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To warm up before playing, try juggling. It makes you alot looser and helps your speed and hand eye cordination! - Jackie
Don't let other drummers scare you. you'll get better with practice. - Freddrick Dennis

If your drums feel really dead and your stick response is like hitting a piece of leather tighten up the bottom of the drum a half turn.This could go for all the drums,snare,toms etc..
Bottom heads in time stretch and cause the drum to feel too dead.. - Ted

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Most of these tips are very helpful and I have learned a lot from them. I don't consider myself an expert by any means but the only tips I have are to always stay in control, play to the right feel and volume of the song, and listen to and learn to play all types of music. - Andrew

Don't over muffle your drums, let em' ring. That's what makes them drums, without ring, you might as well be hiting a table top. - Andrew Wood

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Trying doing doubles, singles, para-diddles on a pillow. It offers no re-bound forcing you to pull up the stick, in turn increasing your control, and speed. - John Flynn
Play your drumset the opposite way you would usually play them. This helps you in so many ways, you would neer believe it! - Justin the Drummerboy
If you are borrowing someones drums to play live dont leave asking them until you get to the gig. Once I had to use a cracked plastic stool as a drumseat grrrrr! - David
Jazz drumming is mastery of the drumset and one of the masters is Billy Kilson from the Dave Holland Quintet - David

To get good, controlled dynamics play 16th notes with different notes accented. E.g LlllL Ll lL llL Lll - David

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I have a few tips, but first, some thank yous: Thanks to to Alex Miehl for the arm tip, that works great, it hurts like hell, but it works great, thank you. Also, thanks to Paul Knight for the Math/Drumming tip. If I would have done that earlier, I would have been better sooner, and I could have possibly been more interested in math as a youngin'.

Tip 1: Travis Barker is great, and I study him as if I was his apprentice, however, Dave Weckle is my idol, and drumming god...I HIGHLY recommend every drummer check him out (Your library will have his videos).

Tip 2: Take your standard practice pad(the thicker the better) and attach it to the densest wall available in your house however you wish and tape your bass pedal/double to the floor so that the beaters match up and practice pad (works well when you need the "feel" of the drum).

Tip 3: If anyone remembers those cool hand sqeeze things from the 80's, find one and sqeeze that thing all day long (good for strengthening yo!
ur weak hand also).

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Tip 4: Try yoga or full body stretching before a show or practice, it helps to loosen you up (great for the legs of double bass drummer).

Tip 5: Use hunting hand warmers to get the blood flow back in your hand if your are playing someplace cold.

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Tip 6: Take a look at your hands when you play, if you put one on top of the other, and it looks like you're holding a sword, you're killing your wrists. TO SAVE YOUR WRISTS from carpel tunnel, place your hand on a desk or whatever is available, palm down. Now raise you hand and point your index finger out and tuck your other fingers in. Now tuck in your index finger so that only the first knuckle is visible to you, slide your thumb along side of it like you were pinching someone. Slide a stick in between your thumb and idex finger. Practice this way and WATCH YOURSELF. It is hard to learn, but it will help. If you already play this way, sorry for wasting your time.

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Tip 7: AND THE MOST VITAL THING, STAY IN SCHOOL!!!!! Shoot for the top, but get your head on straight and do what you have to. And no, I am not some old fool who is just another drone in society. I am 19, and I just make sure I have all my bases covered. Think about it, look at most of the famous musicians today...ALOT of them have their Bachelores in something other than frisbee throwing. Get your education, then you can get your glory. - Trent C.

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If you ever get bored, take off all your skins and clean the inside of each drum with a water based soap powder. Then re-tune each drum before it is dampened to create a unique sound to the player. - Tomi Livesey
Dont be like everyone else create ur own sound and go with it, dont be afraid to experiment - a drummer
Hum or listen to a beat while you are trying to drum. it makes it easier to keep the flow and a steady constant beat. - Natalie
I find It helps if u only practice with the hi hat snare and bass drum every once in a while. It helps u remember the basics, and u have to experiment more to make it sound really amazing - Kurt

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Stop learning. Don't ever think you have "ARRIVED"! There is ALWAYS something new to learn.I just ordered a book from Dom Famularo called "It's Your Move". WOW!!! Invest....it is well worth the time and money.You might even impress yourself!!! - Steve Hlabse

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You need to know that if you put your drum set on carpet your kicker will slide. All you need to do is put a slab of rubber under it and it won't slide. - Tyler

If you want to play a new song and you can't even play it well...start SLOWLY...slowly slowly...then when you learn it well...start playing more fast...then more fast...and if you get stucked there.. go back and play slower...then when you think you can play it well in fast mode...try it faster, faster and faster and you got it :) , The trick is just to play it Slow and then FAST. This helps alot to learn some songs :) - Cult Nemesis Drummer

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When you first get your drum set the snair drum doesn't sound like a snair drum . But all you have to do is take your drum key and flip the snair drum. Then titen the spring with your key. It needs to be tite or it will come loose. Then hit it with your drum stiks . - Tyler K.
If you need to work on your speed, use the heaviest drum sticks you can find. I found that it was very helpful. Thanks. - Clayton H.

