[howidied]

hello people at first I didnt want to write in this topic as I have nothing to show off but I have noticed there were some beginners in here posting videos so I thought there would be nothing wrong with me posting my progress and hoping I get some help I need very much at the moment.

I am from slovakia, I am 17, been playing for total of 2 days I dont have a drum kit yet I share one and dont have a tutor either. I am starting to like drums and I certainly hope I will be getting better at playing them.

here I filmed myself yesterday:

I would be happy if you could point out mistakes I am making and things I should improve and any tips for improving are welcome after all. thanks.

[Poco Askew]

Get a metronome or find a click track online. It will help you get and maintain an even tempo across the kit. Right now your run down the toms is off. I'd also look at the beginning lessons on grip and stroke technique, as well as counting, reading and basic theory. Maybe ease-up on the hi hat or practice some dynamics. Right now it all sounds a little one dimensional. Good start!

[tamajama]

I think all beginner drummers should be required to count out loud when playing anything until they can internalize their timing. In the beginning a lot of us start off rather uncoordinated and it takes a fairly slow tempo to get things worked out.

My prescription for this drummer is to stick to quarter note fills until the timing improves. It looked like he was attempting sixteenth note fills on day two which is OK but it will work out better if you count sixteenth notes out loud as your doing it. Even no fills at all and just count through the breaks is a great exercise. Of course a metronome would be the best way to force yourself to stay on time but it is not absolutely necessary right now. We need to get in the ball park first before refining with the metronome.

Another thing I recomend doing is counting all the music you like to listen to on the radio. I still do this myself as it helps to know exactly where the bass drum and cymbal hits are. It also gets your voice working exactly in time with the music which is what you want. As you learn more about musical notation and how to count out the different rhythms you can start to accent your voice on certain drum parts in the traditional way (1 e + A).

Here is great article explaining the whole concept: Improving Your Rhythm

[FourPieceMetal]

tamajama, on 11 January 2012 - 09:16 AM, said:

I think all beginner drummers should be required to count out loud when playing anything...

I never ever counted out loud as a beginner, but I don't have bad rhythm. . .lol. I think that statement's a bit misleading. I get where you're coming from, but I think some people might take this comment a bit more to heart than they 'should'. All in all, it's not a bad idea to try it, but you're not doomed to a life of terrible time-keeping skills if you don't.

[maturenewdrummer]

ive been playing just over a year .Ialso go to a drum tutor for the time being if i was you id stick to hi hat bass drum ( or kick drum as some guys and gals call it)and snare working out different beats .Also maybe use the drum lessons on here explaining different beats. Id forget fills for the time being .Fills can make it difficult at times so thats when timing can go off .But Thats me theres so many different ways to learn ,

[TheYonderGod]

http://www.seventhst.../metronome.html

[tamajama]

FourPieceMetal, on 11 January 2012 - 01:24 PM, said:

I never ever counted out loud as a beginner, but I don't have bad rhythm. . .lol. I think that statement's a bit misleading. I get where you're coming from, but I think some people might take this comment a bit more to heart than they 'should'. All in all, it's not a bad idea to try it, but you're not doomed to a life of terrible time-keeping skills if you don't.

The reasons most teachers want you to do this is because it works. I didn't listen to my instructor in the begining and really struggled with breaks and fills early on. It took a lot longer to develop good rhythm doing it my way and I wish I would have listened to my instructor in the first place.

The other problem I had as a beginner was holding my breath during my playing. It was like I was concentrating on playing so much I forgot to breath. If you count while you play, your forced to breath. Those rare individuals who can hear perfectly timed music in their head while only actually hearing their drums are few and far between. If you can do that then you don't need to count and your drumming would probably be stellar the moment you got all the basic hand and foot techniques down. Everyone does not learn in the same way so it is certainly possible not to count and have great timing. If however, your having timing issues or speed up through the fills and breaks then counting will help tremendously.

Being able to vocalize rhythms is part of becoming a master at rhythms. That's why I'm working on it myself right now and I've been drumming since I was 10 years old. Just ask Dave Weckl or the guy who really tore apart Daves skills Gary Chester. Gary is one who wrote one of the hardest drum books to go through called "The New Breed". It's not for beginners of course but the idea of using your voice while drumming is a major part of why it is so effective. The bottom line is it won't hurt you to learn to count and use your voice while practicing and mastering new rhythms.

