Let’s face it, we all know that the drummer is the coolest person in the band. Drumming is great fun, amazing exercise, and drummers always look fantastic. Drumming can also be great stress relief and a really big boost for your mental health. These benefits, and many more, are why it’s no surprise that so many people, young and old, want to get into drumming. But many new drummers are surprised to find that it’s not as easy as the best drummers in the world make it look. In fact, it can be incredibly difficult. Here are some awesome tips to help you improve your drumming skills.
Practice
Like most things, the best way to get better at drumming is to practice. Even the greatest drummers in the world still spend hours and hours practicing and honing their skills. Try to practice different beats, different songs, and even different styles of drumming to help you to develop your skills and become a more well-rounded drummer.
Don’t Neglect the Basics
As you develop, it’s tempting to just practice what you are working on right now or to look for more advanced techniques and try more complicated beats. This is great, but don’t do it at the expense of the basics. Spend time practicing paradiddles and your five-stroke roll and try playing the most basic beats with your eyes closed. The more you practice these fundamentals, the more you’ll start to develop muscle memory. Your kit setup doesn’t change, which means that you should be able to play without looking at it. Like touch typing, the more you practice, the more your body will just do it.
Find a Safe Practice Space
One of the problems with drumming is that it’s loud. You might be worried about really letting yourself go at home, or in a shared practice space. But if you are holding back, you’ll never be the best that you can be. It can be useful to look at rehearsal studios if you’re starting to get serious about your hobby. The professional studios from PIRATE are a popular choice amongst budding musicians and can be found across a range of locations. If you’re interested, just see what’s available at this London rehearsal studio space.
Get Creative
Drumming can be very repetitive, especially if you are working on something specific and seem to have been practicing the same thing for a long time. Practice is great but boredom can stifle your ability and creativity. When you get bored, mix things up. Do something different. Play along to a genre of music that you don’t listen to, or even pick up a different instrument for a while.
Try Playing Extra Slow
It’s often harder to play very slowly. It’s like riding a bike – the momentum of movement helps you to balance and control the bike. If you try to ride at a slow walking pace, things can get very wobbly. Practicing playing extra slow strokes or slowing the beats that you are practicing right down can improve your skills.
Play with Other Musicians
Practicing alone is great, and something that we all have to do sometimes. Private lessons can also be effective. But one of the best ways to improve is to play with other musicians. Music is meant to be social and being around other musicians can help you to get into the zone and perform at your best.
Watch Other Drummers
Spend some time watching other drummers, both close up and at gigs and on TV. Watch the greats and your peers. Look at their posture, their head position, their grip, and their style. Try to learn as much as you can, and if possible don’t be scared to ask for tips.
Improve Your Fitness
Drumming is like a workout. You burn as many calories in a 90-minute gig as you would a 90-minute jog or another medium-intensity workout. If you are unfit, you will struggle to put the required effort in for very long. Improve your fitness and it’ll start to feel easier.
Boost Your Diet
Your diet can also impact how well you play. If you are tired and sluggish after a big pasta dinner, you’ll struggle to have enough energy. Instead, make sure you eat plenty of protein and energy-boosting foods and snacks before a session and take a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
Work on Your Confidence
To drum well, you need to feel free. You need to believe in yourself, and not be worried about what other people think of you. Low confidence will mean that you always hold yourself back. Finding ways to boost your confidence will make you a better drummer and a better performer.
Have Fun
Remember, drumming is meant to be fun. Sometimes it’s okay to stop practicing and play things that you like, just because you want to.
When it comes to drumming, practice makes perfect has never been truer. But it’s also important to accept that drumming isn’t for everyone. If you are struggling to improve, and you’ve stopped enjoying it, take a break. You can always come back to it later, refreshed, and keen to challenge yourself, or even try something new.