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Here's a tip if you play electronic drums and are just learning like me. Buy a mixer (I got mine at Radio Shack) and feed the drumset synthesizer signal into it. I also have feeds into the mixer for a metronome, an iPod and a CD player. Then I mix whatever I want together and run that signal thru a 40 channel graphic equalizer to get what I want. - James Rader
A stage and light effects can really make your drums look bigger and more exciting to play in.. Literally even if you play just a basic beat, the light effects would make it look like you did something amazing. - Edmil Quiambao

Remember to always remain relaxed when playing. When you are playing fast you should not be holding the sticks tightly. Someone should be able to pull the sticks out of your hands with ease. Relaxed grip + relaxed body = tension free and injury free drumming. - Pete Privitere

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You can make a single bass pedal sound like a double pedal by first: finding the sweet spot and, second: by rolling from your heel to toe it really works i still use it on my double pedal but now it sounds like a triple pedal - JoNo
When putting drums to a song, imagine what you would want the drums to sound like. don't try to stand out too much. Just give the guitars the force they need! - Daniel
There is no best drummer in the world. That is just opinion. - Tommy

Heres some tips on tuning a snare drum: Use a tighter drumhead tuning for the bottom of the snare. Also make sure the snares are not too tight or the drum will sound choked. - Mylo

1) Play with a band you will learn alot faster.
2) Listen to music and try to play it out in your head.
3) If your curious on how to do something look it up, don't be afraid.
4) Move your things around to where you play confortable. - Dragon Drummer
DO NOT USE DUCK TAPE when you are trying to get the muffling out. Because it will live sticky marks on the surface of the drum head. - arvin

RULES ABOUT ROLLS: Count 16th notes from the start of the roll to the end of the roll. - rockwood drummer

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If you don't want dents in your heads, be sure the tom angles are not too slanted. Also, don't hit the drums so hard. There's no need to hit so hard. The other thing that will dent the heads is if they're cheap drumheads. Be sure you get quality drumheads. - Travis Barker
He who stops being better, stops being good! - Al

Sometimes you want the woody sound from vintage drums! such as 1970 ludwig or roger or gretch drums I couldn't afford ludwig drums! So I brought Ludwig shells and brought lugs and rims and skins not necessarly ludwig! Example- made ludwig tom-toms out of ludwig marching snare drums buying them from e-bay! The ludwig marching drum was $15.00 and bought the parts I ended up with the Ludwig sound for less than $400 And have a 5pc Ludwig drum set By the way did the same with the ludwig chrome snare shell and Bass drum shell! Good Luck!! This article is not for drum collector's! - pro drummer since 1975

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Playing to the radio can help your tempo - justin cannon
Never drink strong Coffee before a gig. I drank cup immediately before a gig once and had a lot of trouble controlling my sticks when trying to play doubles and also during a slower song due to the caffine. The adrenaline rush from the coffee was great for my confidence though. - Bleachy
To make a cocktail drum set from a Floor to-tom! Take a 16x16 or 18x18 lay it on the side like a bass brum on the center of the drum drill holes for the to-tom holder and screw holes using the tom- tom holder it as a template! Take the floor tom-tom leg holders and put them toward the front like the bass leg spurs! Then take a bass drum lug and tee tenion rod and put it on the the bottom of the drum so it connects to the rim and then secure by drilling the hole so you can secure the lug & screws into the shell!!once secure you can add the bass drum pedal! To stop the ringing sound Cut a round hole using a coffe top lid as hole template once bottom skin which will become front skin once the floor-tom-tom is on the side like the bass drum skin is cut stuff paper inside, so it makes it sound more like a bass drum!and srops the ring sound you can then take the top part of your snare stand and put it into your tom-tom holder attach snare to the top stand which then it now becomes your cocktail set and use it when there is no room for your complete drumset at a gig! Thanks - Tony the professional drummer for over 30 years!
Remember to relax and breath through your nose when playing your drums.Breathing through your nose will help you play longer and stay strong the whole way through solos and fast tempo songs.Sit up stright keeping your back from sloughing and bad posture will also help you stay strong,Remember we are the back-bone to ALL BANDS we need to keep fit.To all drummers play on......... I've been drumming for 44 years and still play strong. - Chris Ortega

You'll never be able to do anything without confidence. Don't be shy of messing up and just rock the house. - JM

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One of my tips is, if you can't afford a drumset... don't go into det to get one! I didn't! i borrowed a friends electic set! and then when he wanted it back, i played airdums for a year! but then it turned out that, because i didn't buy a piece of junk, i got a used 6 peice DW set (with a coulpe cymbals) for under 2 grand!! believe me! it was worth waiting for!!