Be sure that you play what you want to play, if you're not satisfied with the type of music your band is playing, then say something. The point of music is to have fun, and its not fun if your not playing something that you enjoy. - Michael S

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Practise singing to a drum tune it will help you get an understanding of that side of it. Don't over fill a song with fills, it takes away from the other parts of the song. Don't put tape on your snare drum rather out a drum ring because the tape will mess it up some times. - Brad
Always listen to the music and play how you feel, not what you want people to hear. - John Bonham
When you first get a drum set it might not sound the same as your friends. It usually doesn't because it is new. All you have to do is adjust on it and get used to it . - Tyler

When buying your drumsticks, make sure you pick the style or make which you feel comfortable playing with yourself. not what someone has said to buy. - Sm Young

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Practice rolls on a really soft pillow, it will greatly increase your - Uncle Luke
Learn all the styles on drums: Jazz, Rock, Blues, Ska, Punk, Rock - Joaquín de Castro

Attention drummers: This tip is from a soundman. Don't play your drums while the soundman is trying to mike up your kit! - CISCO

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Moleskin pads (available in any pharmacy) make the best bass drum pads ever. They help maintain the true tone and beautiful resonance of a bass drum unlike most commercial pads. Just cut into the desired size and shape. - clay
Carry a few bicycle tire innertubes (26" mountain bike size) in your hardware case. You can create a mucher tighter connection than with duct tape. You can use them as industrial-strength bungee cords to tie things together like your throne to your kick pedal or to secure a case lid with a dead strap. You can also use them to tie up a stripped out boom clamp on a piece of hardware. And finally, you can cut out a piece and use it as a gasket for the tilt pivot on the older snare stands by the likes of Tama and Yamaha. - Jerry Gerlich
If you use heavy sticks always use heavy cymbals, it may reduce the risk of cracking your cymbal. - Warren Hill

Drumming at home can be annoying to those who don't appreciate the ART of the most ancient of musical instruments, soooooooo, I invested in some neoprene drum mufflers.The sound is GREATLY reduced and the most beneficial thing is the muscle tone and reflex you must use to get the rebounds and doubles and triples. So when you play "LIVE" the natural action of the heads and cymbals will enhance your playing and you will definitly be AMAZED as well as your "group" memebers and audience will Appreciate" the most ancient instrument even more... - Steve Hlabse

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Know what your playing and know how to play what your playing. The drummer is the main key, if you anit got drums you anit got nothing. Take it from me, a drummer myself - mike
Keep alcohal free before playing! - bob
If you can play it slow, you can play it fast. Start by learing it slow then do it fast.
- John Vasquez
Watch yourself. It's always great to watch your hands in front of a mirror and see what your hands are and aren't doing. Get in front of a mirror and see! - Jose Mata
You should not allways play hard all the time. Some times you should play soft.
- No name provided

Put a pillow in your bassdrum and it will make the sound flow out better - Tyler

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Jam with a good bass player and keep the rhythm of their hand movements. I also believe that learning to play bass can improve drumming. - enalonde
Play with a mirror along side you so you can check out your technique - Chris Bate
I think that you play alot better if you set your drums up like you want them not like any one else - Daniel

Just because your cymbale looks good where you put it, doesn't mean its the right place for it to be. Many times drummers put things where its not comftorable to be and get at, its because it looks good. DONT DO THAT, dont try to look good... try to SOUND GOOD! - Brynner Agassi

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READ EVERYTHING! Learn everything and dont take anything for granted! You will become the best if you can just read those black dots on a bit of paper! - Marcus Holloway
A good way for carrying stands: Buy a hard golf club carrying case with wheels from any sporting goods store. Works very good. - rj simon

If your looking to expand your kit, instead of rocking a double kick, add a microwave or a tv or a sno-cone machine, maybe even a washing machine, or Belgian waffle iron. This way you never have to leave your kit. PS you can convert your bass drum into a urinal. - Harris

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To DB players, wherever you are, perfect your feet. At school, while you are eating, right now, whenever. Just go strait 16 on your feet all the time. This makes em way better. PS this page is so friggn cool! - metal head
If you play chinas inverted, your china will crack easier, but if you play them normal, your sticks will break easier. lose lose situation isnt it? - Harris

Practice alot or your never going to get better. - keith fulton

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If you want more traction when playing double pedal use wrestling shoes,they are very light and have the best grip. - chase white
Well, i've found that for tuning your drums you should tune the bottom head a little more tighter than the top head. it takes away that extra resonance that you dont want. - billy

