Drum Tips · Tricks · Secrets · Drum Lessons
Over
2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets!
 

Free Drum Lessons and Articles

Your Drum Tips
HOME   |  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14
Drum Tips that "you" submitted. -Thank you!


Drum Bum  |  Drum Lessons  |  Drum Forum  |  Drum Links  
Talk to other drummers! Most drummers are more than happy to explain a cool lick if you ask them. I take it as a complement! - Lil' Adam
Click track on stage? Not every band needs (or wants) the drummer to use a click track in live settings, but a relatively inexpensive and reliable setup is to buy a Tama RhythmWatch ($100) and use it with a $100 pair of in-ear monitor buds (you don't have to have the whole in-ear system). Make sure to set the tempos at practice and WRITE THEM DOWN on the setlist. Very useful for emo/punk/rock bands that want that consistency! - Adam

Practice Your Beats Until You know them by Heart - Ryan Hencken

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Keep 2 extra drumsticks in your pocket in case you drop one, if you do, don;t stop just grab one from your pocket. - Yo
Practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practicepractice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice

practice practice practice practice
practice practice practice practicepractice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practicepractice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice and you will suceed - Briana
Let the sticks do the bouncing for you. - Reed Brashears
For a good rim click sound, use an LP Jam Block. It can easily be heard by your audience-even in unmiked situations. Jam on!!! - Dave

For double bass patters, use power from your thigh muscles and backs of the calves, and use the heel-toe technique for slower stuff to ensure hard hitting and good timing. For really fast stuff like that use in thrash, death metal, etc, float your heels above the pedal board and push with just the ball and toes of your foot, with power from the back, and especially the front of the calves (you'll cramp on the shin muscles if you're doing it right, this is normal, but can be avoided with proper stretching). - Ariel

Drum Lessons

Drum Lessons Organized
Find Drum Lessons... CDs, Books, and DVDs... organized by style.

Some metal drummers will tell you the playing barefoot is best because you have a full range of movement. Although I agree, I find that playing barefoot means less power because you feel more vibrations, and it can be painful for some. There are shoes that I use, and other companies make them, for track and field athletes which feature soles with a huge range of motion and are extremely flexible. They're also very breathable, and the ankle is made of a durable elastic that forms to your ankle. They're designed for wearing barefoot anyways, so it's all the comfort and flexibility of playing barefoot, but with the power of a shoe. - Ariel

When you're practicing on the practice pads, it's good to use bigger sticks (maybe double the size you use now) because your hands will work harder, and you'll build the muscles that will give you power, endurance, and speed. You'll notice a big difference when you go back to your smaller sticks and snare drum. I use Vater XD-5B's for regular playing, but I practice on my pads with Regal Tip 3B's, they're like playing with the butt end of a pool cue. It'll feel weird at first, but once you get use to it, and go back to your regular kit, HUGE difference (no pun intended). - Ariel

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Always switch your hands up between the hi hat and the snare, it adds more of an effect to the song that is almost indescribable (or however you spell that)! - Daniel Moore
LISTEN TO YOUR INSTRUCTER belive me if you dont listen to your teacher you will mess up - NIck e

Play with passion! Don't let others judge your drumming based on what they want to hear. If you spend your drumming career conforming to what people want you will never be happy. - Alex Norton

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Cheap way to muffle that 16" or 18" take a thin paper towel fold it twice to make a square and then tape it on the underside of the batter head - johnathan mccoy
Learn the technicalities - drum rudiments, essential drum beats, fast sight reading - you'll pick up new beats a lot faster and won't be wasting time trying to comprehend that drum tab or doing a fill thats just a mixture of stuff you should already know. - Duckford
Be as clean and solid as you can be, but don't be stiff! Keeping the time perfectly is harder than trying to to do fills, besides many musicians want the time and rythm. (Try to hit the rim shot on the snare) Try to use a loop, so you can learn to sound like a loop. Fills are extras, they have to be clean too though... - pdp drummer
Start using your weaker hand more for everyday things and your hand will improve more in drumming - dan wall

Always remember to stay confident. believe that you can play like the pros and just study your craft. - roderick

To the Top

Although i haven't been playing for long, i think that when you start playing-start whith basic,not too trashy but not too expensive a set. and from there progress sloly-i don't think you should get a slightly expensive instrument but saving up and going all out-unless you r not sure about your persistence. - ittai hoffman

My drum tip is that if you mum gets annoyed with you Because ITS TO LOAD!!! ask her to get sound mats and make sure you dont pay for them. - ya mum

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Stuffing like 5 towels in your base drum really comes out with a good sound. - Ben German
Mix it up.Dont be afraid to take a bunch of stuff you already know and bunch it togethor to make your own sound. - bob

Dont go incredibly fast if yur a begginer go to the speed yur comfortable with as fast as the fastest drummer on the planet PRACTISE!!! - jack isaac

