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Step 1
Adjust the stool so that you can sit comfortably with your feet on the floor and so that the snare drum is a little higher than waist height. Place the stool close enough to the drum set that you can put your right foot on the bass drum pedal, but not so close that it is cramped when you reach for the toms.
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Step 2
Hold the drumstick lightly between your thumb and index fingerHold the drumsticks lightly between your thumbs and index fingers. This is called a matched grip. You can also hold the sticks so that the stick in your right hand is held between your thumb and index finger with your palm facing down, and in your left hand with the stick between your thumb and your index and second fingers with your palm up. This is called a mixed grip.
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Step 3
Relax your shoulders and arms, and position your hands above the snare drum. This is the default position for playing. All other motions come from this basic position.
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Step 4
Practice basic beats in 4/4 time (4 beats per measure) on the snare drum until you can play them evenly and with a steady tempo. Then, begin including the bass drum on the strong beats (1 and 3) with the snare. When your feet and hands are coordinated on the bass drum and the snare, experiment with playing on the other drums and cymbal.
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Step 5
Work through a method book. Method books provide exercises for increasing skills and learning more complex patterns and techniques as you improve.
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Step 6
A drum lessonTake lessons. There's no substitute for working with a professional drummer. Ask your school or community band director for recommendations.
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Step 7
Play with other people. Playing in a band will help you improve quickly and gives your an opportunity to learn about playing in a group. You don't have to be playing at a professional level to get together with friends and work up arrangements of songs and new songs to play.