Put about a half an inch of surgical tubing over the beads of your sticks. Now you can practice on any table without a practice pad! - Jim Dwyer

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ALWAYS BE CREATIVE!!!!!!!!!! - selina
Remember that simple drum beats can go perfect with any rhythm on the guitar. you dont have to get fancy with all the toms. just a cymbal, bass, and snare beat will do it. - jim
Study Drummers who have come and gone. You don't know where you going till you know where you been. Besides...those cats could really play, ie; Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Cozy Cole, Buddy Rich, etc.. - Eric Levi Smith
How to keep your drum from ringing!! put double sided tape on a paper towel or wash cloth and tape it to the bottom of your top drum head. - TJ

PERFECT practice makes PERFECT - April

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When warming up a good way to get loose and alot of times create new and cool beats is to set a rithim with your bass drum then on up beats or in between or whatever hit random drums just on beat go crazy with it and sometimes youll end up with a new idea for a drum solo or something - Justin TM

Well slightly taping a sheet of ordinary paper to the floor tom it muffles it alittle to get a lower tone. its sounds awesome - danish

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If you are in a rock band and your parents dont like to hear how loud you and your band are, try draping a towel over your snare, it helps. - Gregory LeFevre
Flam, flam, flam all around kit daily!!!!! - jimmymack

Get a teacher, learn what he/she has to offer, and then get a new one. Repeat until you're not learning anything new. Only then should you join a band. Worked for me! Also, don't judge a drummer on how well he can solo on a big kit, judge a drummer on how well he can solo on a small kit. - Sammael

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Start getting in the habbit of playing a double on the left hand. it will make you sound better and will amaze your friends!!!! im not kidding i am better then my band teacher at the drums trust me - kris gundel owner of the snare in vets middle school
My tip for today is to expose yourself to many information about drums. I was reading this book about the History of jazz and I was reading a section of the book where it talks about the drumming style of the Africans. I was interested of what it had to say and from that day on I started to look up books about complicated rhythm and syncopation. Also for all the drummers out there I just wanna say that even though you are an execellent drummer, you have to consider the performing aspects of drumming. If you can play all kind of beats, but you can't play with other musicians then that's something you should look at. And also you are not just a drummer you are musician. - Ralph James Mangohig
I use pet beds in my bass drum for muffling. Their not pillows but are like wool carpeting with a round pad around the outer edge. They work great and look great! I found a couple that fit perfectly inside my bass drum. - Darrin Miranda

Some of the drummers in my school decided not to be in drumline because they didnt want to be a "band nerd" but trust me if you are a drummer in highschool get in band belive me there is alot of stuff to learn there. like if you get to do a solo at a gig and you can add some of those great rythems and beats from marching band youl get a great crowd resonce. also while playing switch back and forth from traditional to mathing grip this looks awsome and leaves non-drummers in the audience sayin "how the hell did he do that!" - Sean"OFFBEAT"Kenny

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For a sick sounding three peice role- start by doubling from snare to t1 with your leed hand then quad on your snare with your other. - DarkRitual_ Drummer
Get buddy rich's dna or gene krupa's...and you'll be instantly great! - wardman

Its a great help if you can read other instruments because it helps you to play drums better. Also dont think that you know all the beats cause you dont. One more tip is that if you cant read music you are not a complete drummer...i can't read it well but im getting there. - Mark Sookhai

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Protect Your Hearing - go to any store with a gun section and buy the cheapest pair of rifle/shotgun ear protection they have. It should only cost you about 7 bucks and will really save your hearing. It's also a lot easier to put on than earplugs so you'll actually wear it! - Jeff
When your wrists arent fast enough to do a double stroke roll, take a pair of drumsticks and hold them towards the top of the stick and do a double on air as fast as you can. Do it once a day for three minutes and within a week I PROMISE that you'll be able to do a double stroke roll, Garenteed - Krissy Sanchez

Myth:Ringo is the greatest drummer, Fact it's Joey Jordison from Slipknot - shawn richmer

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I find that before i got on stage i like to go through a few pages of drum music on a practice snare, or my knees just to losen up muslces as you can be quite tense before a show - joey
It works great to make your own fills out of a few fills from some of your fave songs, im not saying rip em off, but take some of this, some of that...and that and that, and you'll have your own unique style - Daniyal Khan
Do you only have a single bass pedal? Want to acheive the double bass drum sound with ONE FOOT? Well here's how. To acheive the double bass sound with one pedal, LEAVE YOUR CALF MUSCLE RELAXED and simply slide your foot up the pedal. Go from your big toe near the back of the pedal and let it slide to the ball of your foot near the front of the pedal. You will not believe, after some practice, how amazing it sounds. Go on, try it! - Bill.A.Bong
If your looking to not spend much money buy a cheap kit then put on percussion muffling ring the worst drum head sounds great it also elimenates the over ring - sierah