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Everytime you do hands and feet exercise, either it's paradiddle, single stroke rolls, double stroke rolls, use a liftweigther on both of your wrist. Try to reach your normal speed with the liftweighter. When you take the thing off, your speed will be increasing. - Febby
Don't only play tabs, JUST JAM!!! It helps you develop your own style. - Tom Tom
When you hear a really good song,(for me, sugar we're goin' down from fall out boy) and you know how to do the drum solo, but you cant do the bass drum rythm? Well, to all of you who have heard sugar we're goin down, the bass drum beat is pretty intense. I've found a cure to this problem. For some intense drum beats, just pop the drum key in the socket used for adjusting the footboard, and place the indent of you foot there. Then, this focuses all the pressure on the pedal. Trust me, it works a lot. - Henri Wizdrummer
Actually, Welfare, not trying be "that guy", but Mastodon's drummer is Brann Dailor, and yes his style is tech, but Brann is known more for his odd time signatures - Rob

Wright your owen songs to see what your made of. - marsy

To the Top

WHEN PLAYING IN A BAND!! If you are a drummer of a band, just keep in mind that you are the key to the band. Keep the rhythm going straight!! - Fluffy

What ever you do, don't ever color the tip of the drum stick. It could leave unecessary marks on the drum and it could be hard to clean off. Especially on someone else's drum set. - Jefferson

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


When playing the drums, don't try to chew gum while you are playing. It help messes you up on your rhythm. - Jefferson
When playing on the drums be sure that you have ear plugs so that it wouldn't ruin your hearing. - Jefferson

If you have a not-so-good ride cymbal, try using the tip of your drum stick. I did that, and it worked. Also, make sure that you have a felt on the top and bottom of your ride. That also helps it to sound better. Another way to get rid of the problem is to just buy a brand new cymbal all together. - Cheeseman

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Before you go and buy the cheapest equipment, do a little research. Sometimes that extra $50 will ensure that your hardware will last another year. But then again, it's up to the drummer to decide which companies are his/her favorite. - Cheeseman
Backsticking - Once you've mastered double pedal technique, speed and endurance try to combine it with backsticking technique. Use your pointing and middle finger to hold the stick and twirl it to the back, try to master this and use it to the cymbal as you hit both of the pedal, let's see if you can drive the crowds mad. - Edgar Rohnzen
If you're looking for a sort of echo effect on your base drum, apply pressure with your toes on the very tip of your pedal with your heel up, then drop your heel while lifting your toes to get a softer sound, then slam with your toes in one smooth movement. you'll get a bad-BUM sound. - Max Z

HERE IT IS- 1.)Everyone has opinions,their are people out there that think the drummer for slipknot is the greatest. Thats is hardcore wrong.
2.) remember that their are latin,metal,funk, and tons of types of music. Their is not a single drummer out there that is the best at all.
3.) dont look up to drummers who are just good or because people say he is good. Be inspired by who you like not who you are told to like
4.) remember also to be yourself but take ideas that have been done before. It is said that being original cant be done anymore and it is true. If you think of a cool idea....it has been done before. dont get caught up because it has been dont before.
5.)Final tip is to show of by NOT just solo's. some cool things to do at shows involve things like twirling sticks and standing on your throne(just dont fall off like the pantera drummer :) - Drake Wilder

Drum Bum

To the Top

Myth: Ringo Starr/Neil Peart/Mike Portnoy/Travis Barker/whoever is the best drummer ever. Fact: There's no real "best drummer", it's all subjective. You can have a favorite drummer (Brann Dailor of Mastodon in my case), but that doesn't mean he/she is the greatest.

Now, for an actual tip, take lessons. That may sound obvious, but I was self-trained for a couple of years. I've been taking lessons for about a month and a half now, and I've learned so much. If you want to be a good drummer, it's cruicial that you have a basic understanding of drum rudiments and timekeeping.

That having been said, have fun! Drumming isn't a cubicle job, it's a great way to have some fun and get physical. Find your groove and go with it! - Keith

If your floor drum sounds BAD,TIE A WASHING CLOTH ON TOP OF THE PAD,THIS WILL MAKE IT SOUND LOUDER,DEEPER AND COOLER,SO.....ROCK ON FREACKY BRO - aaron ward

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Practise all variations of triplets, even away from the set. use your hands, sticks on a pillow, whatever. by mastering triplets, not only will you chops improve, but your flow&rhythm will be superior. this includes triplets between bass and sticking. GO DRUM. - Dylan Todhunter
Use double bass: Double bass pedals sound a bit extreme but when you have been using them for a month or so you will start making your beats more complex with double bass pedals. - Matt

If you aren't at home or somewhere that has a drumset that you can practice on, try practicing your drumroll on a staircase. It works for me. Remember, practice makes perfect!!! - Shawn R.

