How To Play Drums

A pair of these might be all you need to start learning how to play drums.

Learning how to play drums is a lot more simple than you might think from watching videos of drummers with 45-piece kits. In fact, you can get started learning how to play drums for around $20 or less. 

Drumsticks

The first thing you’ll need to learn how to play drums is a pair of drumsticks. We’ve written an extensive guide about which kind you’ll need depending on your style, but let’s keep things basic here. If you’re a younger player (under the age of 15 or so) or someone with small hands, you’ll likely want a pair of 5As or 7As. Those are two of the smaller sticks available and great ones to learn how to play drums with before moving up to heavier sticks like these super cheap 5Bs if you so desire.

You can have any of the drumsticks linked to above delivered to your house for about $5, or you can make the trip to the local music shop and grab a pair for a little more without the wait. At this point, you can get started learning to play drums. You can practice by simply using a pillow or your knees (be gentle!) to get your grip and wrist action going with just your sticks, utilizing simple drills.

Try this drill explained by LessonFace drum coach Kevin Lopez:

“Try exercises that involve alternating your hands and feet. For example, play four measures of sixteenth notes alternating between your right hand and foot. Do the same thing for the next four measures but with your left hand and foot. For the next four measures, try alternating between your right hand and left foot. For the next four measures, try alternating between your left hand and right foot. Remember to start slow at first and use a metronome if you're having trouble with timing. You can do these exercises pretty much anywhere (as long as the people around you don't mind the noise, of course).”

Lopez brings up our next potential tool for learning the drums, the metronome.

The Metronome

A metronome is a device that produces a regular beat you can hear and is excellent when you're trying to learn how to play drums. It’s like a clock that you can set at a speed you want to follow that will tick audibly. Metronomes can be purchased for anywhere from about as cheap as $10 online or at your local music shop, and are one of the drum coach's favorite tools for drum tutorials.

Todd Isler, another great LessonFace drum coach, recommends using a metronome frequently.

“Play along with music, many different styles, too,” he suggests. “When you are not playing with music, use a metronome. Use it for almost all of your other practicing.”

Take Online Drum Lessons With Expert Drum Coaches

Now that you’ve started learning how to play drums, it’s probably time to start your drum lessons if you haven’t already. LessonFace has lots of great drum coaches who can teach you how to play drums online, including teachers who offer free 15-minute online trial lessons. Online lessons are a great way to continue to save money as you learn how to play drums. Then, if you’ve decided the drums are for you (great decision), you can go ahead and figure out where you want to buy your drum kit, and start making your learning plan.

Good luck!

Are you a drum coach with a great drum tutorial or a student learning how to play drums online with a question? Tweet us @lessonface.

Click here to book an online drum lesson or here to learn more about how LessonFace works. You can also check out our blog here to read more about LessonFace and our teachers.
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