Starting Drum

[Shinzuki]

Hi guys, i would like to start playing drum. Any guidelines to help me get started?

I'm worried about 1 thing though. I live in a quite remote place and i'm staying on the 11th story, no room apartment. So if i were to get a drum set, would it be difficult for me to play the drum? As it will be very loud i guess. (I can't possibly put the sound proof sponge thingy all over my house right?)

And I'm thinking of taking up drumming course at yamaha, will it be good for me? Someone who doesn't know anything about drum, yet. =)

Any help here is much appreciated! Feel free to add me on MSN @ moonxdevil@hotmail.com, please let me know you're from SOFT. Thank you people! ^^

 

[HF Theory]

Hey mate,

Thrilled that yer pickin up drums.

I am not an expert or whatever, but have been playing drums for close to 10 yrs now.

What I can say, is when you listen to an audio, a song, listen to the drums, feel it.

Groove comes from feeling it.

Start slow, air drum, beat on pillows, get a practice pad, head for jam, that was my progression as a drummer.

Most of the time, I would air drum in my head, EVEN IN THE OFFICE!! lmao.

If I could put a double bass drum below my desk, would be dope.

My advise is, get to know fellow drummers here, meet up, watch gigs, attend clinics, and lastly.

Here are two of the best tools anyone can use in terms of drumming.

Google.com - Drumming Basics
Youtube.com - Millions of Videos on Basic Drumming

Get a practice pad. Plug in your Ipod and rock to it.

All the best mate,

Just my 2 cents worth.

Cheers!

 

[faithsilence]

Enroll in a music/drums school. I used to study in MDS (mydrumschool) and now in MusicLab. What u need to find is to have a school which will ground ur foundations strongly like learning how to count beats (yeah dun be surprised some schools do not emphasis on this important fundamental).

 

[Shinzuki]

=HF Theory

Hey thanks for the advises! Where can i get a practice pad? Are there any different practice pads?

 

[Shinzuki]

Enroll in a music/drums school. I used to study in MDS (mydrumschool) and now in MusicLab. What u need to find is to have a school which will ground ur foundations strongly like learning how to count beats (yeah dun be surprised some schools do not emphasis on this important fundamental).

Have you tried yamaha? is it good? =o

 

[HF Theory]

Practice pads are sold in most music stores, especially the ones in Bras Basah complex as well as Plaza Singapure Yamaha.

What you can start investing in, is a good pair of sticks, try different sizes, pick your preferred stick.

Next, grab a metronome, or google, free metronome softwares online.

Practice single strokes/double strokes, both feet and hands. Loadsa drumming exercises out there, just google em.

Book a studio, try out for a jam, ask yer mates to join in for a session.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[faithsilence]

Have you tried yamaha? is it good? =o

Nope, did not go to Yamaha.

 

[Schtauffen]

Have you tried yamaha? is it good? =o

Was with Yamaha for a year I think about two years back.
I can't say they're bad. But there's definitely better alternatives out there.
At the end of the day its you who makes yourself good, not the school. Self-discipline and stuff.

 

[Shinzuki]

=HF Theory

How do i know if the drum sticks are good? I guess i can get a metronome from most music stores as well?

Thanks! I'll look into it about those strokes and drumming exercises! =)

 

[Shinzuki]

=Schtauffen

Hmm, that's true. Well said, thanks! XD

 

[Schtauffen]

Go to the drumsticks thread and read around and get an idea which drumstick brands are the more "good ones". I suggest if getting an ordinary "5A" stick first, wood tip or nylon tip doesn't really matter.

It is a pretty versatilve stick, good for beginners to start with, at least I started with it and STILL prefer using it. (Still using Zildjian 5As after I bought it)

If you going to start with Yamaha and buying your first pair of drumsticks from there, buy the Promark or Zildjian 5A if you don't prefer thick sticks. I started out with a Vater 5A nylon tip and I hardly used that pair anymore, too thick for my liking. Haha.

After you get a hang of drumming then you go try around if you need to use heavier, thicker sticks(2B, 3A, etc.), or lighter, thinner sticks, (6A,7A, etc.) or continue using 5A.

If you (or your parents) can afford it, just sign yourself up for individual drum lessons (rather than group). It makes things a lot easier, and cuts down your chances of picking up bad habits over the long run because the instructor can focus on you and only you and also build you a good foundation when you're still starting out, rather than you self-teaching and picking up bad habits that takes awhile to overcome.

 

[Shinzuki]

=Schtauffen

Ok thanks! I'll go look around the drumsticks thread and also check out the Promark and Zildjian 5A you mentioned. =)

Hmm, alright then i think i shall take up the individual lesson. XD

Omg, thank everyone so much for the guidelines. I'm very eager to start to learn and play drum now! I shall get those basic stuffs done first! Anymore help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! ^^