DRUM QUESTIONS

DRUM QUESTION OF THE MONTH

The best drumming question we receive each month will be posted here along with Drum Nut's reply for you to share.
Ask a drumming question here

QUESTION: April 2013

Hi,  My son plays the drums.  He gets through a lot of drumsticks as they crack and split. He's been playing for 4 years and is quite advanced. Can you recommend a more durable stick?

Virginia

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hello Virginia,

Thank you for your email. Drum sticks will split and chip- unfortunately it is the nature of wood versus the metal of the cymbals and rims of the drums. There are synthetic sticks, plastic and aluminium that won't decay as much but they do feel quite different so your son would need to feel comfortable with them. With wooden sticks, oak tends to be the most durable but because it is harder it does tend to transmit vibrations more to the hands- again I would recommend your son trying a pair first.

Regards, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Jan 2013

How do i tell how fast the beat of a song is by just looking at the sheet music?

Jamie

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your email. The speed of a piece of music is indicated by a BPM (beats per minute) reading usually marked at the top right of a piece of sheet music. It will say something like "Quarter Note" = 120bpm. This relates to the tempo marking on a metronome. If you have a metronome set it to 120 and you will be able to hear the speed of the quarter notes for that piece. If you don't have a metronome you can use the drumnuts online metronome

If a piece of music doesn't have the tempo indicated with a BPM reading you can always listen to the original recording to get the speed. Start the recording of the song and then adjust your metronome until it is clicking an even beat with the song.

I hope this answers your question. Thanks for visiting drumnuts.

Regards, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Sept 2012

What is the best way to learn songs?  I have been pieceing them out and trying to learn each individual part (i.e..beat, chrous, fills, etc...,) but then when I go to put them together, I end up failing at something because I left out notes.  I almost feel overwhelmed when trying to remember so many notes.....playing metal like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, etc... you really can't read the music as you play; unlike marching band music. 

Chris

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hey Chris,

Thanks for your question. I don't think there is a 'right' way to learn a song. Everybody is different in what works best for them. Some people find it easier to learn by listening. Others prefer written music. Sometimes it can be a blend of the two. I think it's important to find what works best for you.

To be truly comfortable playing a song you need to know it well. Start by listening to the song often, get to know the parts of the other instruments, vocals etc. Also familiarise yourself with the structure (or arrangement) of the song- verse/ chorus/ bridge etc.

The drum part of a song will usually comprise of a few different drum patterns (or beats) linked together with fills. By far the best place to start learning is with the drum patterns. There's no point being able to play a couple of blazing fills if you can't hold down the main beats of the song as these provide the feel or groove.
When you're working out the patterns start by listening to the original song- often checking with a live clip of the band is a good idea too as sometimes drum tracks can be layered in the studio or enhanced with drum machines. Once you've done the obvious, like working out the time signature of the song and counting the beat, if the pattern isn't straight forward then I would recommend writing out a bar of music and filling in the beats progressively from the 1 count. Or even the drums individually- for example just work out the kick drum part, then add the snare. When you've worked a pattern out, try it with the recording- play along- you'll soon feel if you have it right or not.

When working out drum fills probably the most important place to begin is working out where they start and finish in relation to the beat of the song. Listen over to the track, tapping your foot to the beat and counting to establish where the fill starts and ends. Then like the patterns work the beats of the bar out progressively from the count of 1.

I agree that playing with most bands you don't want to be reading music so when you've worked out the parts memorise them and put the music away- that way you can let go and really enjoy the song.

I hope this answers your question- keep practising and thanks again for visiting drumnuts.

Regards, Drum Nut

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QUESTION: Sept 2011

I am just starting to play the drums. What would be the best way for me to start. And should i start with a kit right away or should i start with the djembe or somen first to get the beats down.

Devon

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hi Devon,

Thanks for your email. The best way to start learning the drums is to buy a drum kit and start playing along to music. Then get yourself a good teacher and learn to read music. And from there start playing music with other musicians. This is by no means the only way though.

 It is quite possible to learn drums without a drum kit. Many students do it and buy their own kit only when they are sure that they are going to continue learning. In the mean time the only equipment you need is a pair of sticks and possibly a practice pad.

Finding a good teacher is really sound advice too. Check out the drumnuts questions for advice on choosing a teacher.

Learning rhythms on a Djembe or other hand drum can be good preparation for playing the drum kit but using sticks on a practice pad would be more beneficial long term.

I hope this answers your question. Good luck on your journey learning the drums. Maybe we'll see you in the drumnuts Legends Gallery one day!


Regards, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Feb 2011

What should a drummer of 4 years, taking private lessons and having a steady practice routine, be able to do? 

Sherry

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hi Sherry,

Thanks for your email. There is no universal level of achievement for a drum student of four years. As with any subject students often learn at different rates. The age of a student and the course of study that the teacher chooses are other factors that can influence progress.

As a guide, in our opinion an 'average' drum student of four years should be confident in the basic drum rudiments; single and double stroke rolls, flams, paradiddles, drags etc. Able to demonstrate their abilities across a number of musical styles, both drum patterns and fills. Aware of musicianship skills such as dynamics, timbre etc. And competent in reading drum notation and music charts. They should also have been encouraged to engage in musical performance with other musicians by this stage.

Graded music exams are by not for everybody but as a bench mark of progress they can be a good indicator. Most drummers who've had four years private lessons should be around a Grade 5 level of learning. Some will achieve this a lot sooner and other slightly later. Grade 5 Drum Exams

I hope this answers your question. Thanks again for visiting drumnuts.