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Make sure you never bite off more than you can chew while playing. Play to your ability's edge, but don't fall over it. - Guru
One simple trick to get good, is... TRAIN HARD! Come on all you drummers out there. Everyone can be good and famous if they really really want. I'll see you guys out there someday, peace! - Oliver.
Try to have a nice Repertoire of drum sticks. not only do they produce different sounds, they set the right mood for music, and change it up a bit - qwerty
When practicing use slightly thicker sticks, it helps develop speed. Don't waste money on 'o' rings or expensive dampners. Tissue paper folded into a little rectangle then taped on works fine! Looks bad, but sounds good and is cheap. - Gareth

There is a new drumsticks on the markit called Slapstik. YOu don't have to play 16 notes with both hands anymore. This drumsticks will do it for you. - Rizer

To the Top

If you're having trouble tuning your drums, you may just have cheap drums. I found that when I bought more expensive quality drums, they were much easier to tune. They practically tune themselves. - Mark Schuer

Remove residue from duct tape, stickers, labels, or undetermined marks from your cymbals, hardware or drum shell finish or heads; WD-40 and a soft terri-cloth rag. Works wonders and won't harm the finish!! - Patrick Minikus

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Cross-stick sound - Try this, I get a lot of compliments on the sound / tone - When cross sticking have a Red plastic 'Jamb Block' mounted on the kick drum hoop where some might traditionally mount a cow bell. The leading playing edge of the block will sit just to the right front of your snare rim about 1" or so from the drum. Now instead of hitting the rim of your drum for your cross stick sound, hit the jamb block. You get an especially sweet sound when using a good quality all wood snare w/ wood hoops. Try it!! - Patrick Minikus
Get a inspiration, dont just give up because you can get one thing down, look up to a certain drummer when playing, it will want you to get better. - Jesus Christ

IF YOU PLAY DEATH METAL to get an amazing sound, get 2 quarters and put them where u pedal head would hit, then tape them so they stick. They fall off a lot so put lots of tape on it to make a nice bassy sound to it aswell. If you wana hear what it would sound like before doing it, listen to one song by LAMB OF GOD there drummer does it to his bass drum - gc

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Never take in too much(more than enough) food before playing.This makes you feel uncomfortable when playing. - Gilbert Yankson
If you have an Ipod or cd player or whatever listen to that while you play drums, it'll help you with staying in beat if you have a band. also, its just fun to do. - Austin
Don't practice on the practice pad 100% of the time. Be sure you're practicing on real drums too since that is what you'll be performing on. - Dave
Varnish the inside of your shells - it stops the wood absorbing sound so you get a brighter louder and clearer sound - Patrick

If you want to measure you single stroke rolls and get them fast, get the drumameter. Its a cool drum machine type thing and they judge the worlds fastest drummer contests with it. - Engle

To the Top

If you have an addiction to drums, just practice more. You'll get over it. ;>) Seriously, be sure to lead a balanced life. An addiction to drumming is ok but continue to socialize. You'll need the diplomatic skills in working with bandmates. - Giggle

When you're taking a break on the drums and you need to put your drumsticks down for a minute, you can't put them on your legs because they'll roll off. I suggest you put one drumstick in your mouth and the other one under your left leg. This way you can adjust things hands free. - andy g.

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Ive been playing death and thrash metal for a while now and i find even in genres associated with fast and continued playing of double kicker some times enough is enough a bridge played with closed hats or ride with a simple beat is more effective then a blast beat in some cases - cameron
Just remember when you're in a band you're there to make good songs for the audience not to show off that cool drum fill you've been working on. If you're bored your probably not playing the style you want - steele

Watch some travis barker. - MICHAEL

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

CHOOSE YOUR STICKS CAREFULLY - If you are having trouble rolling or doing quick bouncy rudiments or fills, try using some heavier sticks. The same vice versa- if you are having trouble playing quickly or your arms are getting tired, use lighter sticks. A good median is a pair of 5A sticks - Max Holmberg
rlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrrlrllrlrr sice paradiddle for starters - anonymous
Start slow then go faster challenge your self by playing with your left hand playing 8th nothes then vice virca a easy paradiddle is rlrr lrll continue this then play rrlrr llrll until you master both - abuk
For help with your grip when your hands are sweaty , either use a light leather glove or rub your hands with chalk or a soft type of oli based lotion - Ant Cooke

When using a cheap snare head a little bit of paper towl and Duck tape helps cut down on the ringing - Ervin

To the Top

Always have fun when you are playing and when you play just stick some hearphones and have a tune going in them and play along with it i do it it is great and i been playing drums since i was 6 years's old and still loveing it - adam

Learn all metallica, streetlight manifesto, and catch 22 songs. Enough said. - Amanda Persinger

