New drummer, just about to start.. help?

Hey. I'm a pretty keen guitarist, played in bands, I do tech stuff for a mini-job, kinda thing.

Anyway.. My friend is going to sell me his drumkit, which is by a company called 'Only One Drum' or something like that....

1. Take at least a couple lessons. Ask to be shown proper grip and posture.

2. Listen...............................................................................to everything.

1) Don't be in a hurry to play like your favorite drum hero. Learn the basics first. If you can't do something on one drum, why would you be able to do it on 4 or 5? Since you said you're a pretty good guitarist, I'll assume you know a bit about starting slowly, practicing cleanly and then adding speed and/or complexity. Translate that to drums.

1B) Learn the rudiments. Google Percussive Arts Society Rudiments and you'll get what you need.

2) Lessons are a BIG help. Feedback from a knowledgeable instructor is a good thing that you can't get from videos, books, Youtube, etc.

3) Speaking of Youtube, here's my lesson on the basic rock beat. Notice how I break everything into pieces and then put them back together. Realize that you can do that with even the most complex thing and eventually you will get it down.

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

4) Get the book Stick Control. Use it!

sit down

create a pure chaos on your drums

continue until you feel good

practice everything to a click. take a lesson or two so you can be taught proper technique and wont develop any bad habits on with your hands and/or feet. Proper technique is important, especially if you want to develop fast hands and feet.

I disagree with that. Practicing to a click is good because it lets you know that you can keep time. But you should also play without a click for a number of reasons:

1) So you know YOU can keep time. We know the metronome can.

2) Sometimes songs have to breathe. Not everything should be polished to a fine sheen.

3) You're going to play with people who don't necessarily have perfect time. Sure it would be better if they did, but you may have to give a little here and there while you're trying to reel them back in to your clock-like timekeeping. A little push/pull never hurt Zeppelin or Miles Davis.

Thanks. That's been a huge help. That's more advice than I expected. My friend who's a grade 8 drummer said he'd give me a couple of lessons which I think is gonna be a big help.

I know from playing guitar how important propper technique is, I had to COMPLETELY revise my picking and then my fignering technique, wish I'd paid more attention at the start.

And for the metronome comment, I already play with a metranome alot with my gutiaring and I can keep a pretty decent rhythum.. not to boast but moreso than the drummer in my last band, he was good.

Would you advise sticking to single kick pedal for a while before moving onto double?... Alot of the music I play is rock/metal/progressive.

haha I sound quite arrogant.. Thanks again for the advise, do you know anything about the make of the kit my friend's selling me?

Yeah I totally agree with that. More so with guitar than drums, then again I'm not a drummer... yet.

This is true. My friend (Not the one who's selling me the kit) Is going to teach me the basics. Thanks.

Focus on technique, posture and don't beat yourself up too much if you're having problems getting it at first. Have fun!

I also recommend Realistic Rock as a great book for some cool beats that apply to both the beginner & the more advanced drummer.

No, I don't think I ever heard of such a drum brand as "Only one drum" here in the states. Posting a picture of said drums would really help.

I really can't add anymore about starting drums then what's already been said. Yes start with a single pedal first, get the basics down first. Time, proper grip and posture, etc. Good luck dude!

I'd be willing to bet I'll get a lot of disagreement here, but IMO, if you can be disciplined about working each foot separately as well as together, I don't see why you can't start with two. But if you do get a double pedal, make sure you spend some time using your left foot on the hi hat too.

I'll agree with you Turd. No reason he can't start out with both as long as he is disciplined enough to work both feet correctly.

Oh.. well It will be a while before I can buy a double pedal, so I guess I'll be starting with one. I don't want to be one of those guys who just plays metal on drums though, I'd like to actually be musical, and I've been told that using single pedal and high hat helps at that... not sure on the details at all though.

As for the brand, I'm not sure if it was that, but I'll speak to him tonight and ask him for the brand and model.

that's probably for the best since you're a beginner. a lot of teachers will tell you you're not ready for a double pedal until you could play everything on your left foot as well as your right foot (assuming you're not a lefty). so once you do get a double pedal. practice playing all the beats you've learned by then with just your left foot.

I disagree with turd disagreeing with me. A click will help you develop good timing, so that you wont have to play to a click once you become a better drummer. this is especially important when playing challenging fills. drummers with bad timing tend to rush fills. if you ever join a band it's always a good idea to play a click live. Most of the pros do it.

I regret not starting off with a click when I first started playing. I've used one for the past two years though, and my time is pretty damn solid now. Practicing with a click is also good when you're trying to learn complicated beats. set the click to a slow BPM and gradually build up to it. If you ever go record in a studio you'll need to be able to play along to a click anyway, so you might as well master it.

that's probably for the best since you're a beginner. a lot of teachers will tell you you're not ready for a double pedal until you could play everything on your left foot as well as your right foot (assuming you're not a lefty). so once you do get a double pedal. practice playing all the beats you've learned by then with just your left foot. I disagree with turd disagreeing with me. A click will help you develop good timing, so that you wont have to play to a click once you become a better drummer. this is especially important when playing challenging fills. drummers with bad timing tend to rush fills. if you ever join a band it's always a good idea to play a click live. Most of the pros do it. I regret not starting off with a click when I first started playing. I've used one for the past two years though, and my time is pretty damn solid now. Practicing with a click is also good when you're trying to learn complicated beats. set the click to a slow BPM and gradually build up to it. If you ever go record in a studio you'll need to be able to play along to a click anyway, so you might as well master it.

That's a fair argument too, actually. Since I play guitar with a metranome, my timing's decent, I'm not sure how that will transfer onto drums however.

Oh, what about stick gauges, tuning, stuff like that?

Play with what you are comfortable with.. Like strings just play what you like best.. 5A or 5B are normal everyday sticks to use.. Go from there.

Tuning, go to you tube and find bob gatzen tuning videos.. They helped me a lot, also might try a drum dial, it works well, and helped me a lot starting out 1.5 years ago. I also came from guitar.. It's so much fun, you will love it..

Ooh cool, cheers man. I use 11s and I have not particuarly big or strong hands.. so I have no idea what gauge I'll like.

Take lessons, study up on different techniques, and all that stuff.

I found this guy helpful at first, but dont completely rely on him: http://www.youtube.com/spikeydrummer

Haha. I checked him out yesterday, love the suit.

Well, I pretty much started by just watching drum videos and then I figured it out myself. I just hammered on my drums until I found something that sounded good. Also, there are lots of great videos on YouTube from those FreeDrumLesson people. The people in the videos sound overly nice and stuff but the content is great.