Regards, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Sept 2010

What's the best way to practice to a metronome?

Dion

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hey Dion,

Thanks for your email. If you are new to using a metronome with your drum practise it's probably best to start simple. Set the metronome to a moderate tempo say 60bpms and try playing crotchets or quarter notes on the snare drum alternating between your right and left hands. You should be aiming to get the strike of the drum right on top of the click of the metronome. This is a great test- if you get it right you'll find the sound of the metronome seems to disappear! It's quite strange and you might think the metronome has stopped but keep going.

Once you get comfortable doing this try increasing the tempo up to 80bpms, 100bpms and so forth. Also try different note values over the click of the metronome. For example; play eighth notes or quavers while the metronome clicks a crotchet beat- two strikes of the drum for one click of the metronome. Or sixteenth notes (semi quavers) which will be four strikes of the drum to every click of the metronome.

As you get more confident working with a metronome you can be more adventurous with your practise. Try playing drum patterns on the drum set or more complex rhythms on the snare drum. You can also try 'playing around the beat' which means playing slightly slower or faster than the metronome click. This is called 'dragging' or 'pushing' the beat and can be a useful skill to develop.

Playing along to songs on your Ipod or a drum loop on a drum machine are fun alternatives to using a metronome too. Or try playing along to one of the metronomes on the drumnuts metronome page.

I hope this answers your question.

All the best, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: May 2010

Why do some people put black tape in the middle of their drum heads?

Ed.

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hey Ed,

Thanks for your email question. People sometimes put tape on their drum skins to dampen the sound. Often a drum (especially a big one like a floor tom or bass drum) will have a long overtone when you hit it- like an echo. This is caused by the skin and drum shell vibrating or resonating from the sound waves after you hit it. The black tape you see on the drums stops these vibrations lasting so long and so 'deadens ' the sound of the drum.
Some people like this others hate it. Best thing to do is experiment on your drums and see what you like the sound of. Often a better way to get rid of unwanted overtones from a drum is to tune it properly. See the drumnuts tuning guide for help with this.

I hope this answers your question.

Thanks, Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Jan 2010

hey there,i am left handed but right footed!! what drum set up would you recommend? need help
thanks.

Steve

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the email.

The most common set-up for a left handed, right footed drummer would be to play a standard right handed players kit with open hands. In other words don't cross your arms to play the hi hat. Many right handed players also opt for this position.

The only issue you may have is going round the toms with this setup- as they will still be in a right hand direction from high to low. An option for this would be to swap the two mounted toms on the bass drum around (assuming you have a standard 5-piece drum kit) and to place the floor tom to the left of your hi hat.

The most important thing to consider is whether you are comfortable. Don't sacrifice comfort for image or the way you think the drums "should" be setup. Play around and try different setups. There's no rules- just whatever enables you to play the drums the best.

Hope this has helped. Have fun.

Drum Nut.

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QUESTION: Nov 2009

Hi, I'm Matt from England and I've been playing drums for around four years now. I've decided I need to take my hobby to a higher level- but I can't find a band at all. I've tried online sites such as 'formingbands.co.uk'; however I don't trust the safety of them so I don't use them anymore.
The main piece of advice I'm looking for is how I can be a successful drummer, my main objective is to be in a successful band but I am limited for choice.
Is there any other jobs/ careers I can take other than being in a band? as playing drums is my one talent that I have.

Regards,

MP

DRUM NUT SAYS:

Hey Matt,

Thanks for your email.

It's great you're looking for a career in music with your drumming and yes there are quite a few options for having a career with your drumming apart from just being in a famous band. For example- teaching drums, being a drum tech, a session drummer or working in a drum shop.

I would suggest that you do continue looking to join a band though as when you are a drummer nothing beats actually playing with other musicians. And if you want to do any job related to drumming you'll find it much easier if you have experience playing drums in a band.

If you're still at school that is a great place to get bands together, either with friends or by advertising through school. Talk to your music teacher too as other students maybe looking to form a band.

If you're not at school try putting an advert in your local music shop- most musicians have to visit a music shop at some point so you're bound to get a response.

The best piece of advise though is 'Don't give up!' Keep playing and practising and looking for that band and things will work out for you. Maybe one day we'll be adding you to the Drum Legends section of drumnuts :)

All the best, Drum Nut

Try to find a teacher that is recommended by someone who has been learning for a while.

Meet the teacher and see if you get on together.

Don't be afraid to ask the teacher what their background is- how long they've been playing and how long they've been teaching and where.

In music education you generally get what you pay for- cheap drum lessons are not always a bargain.

Ask about your school's itinerant music programme.

Check out  the Drumnuts Drum Teacher Guide

Yes you can learn the drums without a drum kit but it is difficult to get motivated to practise and not as much fun.

Sooner or later if you want to be a drummer you've got to get drums.

In an ideal world, from the first lesson but this is not always practical. It makes sense to see if you enjoy drums and you're going to continue playing before buying.

Compared to other instruments, like trumpet or saxophone, a drum kit is fairly cheap. Drums also hold their value well if it comes to reselling.

If a student is taking lessons and still practising regularly after 6 months without drums then they deserve a drum kit!

The best option for beginners kits is still probably a good music shop. With a shop you can refer back to them if you need any assistance or have any problems with the gear.

Beginner kits are so cheap new that you're not going to save a great deal by buying second hand.

This however does not apply to intermediate level kits or cymbals. If you're in the market for either of these then internet sites like Trademe.co.nz or the Trade & Exchange are definately worth checking out.

Check out the drumnuts drum kit guide