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


When I first started learning drums I would listen to my favorite music with the headphones, and concentrate on blocking out everything except the drums. Headphones in my opinion allow you to do this easier. I still do this today and play drums with the music, and I play anything from Tool, Rush, Muduvayne, Godsmack, Disturbed you name it. Always back it up, replay it step by step until you get it right. + always keep a set of sticks close by! You can do anything, if you want it bad enough. - Drumjammer63
I just started percussion a week ago, and I'm already practicing to get on my school's Winter Percussion Drumline. Try-outs are in less the a week! Bottom line is. No matter what, you should ALWAYS stick with it, and dream big. - erin

To increase power and to get the right sound out of your cymbals, tilt them slightly inward. this will help prevent hitting them wrong and cracking them. and also, raise the height of your high hats, the lower they are, the more power you are losing when you hit them. - 18 wheeler

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

For a nice trap case get a large rubbermaid tub they stand up well to the wear and tear and you can find them with weels - Chris
If you play hard bring a large sheet of plywood to your gig & bolt your drums to it , so they wont move. - Gene
Whilst setting up the drumkit at a gig, make sure you take your time to get it just how you like it and dont feel rushed. If it isnt set up right, you will soon notice it about half way through the first song! - Rocky Racoon
Stuff your bass drum to the max it makes it sound better - me

PUT GOD FIRST AND YOUR CRAFT SECOND AND HE WILL ELEVATE YOU - JAY 3

To the Top

WHEN PLAYING THE DOUBLE BASS EFFECT:HEEL UP, KICK ONCE CLOSE TO THE END OF THE PEDAL AND SLIDE INTO THE FRONT IN A SINGLE STROKE - JAY 3

You can make paradiddles more fun to play if you also practice them inverted. ie: LRRL RLLR or LRLR RLRL, etc. - Drummer

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Just love your drums. If you get mad at something or someone, don't take it out on your drums. - Kevin
If someone tells you that you're drums "aren't tuned right," call them an idiot. Or if they play guitar or bass, tell them there is no "right" way. Either way, do what YOU think sounds good. - President of Antartica

When you are trying to play fast start out by playing the strokes using only your wrist, then switch to your middle finger and your ring finger to control the sticks. (Dave Weckyl does it all the time) - Zach

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

An overlooked contributor to carpel tunnel syndrome is poor posture, especially in the neck. - metlhart
Stop sizing-up other drummers. Who is better than who is subjective and irrelevant. We all have an interesting approach to playing and drums and anyone can benefit from watching/listening to anyone else play with an open mind. - Kevin
To stop you drums from ringing put a bit of foam in them - ryan
If u dont make noise in your drum room or in your house when you practice paraddidles...join 2 thickness mouse pads and put over hard base... and problem fixed!!!!! its great...!!!! - Dudu

Gaining the confidence to perform in front of people is as simple as making sure you know your parts by heart, and that simply means practicing them (the way you plan to play them) until you don't have to think about them anymore. - metlhart

Gifts for Drummers

To the Top

It's better on your sticks when you hit with the tip and the not body - Shawn Jones

To get easier and faster drumming when doing paradidles put your hands further up the stiks makin sure your grip is loose and hit the drums u r using hard and when the stick hits the drum and cums bak up to the position where it was sitting loosly in ure hands push ure fingers up which makes it faster and more comfortable to drum ! - ??

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


hi there everybody from my home town iowa and around the world. i dont have much time to talk so wen using a double basss pedal try making both your legs at equal strength otherwise you wont be able to properly play a double bass. - joey jordison
Try playing Progressive Rock or something with awkward timing. Jumping in and out of a 3/4 and 7/8 makes you feel the rhythm much easier. My previous band played 15 min songs with 5 or 6 changes and pauses. I hated them initially but it made me an exponentially better drummer. If you like your fills listen to 'The Who'. Keith Moon knew the rest of the band knew the beat without him so this freed him up to do whatever fills he liked. - Jimbo

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Start with uneven spring tension - Joe

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Start with uneven spring tension - Joe
Practice using different rhythms. It will improve your drumming and stimulate you creatively. - Polyrythmic "Greek" Drummer
This may be overstating the obvious, but don't booze it up when playing a gig! Drink water or gatorade!You will play much better and enjoy the night a lot more! - Mark Guetzka
We asked a number of band leaders what constituted a 'good drummer'. These were their responses:
-Good time
-Good attitude
-Ability to adapt musically
-Being reliable
-Originality
Surprisingly (or not) their answers had nothing to do with playing fast, double bass, or drum solos. Now I'm not trying to spoil anyone's fun here. Nobody likes a good drum solo better than yours truly. But, let's make sure we have our priorities in order. After all, we want to work don't we? - Mike Donovan

Some guys think that if there's a wrinkle in the drumhead you're doing something wrong. Actually, if the drum sounds good, you're doing everything right! - Mike