And also, i don't think there is suck a thing as "the best drummer"! it all depends on what you like!!! in my mind the best would have to be the best at every stile of music!! not just one! - Michael Ryzuk

If you have problems with your kit never feeling the same after moving it around to gigs, etc., set it up exactly the way you want it on your rug (or A rug if you don't have one yet) and mark where all your pieces go with masking tape. Using memory locks on cymbals, toms, etc. is also a great idea. My rug is literally my "map" for where everything on my kit goes.

How you set your kit up is an ongoing process of determining what's ergonomically best for you, and may change with time as you add and remove pieces or become aware of certain things being more or less comfortable for you. - Christina

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You are only as fast as the your left hand will permit (right hand for lefties) - Brian Uribe
You're the best drummer... .just don't be cocky about it. You can learn something from anyone rookie or vet - Hottwillz

When first starting out drumming or just learning a new complicated beat start out at a slow tempo. When i say slow I mean like 30 bpm slow! Trust me this technique works dont try to play a beat at full tempo just take your time and start out slowly and after you can play the beat at that tempo succesfully practice getting faster and faster each time. Trust me i still use this to learn and improve my timing one beats! anyways good luck to you all and keep practicing and if u get frustrated take a 10 minutes break this always works for me ok good luck to all - Joseph Dixon

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While playing fills, you don't have to do a fast solo the whole way through. Do a quick solo and then do a flam and then a slow single stroke the rest of the way around the set. - D-Man-Dizzle
I see alot of "tips" on how to muffle and dampen your drums. I suggest finding the right heads for your musical situation and learn how to tune them properly instead of choking them. Why would you want to dampen great overtones? - Robert/American Motherload
A good musician practices until he/she gets it right. A great musician practices until he/she can't get it wrong. Never give up. - Jeff
IF u wnat to check HOW GOOD U r at Drumming.... practice DRUM regualrly for 1 MONTHS without a DAY gap... then after a MONTH take a WEEK or 3-4 DAYS GAP....>>> DURING those DAYS don't think DRUM at all... and the DAY when U PLAY DRUMS.....U will know GREAT DRIFFERENCE in UR STYLE and CAPACITY of UR DRUMMING! - Srijan

Before DRUMMING U should know what DRUM IS:
D= DO it patiently
R= RELAX for moment
U= UNDERSTAND what U want to play
M= Memorize Ur Beats and Playings
UNDERSTAND these....U will definitely be in TOP among DRUMMERS! - Srijan

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Dont always kiss (keep it simple stupid). serve the song. if the song calls for complex, then so be it. but it would sound pretty funny playing simple over a complex rhythm if it didnt call for it. just like neil peart said, if its simple then it better be exceptionally good - pete privitere

To become super quick on your fills simply perform simple rolls on the snare at a reasonable speed if your a begginer, slowly speed up and throw in the odd tom hit, then speed up again, you can build up amazing speed, my fills sound so amazing because i can double up on the tempo on a fill at any speed and any duration, trust me it makes your style unique - The drum god Shawn Dimery

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Dont underestimate the abilities of drummers like Phil Rudd of AC/DC and Rick Allen of Def Leppard! Many of their songs are simple straight ahead 4/4 but listen to songs like Def Leppards Foolin and AC/DC's Back In Black for a lesson on fluidity! Ringo gets bad mouthed on this tips site too much! Ringo shouldn't be underestimated either! He's only the drummer of the greatest rock band EVER! - Brandon
My drum tip is to listen to calvin rodgers he has been the best drummer out for the past four years and the best drummer right now.You also need to do rudiments. - charles lewis

Want to keep your base drum sounding like a base drum, and not a overstuffed wooden barrel? Well, take an old bath towel, then cut off the write length to fit a crossed your drum, but remember to allow your self an inch or two longer to be able to hold it in place, cut about a 4-6 inch whide strip and place it over the middle of the drum with the head off. Then place your batter head back on, and tune it up. Then buy one of those Remo Muffle rings that mount on the barring edge of your base drum, and place this on the front side of the drum, and gently tighten down the logo head. If you don't want to get one of those, just do the same thing on the front side of the drum as the back side. This gives your drum a deep punchy sound, but doesn't allow the base drum to over power the rest of your drum set. No more messing arround with pillos or blankets! You can flip your base drum upside down, or role it down a hil, and the sound won't change! (don't try this, unless you want a damaged drum! haha - Jake

