Learning the Drum Kit

The Basics

Before you start to play a drum kit, there are a few basic principles you must know.  First, you need to know the parts of a standard drum kit.  Your standard drum kit comes with a High-Hat, a Snare Drum, a Bass Drum (operated with a pedal with the right foot, though sometimes with the left foot as well if you are using a Double Bass Pedal,) two or three Tom-Tom drums (or Toms for short,) a Crash Cymbal, and a Ride Cymbal.  Learning how to arrange these in the proper order is important, but customization is both allowed and encouraged.  How you hold and use the drum sticks is also a crucial part of learning to play the drum kit properly.  The two most common and accepted styles of holding he sticks are known as Traditional and Matched Grip.  Traditional is common among jazz players, where matched is the most widely taught and seen grip.  These two grips both have advantages and disadvantages over the other, and both sets of grips should be practiced in order to be more versatile and well-rounded.

Limb independence is crucial when learning how to play the drum kit.  Since you aren’t normally hitting every part of the drum at the same time, you need to be able to do separate rhythms in both your hands and feet, all at the same time.  There are many exercises to practice limb independence, and I have provided a video at the end of this to learn some of these exercises.  Learning proper stick control and where exactly you want to hit your drums and cymbals to get a specific sound are also important, but these skills take a little more time, experimentation, and a sensitive ear to develop.  With the drums set up, sticks in hand, and a bit of limb independence, it is finally time to start learning the drum kit.

Well-Known Players

Neil Peart-(Rush)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRMOJQDiLU

Consistently rated Rock-n-Roll’s #1 Drummer of all time.  His mastery of polyrhythms, time signatures, and his metronomic playing have been inspiring children and adults around the world to learn the drums for the past 40 years.

Vinnie Colaiuta-(Frank Zappa, Sting, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Herbie Handcock, and many more)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHXE9V7ph5k

An accomplished studio musician, touring band member, and solo artist, Vinnie Colaiuta has been tearing up the drums for the past 40 years.  Known for his outlandish fills and amazing manipulation of rhythm and tempo.  Added to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1996.

Phil Collins-(Genesis, Brand X, Solo Career)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWgphYPf0PA

Highly respected drummer, most known for work in Genesis as the lead singer and drummer.     Though his later work is simpler and pop sounding, he was originally just the drummer of Genesis back when they were a progressive-rock band.  He also has jazz fusion experience as the drummer for Brand X.

Buddy Rich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esWG6A6g-k

Considered to be one of, if not the greatest drummer of all time.  The most well-known jazz drummer known for his groove, playing speed, and virtuosity.  His use of rudiments for soloing along with his stick control make him one of the cleanest drummers of all time, while still maintain an almost laid-back feel to everything he plays.

Resources

http://www.wikihow.com/Read-Drum-Tabs -This resource will teach you how to read drum tablature.  It provides detailed passages as well as images to help you visualize what to do when you are reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et9hU7QMDYU –This video teaches you the very basics of how to play the drums.  It starts from the ground up by telling you which parts of the drum kit are which, as well as how to play a basic 4/4 rhythm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHEpY0aBTaU –This video goes over the differences between matched and traditional grip.  Aside from this, it also teaches you better stick control for each style of grip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0G-jcQcwmc –This video is for beginners who are learning limb independence.  The instructor in the video gives us 5 different exercises in varying tempos to really help separate the right hand and right foot, as well as incorporate the left foot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s65HYr–4A –This video will teach you how to properly set you your drum kit.  The instructor goes over how to set up each drum individually and in order, and then tells you where to place the drums relative to you at the drum stool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl9wgXSfxew –Learning how to tune your drums is a crucial thing all drummers must learn.  The instructor doesn’t just tell you what to do, he plays the drum he is tuning so you can hear what it should sound like, as well as showing us how to proper use the drum key.