How to Play the Drums: A Guide for Beginners
Did you know an average drum set has five pieces? It includes the bass, snare, two toms, floor tom, and cymbals.
Drums are the most important part of the rhythm section of a band, and if you want to learn but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help you. Keep reading, and we will guide you through how to play the drums.
Types of Drums in the Kit
You can call it a drum set or drum kit, and to start; you will want to focus on the essential five pieces of the kit. You can familiarize yourself with each one and their role.
- Bass: This is the biggest piece of the set and creates rhythm with a low boom
- Snare: It sits directly in front of you the wires under the drum vibrate to create its signature sound
- Tom-tom: This drum comes in multiple sizes and helps with drum fills and tribal rhythms
- Hi-hats: This is made up of two cymbals that face each other and make a clashing sound
- Cymbals: Crash and ride cymbals are two other types that help emphasize notes
You will want to make sure to get drumsticks as well. The smaller the number, the bigger the drumstick will feel. You can try out a few types to see what works best for you.
Drum sets can cost between $300 – $1,000. The cost depends on the quality of materials, the brand, the drums are handmade, and the number of shells.
Now that you know each part of your drum kit, you will want to set everything up. A drum set is set up if you’re right-handed, so if you’re left-handed, you might want to move the snare drum to the other side.
You can research drums for beginners and find instructions on how to set up your drum set. This way, you’ll be comfortable before you start taking lessons and have a sense of where everything sits.
Drum Lessons
Though there are videos online that can teach you the basics of playing the drums, getting lessons is invaluable and will allow you to ask questions.
Your teacher will be able to see your strengths and help in areas that you’re struggling. They will be able to help you read music and understand how to follow it.
Sloan School of Music offers lessons 7 days a week to work with their student’s busy schedules. You can book as many lessons as you need.
They have options for beginners to advanced players that focus on all aspects of drumming. Learn more about drum lessons by Sloan School of Music.
How to Play the Drums
If you want to learn how to play the drums, you want to start by getting comfortable with a drum set and learning about the different types of drums.
Before you invest in an expensive kit, make sure to test it out and see if you like playing an instrument. If you like it, you can invest in lessons and improve your skills.
Start researching different drum sets or read about The Ninth World.