To the Top

When I was young, I would polish my symbols till they shined to beat loud and in time. But then one day I stopped, leaving my only symbol (a big one)to flourish with the grimes of dispair. Then it all started, I felt a muffled ting somewhere, there, amonst my three peace drum set. It grew and kept growing, larger each day, until like a rudiment it hit me. I would take and find that muffled sound and use it as best I could. And there I was, having come through a bitter plague of symbol, now hearing the grown of a crudy unpolished symbol. I surfaced with this terror-ishly flying sound, which looked just like one of those flying saucers there, and was I now but a child of the Rock n' roll. A ferrocious Crocodillian rhithyme, swelltered between me, and my sticks and three peace drumset. I Thank You for the time, and hope I have been a help to someone out they're. - Rich Mahtaps Stickloid

I was reading about double bass. I saw what that DB person was saying. High expectations is correct. I found that for the way I made double bass work is that I started playing and alternating on foot at a time. I use a ghost pedal or a double kick pedal. I found that it helps me out a lot. I can`t play 2 single pedals i`ve tried. I`ve been playing drums for over 20 years and due to the alternating and trying everytime I play, i`ve managed to work my double kick in but a few years to 64th notes. My advice is for anyone wanting to play double bass is to start out slow as I said by alternating right left. Try to keep a steady run as much as possible. Don`t try to go as fast as you can to start. It usually never works out. When you feel comfertable with that, then go a little faster. Also for me what I find helps with my speed is doing it barefoot. When you get death metal drummers telling you as a compliment that you got some awesome foot work, i`d say that you have achieved what you are trying to do. Hope this little bit of advice helps those up and coming double bassers. - Dave

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


If your drums are hard to tune,it maybe that the drum has bad bearing edges.It doesn't matter if the drum is a student line or a top of the line. Any drum can have bad bearing edges. I have seen lower line drums that sounded great! And I have seen top of the line drums,sound horrible.
3 reasons why drums sound bad:
1--bad bearing edges.
2--Something wrong with the drum head.
3--lack of knowledge of how to tune. - Mike Fillion/ the"Drum Doctor"
DOUBLE BASS - If you can't do double beats and possibly a few sloppy triple beats with one foot, you may not need a double pedal yet. Mastering the dominant foot first will help you develop your weak foot faster because you already know what works - Jonathan

You Don't need the best equipment to make good music........ although it does help! - Bruce

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Buy cheap drum sticks they last forever also dont try throwing your drum sticks at the ground and watching them fly back up the tips will break off its cool to watch though. - Cougar boy
PRACTICE FROM A GOOD DRUMMER OR LOOK ONLINE FOR DRUMMING TIPS IF YOU WANT TO BE AS GOOD AS ME. - HOLDEN VELAZQUEZ
Put your drumkey on a rope or keyring so you don't lose it. People like to steal these things so don't leave them laying around. - Bill Beley
Stick trick - when playing a solo or any beat in the middle of your fill in you can flip your stick all you have to do is you can hit the snare once with your left hand and with your right hand put the stick under the stick and flip it catch it with that same hand and continue playing it shoud only last a second so you can get back to your song or solo - Anthony D

Don't practice when you play the drums in a band. Play for the music and forget about practicing. You can practice later in your garage or studio. - Sojo

To the Top

If you're working on difficult drumbeats, count out loud. This helps you know where you are and its a good habit to get into for all practicing. - Sojo

If you like congas but don't know how to play them, consider playing the cajon. It's easier to master and the bass tones are outstanding. - Bataboy

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


You can use the cajon drum as a drum seat (instead of using a drum throne). This way you can play the cajon while you play your drumset. - Bataboy
Don't wait until the day of the gig to tune your drums. Tune them in advance so you'll be a lot closer to that desired sound when you're ready to perform. - Miles Brody

Drumset Tip: Some say to bury the bass drum beater and some say you should let it rebound so that you can hear the tone of the bass drum. I say, play to the music. If you're playing funk, burying the beater is fine. It lends itself to the style. I mean guys prefer the dead bass sound anyway so why not? Likewise, if you're playing in a band where the desired sound is more of an open tone bass drum, then you can play it differently. - Marcus L.