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Wipe down your cymbals before you pack them up. This helps keep dust and grime from accumulating on them so quickly. - John Drumming
If you ever audition for a drumming part just remember that you are the best and if you dont get the part then you are just having an "off" day but you are still the best. - stacey
Don't think playing drums faster is more difficult. Try the same rithym with a tempo of 60 bpm - Kike
Don't listen to mindless people. there is a thing called reverse trad. and it is for leftys on the kit, but anyone can do it. *There is not wrong way to hold drumsticks* - Jimmy Davies

Most rudiments are made up of singles and doubles. If you master these two basic, primary rudiments, the rest of your rudiments will soar! - Juni Juniper

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Check the bearing edges of your drums. If the edges aren't straight, the drumheads won't seat properly and it will negatively affect your drum sound. Remember, the sharper the cut, the more attack and sustain the drum will have. - Oger

Do you buy your own mics and run your own cables? Save yourself some time by making your own mic snake. This will help organize things and make setups a lot faster. - Pete Sansen

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Drummers sometimes get used to keeping their hands together when they do fills. Think more linearly (is that a word?). Think of spreading your hands out when you play fills. This will open you up to more ideas. - Rock (Animal)
Buy yourself a cheap practice kit to keep at home. That way if you're stuff is locked up in a band van, you can still practice. - Loopy

Every drummer you have ever heard on a major label release, whether it be country, metal, rock, jazz, pop, disco ect...Is a very well accomplished drummer and knows what they are doing! If they didn't they wouldn't be there. Don't ever rip on other musicians abilitlies...That will never help you improve. - Brandon

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If your a beginner and want to become good quick, always jam with musicians that are more experienced than you are. - Bobby
Learn to play over the bar line with drum licks and drum fills. It will make your beats sound more interesting on the drums and it will add to your bands sound. - Michel
This is a tip about tuning your drums. When you put on new drumheads and you tune them, you will need to tune them back up again a few hours of playing them, or if they sit overnight. This is because the heads will stretch and the overall pitch will drop on each drum. You'll need to tweak them back up to where you had them. - Niel Pert
If you want to make your practice pad sound like a real snare drum, just add a sheet of aluminum foil on the top. - bob

Use a program called TabTrax. It's very cheap and is a brilliant program to write drum music properely aswell as drum tabs and also converts drum tab to drum music (for the readers among you) and it does all this with proper notation. - tom

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Always remember two words: MORE COWBELL! Seriously. It's a very distinct sound, and is a great addition to most any style. Work it into your next solo or a gig. It'll get attention. People go nuts over a cowbell. - Shane

Hardcore drumming. try writing songs which your bass drum follows guitar on palm muted parts. such as break downs, bridges, ect. even, consistancy, and control is key. speed means nothing without anything else. - kevin maslan

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LISTEN TO HEART AND BRAIN WHEN PRACTICING THERE ARE YOUR BEST TEACHERS AND THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN U ARE FOCUSING - REGINALD
Drum Tuning Tip: Put a dab of vasoline on your tension rods before screwing them into the drum. This makes them go in easier and it preserves the life of the screw. - Big Lou

Remember, the approach to Concert Snare is different that that of Marching Snare. Be sure to study this and don't get the techniques confused. - Max

