Fear of playing loud is a large part of why I ended up quitting drums many years ago. I got an electronic kit last year and have been my a great time. I never truly practiced just jammed with friends, so despite a year or so of experience and a couple open mics once upon a time, I'm still basically a beginner.
Been an empiric drummer for 15 years. I suffered from all of these at the beginning, specially the neglecting of the feet and fearful playing. When you live in a small apartment, don't have a kit and your bandmates keep telling you to play quieter, you tend to develop those. Great video, overcoming them is the path to becoming a better drummer.
I started playing 2 months ago and I'm using melodics and an electric kit. Last week, I started recording myself when I finally complete a lesson. Watching myself i was able to hear fluctuations in volume. Now knowing that I'm recording it forces me to really master the lesson before moving on.
Dude! It was great to watch this, as I have so many similarities of circumstance, and it was inspiring to see someone in a sinilar position. I'm 35 and have only been druming for 15 months. I also don't have a kit and go to a practice studio. But, I do that as part of a band. So I don't ever go to just play the drums, I'm there with the boys, trying to write drums to the songs. My progress has been really slow, because I'm writing drum beats that I can play, which means I'm not pushing myself as fast as if I was doing exercises. My worst habbit was having to use my right hand to keep the 16th notes. Like, its almost as though no other limb could activate if my right arm wasnt going t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t on the hihat or ride, keeping the pace. Though I'm getting over that now, and have just learnt my first rudiment, paradiddle, by tapping my hands on my legs or chest as I walk to work, aha. Anyway, cheers for the video, made me think about things
It's cool to find people with the same struggles - we can help eachother out! Nice to hear you are in a band, I'm sure your song writing on drums is improving very quickly!
1. GREAT reminders and observations all delivered very nicely! Good job! 2. HAND GRIP is one of the most crucial elements. Get that wrong and you're prone to a lot of injury, reduced speed etc. 3. STICK SIZE: Many heavier players use 7A sticks! It really depends on the WOOD they're made from as well. You were obviously using a much lighter wood (maple) if they felt way too light and you kept breaking them. Hickory, and especially OAK, would have given you more weight and MUCH more durability. And don't forget...you can always use the other ends of the sticks! :)
@@jackoliverdrums I was in a killer drumline back in the day and always played big, fat, 2B drumline sticks. Now all I play are 7A on my kit...there's never a shortage of volume or power...all about technique and the stick. More importantly....any drum can only be so loud no matter how hard you hit it. And if you hit it TOO hard, it actually loses some of its natural tone, beauty, and resonance! LAST TIP: EVERY single great musician started in the same exact place. A beginner. It's all up to YOU to put in the work to reach whatever level you aspire to play! Woohoo!
Very refreshing and genuine channel to help other drummers. Do you not have your own kit for financial or space reasons? There are some good small and inexpensive ekits out there that can solve both. Good luck and keep moving forward.
Thank you that’s much appreciated! It’s for a few reasons, I live in a small apartment in England with little space, and for work I travel a lot. I also want to learn as much as possible on an acoustic kit as I love the sound and feel of it. I’ll get one eventually though. Thanks for watching !
My bad habits relies on trying not to be loud at home with the pad, well I live in a country where the walls are too thin and don’t disturb the neighbors is really appreciated. Other is I want to play faster. But my bigger bad habit is playing moving my arms rather than my wrist and wasting the rebound of the drumstick on the drum head, I had others like when making a roll on the snare my arms changed from American grip to french without being aware of that. I appreciate what you said in the video and be aware of my own bad habits and improve
It's a bigger issue than people expect. It's the same in England where the apartments are small and it would be impossible to have a drum kit without people complaining straight away. Good luck with the progress. Keep up the great work!
Great video! If I could restart my drumming journey, I'd learn how to consistently hit rim shots on the snare and to keep time with my left foot on the hihat.
The playing quietly is so real, last week I was playing at someone's house who my mom knows. I showed him what I learned and he straight up said: "Just slam the drums, you won't break it and it will sound better cause when my son comes here I hear him from my house 😂😂" And since then I realised it and started playing louder
Thx, really great tips. I improved substantially really after I upgraded from a very cheap acoustic to a better kit, and especially with my feet, due to better pedals. And, I agree totally about speed - I wanted to play faster rolls and fills, and was so tense that I started to have pain 8n my wrists. I backed off and have focused on better technique, consistent strokes, found an optimum setup of the kit, and am working more on coordination with my feet and hands, and keeping good practice habits. I have drills that I am slowly edging the metronome up with. I am 69, started 5 months ago, and having a blast. Another major point - I found a good instructor and that has been a great help - he is gently guiding me through learning to read drum music and learning basic beats with songs that are my speed, and keeping me from hurting myself too. 😊
you do not need to hit the center of the snare. there are far too many examples for this: ravel's bolero as performed by gergiev, dudamel, de la parra etc., where many, many jazz drummers place their sticks when keeping time, how gene krupa plays rim shots etc. you can hear this as well, the example provided at 5:20 has the snare drum sounding just about how its supposed to sound.
