Drums are an exciting and dynamic part of music. They bring energy and rhythm to all kinds of music, from rock to jazz, and even in some traditional music. But if you’re thinking about starting to learn the drums, you might be asking yourself: just how hard are they to learn? Well, the answer isn’t simple. It depends on a lot of things, like what kind of drums you want to learn, your own natural skills, and how much time you can spend practicing. In this article, we’ll look closely at all these things to give you a clear idea of what you’re getting into when you decide to learn the drums.
Types of Drums and Their Difficulty
Drum Sets (aka Drum Kits)
When most people think of drums, they picture a drum set. A full drum set usually has a bass drum, a snare drum, some tom – toms, and different cymbals like hi – hats and crash cymbals. Learning to play a drum set is a bit like juggling, but with your hands and feet! You need to use all four limbs at the same time, often doing different things. For example, your right hand might be hitting the snare drum in a steady rhythm, while your left hand is playing a fill on the tom – toms, your right foot is pumping the bass drum, and your left foot is opening and closing the hi – hats. This kind of coordination is not easy, especially at first. It takes a lot of practice to make your hands and feet work together smoothly.
The number of different parts on a drum set also means there’s a lot to learn. Each piece has its own sound and way of being played. The bass drum, for instance, needs a strong, steady push from your foot to make a deep, booming sound. The snare drum has a sharp, distinct sound that comes from hitting it with the right amount of force and at the right angle. And the cymbals can be hit, crashed, or choked to create different effects. All these techniques take time to master.
Hand Drums
Hand drums, like the djembe from West Africa or the congas from Latin America, are a bit different. They’re usually played with just your hands, which might sound simpler. But don’t be fooled! Hand drums require a lot of finesse and control. With a djembe, for example, you can produce different sounds – a deep bass, a mid – range tone, and a sharp slap – depending on how you hit the drum and where on the drumhead you strike. Learning to make these different sounds clearly and consistently takes practice.
Hand drums are also often used in music that has complex rhythms. African and Latin music, for example, are known for their polyrhythms, where multiple rhythms are played at the same time. As a hand – drummer, you need to be able to play your part accurately within this complex rhythmic web. This means having a good sense of rhythm and being able to keep a steady beat while also adding in your own patterns. It’s not as easy as it might seem, and it can take months or even years to really get the hang of it.
Specialized Drums
There are also specialized drums like the timpani (also known as kettle drums) used in orchestras. Timpani are large, bowl – shaped drums that are tuned to specific pitches. Playing the timpani requires a high level of musical knowledge. You need to be able to read music notation that tells you which pitch to play, and then adjust the tension of the drumhead to get the right sound. This involves using a special key to turn the tuning pegs.
In an orchestra, the timpanist has to work closely with the other musicians. They need to come in at the right time, play the right notes, and blend their sound with the rest of the ensemble. The precision required for this is very high. If you’re off by even a little bit in terms of pitch or timing, it can throw off the whole orchestra. So, learning to play the timpani is a challenging task that combines technical skill, musical knowledge, and the ability to work in a group setting.
Fundamental Skills Needed to Learn Drums
Rhythm and Timing
Rhythm is the heart of drumming. Without a good sense of rhythm, you can’t really play the drums well. When you start learning, you’ll need to learn how to keep a steady beat. This might sound simple, but it’s actually quite difficult. You have to be able to play the same pattern over and over again, with each beat landing exactly on time. A metronome is a great tool for this. It’s a device that makes a steady ticking sound, and you can set it to different speeds. You practice playing along with the metronome, trying to match your drum hits to the ticks.
As you get better, you’ll start to learn more complex rhythms. There are different note values in music, like quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes, and you need to be able to play them in the right order and at the right speed. You’ll also learn about syncopation, which is when you emphasize beats that are usually not emphasized. Syncopated rhythms can make the music more interesting and exciting, but they’re also harder to play. It takes a lot of practice to be able to play complex rhythms accurately and with confidence.
Hand – Eye – Foot Coordination
As mentioned before, for drum sets especially, hand – eye – foot coordination is crucial. You need to be able to see where your hands and feet are going, and make sure they hit the right drums and cymbals at the right time. When you’re first starting out, it can be really confusing. Your hands might want to do one thing, while your feet are trying to do something completely different.
To improve your coordination, you’ll start with simple exercises. For example, you might practice moving your right hand and right foot together in a basic pattern, like hitting the snare drum with your right hand and the bass drum with your right foot at the same time. Then you’ll add in your left hand and left foot, gradually building up more complex combinations. It’s a bit like learning to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, but with more body parts and a musical purpose. With regular practice, your coordination will improve, but it’s a skill that takes time and patience to develop.
Strength and Endurance
Drumming is a physical activity. You’re constantly moving your hands and feet, and you need to have enough strength and endurance to keep going. Hitting the drums with the right amount of force requires arm and wrist strength. If your arms get tired too quickly, your playing will start to suffer. You might miss beats or not be able to hit the drums hard enough.
