how good of a workout is drumming and some other questions

hey guys just wanted to ask how much of a workout you get from drumming. Does it keep your fat down build your arms? I am not a full time drummer, more of a multi instrumentalist, I practice on a ludwig accent set at my house which is all I can afford right now.

In the studio I use nice stuff and love it, but my other question what are kind of just standard tried and true heads/cymbals that maybe I could get a decent price used.

This set is for practice, and doesn't have to sound amazing, more just good and not irritating. I have gone through my bass drum head, and most of the others so I figured it was time to ask.

I know this post is very noobish, which my knowledge of drums are.

Lots of fat drummers- does that tell you anything?

2002 Paiste = sound good and won't break the bank

I have a mental image of you with flabby arms...

Drumming is a great workout. Good for cardio, leg and arm muscles...and for the soul. If your having a bad day...you can pound out your frustrations.

As for cymbals...check out musiciansfriend.com or some other outlet and see what your willing to spend. Cymbal sound is as or more important than your drums. You can tune just about any drum but if your cymbal sound sucks...you suck.

I think its a good work out, gets you breathing heavy and sweating for sure, but wouldn't count on it to loose pounds.

Time tested and proven heads, pinstripes, ambassadors, emperor, ec2, g2, g1, and such.

Proven cymbal standard, zildjian A, its like an industry standard far as I'm concerned.

I'm a multi musician too, not really a drummer either, I asked the same questions last year.

thanks guys! I don't have flabby arms though! I actually found drumming helped with my arms strength! I am only 18 though so I hope I am in pretty good condition. Thanks for all the help will check it out.

I like it, may i add it to my signature?

Drumming is an OK exercise I guess. You are moving after all. Unless you're playing that extreme speed metal pounding bass drums type of stuff I really don't think it's that great. I think it does keep your arms toned up but not muscular. If you want to get in shape, take up running or cycling or weight lifting or something.

I hate when people say that playing drums allow you to "beat out your frustration on the drums". I can't speak for everyone, but when I have a bad day and play the drums I don't "beat out my frustration", I make music and it distracts me from the bad day I just had.

I agree man,

I play music to chill and get my mind off things legally. Sometimes when I get that feeling, in the groove, I hit em, but don't take out your frustrations on them. That's drum abuse...

Sounds like you need Wuhan cymbals.

I use a half hour of double bass exercises as a warm up for lifting instead of running.

You know that feeling of high tension in the lower arm muscles while playing slick/tight grooves? Like running on a tight rope and keeping things steady? Man i love that.

Drumming may be a real workout for someone who doesn't play regularly, but i think for most drummers the level of concentration and experience overrules the workout part.

How do i say this? An unskilled drummer has to put a lot more muscle and energy into what he does than a skilled drummer who knows how to channel his energy to the right places at the right time.

One of the symptoms, for example, of bad energy distribution is breaking lots of cymbals (or sticks, heads...). An unskilled drummer will simply bash away on a cymbal or a drum when he wants it loud, but a skilled drummer plays it just as loud or even louder using less muscle and working 'with' the instrument instead of on it.

I totally drink to much coffee.

I believe they call that finesse. Something I have yet to aquire.

Good point. It's been quite some time since I've broken sticks, and I haven't done it regularly in years.

Same here man, but working very very hard on it.

My freakin body just doesn't want to cooperate with me lol...

Went through this about a year ago. If you're drumming Rock/Jazz/modern Country in three sets a night, four or five nights a week under the lights. THen you might be getting a decent workout.

But if you're practicing at home or just jamming around then not so much. You're sitting down so is hard to work some areas at all. Plus you're not getting any resistance as far as real weight to shed pounds per se.

I would HIGHLY advise about getting a least a few lessons and make sure you have proper stick control and are hitting the drums correctly. Drummers are known to get carpel tunnel, sore joints and pains and improper technic only intensifies the problem. Having someone show and watch you play helps out tons!!

Also bad technic is a good way to keep breaking sticks and heads. That or you're using using way big sticks on too thin of heads. Finesse is like how when you type you don't pound the keys with arms moving wildly, you basically keep them steady and let your wrist and hands do most of the work. Drumming is easier like that as well. IS close to the same with your lower legs and feet. Drumming is a good way to "tone" up certain areas.

But to shed pounds, build muscle or likewise, you're better off lifting weights, swimming, running, playing fast games like Basketball or Ice Hockey IMHO.

Walt Disney and Two sticks are totally right....

Personally I don't think it's much of a workout at all. Watch the best drummers play....what do you notice? They are all totally relaxed. Fluid motion, relaxed muscles. Of course playing for 2 or 3 hours straight under hot stage lights will cause a sweat for sure....but if drumming is getting your heart rate pumping too much then your probably to tense.

Good volume comes from the snap of the wrists.....I read somewhere one time that something like 90% of a pitcher's speed throwing a fastball comes from the snap of the wrist right before release. Drumming is the same in my opinion.

It's actually one reason I have a bit of an issue with the moeller technique. I know it includes the wrist but when I hear guys like Dom Famularo talk about Full moeller and they show a huge arm motion slowly but when they speed up and play hard, they inevitably drop back down to where they are playing mostly from wrist. And the arm "whip" looks to me just like a normal stroke. (or maybe I just naturally learned moeller from my teacher...) I don't know moeller just seems to me to be kind of obvious.

Anyway....as I'm seriously off track here....like two sticks said...go swimming or something.

It's a totally crap workout.

You may.

I meant figuratively. Not literally. I dont "pound" my drums like animal from The Muppet's. But when I head out to the band room I tell the wife "I am going to go out and pound the drums for a while" and at the same time...I release tension and relax. In fact, I get so relaxed I poop.

+1

During a gig, 3-4 hours, it's a good/decent cardio workout especially if you sing and play, which I do a lot.

It won't "build bigger" muscles, but will tone your arms and legs a bit. Also, builds endurance.

Like WD, it gets me outs my head from all the BS I may have dealt with through-out the day. It does relax me and clears my head.

I don't necessarily poop, at least not while I'm setting there playing fills. Possibly after though, especially if I eat Mexican. Just make sure you do a good job wiping, lest the next set maybe very painful. I know this to be true and is ingrained in the very depths of my soul.

I'll concede that your forearms will be more toned from hours of single stroke rolls. But in fairness, most of us are dudes and no matter how much you get laid, the forearms always get a regular workout anyway.

LMFAO!!!!!!!:lol:

(what's so unfortunate about you statement is it's so friggin' true.)

Drumming has def. pumped up my hands and forearms along w/ my shoulders.

I would also check out Paiste 2002s, I love mine!

I frequently read that touring drummers find they need to do exercises like running or cycling in order to build the stamina needed for the rigors of touring. That tells me that the drumming alone isn't helping much and that regular non-drumming exercise is the key.

I tend to agree with that...if you're playing relaxed and using minimal motion to achieve maximum sound and speed, it's not really a workout at all.

So if you're looking to get out of exercise by drumming instead, you're outta luck.

Too much information.