to increase your speed and volume.

3. Perfect your timing. Beat in a time that other band members can easily follow. If this means that you have to play simpler beats to start out with, so be it. As long as your beats are precise and tight. Practice with a metronome. When you've mastered the art of timing, and this may take some time to perfect, you can start experimenting with by speeding up or slowing down.

4. Practice every chance you get. The only way to play drums like a pro is to actually play them, a lot.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your grip on the sticks relaxed.
• Record your playing because sometimes it's hard to hear mistakes while you're playing. All you need is a cheap tape recorder to help you catch any rhythm or tempo inconsistencies.