Drumming Skills

All well-rounded drummers are proficient in a set of essential drumming skills that form the basis of their drumming. These basic skills are very important, because other more advanced techniques are build upon them.

Learning drums is not easy, especially if you're completely new to it. Drums are a complex instrument and require a lot of patience and dedication. In order to learn and practice them effectively you need to start with the basics.

If you're just starting out, it's really important to have good instructions (see drum instructional videos). It's not just how much you practice, but how you practice. It's crucial to do things correctly from the very start. Understanding the basics and knowing the right way to practice will quickly and drastically improve your drumming.

Essential Drumming Skills

The following are the essential skills that every drummer should know and master:

• How to hold a drumstick - this is one of the most important parts of drumming, yet oftentimes overlooked. There are specific ways to hold drumsticks. If you learn this early on, you will be much more effective. Using improper technique of holding your sticks can actually do damage to your hands or wrists.
  
  
• Correct Posture - posture will affect how you play and sound. The key to correct drumming posture is to sit up straight and at the right height. Also try to relax your hands, arms and wrists. The correct posture helps you perform better and also reduces the risk of injury and tension. Just remember, no slouching.
  
  
• How to count time - counting time is a must for any drummer. This is basically the drummer's primary job - to be able to count and stay in time. Understanding time signatures is crucial and is what separates the men from the boys. It must be taken seriously. If you cannot count time, how will you stay on time with your beats?
  
  
• How to tune your drums - it's a sad fact that many drummers never take the time to learn how to tune their drums. It's not really that hard. Well tuned drums will make you sound and play better.
  
  
• How to read drum music – reading music will bring you to a new level of drumming and help you become a better musician all the way around. It will give you the ability to learn more quickly and make you a better player. Well worth the investment of your time.
  
  

It's also very important to learn and practice the right way. This will make the learning process easier and quicker, and will prevent the development of bad habits. The best way is to follow well structured lessons that are designed to guide you from start to finish. When you sit down behind the drums, you should know what you're doing.

These are the basics. Be sure to really understand them before moving on to more advanced stuff. If you need help, take a look at - Learn & Master Drums with Dann Sherrill.