To any and all drummers... a story, and some questions...

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tubedude

tubedude

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20 years ago I was a piano player, and one day I was flipping through the radio station looking for a good channel to listen to and I discovered something incredible to me at the time... "I Love Rock N Roll" by Joan Jett. Keep in mind I had never heard anything remotely resembling a rock song at the time. I was floored, and the channel then gave me Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. etc... Heaven. I had never heard anything like it and I went berserk. Went to my parents and asked for a drumset, I had to get into this music, and they were like "OK".
So we went and looked at drum sets.
I sat down behind a kit and starting thrashing the way a kid does when he has no idea. It was LOUD. Parents said "hell no, no way... how about a nice guitar over here on the wall."
"I want drums!!!"
"Guitar or nothing, Paul..."
"Fine then"
So I played guitar and have ever since, but have ALWAYS had a thing for drums and percussion. I can play to an extent but I dont own a kit so I rarely get enough time on one to become fluid. I can play a lot of basic beats and even do some slightly tricky high hat stuff, and my timing is really good.
Ok, here is where I need help... I always thought that the place to start if yo uwanted to start at the VERY beginning, was the snare by itself, and start learning techinique and rudiments. Correct me if I'm wrong.
If I'm right, I want to buy a really nice snare (not a crappy one, I intend to keep it as I build a nice recording kit over a year or two) and dig up some books or videos on snare basics and rudiments, stick technique, etc...
I eventually want to get into those videos from Mike Portnoy and Terry Bozzio, but I feel its too early to jump into those.
Can you guide me as to A) what learning materials to get, and which to avoid, and B) a really good rock snare that records well (I like the tone the dude in Tool gets a lot, and kind like the Deftones sound too).
Who makes a great video for beginners. I want to pretend that I know nothing at all about playing drums, and learn everything the right way.
Thanks,
Paul
 
Also, are there any good instructional web sites? Good drum forums? Etc...
Thanks
Paul
 
Paul,
drums are not my primary instrument but I was lucky enough to have parents who let me make noise with whatever instrument I chose to. If you already know how to play basic beats and things I don't know how beneficial, trying to fake starting over will be. I would just pick up some videos and try and figure out where exactly you are in terms of skill. Then you will have a better reference for starting.
Another thing that helps is to listen, listen and listen again to the bands that you like. Also try and pay attention to any drummers you are around. 90% of the drum stuff I know, I picked up just hanging out with my friends who play or guys I was in bands with.
I don't think learning rudiments can hurt, because they can be applied in all different types of patterns all over the kit. If I was going to go the "snare only" route, i would just pick up a practice pad but that just me.
Also about the Bozzio videos. I've seen a couple and there not really a "lesson" in a sense, its more of an experience. If your skilled enough, im sure you can pick up some things from bozzio but for someone like me who is just an "ok" player on drums, the stuff he does, is/was way over my head. Definantly worth watching, but worth 40-50 dollars? I don't know about that.
 
As far as the videos go, one of the better beginning ones is Eric Singer (from Kiss) video. It isn't so far over everyones head. Any of the Portnoy ones are not for beginners. even if you have the musical experiance to understand what he is doing, you still won't have the motor skills to pull it off.

On ebay, any day of the week you can get a Ludwig Supraphonic snare. These are the most recorded snares ever. John Bonham used a 6.5 inch deep one, but I think you might want the 5 inch.
 
Paul, I went the traditional route when I started taking drum lessons. That meant beginning with snare drum. It wasn't until after I had a firm handle on snare drum method that my teacher allowed me to move on to the full kit. (Oh, and my teacher was Fred Begun, formerly the principal percussionist of the National Symphony Orchestra.) Podemski's Snare Drum Method is considered the standard book, and you should start there.
 
I too started with the snare first.

Podemski's Snare Drum Method is a fantastic book and don't forget to get Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone. All the rudiments you could ever desire can be quickly found on google.

As for the snare drum, you might want to wait a little and just start with a practice pad.
 