To learn bass better tape your foot when your doing somthing els like if your dooing your home work do it and dont thing about it and heck mabey you will master it some day - W.T.L drummer_sk8er

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Just try and make up some new rhythms by using just the snare and high hats, or change around the position of your cymbals and see what you come up with - clay

Try usins a fater stick like 5b 0r 2b if u use 7b size u wull breack ur stick hittin the cymbols - kman

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Listen to Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker play. They're all awsome and nuts, except Ringo whos just really good at making up good fills. Keith is the best rock drummer ever. - Gary
To remember where the drums\cymbles are close your eyes then play - someone

Try practicing playing with a guitarist near by helps u nail those undecided beats - Dakota

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Holding your stick affects how you sound, when holding a drumstick don't grab it with a lot of force. Let your last two fingers move freely to make better fills, and you won't loose as much energy, there will be a better flow when your playing. - yannsel nava
The more relaxed,the more basic you are. the better the drummer will be - nick at nite wells
When practicing double bass, place a pillow or some kind of sound drowning object between your bass drum beater and the bass drum skin. This may help to keep the neighbours off your back :) - hammer heart
Try using the Remo practice pad as an electric drum. You'll need to make some modifications with the pad and get yourself a second had drum module eg TD-7 etc. Check out a DIY Drum Trigger website. I did it and it works perfectly. I now have a $1500 electric drum kit for the price of a practice kit plus module. About $500 worth. Even works well with you midi recording device such as cubasis. Great for practicing with your CD Player or when your not rehearsing with the band. - Jimbo from the land down under

For not getting fatigue. I have some excercises for this. Just tie some bricks to your feet and start lifting them up, and try with sand bags if you can. And Keep fast tapping hard on the ground.
Keep your palms on your thighs and pat it as fast as you can. I wish you will turn to a skilful drummer in notime, if you achieve in this - john dominic

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IDEA FOR PRACTICE: Instead of buying pads to practice on, and making your own, create something called "deadbeats". Get a pair of your old sticks and wrap fitted wool around the tip(bead). Wrap around 2 to 3 layers depending on the thickness of the tip. - joe

Getting blisters? Buy a pair of drumming gloves. Go on. - Ow my hands

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Drumming is a life sentence. Even if you stop playing for ages, or don't have a kit, you just can't stop tapping no matter how hard you try. - The Fabulous Drumming Monkey
Tape residue can also be removed using lighter fluid. carry a tin or aerosol furniture posish in your gig bag.As most brands contain silicone it is a great lubricant for pedal bearings and stands etc... and it also gets your shells clean! - Pip McCann

Always act like the drummer from Green Day Tre Cool,it always keeps you feel good about your apperance and how perfestional you play(comphadence)(sp?)well anyways always act like you are your favorite drummer!i love Tre Cool - Amanda Engel

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Listen to and watch others play! This works drums as well as any instrument. Buy some DVDs of some bands with good drummers playing live. Watch the techniques that the drummer uses and pay attention to the way he is sitting, hitting the drums, and even holding his sticks. You can learn a lot from watching more experienced musicians play. This doesn't mean you should try to sound just like them (I think everyone should just be themselves and not copy one another), but it can help you learn new tricks faster, rather than having to figure them all out on your own. - Austin C
Most of the time sports help you in drumming if your not an athletic drummer consiter taking up a sport (swimming is the best helps with cordination uper and lower body strenth) take it from someone with experence :) - Val
If you haven't already, buy the (I guess you call them) Remo plastic rings to go around each of your toms and snare. They are small but make you drums sound so much better. And their cheap ;) - Deebz
Use a upside down car stand for a cow bell sounds nice an loud - wacko

Hey guys. Concerning the bass drum. I find that its not about how much you stuff into your bass drum but that you make sure that the object lies heavy on the shell. In other word, use a rubber matt which prevents the bass drum from resonating too much. Another thing - the size of the whole on the front head of the bass drum should be about the size ofa cup. If the whole is too big the sound would be equal to having no front head. Hope this tip helped. Later. and keep up the good drumming. GOD BLESS!!! - Marcus

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Rather than using tape or putting tacky substances on my drumsticks to improve grip, I take off any finish with steel wool and rub the stick with a solution of 1/2 rubbing alcohol, 1/2 distilled water on a cotton cloth (T-shirt). This opens up the pores of the wood and creates friction without the need for bulky, bounce-robbing tape or tacky, twirl-defeating gluey goo. - Michael "Drum Bum" Hicks

Don't focus your attention on double-bass drumming, it's hardly ever needed unless your going to be playing in a speed metal band. If you learn correctly you can pretty much do anything on a single pedal. I've played in working bands for years and never needed a double-pedal. The time you waste on practicing double-bass could be put to better use on way to many other aspects of playing... - Joe