For your feet, especially when playing the bass drum, you need strong leg muscles. Pressing the bass drum pedal over and over again can be tiring, especially if you’re playing for a long time. To build strength and endurance, you can do exercises outside of drumming. Simple things like wrist curls with a light weight can help strengthen your wrists. And for your legs, exercises like squats can improve your leg strength. But the best way to build drumming – specific strength and endurance is to practice regularly. The more you play, the stronger and more enduring your muscles will become.
Learning Curve: From Beginner to Intermediate
The First Few Months
When you first start learning the drums, it can be a bit overwhelming. You’re trying to figure out how to hold the drumsticks, how to sit at the drum set, and how to make any kind of sound that doesn’t just sound like random noise. In the first few months, you’ll focus on the very basics. You’ll learn the proper grip for your drumsticks. There are different grips, like the traditional grip and the matched grip, and you’ll need to find the one that feels most comfortable for you.
You’ll also start with basic rhythm exercises, usually just playing simple patterns on the snare drum. You’ll work on keeping a steady beat, using the metronome to help you. If you’re learning a drum set, you’ll start to get used to using your feet on the pedals. It might feel awkward at first, but with practice, it will start to feel more natural. Don’t expect to be playing complex songs right away. In these first few months, it’s all about building a solid foundation.
Reaching the Intermediate Level
After a few months of consistent practice, you’ll start to see some progress. You’ll be able to play more complex rhythms on the snare drum, and you’ll start to add in other parts of the drum set. You might be able to play simple beats that use the bass drum, snare drum, and hi – hats together. At the intermediate level, you’ll start to learn about fills. Fills are the little breaks in the rhythm where you play a short, flashy pattern on the toms or cymbals to add some excitement to the music.
You’ll also start to work on your speed and accuracy. You’ll be able to play faster rhythms without losing your timing. And you might start to experiment with different playing styles, like rock, jazz, or pop. Each style has its own characteristic rhythms and techniques, and it can be fun to explore them. But reaching the intermediate level still takes a lot of practice. You need to be practicing regularly, at least a few times a week, and spending at least 30 minutes to an hour each time.
Advanced Drumming: Mastery and Beyond
Complex Techniques
At the advanced level, drummers start to learn really complex techniques. This might include double – bass drumming, where you use two bass drum pedals to play fast, intricate patterns with your feet. It could also involve advanced stick techniques, like paradiddles, flams, and drags. These techniques require a very high level of coordination and control.
Advanced drummers also need to have a deep understanding of music theory. They need to be able to read complex sheet music, which might include different time signatures, complex rhythms, and multiple lines of music to follow at the same time. They might be able to improvise, creating their own drum solos on the spot. This requires not only technical skill but also a good sense of musical creativity.
Playing in Different Musical Genres
Advanced drummers are also able to play in a wide variety of musical genres. In jazz, for example, drummers need to be able to play complex, syncopated rhythms and improvise over chord changes. In metal music, they need to be able to play very fast and powerful beats. In classical music, drummers (especially those playing timpani or orchestral percussion) need to have a high level of precision and be able to blend in with the rest of the orchestra. Being able to adapt to different genres and play the unique styles of each one is a sign of a truly advanced drummer.
Factors Affecting the Difficulty of Learning Drums
Natural Ability
Some people seem to have a natural talent for music and rhythm. If you’re one of those people, you might find that learning the drums comes a bit easier for you. You might have an easier time keeping a steady beat or picking up new rhythms quickly. But even if you don’t feel like you have a lot of natural talent, don’t worry. With hard work and practice, anyone can learn to play the drums well. In fact, many great drummers didn’t start out with a lot of natural ability but became amazing through years of dedicated practice.
Practice Time
How much time you can spend practicing is a huge factor in how quickly you’ll learn the drums. If you can practice every day, even for just 15 or 20 minutes, you’ll make much faster progress than if you only practice once a week. Regular practice helps your muscles get used to the movements, and it helps you improve your coordination and rhythm. If you want to become really good at the drums, you should aim to practice for at least 30 minutes to an hour a day, if possible. But even if you can only spare a few minutes a few times a week, it’s better than nothing. Every bit of practice counts.
Quality of Instruction
Having a good teacher can make a big difference in how hard it is to learn the drums. A good teacher will be able to show you the proper techniques, correct your mistakes, and give you exercises that are tailored to your skill level. They can also keep you motivated and on track. If you can’t afford private lessons, there are also many great online resources, like YouTube tutorials and online drum courses. But if you can, taking lessons from a qualified drum teacher is the best way to learn.
Conclusion
So, how hard are the drums to learn? The truth is, they can be quite challenging, but they’re also incredibly rewarding. Learning the drums requires time, patience, and dedication. You need to work on your rhythm, coordination, strength, and endurance. And as you progress, you’ll need to master more and more complex techniques. But with the right attitude and a commitment to practice, anyone can learn to play the drums. Whether you want to play in a band, just have fun jamming at home, or even pursue a career in music, the drums offer a world of musical possibilities. So, if you’ve been thinking about learning the drums, don’t let the difficulty scare you off. Take the plunge, start practicing, and enjoy the journey of becoming a drummer.
Related Topics:
- Behringer LM Drum: A Modern Take on the LinnDrum Legend
- 6 Best Drum Machines Don’t Miss!
- How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Drum Set? All You Need to Know