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

The 5 primary snare drum rolls you need to know for band are the long stroke roll, the 5 stroke roll, the 9 stroke roll, and the 13 stroke roll. - Deon
To be a good drummer, always keep a positive attitude and work very hard. - Pfunk
You don't need a drumset to practice drums. You can work on drumbeats by doing them on your hands and legs and working out difficult patterns that way. Then you can take them to the kit later. - Jeremy S
Want to be the worlds fastest drummer. RELAX! - Wise One

Make eye contact with the ladies in the audience BUT at the same time stay focused on your groove so you wont drop your sticks, the ladies give inspiration to play better if you know what I mean ;) - Phil

To the Top

It's easy to make your own snare drum muffling ring. Just take an old drumhead that you're not using anymore and and cut a circle around the outside edge. - Pete

Discover all the possibilities of your drumsticks, try holding them softly and clutching strongly, near of the tip, far from the tip, hit with loose movements fast or slowly and also tightly. You'll find complete new sounds in your symbals. - Uriel Hernandez

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


If your trying to lower the sound of your drumms so your room mate dosent get pissed put your bass as close as possibel to a wall. it works - alan sanders central middel schools jazz drummer
Dont try to fill the song with a ton of drums when the song doesnt need it. the drummer of wolfmother did nothing but keep the time for most of one of their songs. know when to go all out and when to pass the lime light. - Matthew Hagen

Even if you're not around your set, you can still play with your feet(airdrums or air bass) that way when you get to your set your feet will be warm and ready, to sound like speeding demon. (take advantage of it everytime you're siting) - Excalibur

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

To find the best licks that you can call your own, just get comfortable and jam for a while, when you find yourself doing something you've never done before that sounds cool, then stop and practice it for a while. next time you play make sure and be able to duplicate it, This is how i have come up with all my best stuff! - Lew - The Influence

Drum Chat

Sing the limb you have problems with. Suprisingly, when you are having difficulty executing a new beat (for instance you can't get the bass drum to land where you want, or the clave on the samba isn't landing where you want), slow way down and don't play the limb you are having trouble with. Sing the part instead and keep slowing down until you can sing it. You will see that your problems are not physical but mental. You will also find that if you do this and really slow down until you can sing the part, the limbs will come fast. Voila! - Jackrabbit
When you first start playing make sure you have a drum teacher because you may pick up some bad habbits without one. - Matt
When trying to come up with new fills (Try to do this, it sounds good and develops a personal style)dont try and hit every drum on the kit! Try and play some of your fave rythems( that are within ur ability) and then try each drum out individually. then choose ur fave drums. mark then wit something and create ur rythem using only those drums, also dont be afraid to use ur cymbals in the fill. too many drummers only use there cymbals at the end and they sound rubbish. use ur cymbals wisely.( ps. i worked this theory out on my own in my garage with my kit. it really helps). - thorpedo

One of the top questions about drums is, how can i play faster. Dont worry about playing faster, just play cleaner and keep a good beat for the band. - OddBill

To the Top

When ur doing a drum solo try not to think too much,let urself go!Dont always think u need to do the fastest most technically stuff all the time, work up ur solo smoothly its way more powerful too go from slower spaced out fills to hard rockn then to go straight into the craziest shit u can do!?
Just feel it and enjoy it thats what i do! - Adrian kelly

Have a favourite drummer. it is good to have someone to aspire to. but listen to a veriaty of music. pick out your fave tracks within ur ability and practice playing them increasing speed until you can play it as fast or faster than the song. and dont let people pressurise you on a fave drummer. pick one you like and has SKILL. EG I like tre cool and joey jordison but everyone at my schhol thinks they r poo. hope this helps - nathan thrpe

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Practice playing on dead surfaces, but not all the time because if u do, then u will get use to playing on dead surfaces all the time and will be a bit difficult to play on the actual drum - D
If you can beatbox (make drum noises with your mouth) you can make up new beats anywhere, and if you had a voice recorder it would be much easier. Also check out drummers like Jon Theodore from the mars volta, he was trained in tribal drumming and incorperates it into his prog rock band, and also ben walsh from the bird, he might be harder to track down he's from a local band in sydney but i have never seen any drummer live get the crowd worked up as much as he does, and i saw them do a tabla verses drumkit battle and it was amazing. tappa tappa tappa - Willbott

If u want to listen to a clss drummer check out THE NAMELESS by slipknot. fact. slipknot have 3 drummers 1. shaun crahan 2 joey jordison( brilliant, best metal drummer ever)and chris fehn. also listen to wednesday 13 I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. ta - nana t

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

This is for all the greatest drummer myths. The truth is is that you are the greatest drummer, you just havn't practiced enough. - Greg
Hi hat stand tip: Sometimes when you buy a high stand the rod is too long. It sticks up and gets in the way of hitting the toms. You can actually take a hack saw and saw it off. My hi hat rod only sticks up an inch past the top hi hat cymbal. Just be sure not to saw it off too short. - Peter
I find that in my "repair Kit' I can use 2 cymbal felts on my sticks if I need "mallets" in a quick hurry. They work great - Steve Hlabse
If you don't use accents right, then the whole purpose of the song is lost - Mike

Keep god 1st. practice makes perfect. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! Listen to drummers that are better than u. listen to all types of music! - josh "spanky jr." Truiett