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Get a decent pair of earplugs- they will save your ears in the long run even if they are a hassle!! also get a good pair of remote headphones so that you can play to the cd/radio/whatever with ease, and without making anything louder than it needs to be.
LOUD is not the key!! There is no need, it just annoys people and you lose control- always stay quieter and more controlled than you usually are and you'll find that you have far more texhnical ability when your not wasting your energy on hitting the drums hard.
Don't stick to one genre- there are so many different styles of drumming, you need to know a variety to have a chance of getting big!
Take all opportunities, and practice lots.
Don't drum with the technicalities in mind, dont concentrate too much- make sure that your in the mood for the kind of song your playing, and play with your heart, not your brain. You will enjoy it far more, and people will notice the difference.
Mike Portnoy IS amazing, get some dream theater/liquid tension experiment albums, and enjoy!
hope some of that was of help - joe
Remember to check up on your res heads as often as batter heads. Just because you don't hit them doesn't mean they won't need replacing from time to time. - rob

Don't buy maple stagg sticks they break really easily - Jon

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Travis Barker is a freak who only cares about money, indeed he is good but dont let him be your roll model. Tommy Lee is a good insperation, I met him he does it for passion and could easily take out travis. - drummer
Always loosing cymbal felts? Go down to your local junkyard and remove the sound deadning mat from behind the backseat. You can cut out hundreds of felts and never worry about it again. - Rockstar
Remember there is no losers just winners that give up to soon. take a few drum lessons and then listen to all different types of music and incorporate them in to your own style:) - Tom
DON'T use Goo-Gone to remove tape residue or anything else. Goo-Gone is basically kerosene and fragrance, straight kero will do the job as well and a lifetime supply can be had for the price of 1 bottle of Goo-Gone. - default

Always keep relaxed when playing - jack

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Drumming is something physical... Intensive training and practice may not perfectionise everything but on the long run, improvement results in petty achievements. So start with your stamina, basic, conditioning and commitment. THE MEANINGFUL THING ONE WILL TEAR OVER IS TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE SOMETHING THEY LOVE REGARDLESS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE JOURNEY... - Alvin Yap

Practice drum rudiments on a pillow or a stack of newspapers... any surface that will *eliminate* rebound and force you to "pick-up" the sticks. The sticks will fall with gravity, picking them up is what's first required. - default

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Just practice. practice, practice - all the time. it is the key to getting better at anything. And have fun while you are at it. - oneeandah2
I think everythink it's in your soul.Just let your self and hit the drums! - stefanoscorfu

If you are having troubles when you hit one of the toms and it rings on the snare. Duct tape a somthing under the head, but it has to something soft. some people use tampons but wrapped a peice of carpet with toilet paper. - Dave Newman

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If you are right handed practise left handed , playing eightth notes with left hand and quarter notes with right!builds up left hand fast!left on cymbols right on snare...makes you ambidetrious in no time! - GREG SMITH

Play with your heart... Emotion can make a difference in a concert, a competition, and most importantly an audition. Putting you into what is played is most important. - Sam Neitz

If your doing a roll around the toms and you hit the rim,move the tom so that you hit the drum correctly - zack orozco
When galloping on the bass pedal you want your pedal to be as tight as possible and you will need to keep you foot at the top of the pedal to where your toe is almost touching the chain then you push with your toes then pull the back of your foot up as far as possible but with your toes still on it nohit it with your heel just a couple centimeters away from the hinge keep practicing! - anonymous

If you find yourself with a lack of creativity while playing... just write the things you know down on a paper and stick it somewhere you can see it!!! it doesn't have to be a long thing... just ideas... (example: Rim shot, paraddidles, triplets or even just a song name) Creativity is a HUGE part in playing drums - Jose Contreras

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When starting out, because of being nervous (whether when practicing or performing), you may find that your hands tend to sweat. This can result in losing grip of your sticks, and can cause embarassing situations. Try keeping paper towels handy, and wipe ur hands dry when possible. A friend of mine had the same problem, and he wore finger gloves with the fingers cut off. I once bought a pair of Zildjian dipped sticks (rubber grip), and they helped somewhat. Wrapping the sticks with electrical tape helps as well. Whatever works for you, do it. Over time, your skills and confidence will build up, and you will realize that your hands are no longer sweaty. - Johnathon Cripaul

For any new drummer listen and play to as much variety of musical styles as you can. Sure, I agree Joey J. from Slipknot rocks the metal world, but check out any Buddy Rich for Jazz, Neil Pert for rock orchestrations, Keith Moon for being wild, Terry Bozzio for creativity, Stuart Copeland for driving songs and yes even Ringo Starr. Starr gets ripped on a lot but for the style and simple songs he played he kept the beat, didn't abuse his fills and never showed off...he did what a good drummer always does and that is keeping a dependable beat to any song. Lead guitarists get a lot of the glory to show off with their constant solo's but their flights of fancy would seem annoying unless they had a consisted rythmn to come back to. Besides, I have never seen and I can guarantee you will never see anyone at a music event tap their foot, groove to a song or even dance to a lead guitar solo. But you will find them doing that to the drummer and bass player who are backing them up...no matter what the music style. with over 25 years of playing professional the only true advice I can give is "Just have fun" - eL Bovo