Paul, I started playing drums in the 90's eight years later I bought my first and only drum kit I have, I never got support from my parents when it comes to music, so I have to go by my own. I was just playing and showing off, trying to play as my idols, but when I start to take lessons everything changed, then I realize how important rudiments are. Everything starts from here, it´s great to go from the floor tom to the snare, the kick, the cymbals and show off, but there comes a time when you don´t have more to say and you are out of ideas, that´s when rudiments are needed.
I suggest you start with Podemski´s Method or Stick Control both are classics and I´m sure will help you a lot, don´t hesitate and buy you a practice pad, with one of those methods and the pad you could start and spend a good time working on your stick control
If you ask me about videos, I think Weckl´s Back to basics could be good for start, there´s a part when he talks about grip, stick control, rudiments working just with a snare.
The snare I love is Ludwig´s Black Beauty or maybe Peart´s Craviotto, the first one is a classic.

Bye
TS
 
If you think you're eventually gonna buy a kit, then maybe get a specialty snare first, 'cause you're gonna get a standard snare when you buy the kit.
 
Thanks guys. Do any of these books (Podemski and that stick control book) have videos or CD/tapes with them? Are they something I need to see and hear to grab properly, or will I be ok with just a book? Seems I would need to hear and see it to get a grip on whats happening, but maybe not.
Thanks for the input....
Paul
 
Nope no tapes or cd´s for both books. They´re not complicated, just a little bit of reading skills are required, and a metronome also. Check amazon for both books I bought Stick Control there, maybe it could have the look inside link so you can see how it comes.
 
Hey Paul, be sure to check this out:

http://www.cybertoast.tv/drumtuning.htm

It's called the Drum Tuning Bible and is full of good info. I thought I knew how to properly tune a drum before reading this...it can teach you loads or at least give you a better understanding.

Farview, I thought the Black Beauty was the most recorded? I could be wrong...I'm going off of memory here.

War
 
Ive been playing drums for a little over 8 years (im 15). For the first 6 years i playd constantly - i was addicted (and my parents almost disowned me) but then 2 years ago i got a drum teacher and with his guidence i've progreesed at a phemomanal rate compared to without lessons. LIke you i learnt from book and dvds. But nothing....NOTHING can repace a good drum techer. In the two years of lessons ive passed grade 8 and im now a techer. and this year im taking a diploma in drums. So yes learn at home - its helps - but if ur intrested in drumming - and you seriously want ot do it then there is no other option than to have a teacher.
 
I took one drum lesson. It was me and the teacher in about a 5' x 5' room and he asked me to play for him. I started wailing away full arm swings etc. and they guy was like "WHOA MAN!"...and taught me to use my wrists etc. so I would not get so tired so quick with the full arm action!

Best lesson ever...but I never went back. At the time $20 a week was a LOT.

War
 
Even if only for a few months..................
Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!Get a live instructor!....................it's that important.

you'll get more out of 2 thirty dollar lessons than you will out of 1 $60 video. Can a video tell you where your problem areas are? Wheter your technique is correct etc.


Did you learn how to f**k by watching porn? If you did, you're not doing it right.
 
Lessons are $30??? Holy shit. They were $7 back in the day.
 
Lessons!!!!!!

I started playin drums late but found the best way was with a HUMAN TEACHER!! books & vid's are just someone else showing off! get yourself a good teacher & go from there, you'l soon learn everything you need to know. ive been playin 4years now & gained so much from my drum teacher that im am forever in his debt!

Thxs kel!! :D :D

MoRBID
 
I just scored Stick Control off ebay in perfect shape for $6...

I worked on rudiments for about an hour today, already noticing improvements in flow. I'm actually excited for the 1st time in about 5 years. I'm a kid again, and I'm gonna be a KILLER drummer, damnit! :)

Thanks guys...
 
tubedude said:
Lessons are $30??? Holy shit. They were $7 back in the day.
Click to expand...

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. I paid $30/hour because I wanted someone THAT good. I could've paid $12, but I wouldn't have learned much.
 
please get a real teacher. thats the onyl way you'll get anywhere. please!
 
Starting over

I've been playing a Drum kit for 20 years and it wasn't until I was in Drum core until I really had a clue.
Last year I bought a pipe drum and I'm constantly playing it even though my kit is right in front.
I love rudiments and incorporating them to my set.
If I could pick any drum it would be a snare.(marching)
As far as books go I have Rob Carsons international book of rudiments.Also Future sounds is a good drum kit book.
 
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