How to play the basic beat on the drums

So do you want to learn to play the drums? It all starts with the basic beat, follow my steps and you will be playing this beat in no time!!!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drum Set
• Sticks
• Patience

1. 

   So if you don't know what the different parts of your drum are called check out my other article first "How to know the components of a drum set". If you do know then lets begin. Have a seat on your throne.

2. 
   click image to enlarge

   The basic beat is 4 beats. So to help you, you will need to count 1,2,3,4 as you go. Unless this screws you up then don't bother with it. Place one foot on the base drum pedal. Go ahead and close your high hat cymbals tight together. With sticks in hand you are going to play the high hat with your right hand, and the snare drum with your left hand. Your right hand should cross over your left hand. It's not a great picture but click it to see how this kid is holding his hands.

3. 

   Begin by tapping the high hat, 1,2,3,4. Do this slowly and steadily counting as you do. Repeat and comeback to this as many times as you need to until you can do this.

4. 

   Next we are going to add in the snare drum. You are going to tap the snare on the 3rd beat. To make this easier we are going to call the high hat a cymbal. So counting what you are going to play go, 1cymbal, 2cymbal, 3cymbal & snare, 4cymbal. Practice this until you master it then move on.

5. 

   Last we will add in the base. This seems to be the most challenging because you have to learn to control both your hands and your foot at the same time. You will press the base pedal on the 1st beat. You can practice just the base with the cymbal if it will help you at first. So go, 1base & cymbal, 2cymbal, 3cymbal, 4cymbal. Do this until you get it then move on.

6. 

   Now we will put it all together. Play like this 1base & cymbal, 2cymbal alone, 3snare & cymbal, 4cymbal alone, and repeat. Do this over and over and you are playing a basic drum beat congratulations!!!

Tips & Warnings

• After mastering the basic beat try substituting and adding different cymbals and drums to create a different sound.
• If you need help counting buy a metronome. It will make clicking sounds and help you play at a consistent speed.

[GilinAtlanta]

on 12/13/2008 Thanks. I am in sales and learning to play the drums could come in handy when I need to "drum up" more business. Anyway, keep writing!

[larryzafran]

on 12/2/2008 Thanks for posting this article. I'm a pianist, but I have aspirations to be a drummer at some point since it seems like a lot of fun, and good exercise if you do it long and fast enough. In the mean time, I'm practicing with Rock Band, which I'm sure will help me build lots of bad technique...lol.

[00Analana]

on 11/7/2008 Thanks for this interesting article!

[MotherDove]

on 10/30/2008 Great article and great timing (no pun intended!) My son recently asked for drum lessons and this will give us a great place to start and practice together. Thankx.

[Thims]

on 10/18/2008 I should have known you were a drummer. Good timing!;-)
Wait til I do paradiddles!