To the Top

IF U HAVE 2 PAIRS OF STICKS like i do, dont practise then snap the nylon heads off ur practice pair. mistake 2.dont in a desperate fit of panic about how ur going to practice take ur best ones and leave them there 5 hours away in your aunties house with a 8 yr old, 5 yr old , and 3 yr old. i cant sleep for worry of whats happened to my vic firths. i have to play with staggs with a missing head. AAAAAAAAAAGH - NATHAN T

Im a bigginer but every time i start to do a rool i lose my sticks so i put electrical tape about half way and down to the bottom of both sticks it make it eiser to grip - travis

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Doubles, Triples, Ahhh! Practice your quintouples to get your quadruples better, quadruples to get triples... ect. - Sean Collins
Don't use your fingers! If you want to get really fast, put your fingers on the stick and use your wrist. - Sean Collins

Practice does not make perfect, you practice to get better. - Bnard

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

For hardware use travel golf case, holds alot. - shaun
Be supportive of other drummers! - Nicole
Tips for Drum Teachers - Want to make it more interesting for your students? Fill your drum room with percussion toys. Bongos, Shakers, Splash Cymbals, etc. and work them into the lessons. It keeps it interesting for them. - Bert
NEVER CLEAN YOUR CYMBALS!!!!! the sound gets better with age and looks retro and funky - ruby*soho

Listen to vinnie paul and lars ulrich. they are both amazing double bass drummers and they will inspire you - Will

To the Top

Sometimes you CAN over work when you feel like hurting your drums step away from the drums and relax start practice again when you are in a better frame of mind (it took me 2 weeks one time b4 i could play again but when i did i nailed my songs perfectly) - bob bobertson (its an alias)

Try getting one of the multiple sized cowbell sets. it can give you differant sounds and wils allow you keep your music not boring. - casey jones

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Wrap the grip and the area below the tips of your drumsticks in either electrical or duct tape. It provides a slightly improved grip and can prevent alot of splinters from forming. Oh and one more thing, Neil Peart is king of all drummers!!!!!!!!!!! - JRock
Squeeze a soft ball in your weaker hand evey now and again to improve wrist strengh and to improve drumming! - dan wall

Buy a Vater stick holder. the company dont know it but u can use it as a bell also =] - justin

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

Become a drumtech for a local band you like. you can teach that person and learn something from them and in th long run its beneficial to both parties - xTOASTx
Before a show or practicing make sure all your nuts and bots are properly tightened. You don't want a falling cymbal or drum when you're playing. - Greg
Myth: neil peart is the best drummer in the world fact: it is ringo,ringo???? not even close, Peart is the best... - anonymous
When you're looking for songs to play the drums along with, be sure you pick songs that challenge you. If you play nothing but the easy ones, you'll never get anywhere. - Teeah

Express yourself, just let your emotion drive you in playing the drums... - Bryan

To the Top

411Drums.com - An established and respected educational resource for teachers and players. 411 contains lessons, drum history, tips, glossary, FAQs, articles, and more.

Just hang loose and have fun. - Bob

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


If your Bandmates say you play to loud. Tell them to take there skirts off... - Gregory Finley (School Bus Yellow)
A good inexpensive way to carry stands, etc. is a golf bag. I got a nice big one with a bunch of clubs that I ended up not using for $15 at a garage sale. It can get heavy but it keeps the unwieldy things in one place. If you have room in your vehicle, a golf bag mounted to a cart would be good too. Roam the local gorge sales for bargains. - Jim

Practice always!! - Allister

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

I find it good using a 2" piece of DUCT TAPE on the top of my tom tom drum heads for an INSTANT SOUND TUNE-UP before a gig if you can't tune your drums with a room full of people! - Darrell
The more things you add to your drum set, the more ideas you have for the song. - Rich Piechnik II
Never leave on a practice night before a show it can really mess you up (if you not peforming then its fine) - liz
Playing HEAVY with Skills - There are two names that come to mind Danny Carey (TOOL) and Dave Lombardo . Danny's easily up there with Neil - and that other old guy can still double - kick the crap out of his TAMA's - bay area metal

LEARN TO PLAY JAZZ - not only does it make you a far more advanced drummer, but jazz drumming takes bits and pieces from all styles of music and compiles them all into one, making you a more rounded drummer. - Max

To the Top

If your Bandmates say you play to loud. Tell them to take there skirts off... - Gregory Finley (School Bus Yellow)

MYTH: Niel Peart, Ringo and Ringo, and John Bonham are the greatest drummers who ever lived.
FALSE: they all learned primarily by watching drummers like Buddy Rich, (who I might add is the greatest drummer who ever lived) or perhaps even Gene Krupa, who taught Rich. With out those two drum geniuses, drum soloing probably wouldn't be in existance right now - Max

