Need help drumming...

[Joeydc2]

I have dabbled around playing the piano and guitar and I consider myself to be fairly musical. My brother is in a band and his friend just brought his drum set over, so I figured why not... Anyway, I understand rhythm and how amazing some of the offbeat stuff Carter does. With other instruments you can practice chords or pick up a tab sheet, but how do I improve overall drumming skills? I tried practicing some different fills, but does anyone have good drills or ways to get better? I appreciate any advise. Thanks

[musicman_ace]

To get better at drumming there in only one way. Rudiments. Not to say that Carter isn't amazing, but I'll bet 80% of what blows people away is just two or three rudiments played one after another. Rudiments are kind of simple, but combining them the way he does is difficult sometimes. Just take them slow and gradually get up to speed.
I use to have some drum sheets of a few Dave songs, I'll try to track them down.

A few drum tips.

1. to get faster single stroke rolls, on a pillow, tap 20 right hands taps and then 20 left, 20 right, 20 left until your arms just start to get tired. Then try playing a single stroke roll, you should get faster this way. (from Dennis C.)

2. Practice rudiments with you hands daily. Practice them with you FEET even more. If you want to play like Carter, rudiments on the feet help a lot.

3. Start with a basic drumset. If someone can't master a 4 pc kit, I hardly think they could master a 6 or 7pc.

Later
Adam Carnahan

PS: "I'm not back" yet

[CookieCrispDMB]

Look for a good beginners drum book,
like the dude said before me, start with rudiments
and work you way into the set.
Begining with the set - Dont try to go all out crazy.
Start easy and grow, use Hi - Hat and snare first, work
some beats with that and get comfortable, then add in the
bass drum on off beats and mix it up. Then just try to
get comfortable and work your way into fills n stuff.

P.S - It takes time so be patient :-D

[chrisbsmusic]

If you go to harmonycentral.com
sign up for their daily drum tip, good info on rudiments.
You might also grab a basic snare drum book to get started

http://www.fretland.com

[Joeydc2]

thanks guys!

[BEAUFORD]

try not to get caught up in what carter does or any big drummers right now its amazing to listen to and you should listen more and more but you need to concentrate on the basics and after a while all the stuff these drummers do wont seem so confusing and crazy. its a lot of technique and experience which all comes with playing. get a beginner drum book and start from there. practice rudiments and a lot of roll exercises. work with a metronome too. that will help to get your timing down better

[RushianSyrinx]

lol, dragging this back from the dredges...

Pillows work, but dont forget to practrice on a kit/drum too!
Rudiments rock, for example, my first rudimentary rudiment (hehehe) discovery was paradiddles with one hand on hihat, and other on snare...and i thought it was bitchin

now im way past that

also, work your hands, your feet, and your hands with your feet! For example, my favorite fill is to play eight notes with my left side (left hand hat, left foot open/close hat) alternating to the sssssaaaH sound (best i can describe it) while playing various paradiddle patternes between a tomorsnare and my bass drum... fun stuff! apply it to ALL limbs!

[RushianSyrinx]

another note, when working your feet, apply rudiments to just your feet too!

like paradiddles...
on one foot...
toe heel toe toe \ heel toe heel heel

thats another good work out for your feet

[j_wyse]

Get a Djembe and learn to play some grooves with just your hands.
It's really one of the quickest ways to get drumming and be actually playing something cool. It's also quite infectious. I split my guitar playing with hand drums on a lot of gigs I do. Helps your timing, and your guitar grooves will rock after too.
I've actually been getting more calls to play drums now, go figure.

Jim

[1adamsara0507]

I've been drumming now for about 9 years.......and I still have a problem wanting to use my arms more instead of my wrists. I think I'm gettin carpal tunnell also cause when i play for a while my wrist just goes to killin me.......especially on marching snares at school. But I'm really a drumset guy and I really wanna improve my skills.

[Jack7238]

Pick up a basic drum beat tape.... try to take each beat one drum at a time, this worked for me and it helps a lot

[RushianSyrinx]

kevlar will do that to ya...
or just loosen up when playing

it could really be either
just learn to flow, use your arms wrists and fingers all together