[Kikunan]

howidied, on 11 January 2012 - 05:18 AM, said:

hello people at first I didnt want to write in this topic as I have nothing to show off but I have noticed there were some beginners in here posting videos so I thought there would be nothing wrong with me posting my progress and hoping I get some help I need very much at the moment.

I am from slovakia, I am 17, been playing for total of 2 days I dont have a drum kit yet I share one and dont have a tutor either. I am starting to like drums and I certainly hope I will be getting better at playing them.

here I filmed myself yesterday:

I would be happy if you could point out mistakes I am making and things I should improve and any tips for improving are welcome after all. thanks.

Definitely some work on timing, but hey for 2 days its not like you're going to be great off the bat. Like was stated above check out the lessons on grip and counting. Other then that just keep practicing.

[cogwheel]

tamajama, on 11 January 2012 - 05:17 PM, said:

Being able to vocalize rhythms is part of becoming a master at rhythms.

I think this is the key. I have a hard time concentrating on counting and playing at the same time (I'm sure it would get better with practice). I find I'm able to keep my timing in check by vocalizing what the rhythm should sound like while playing (essentially beatboxing along with my drumming). I sang for years before taking up the drums so that probably helps. I do find myself, if not counting, at least keeping a running pulse in my head during breaks, and can usually come back in at the right time and tempo.

[howidied]

hey, id like to let you know that im still practicing. app. 2-3 hours a day.

I did a blitzkrieg bop cover yesterday.

the drum kit sounds awful, I sound awful, I know but hey, I got a thick skin and did it in 1 week by myself

sooo, what do you think I should improve and get rid off?

also got any tips and the no foot bass pedal?

[TheYonderGod]

You're trying to go too fast for yourself, tensing up and using your whole arm is bad.

[Kikunan]

Practice playing with more wrist instead of whole arm that way you don't wear yourself out quite so much.

[CricciDisk]

It's always cool to try and get those first few song covers down for sure, though for future songs and beats, I'd recommend taking things a bit slower. With time, you'll learn to loosen up your grip and gain endurance, but drumming uses a lot of otherwise-underused muscles, so don't sweat going fast from the get go. :)

At the end of the day, I'd recommend spending half of your time playing along to other music, and half of your time listening to a metronome and locking in some simpler beats and fills. Don't limit yourself, and don't be afraid to experiment, but if you stick to some more fundamental stuff for the first few months, then things will start progressing a lot more easily for sure.

Good luck! :D

[howidied]

hi, i am currently learning flam,s i filmed myself as im not sure if im doing it right. http://youtu.be/yYKXNluOLfQ
also im doing some coordination exercises.

any tips for improving myself?

i also learned enter sandman, for whom the bell tolls, highway to hell, blitzkrieg bop

[Poco Askew]

howidied, on 08 February 2012 - 06:23 AM, said:

hi, i am currently learning flam,s i filmed myself as im not sure if im doing it right.
also im doing some coordination exercises.
any tips for improving myself?

Your arms look tense. Too much movement from your elbows. You could/should do those exercises with just your wrists. You are driving the sticks into the pad. Even though you have one stick higher than the other, the accent and ghost notes don't sound all that different. Lighten up and let the stick rebound do some of the work for you. Timing is off in places. Count - it not only helps internalized the click and rhythm but is also valuable for reading. Relax.

[realscotch]

As of now, you are playing roughly a month. You shouldn't even be playing to music at this point.

Work on the fundamentals, you'll have plenty of time to play with music, but you have to be able to play some drums first.

[einarabelc5]

Definitively the elbows. Look at scotch videos and notice his wrists and elbows. Get a mirror in your room/basement and practice with them.

[A7X]

Just to reiterate what some other people said... you look quite tense, you need to relax use your wrist not your whole arm (especially on the hi hat). this should help you keep time as your arm wont be so tired. Have a look on YouTube at some other drummers and copy their technique.

[howidied]

hey so its been already 2 months exaxtly since I sat first down behind a kit. I made a video so what do you think? I know I still suck but do I at least suck less?

[Kikunan]

howidied, on 11 March 2012 - 02:02 PM, said:

hey so its been already 2 months exaxtly since I sat first down behind a kit. I made a video so what do you think? I know I still suck but do I at least suck less?

I can see a noticeable improvement in your technique. You're getting more wrist into it and using less arm. That's a definite good thing. Still some timing issues especially with the fills but hey, you're still new to drumming so you have plenty of time to work out the timing issues.

Overall I'd say you're improving though so good job. Keep it up man