How to Play Drums Without Reading Music
It is not unusual for drummers to develop their skills without reading music. Many drummers learn to play drums by ear and by watching others drummers play. It is important to study and listen to other drummers to avoid developing bad habits. It is not uncommon for self-taught players to develop bad technique and bad habits that will, in the long run, hinder their playing. Learning proper drum technique, and practicing rhythm exercises is an essential step for the beginner.
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Instructions
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Purchase a drum instruction DVD and a metronome. The drummer's essential role is to keep time. Develop good timing skills by practicing rhythm exercises with a metronome.
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Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the drum set. The essential parts of the drum set are the snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, high-hat and the tom toms.
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Hold the drum sticks between the thumb and index fingers. Holding the sticks properly allows them to move more freely and to bounce more easily. Grasping the drum sticks too tightly or with all the fingers, restricts the movement and quickly fatigues the wrists. Sit with your back straight. Slouching over the drum set interferes with the movement of the arms.
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Practice rhythm and timing exercises on the snare drum. The snare drum is the most important and relied upon drum in the set. Vic Firth.com offers 40 free snare drum exercises with audio examples.
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Play a basic rock 'n' roll beat on the drum set. Concentrate on the high-hat, the bass drum and the snare drum. Set the metronome at a slow beat. Play eighth notes on the high-hat with the right hand. Eighth notes are two notes per beat. Play the bass drum on the 1 and the 3, and play the snare drum on the 2 and the 4. The snare drum is played with the left hand. Practice with the metronome, and once you are able to play the drums and high-hat together without difficulty, slightly increase the speed of the metronome. Alter the patterns. For example, use the ride cymbal in place of the high-hat, play eighth notes with the bass drum on the 1 and 3, play eight notes with the snare drum on the 2 and the 4.
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Steal licks from your favorite drummers. Drummers, like other musicians, develop their chops by listening to and imitating other drummers. Study the different techniques and patterns that other drummers use. Gather a collection of licks and ideas. Listening to how different drummers approach the same song or same type of song is insightful. The goal is develop your style.
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Play with other musicians as much as possible. Seek out accomplished players. Playing with good musicians is the best way to improve your chops.
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