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Double bass drumming is like lifting weights. You can't just sit down and play 200 beats per minute when you've never done it before. You have to take it slow and don't speed up. This goes for any beat too on the drumkit. - Greg
When you tune your rack toms, muffle your renosant head, (not your batter), and tune your renosant head tighter than your batter. This creates a wet sound without overtones. But on your floor tom, do the exact oppisite (you will still get the same sound. - Colby
Your Drumstick Teqnichque: When holding traditinal grip, try do do your rudiments on a practice pad with light-weight sticks, when you mastered the rudiment, try to master it on a concert snare (still holding traditinal, your grip is vital to the sound), then try the rudiment on a marching snare. Than try the SAME rudiment with marching sticks. This really helps you master the rudiment faster, and remember, you cant be too fast! (As long as it is not obnochious) - Colby Herrington
LEARN TO READ MUSIC, ESPECIALLY DRUM MUSIC AND NOTATION! Just about anything you want to do is written down somewhere. It saves a lot of time rather than trial and error. It's like learning to read words. Remember that the REASON for written music and learning to read it is the same as reading words. It's a medium to communicate and exchange an idea. Never listen to those who will say "I won't learn how to read because it may mess up my style or I can memorize things fast". Thats all nonsense my fellow drummers. EXAMPLE: You got a call to record tracks with someone you never played with. You get to the studio and they booked the studio for "X" amount of time. They hand you the charts to the tunes they want to record. TIME=MONEY in the studio. Your job is to read the charts and play the part as if you have played the music many times before. Don't only learn how to read just snare drum music, learn drum set music and most importantly (if you play drum set) is to learn how to read DRUM CHARTS. Drum charts are a different animal than snare drum or drumset music. You must master the 4 elements of chart reading...TIME-SET UP-KICK AND RETURN (BACK TO TIME) - Andy Weis

Use drumsticks not your hands! - Johnny Quest

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Don't learn to play songs EXACTLY. EXPERIMENT it makes you more creative, change drum parts to parts you think are better and play those :) hope this helps :P - experiment

If you keep speeding up, dont play to a metrenome. play to a song you like and has a basic 4/4 time signature. this will get you used to playin in time with other instruments :) - timing

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I find playing without shoes helps. i think its because your feet are more flexible and you can be mre precise :) - drummer

Look i know this sounds disgusting (maybe) but if you keep getting blisters, pop them if there not deep, put a plaster on it for a few days. then when the skin goes hard as it is healing, play. play everyday and the skin should stay hard like this. no more blisters :) - drummer

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ONLY and i repeat ONLY!!! spin/flip/throw/twirl your stick if 1. you have a spare close to hand, 2. you are extremely confident in your stick throwing/spinning/flipping and the like.. because if you drop the stick or cock up ur gonna pretty damn embaressed!! if you can throw/flip etc etc.... your sticks, it looks as good as hell!!!!!!! :):) - drummer

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Are you going to cut a hole in your bass drum as a port hole? Keep in mind that the size of the hole you cut affects how your bass drum will sound. I like the smaller diameter holes but the larger you cut the hole, the dryer your sound will be because it lets more air out and it resonates less. So experiment around with some different hole sizes. As and FYI, where you place the hole on the front of the head also affects the shape of the sound. - Spaz
Keep your snare high and your toms low. - James
Play every where u can i have played on my pillows and couch and every other place u can think of keep practicing - Kyle Robbins
Drum head companies hate me.To get longer use out of your heads,take a heat gun and apply it to the pock marks and or dents in your heads.Do it about an inch from the top of the head and you will disperse the plastic around on the head and eliminate the marks.If you do change the head cut it up for zero rings.Dont buy them,come on drums are expensive lets keep that overhead low,so we can spend more money on hookers haha - matt gray hardcore

I encourage everyone to experiment with other types of music as much as possible. Who wants to hear someone playing a blast beat for an hour straight, or doing the same basic backbeat for a half hour. Be creative!! - Bonecrusher

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Stay hydrated. Water or gatorade are the best for shows. Energy drinks are good, but do burn off fast and then you can have a caffeine and sugar crash. Alcohol is ok as long as your not drunk. Then you just embarass yourself and your band. - Bonecrusher

Everyone probably knows this but, if you want to make a cool sound with your cymbal (any cymbal) drum really fast on it starting VERY quiet and just keep getting louder. - Joseph

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Rewrapping your drums: If you want to rewrap your drums, you might have a problem getting the old drum wrap off. Use a heat gun and hold it over the wrap while pulling up on it. The heat gun melts the glue underneath and allows you to pull the drum wrap off. You might need to use a dull knife or a putty knife to wedge underneath and guide it along. - Max
When recording in the studio if your drums have a drums rack and you find you are getting some weird hi-pitch sounds at the board but you dont know what it is ??? well it is most likly your rack ....I found if you stufff them with newspaper or spray foam the hi pitch noise will go away ....hopes this helps. - Jaret Demaries