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


TUNE YOUR CYMBALS by putting a thin piece of duct tape under an area of your cymbal that sounds good. It slightly mutes it, but makes the whole cymbal sound better. - Max
Be a jazz drummer. jazz drummers are the best drum set players in the world. ask any jazz drummer to play rock, funk, jazz, most latin, or anything else and they should have it down on the spot, instead of having a rock drummer who knows how to play 8th and 16th notes on the HH while hitting the snare on 2 and 4. - Max

Practice getting independence in all four limbs, and then practice getting drum rudiments down while practicing independence in all four limbs, put it together with listening to a lot of great drummers, and you've been turned into an amazing drum soloist - Max

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

An amateur practices until he gets it right, but a professional practices until he can't get it wrong - Peter
If your playing with a double pedal dont sit too high and dont dont too low on your throne because sitting too high damages your back and if your too low ur lets wont wor as fast so my tip is to sit o your thighs are parralell with the ground - sam pritchard
Don't ever EVER try and play in a gig with a broken leg....it hurts - mr mcdrum

Odd Time Signatures, Make your sound more interesting! Say if you're playing in 4/4, that's 4 bars of quater notes. To make it more interesting you can play something like 1 bar which has 1+ 2e+a 3 4+ a, you know just play with different timmings in each bar to get a more technical yet good groove going, don't stick with the whole "that suits the song" although that's very important too, suit the song but in a more creative way i suggest you listen to alot of proggressive music to get this kind of feel goin. - Rick Verma

Drum Videos / DVDs

Drum Sticks - Choose the right ones for you! There are thousands of sticks and mallet available from Zildjian, Vic Firth, Vater, Pro-Mark, Pearl and others. It may take abit of time but beleive me it's worth finding what sticks can potentially make you play better, rather than getting a different pair everytime or purchasing artists series find your own one. If you even feel the slightest uncomfortable with your sticks the wieght, thickness or feel of your sticks can matter alot. I personally use jazz style 7AN. Also the right tip is very important too. Choose wisely! - Rick Verma

To the Top

For all you hacks out there it's easy to copy someone elses work , it's to make myour own sounds and grooves is the tricky part! DUH! - Robbie Peterson

Roll with a single stick. I just found this out, even though I've been playing for ~5 years now. But if you take a single hand, put it over the drum, push down using your whole hand (perhaps more energy down with the middle of your hand as the fulcrum) and use the rim to help you bounce back up, using gravity you can roll with a single hand. - kris

DRUMTIPS.com
Over 2000 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Drums!
Drums - Drumset - Drummers - Percussion


Sit up straight when you play the drums. Poor posture is not only bad for your back but it throws your center of gravity off and adversly affects your balance on the drums. - Joe Mitano
Make sure u guys warm up b4 u guys start drumming....lots of pplz 4get to do that. - Azraei

Put a blanket in your bass drum to get a better sound - david

 Post Drum Tips
Share your tips, drum secrets, drum tricks, or drum lessons with us!
If you play drums and have a special tip, we welcome your submission.

DRUMS means "Do drum rudiments unless you mean to suck." - Joe Liavel
Cross overs on drumset is one of the tricks I do while doing triplets on a single foot pedal - jonathan fortson

If you are getting blisters on your fingers, you are holding the sticks to hard. Hold the stick only enough to keep the stick in your hand. Your thumb and index finger should hold the stick. Plus, when you hold the stick to hard you can cause massive tension in the elbow or top of forearm. Lighten up the grip and control the bounce. You will still have the power. Get a dvd of Led Zep and watch John Bonhams hands. Pure power. - Wilbur

Personalized Drumsticks

Always start VERY slow when working on a beat, fill, rudiment etc. After you know that you have the basic feel for it, then you can speed it up slowly until you are at the speed that you want it. Pay attention to accents and hitting every drum as close to the center as possible. This makes for better practice and a much crisper and tighter sound out of your playing. I have heard some wicked fast drummers that sound like poo when they play slower grooves. Fast is not really essential at first. PACE YOURSELF - jgiles
If you want to play funky, don't play too loud. The ghost notes will get lost. Make the accents and rimshots speak out, but don't let the overall volume get too loud. - Big D


HOME   |  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14
Drum Tips that "you" submitted. -Thank you!


We're waiting for your Drum Tip! You can post it here.

Drum Tips Home

DrumTips.com - 1000's of DRUMMING TIPS for Drums and Percussion
including drum set, marching percussion, snare drum, hand drumming and drum tuning.
Frequently asked questions, info. on buying drums (acoustic or electronic drums),
teacher tips, reading, drum rudiments, warm ups, drum fills and more on drums!

  COOL LINKS

Drum Bum  |   Drum Lessons  |  More Drum Links

Drum Bum - T-shirts and Stuff for Drummers!

If it has to do with Drums, you'll find it at DrumBum.com.

Hot Tips on drum tuning, grooves, fills, drum solos, and more ...at DrumTips.com.

To the Top

Copyright © DrumTips.com - All rights reserved