Thanks for watching! I get this, and I almost put a note in there about jazz and more traditional styles. but what I’m getting at is I was learning simple rock beats, and hitting the edge of the snare getting a high pitched tone.
Good one. Yes, sometimes you can play the snare not in the center like in some styles of drum n bass or if you're looking for a different tone in ghost notes. It's quite common. But the "default" sound should be the center. In classical/orchestral percussion the sound we're looking for is very different, so the techniques/grip sometimes aren't the same. It's like playing classical guitar or electric guitar. Different instruments. I know it bc I have a degree in classical percussion and another one in modern drums. Nowadays I'm not an expert in classical, I've chosen the "modern" approach but sometimes it's interesting to take things from classical music.
I'm 1 year into learning. I'll go in order. So far I'm doing well at not trying to play fast. Occasionally, I'll try to play along with a faster song but I quickly realize I can't keep up. I'm also trying to work on staying loose. My right is golden cuz that stick seems to fly out of my hand from time to time. My left hand still doesn't know what's going on haha. I actually spend a lot of time working on my kick drum. I think I'm doing alright but I seem to actually play too fast when trying to do quick double or triple strokes on the bass drum. Plus my foot does some weird motion when I know a quick double is coming up. It's like I need to turn my foot to the side and then back before that first stroke. It's weird. I play on an ekit so playing too loud isn't a problem but I need to work on dynamics somehow. I hit everything hard. There's no soft strokes with me unless I'm trying to play ghost notes. I haven't put much thought into where I'm hitting the head. Good tip there. I use 5a sticks. I should be good there. I also have 2b sticks but I don't like them. However, I've heard people recommend using a thicker stick when on the practice pad. Take care and keep on rockin!
I was the complete opposite of playing too loud I wanted to be Dave Grohl, I broke every single cymbal and drum head I bought lmao I have one original cymbal left
You're spot on about wanting to play quietly lol
Drums are loud 😂
Fear of playing loud is a large part of why I ended up quitting drums many years ago.
I got an electronic kit last year and have been my a great time. I never truly practiced just jammed with friends, so despite a year or so of experience and a couple open mics once upon a time, I'm still basically a beginner.
Glad to hear you are back at it! I wish they had electric kits when I was younger 🙏 keep it up!
Been an empiric drummer for 15 years. I suffered from all of these at the beginning, specially the neglecting of the feet and fearful playing. When you live in a small apartment, don't have a kit and your bandmates keep telling you to play quieter, you tend to develop those. Great video, overcoming them is the path to becoming a better drummer.
So true! I’m an apartment drummer too - it’s challenging!
I started playing 2 months ago and I'm using melodics and an electric kit. Last week, I started recording myself when I finally complete a lesson. Watching myself i was able to hear fluctuations in volume. Now knowing that I'm recording it forces me to really master the lesson before moving on.
Been drumming for 12 years and all of your advice is true. Especially drumming quietly.
Thanks for watching! Much appreciated
Dude! It was great to watch this, as I have so many similarities of circumstance, and it was inspiring to see someone in a sinilar position. I'm 35 and have only been druming for 15 months. I also don't have a kit and go to a practice studio. But, I do that as part of a band. So I don't ever go to just play the drums, I'm there with the boys, trying to write drums to the songs. My progress has been really slow, because I'm writing drum beats that I can play, which means I'm not pushing myself as fast as if I was doing exercises.
My worst habbit was having to use my right hand to keep the 16th notes. Like, its almost as though no other limb could activate if my right arm wasnt going t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t on the hihat or ride, keeping the pace. Though I'm getting over that now, and have just learnt my first rudiment, paradiddle, by tapping my hands on my legs or chest as I walk to work, aha. Anyway, cheers for the video, made me think about things
It's cool to find people with the same struggles - we can help eachother out!
Nice to hear you are in a band, I'm sure your song writing on drums is improving very quickly!
1. GREAT reminders and observations all delivered very nicely! Good job!
2. HAND GRIP is one of the most crucial elements. Get that wrong and you're prone to a lot of injury, reduced speed etc.
3. STICK SIZE: Many heavier players use 7A sticks! It really depends on the WOOD they're made from as well. You were obviously using a much lighter wood (maple) if they felt way too light and you kept breaking them. Hickory, and especially OAK, would have given you more weight and MUCH more durability. And don't forget...you can always use the other ends of the sticks! :)
Thanks for the advice! Those 7a sticks were so cheap (and unbranded) so I imagine they were a very cheap wood. Thanks for watching !
@@jackoliverdrums I was in a killer drumline back in the day and always played big, fat, 2B drumline sticks. Now all I play are 7A on my kit...there's never a shortage of volume or power...all about technique and the stick. More importantly....any drum can only be so loud no matter how hard you hit it. And if you hit it TOO hard, it actually loses some of its natural tone, beauty, and resonance! LAST TIP: EVERY single great musician started in the same exact place. A beginner. It's all up to YOU to put in the work to reach whatever level you aspire to play! Woohoo!
@michaelyolch79 nice tips thanks dude
Very refreshing and genuine channel to help other drummers.