When playing a beat play 3 bars and a one bar fill - Shimmy

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For a better sounding bass drum you can use weather stripping on the inside of the head. If you use too much it will muffle it too much. - cody
Drum set up is critical! Every drummer's set up is different, find the sweet spots for all you're pieces! ( my uncle owns a superior Tama Rockstar to my Pearl Export, and yet, since the set up on his is so different, i can play much beter on mine, go figure! =) - Johnny
If you're listening to your iPod while drumming, use shuffle so you get something new every time. And remember you don't need to kill your ears to hear it. - Tony
Dont let friends stop you from drumming - carl

If you are a begginner, play your snare drum ONLY, forget every other drum you own. The better you are on your snare drum, the better your play will be when you cross over to the kit as a whole. Dynamics, rolls, paradiddles, and accents will make you sound like a pro and your time spent behind the snare will set you apart from other drummers. I took lessons for 6 years, the first year and a half was devoted to snare only; and as much as i hated my drum teacher for making me do that, i cannot believe how much better i am behind the kit now. DO IT AND REAP THE BENIFITS LATER - Mike

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Wel wen it comes to drums i think u should play wit passion and heart keep toms in so u dont hav to reach out - Asher mcCane

Use remo heads they xock with an x plus they lok sweet with a red drum set plus look up mike novak from "Every TimeI Die" c u later - Asher mcCane

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Try out the heal-toe method and then incorperate first into simple rock beats. - Sawsall
Often when a song has a guitar or bass opening before the drums kick in, I have a problem with the vibrations rattling my snares. A little trick I have found works excellent is to lay your hand with all five fingers spread out directly in the center of the snare. No more annoying rattle. - Jeff P

If you find yourself dropping or losing sticks often, buy a stick bag (no need to get expensive here, the $10 kind work just fine), and tie it up to your floor tom on the side closest to you. That way a new stick is always within reach. - Jeff P.

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If you have a lot of stands to carry from gig to gig but don't have road cases, invest in a sturdy, extra-large duffel bag. You're going to want want at least 3 feet long. That way you can put all of your stands in one bag and save yourself a lot of hauling trouble. But you're going to want to have someone else help you carry it, as several stands can really add up in weight. Plus it is best to have two people carry it with their hands underneath the bag and the stands to save wear and tear on the bag. Some bags that large can be really expensive, so shop around before buying. I have a 42" long bag myself that the other band members call the "body bag" that I found on eBay for less than $30 (shipping included) that has lasted over two years so far. - Jeff P.
Of all the millions of people there are, we all came from just 2 people....Adam & Eve. So I've been told. Of all the millions of beats there are, pretty much all came from just two rudiments....the single and double stroke. So the sooner you master these two rudiments (slow to fast)the better your odds to becoming a good drummer. - ShanghaiDude
Want a cheap way of practicing without the noise? Get pillowcases and lay them over the toms, cymbals. Hang one over the base and put two folded cases on the snare. Be creative, drum away, no more neighbourhood complaints!!! - Emily-Jayne
Fact. ANIMAL is the best drummer ever. he once threw a bass drum at buddy rich. beat that. - Gabe.

NEAL PERT IS THE BEST! - yeah I sed it

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When you make a mistake on the drums, don't fret; turn it into something cool! Mistakes are sometimes the catalyst for great ideas. Think about how you can turn that mistake into a unique drumbeat or drumfill. - Lyle

Learn the way I did and if your drumhead is buzzing, it needs to be replaced. How often I guess is up to you but if it buzzes or makes a strange sound, it probably has a rip in the head. - Peanut

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Before you throw some old torn up drums out, take them apart and reuse the parts. They can be worth a lot of money. Don't believe me? Go to the drum shop and ask about the price of some drum parts. You'll see. Also, buy junk drums at garage sales and strip them down for the parts. You can build your own drums with some of these parts. - Allen EIey
Here's my drum tip: If you smoke, QUIT! I quit a year ago and I don't get tired out playing the drums like I used to. Take it from a drummer that's been there. - Stix Landrey

Can't afford drum cases? Buy some cheap laundry bags with pull strings. They work great and your drums will thank you. - Cap'n Groove

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If u ever want to um fast the first thing yo will need to know is the parradidle on th snare do: rlrr lrll for 1 min and then do: rrllrrrr llrr llll do t all repT IDLY UNTIL U GET FASTE - luke russe
Check out George Kollias, he's the drummer for a band called Nile and he is rediculously fast on a double bass. -some guy
Keep some gum or breath mints in your drumgear bag. You never know when you'll meet a girl on the gig! - Mikel
Years ago I picked up this tip from an old funk drummer: Put a mounted tamborine to the left of your hi-hat. During fast, straight tunes, you can play 16th's with the right hand on your hi-hat and your left hand on the tamborine. So your left hand will play upbeat 16ths. You can then accent your left hand now and then for some neat effects. At your kit, you can't really get the full effect but out front it sounds like someone's playing straight 16ths on tamborine while you're playing the drum groove. It works. Try it! - Mike