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Listen to all types of music. Refusing to do so results in a limited musical vocabulary. Incorporate fills and whatever else, from all genres of music, for a unique and loveable style of your own. - Johnathon Cripaul
Working out, such as lifting weights, or simple stuff like pushups improves your muscles. This makes endurace with speed and accuracy significantly easier. This is not to say that muscle is everything - far from it. A friend of mine said that bulky guys find that over time their wrists become slower, because of the excess muscle. So moderation is best. - Johnathon Cripaul

Practice with fatter sticks. For example, i perfer to play with 5A, but i practice with 5B. This increases my strength overtime, which in turn makes playing with 5A much easier. It does however frustrate other drummers, when they borrow my fatter sticks, especially the lady-drummers. Keeping a cheap pair of thinner sticks is always good, if you're always letting other people use your sticks. - Johnathon Cripaul

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When hitting the high-hat, elevate your sticks, so that the bead (tip) of the stick hits the high-hat, rather than the shaft (mid-section of the stick). This improves the sound of the beat, and it significanly improves the life of your sticks. When you first start doing this, it might be painful, due to your muscles getting used to it; within a few weeks however, it will become comfortable. Just don't elevate the stick to much, otherwise you'll look constipated. =P - Johnathon Cripaul
If you are a hard-hitter like myself, then go out and get the cheapest sticks you can find (seriously), and buy a couple of pairs at a time. Buy a better pair for when you are performing, and use the crappier sticks for practice. This saves you huge amounts of money, and you're not limiting yourself by playing softer, to prolong stick life. - Johnathon Cripaul
If you don't want to buy Hot Rods (commonly known as acoustic sticks), but still want to enjoy the benefits of them, make a ghetto pair. Pick up a pack of bamboo skewers (shish kebab sticks) from the dollarstore or wherever. Using rubber bands, attach anywhere from 10-20 sticks (I use 15) together (at several points), and play away! When playing softer songs, I tend to use one ghetto acoustic stick for the high-hat, and a regular stick (usually playing side-stick) for the snare. - Johnathon Cripaul
If you don't have a drumset, and you don't want to waste money on practice pads, try gluing mousepads together. Mounting them on a wooden plate improves aesthetics. Make several sets of them, to simulate a complete drumset - Johnathon Cripaul

If you want to make Ghetto Cymbal Mallets, take a cheap pair of drumsticks, and attach a whole bunch of rubber bands on the butts (ends of the handles) of the sticks, so that they pile up into a mound. When used, they simulate the exact same sound as proper one, and as an added bonus, when you hit a cymbal with them, the sticks bounce back off gently (due to the rubber bands), meaning you can increase your speed with less energy. If you affixed the rubber bands on the handle part, then you can even use the sticks regularly, and flip em around (holding the bead/tip) in your hand when using them on the cymbals. - Johnathon Cripaul

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Always have several pairs of sticks with you when you perform, and make sure that at least one pair is at hand at all times. This way, embarassing moments like losing sticks can be smoothly overcome. Learning to play simple beats with only one hand doing all the work (teach both hands to work alone) comes in handy in situations like this, because you can grab another stick, while keeping the beat steady. - Johnathon Cripaul

Make some flam-a-diddles RLRRLRLL LRLLRLRR before drumming - Artur K

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For faster chops get two books of equal weight (the heavier the better) and hold them under your arms right at the biceps; sit at any practice pad or set and just start playing. The idea is that all of the work is being concentrated onto you finger muscles (Of course, long cymbal reaching is out the question for this excercise).

My first motivation was DOUBLE STROKE ROLLS, I saw them in action as a young drummer two years ago and fell in love. I spent half of that day just doubling: I watched tv and listen to music and went with the tempo or half of the tempo and the next day I was able to incorporate them tremendeously. The double stroke roll is a tremendous ability (in my humble opnion) to be able to pull out at any time.

The SECRET TO TUNING TOMS (or any drums for that matter) is to use two drum keys. How do you think a drum store can have so many toms tuned so well so quickly everyday??!!? TWO DRUMS KEYS! Loosen the heads as much as possible, then tighten them till they are finger tight (doesn't have to be hard), finally use both keys at the same time (at opposite ends obviously) and do the same turns.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.... BE CREATIVE!!!!!!!!! We already have enough of the same robotic drummers standing in the line to be replaced by drum machines.

