Re: Learning drums
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:31 pm
Thanks all for the wise words.
This makes a lot of sense. One of the reasons I started the thread is that I realized I was starting to overthink things way too much. When I play along to music, I'm having fun and also practicing my improv, as choppy and sloppy as it is at the moment. And that bit about forging neural pathways is so interesting because it's part of what appeals to me about getting good at this. Like, just being able to train my body to do something new is pretty fun. Roger that on the AC/DC.dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:48 am Rudiments are important in your second or third year of playing. Starting a guitar player on scales is a mistake, too, I think. The "Basic Beat" is the barre chord of drumming. Focus on that for 80% of your practice.
The important thing is to get limb independence and the ability to play a beat. With the right band, you could have an entire career and gold records and never touch the floor tom.
Hi-hat, kick, snare. Understanding that relationship is understanding rock and roll. Add ride cymbal if you want to play jazz.
I still remember the sensation of the neural pathway opening when I was first able to disconnect my right foot from my right hand. I was in my bedroom in fourth grade, bashing at my new/old drum kit, and I remember the first time I played a pair of eighth notes on my kick drum and my hand didn't go there too. This is the fundamental process of learning to play drums: prying these neural pathways open so that your hands and feet can do different stuff at the same time.
Practicing rudiments will make you a better drummer. Playing along with AC/DC records will make you a better musician. Do the latter FIRST.
Yes I seem to be pretty okay with ride, snare, and kick. One of the first songs I practiced was Nirvana's "About a Girl" and I seem to have that down okay (though I'm sure there are little nuances I'm missing). I will try to track down those books. I just came across a book called "4 Way Coordination" that seems pretty simple and just gives you some drills for all of your limbs, which seems helpful. And yes you are so right about the hi-hat thing. Since I started, I've been listening to more funk and realizing how much those drummers accomplish with just hat, snare, and kick is pretty revealing.twelvepoint wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 8:15 am Good advice here.
It sounds like if you can (even basically) play along with songs, you have some independence with ride/snare and kick, is that correct? If so, that's a great milestone, and you should feel like you're beginning to make real music.
I started in a concert band/orchestra world where we did the traditional thing of learning rudiments on a practice pad and that was supposed to be fundamental to everything that came after. I don't want to negate that, but 40 years of playing in rock bands, I'd really have to say limb independence is more relevant. (Again, not that you shouldn't know how to hold sticks, do bounces/flams/paradiddles.) I used the old Ted Reed SYNCOPATION book and if you can get the gist of all those kick/snare patterns under 8th note and swing ride patterns, you will have a very good grip on independence that will fundamental for most contexts of drum kit playing.
You mention hi-hat playing. Good hat technique adds so much subtlety and personality to a song. I'd caution that adding left foot before you feel like you've hit a threshold with kick/snare/ride MIGHT be a little frustrating, so maybe honestly assess where you're at. Disco, funk, soul - all good styles to play along to if you want to develop hi-hat.
My final thought is you could start looking at how to incorporate rudiments into the drum kit. I have a book called "200 Paradiddle Exercises for Drums" that's been helpful. I think historically, rudiments were taught to drummers on a snare and there aren't very clear examples of how those apply to the drum kit. I don't know that I'd recommend going down the rudiment path right now if, as you said, independence is your current focus. You can bring in the Danny Carey stuff later on.
Ok one more final thought: try to find some people to play with. That can only improve upon what you're learning independently, and no book or video can replace interacting in-person with other musicians.