A tip about when you're buying drums. If you know that you're going to have lights on them, buy drums that will look good under colored lights. My first drumset was a color that didn't look good with the differnt colored lights that were hitting it so I actually sold it and bought another kit. - Jimbob

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Check out drumchat.com. Its one of the best drum forums on the web. Their like my family. - Peter Paul and Hairy

Smoking while drumming might look cool but its not cool if it falls out of your mouth and burns your crotch.....also theres the health thing - Devin

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Have your snare high and tom low, just above snare hight, have your hi-hit about same heght as toms - dave
A cheap way to take out the over tones on your drums . Go to Wal-mart and buy some 1/4 inch self sticking weather stripping . use about 4 inch pieces and put them about a 1/2 inch from rim of your drums . Keep adding 4 inch pieces until you get the sound you want . Works great . - Rick Rosado

Get on the train: Think about time as a trian. If you fall off, don't try to race back into the car you fell off of, get on the next one. Taking a breath sounds better than an asthma attack. You can use this as a meditation in phrasing as well. - Räm

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Face it... drummers never get the chics/dudes. because after a gig they are the ones that have to pack up all their stuff and usually everyone leaves before the drummer - Stephen
If you ever get sprains cramps or tension in your wrists or legs don't use Lakota topical rub.
It might be fine for normal use but if you sweat heavily during intense drumming the area where the Lakota has been applied will burn like crazy during your gig. There must be some ingredient in there that reacts with sweat glands. I found that out the hard way. - Gary.
If you have a cowbell to mount to your bass drum but don't want to mar the wooden bass drum hoop, use a piece of felt or moleskin underneath the cowbell holder. This will protect the wood. - Elvan
First tip, I haven't touch a drum kit in 10 years due to illness but have been Air drumming all the time. One thing I know is that I'm a hell of a better player now than the last time time I hit those skins, New kit coming soon! Second tip ,Also I have been playing Drums while driving,You know, tapping the steering wheel with this hand and hitting the top of the gear stick with that one, Mainly to Slaughter ,Warrant and Bon Jovi, What I found was that I was playing the Bass Drum with my Left foot,I can now play right-handed but left-footed at the same time! Try it it great - The Two Stick Terror!

To get your Beat/stroke/note faster - Please hold the sticks with two fingers ie Fore finger and a thumb finger, remaining fingers should just feel the sticks and place the sticks in the tip of your finger and practice mummy daddy with 50% of wrist work and 50% of finger work. - Avin Dudu

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Play with as many other musicians in as many different genres of music as you possibly can, because you get a better idea of how to mix ideas while drumming, especially in advanced solo techniques. jazz rules!!! - max holmberg

To increase your speed. .just practise with heavy sticks whenever you can..so when you get on the kit with a lighter pair (5a's or something) you'll fly round.. and use your fingers to hit the sticks faster.
peacex - Ollie

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Don't forget your left hand. While you're playing a groove between the snare and the ride cymbal with backbeats, your left hand can be filling some with quick tom hits. Used sparingly this can really dress up your drumbeats. - Larry
TIMING!!! In an amateur band when the timing is going all wrong-- dont blame the rest of the band, they think it is your job and will insist that they have it right. To keep band harmony just say that to get it right you as a drummer need to do it to a click, put the click through the P.A. really loud. that will get you all together - granny drums

Unintentional dull sound off your snare duck tape a coin to the skin somewhere around the edge. yes, it does work - donal jessop

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Avoid unnecessary movement when drumming. If your drums are set up properly, you should be able to reach all drums and cymbals with little movement. This combined with proper balance will maximize your overall performance. - Pete K.
Be willing to take criticism from other band members. Though they might not always be correct, sometimes they have a point and it is smart to consider their point of view. - saab
Oil those pedals! I heard a drummer play the other night and it was distracting to hear his bass drum pedal squeaking most of the night. If he'd been recording, it would have ruined the track. - Big Bob
Incorporate a tamborine into your drum setup. You can do all kinds of things with it. Mix it into your drumbeats and drumfills. It'll spice up your drumming. - eel