Do you not have your own kit for financial or space reasons?
There are some good small and inexpensive ekits out there that can solve both.
Good luck and keep moving forward.
Thank you that’s much appreciated!
It’s for a few reasons, I live in a small apartment in England with little space, and for work I travel a lot. I also want to learn as much as possible on an acoustic kit as I love the sound and feel of it. I’ll get one eventually though. Thanks for watching !
My bad habits relies on trying not to be loud at home with the pad, well I live in a country where the walls are too thin and don’t disturb the neighbors is really appreciated.
Other is I want to play faster.
But my bigger bad habit is playing moving my arms rather than my wrist and wasting the rebound of the drumstick on the drum head,
I had others like when making a roll on the snare my arms changed from American grip to french without being aware of that.
I appreciate what you said in the video and be aware of my own bad habits and improve
It's a bigger issue than people expect. It's the same in England where the apartments are small and it would be impossible to have a drum kit without people complaining straight away. Good luck with the progress. Keep up the great work!
Great video mate, well put together, keep them coming, Im going to purchase some new sticks now lol
Thank you, much appreciated! Enjoy 🥁
Great video! If I could restart my drumming journey, I'd learn how to consistently hit rim shots on the snare and to keep time with my left foot on the hihat.
Thanks for watching Scott! Those are two things I’ve been putting off, but it’s time to tackle very soon
The playing quietly is so real, last week I was playing at someone's house who my mom knows. I showed him what I learned and he straight up said: "Just slam the drums, you won't break it and it will sound better cause when my son comes here I hear him from my house 😂😂" And since then I realised it and started playing louder
100% slam the drums 🤣🤣
Thx, really great tips. I improved substantially really after I upgraded from a very cheap acoustic to a better kit, and especially with my feet, due to better pedals. And, I agree totally about speed - I wanted to play faster rolls and fills, and was so tense that I started to have pain 8n my wrists. I backed off and have focused on better technique, consistent strokes, found an optimum setup of the kit, and am working more on coordination with my feet and hands, and keeping good practice habits. I have drills that I am slowly edging the metronome up with. I am 69, started 5 months ago, and having a blast. Another major point - I found a good instructor and that has been a great help - he is gently guiding me through learning to read drum music and learning basic beats with songs that are my speed, and keeping me from hurting myself too. 😊
Great to hear you are on your drumming journey and enjoying it! Slow and steady seems to be the way forward in drumming. Keep it up 👍
Excellent video my friend, I'm in the process of going from intermediate to advanced; I need to work on some bad habits I have, all self -though.
Thank you, much appreciated! Keep up the great work 🤩
you do not need to hit the center of the snare. there are far too many examples for this: ravel's bolero as performed by gergiev, dudamel, de la parra etc., where many, many jazz drummers place their sticks when keeping time, how gene krupa plays rim shots etc. you can hear this as well, the example provided at 5:20 has the snare drum sounding just about how its supposed to sound.
Thanks for watching! I get this, and I almost put a note in there about jazz and more traditional styles. but what I’m getting at is I was learning simple rock beats, and hitting the edge of the snare getting a high pitched tone.
Good one. Yes, sometimes you can play the snare not in the center like in some styles of drum n bass or if you're looking for a different tone in ghost notes. It's quite common. But the "default" sound should be the center.
In classical/orchestral percussion the sound we're looking for is very different, so the techniques/grip sometimes aren't the same. It's like playing classical guitar or electric guitar. Different instruments. I know it bc I have a degree in classical percussion and another one in modern drums. Nowadays I'm not an expert in classical, I've chosen the "modern" approach but sometimes it's interesting to take things from classical music.
I'm 1 year into learning. I'll go in order. So far I'm doing well at not trying to play fast. Occasionally, I'll try to play along with a faster song but I quickly realize I can't keep up. I'm also trying to work on staying loose. My right is golden cuz that stick seems to fly out of my hand from time to time. My left hand still doesn't know what's going on haha. I actually spend a lot of time working on my kick drum. I think I'm doing alright but I seem to actually play too fast when trying to do quick double or triple strokes on the bass drum. Plus my foot does some weird motion when I know a quick double is coming up. It's like I need to turn my foot to the side and then back before that first stroke. It's weird. I play on an ekit so playing too loud isn't a problem but I need to work on dynamics somehow. I hit everything hard. There's no soft strokes with me unless I'm trying to play ghost notes. I haven't put much thought into where I'm hitting the head. Good tip there. I use 5a sticks. I should be good there. I also have 2b sticks but I don't like them. However, I've heard people recommend using a thicker stick when on the practice pad. Take care and keep on rockin!
Thanks for watching! Sounds like you are progressing well! Keep up the great work 👌
6:36 I used to love the SD11 maple wood sticks, but they are weak. Now I am using 5A
Can’t go wrong with some solid 5as
4:27 paramore spotted :p
Great spot 👌
@jackoliverdrums the crashes are too iconic haha
I was the complete opposite of playing too loud
I wanted to be Dave Grohl, I broke every single cymbal and drum head I bought lmao
I have one original cymbal left
Sounds fun though! 😅