Peace in God - Josh Henderson
Stretch before drumming!! this is very important, and it helps you do rolls a lot easier....it helps me.. - Curt

Try to play with the music..you get lotta practice out of that..;) - Me Iceland

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To make your cymbal keep going after you hit it, take a long strand of shotch tape and bend it in half so it isn't sticky anywhere, put a coin in between the tape on one of the ends. Tape the other end to the cymbal. - Charles Clayton
Learn from drummers in bands who you admire. Listen to their CD's carefully work out what they do. You can take something from each of them giving your drumming a range of all of them. Also put a weight in your bass drum like a bar bell or a brick for some reason it gives the bass drum a deeper sound and stops is sliding if you play on a wooden floor! - Toby (Inasphere)
If u get 7A drumsticks u get better rolls!!!!! - steven lelham
Remo heads are the best so u shud try them if u havnt!!!!!!!! - Steven Lelham

When practicing drum rudiments, don't practice at super fast tempo. Take them slow and learn to play them CORRECTLY at a slower, more comfortable tempo. Then once you can play them right at that tempo, crank it up alitte and play it alittle faster. Rinse and repeat. - Michael Butts

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If your tired of your drum sticks flying out of your hands when your playing....... then get a candle and rub the side of the candle on the whole stick and start playing it might slip out a few times but it works! just get use to the grip again. - kenny k

Double bass-If you want to play double bass really well you have to start slow and slowly get faster. Make sure you sit up. And you have to be comfortable. so you should have a good throne. and not with a back rest. you should learn to sit up without something holding you up. You should always play with you heels up. Use the toes and the ball of your foot. And that is about all I can say. So give that a shot. - Tjay

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If your cymbal does start to crack, drill a hole (1/8 inch or so) at the end of the crack (closest to the center of the cymbal) this should keep it from cracking any further - J
Try giving drum tips. After all, you have to be a master before you can teach. - Jacob Greene

Try using proper spelling and puncuation in your drums tips. It helps others comprehend and make use out of your drum tips. - Jacob Greene

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The only way to get good at anything musical is for it to be your life. You have to practice all the time, if your heart/soul/karma/core/whatever is not in it, you'll never get anywhere, because you wont be motivated to practice. It's gotta be your life. - Vinnie, (the next Travis Barker)
If you can count it you can play it. - Channah
When you buy new sticks buy them in sets of two or more and cover one set of them in electrical tape to keep them from breaking. use the other set if you are doing a song that requirs alot of rim shots. this will protect the sticks and they will last much longer depending on how much you play. - jesse
When first learning the double bass pedal try using the left pedal as your normal pedal and ignoring the fixed one, it will get your left foot more comfortable with the beats your used to and may end up in interesting new beats - John F

If you use really light sticks and play tremendously hard sometimes, use heavier sticks, because less force is needed. Lighter sticks aare helpful except only if you know how to use them. If you play hard with light sticks, your hand will start to peel. once that happens you can't play for at least a few days. - Scott Schrodell

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Being Tight: Often i find drummers, when at GIGS, forget the value of the term "Simple sells" being tight is the most IMPORTANT part of your drumming. When you drum fluidly with your band , people remmember!!! It also opens you up to a whole new world with your band . Take this for instence.. when i drummed for my first high school band i got SOOO nervous 'cause i knew my band and i weren't tight. Soo practice with your band untill you lines and fills and stuff are completely coordinated. and even the fussy musician will be impressed . - Clinton 'Sypher' Dutton

Before marching in a parade (esp. snares) make sure your J bars are'nt hitting your knees, else your gonna end up with some major bruises. - Channah

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Allways hit the metle rim on the ide of the drum befor playing or it might rip the cover on your drum - bob smith
Fact: Peart is better than Ringo, Fact #2, If you want to learn how to complement a song while not sucking completely, listen to Ringo - Jake

If you get blisters wrap a bandaid around it and keep going, your hands will never get accustomed to your sticks if you buy special gloves, deal with the pain now. - Channah

Drum Chat

RUDIMENTS IN FRONT OF A MIRROR: Find a site the has all of the 40 drum rudiments (american) and practice them on a pad in front of a mirror to check to see if you are consistent between both hands(don't let right\left go higher or lower than the outher) and then apply the rudiments around the SET . It will help you to create Awesome new fills !!! - Clinton 'Sypher' Dutton
For those who get blisters often on your handswhile drumming invest in a pair of light durable weight lifting gloves. they can breath and reduce the blisters to a zero, and you don't ruin your hands or make them look like one big callus. - Amanda
If you can't afford a drum pad and your parents are ready to kick you out of the house for denting up their furniture and making noise, try an old mouse pad. - Channah
Don't underestimate drum rudiments they are not just for practicing your technique and speed. they make great fills and rhyhms. e.g check out steve gadds pariddle groove or try starting a semiguaver triplet with a flam? sounds cool - Mehl

No matter what anyone says famous or not there is no such thing as a DRUM BEAT. beat is the name given to the "number" of parts in a bar as dictated by the time signature e.g. 4/4 has 4 beats 5/4 5 beats ect - Mehl