Make what you are playing feel natural - daniel

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Play because you want to play and because you like it, not because people want you to. If you're playing, then you should enjoy it. p.s. MarNeedsCheerleaders rocks! - Taylor Schooley

If you're a self-taught beginning drummer, something that may help you get out of the rut of playing really similar beats and tempos is to listen to your favorite songs and their drum parts. You can listen to them on a CD player and headphones and play along with them. Don't worry about messing up. The song will keep playing so you can jump back in once you've caught the rhythm again. Start with the basic beat throughout the song, then add in the fills. It helps a lot! - Erica

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Don't ever set up your drums on laminate / wooden flooring. It leaves a hell of a scratching - Somebody
WARMING UP: This is what I do before really playing I do rlrr lrll then speed it up and do 16ths or somthing - Criss Dawson

All i can say is, become one with the drums. if it doesn't feel right, stop playing. - Robb White

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Furthermore, if it does feel right, now this: the louder the better! - Robb White
Be Fun and get SERIUOS lika a drummer, drink water, do exercise, be funny, and practice hard! up for the drumming !! - David
Watch videos, study to your idols and don´t be like them, be original !!! and get out to your bad habits... be the best than yesterday !!! - David

1. When giving tips, use proper grammar and spelling so that people can understand your tips.

2. When you're practicing, imagine yourself playing at a gig. That way you get motivated, you'd want to try a lot harder, because you see your goal (the gig) and you just imagine yourself having fun. Worked for me, I've been playing for 10 years, I know.

3. Eventually when you do play at a gig, play as if no one is watching you. Because if you keep thinking of what people are going to think, you're going to try a little too hard, and it will screw you up. Just go with the flow, and include all the techniques you practiced.

4. To strengthen your left hand, learn how to play open hand. (Playing the hi-hat with your left hand, right hand on your snare) works like a charm.
- Marlon Dela Cruz, keep drumming.

Want some rock band tips? Well if you want to get good at rock band, you've got to get good at the basics of playing drums, because the techniques are the same. Not exactly the same, but close. I see guys that can't keep good time. Just practice with records and try to stay on the beat. I see guys take their foot off of the bass drum pedal or rest their hands when they're not hitting. Keep everything close. The less movement, the better - especially on the fast songs. Do a little practicing on a pad or on a table top when you're not on the rock band drumset and you'll see how it will help your game overall. - Rocky

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When you hit a crash cymbal at the end of a measure hit the kick drum simoutaneously. Nice effect! - mike smith

Don't stick to one type or one genre of music that you are playing, try to play different types of music to improve your skills and to learn more techniques - Ferjon

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You are NEVER too old to learn .I am 58 and got back into drumming about 6 years ago after more than 20 years of NOT drumming. WOW was I missing it.I bought a book called "It's Your Move" by Dom Famularo.It has opened up soooo much for me.I am mainly a "lefty" but now have expanded my setup with another ride and another high hat and double pedals...again I say WOW!!!!
Go for it if you can...keep on beatin'!!! - Steve Hlabse
Play even when you aren't playing. Always have patterns, beats, fill-ins, and or marching rudiments going through your head. When ever I'm not playing I count off timing on any and all music that I hear. Even when I'm out shopping with my wife!!!!! - Rit Vetare

ALWAYS play with earplugs. I'm 15 and have Tinnitus from not knowing to use earplugs for the first year-ish of drumming. If you don't plug up you risk a permanent ringing in your ears. Bad cases of Tinnitus have led to suicide. - Tom

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Surgical tube from a medical supply store, cut to size makes excellent, long lasting cymbal insulators. - ross vumbaco
I subscibe to the "try it before you buy it" frame of thinking when it comes to buying drums. I know a lot of people just order drumsets and cymbals online but you just don't know what you're going to get. Go to a drum shop or music store and take the drums or cymbals into the soundproof room so that you can take your time with the instruments and really get a feel for them. - Peter Drummond
Playing your drums is a huge stress reliever. If you have anxiety or anger building up in you, take it out on the drums, not the people around you. - Alex
TUNING YOUR DRUMS. play your favorite cd, turn it up loud, using two keys, place them opposite each other, work from left to right, ot right to left around the drum.listen to the base and tune the drum to match that sound.works on all drums. - jim miller
Always practice relaxed coz it improves stick control and speed - eddi halaba

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