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Try playing things slow,work on perfection,then speed up gradually.many guys can play fast but not absolutely perfect,hitting a rim in the wrong spot is unexceptable,if you mess up start over until you get it perfect - matt(the bougwa drummer)

Try using marching sticks,their huge,it will kill yor arms,wrists and hands,maybe a few heads but your arms will get stronger - bougwa drummer

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I read one post that stated if you play china cymbal inverted you'll break more china cymbals and if you invert the china cymbal you'll break more sticks. Not true. I have been rocking over 31 years now and NEVER broke a cymbal and have broken very few sticks this only possible by correct cymbal placement and accurate striking of the china cymbal or any other cymbal for that matter......ROCK - rock drummer
Practice Doubling on a pillow or some thing that you have to work @ to make it bounce this will help you get faster and better - Mike Gore Jr.

DO NOT spend a lot of money buying expensive sets of drums and cymbals. I think that the most important thing is to get a good set of HEADS for a good sound. And about cymbals, many B20s have an awesome sound, projection and durability. BELIEVE ME!!!!! - IVANHOE VERNAL

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Try drummin with a black light on in the room you are drummin in it creates a different feeling and gives you a new perspective of your drums everytime i do it i think of some crazy cool new beat - the paradiddlin percussor
For first time recorders: PLAY AS LOUD AS YOU CAN!!!!! you may think you've recorded loud enough but as soon as those other instruments pile on top of you, all your drumming efforts will NOT be heard, and have fun too :) - Ann Nonomous
For smooth double bass, try the same technique you would use to get your hands to strike evenly.... start with your left foot (or right foot if you're left-handed) and alternate LrLrLr...accent with the left on every stroke. This takes quite a bit of practice (as well as some "getting used to" the feel of the left-foot lead). After your left can dominate the right, you will notice that your double bass playing will be more uniform, regardless which foot you "start with". - Jim Badd
Hit the bass drum from an angle. - Tre' Cool

You gotta FEEL the beat! Otherwise, you can't FILL it! FEEL it and then FIll it--that's what I tell my students. The BEAT is the most important part--so like, you can't do it without bass--I find that helps peoples' outlook on playing marching bass. - Lisa K.

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Practise practise practise even when you dont feel like it pick up your sticks and do SOMETHING through the years i have been in several types of bands and have played everything from alabma to zz top,waylon jennings, black sabbath,eagles, patsy cline, rush. play it all!! dont be a rock drummer or a jazz drummer be a DRUMMER. go to open mics i have fun jamming with people i have just met, and its kind of scary not knowing what the song is but if you are confident you can play something that fits ,and if you do goof its just a jam no one minds plus you get to see a bunch of other drummers and may pick something up at the age of 35 i felt i was in a rut i took lessons from a drummer way younger then me i learned a lot and even showed him a little and again practise practise practise ROCK n ROLL - beluga bob

Learning by the book is overrated....I have taught myself to play both guitar and drums without any help. Listen to Rush for some cool technical stuff, listen to Slipknot to get some good ideas for double bass..While doing so, don't get discouraged because Neil has been playing for like 50 years. Absorb things you hear in songs by pros, practice it and expand it. - ryan

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PLAY EVERY DAY if possible and be comfertable on what ever your playig. - odessadrummerboy
Muscles aren't everything, as the heavier the muscle the harder it is to move your feet. It has to do with your ankles, learn to strengthen and excercise them before you think about putting on muscle. Muscle has nothing to do with it. - piers

GIVE IT SOME ATTITUDE! believe your an amazing drummer and you will be an amazing drummer - Samwise

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Stay loose and relaxed or you might hurt yourself, if you have to much anxiety when playing. - paul mccanas
Practise tripplets for at least an hour a day and they will sound great in just over a month - Ben Johnston
If you're just starting out, don't go for the most expensive drum set. Like any hobby, start small and cheap until you are confident with your skills. You never want to break a $50 snare head when you're still learning 4/4 time. - ThexLou

To play Double Pedal faster lift up your heal while keeping the front part of you foot on the pedal.Then as your heal begins to fall lift up the front part of your foot. Let all the weight of your foot hit the pedal. As soon as your foot touches the pedal repeat this. This will become more easy as you practise. - Andrew Smith

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Dont be afarid to hit hard... some songs call for some hard-hitting drums, dont come down with your whole arm, come about 80%with ur arm, and 20% with your wrist, some as you get close, snap your wrist... and Learn triplets, They are so cool... (left hard, right hand, bass drum)... it sounds really good. - omar gomar
If you get some old classic or latin style music and try to fuse it in with you r playing or fills, it sounds really cool. also with some of these beats you can speed up or slow down to where it sounds out of time when it really isn't - Brad

Play good - Keegan

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