For goodness sakes, start with the basics!!!

[rjthakid]

I'll be moving on from the drums this year.  I'll always love them, but I'm learning how to play the Organ, and I'm learning faster than I anticipated. 

I'm teaching my 13yr old sister how to play, in the hopes that she'll take my place on the drums when I move to the Organ. 

She has a problem that I had when I first started.

She wants to learn different grooves and fancy licks she's seen me do, but she can't even hold the sticks properly!!!

I didn't have anyone to teach me, so I just got on the kit and did whatever felt good to me.  I WISH I had someone to guide me and instruct me on the basics.

I remember playing in the beginning, and being SOAKED with sweat afterward, with my hands and wrists sore. 

After doing research and realizing I should be holding the sticks as loosely as possible, and allow the sticks to rebound, my playing changed dramatically......but not completely.

Old habits die hard.  I didn't have anyone to show me the MOST BASIC thing when it comes to playing the drums: How to hold the sticks.

Well, now I know, but when you've spent alot of time reinforcing bad habits it's HARD to change.

So now I'm trying to impart my knowledge to my sister.  Hold the sticks at the fulcrum.  Loosely.  Let the stick rebound.  Keep good posture.  Practice those paradiddles.  And for God sakes, STAY IN THA POCKET!!!!!!!  LOL.

For everyone who's just starting out, don't try to do it alone.  If you have the money, the best thing for you to do is get lessons.

If you don't have the dough for that, go to your local Sam Ash/Guitar Center and get some DVD's (or even if you DO get lessons, these will still be a big help)

Snare Drum Basics (GREAT for beginners...Start here)
Thomas Lang Creative Control
Rhythmic Visions
Steve Smith Drumset Technique 2
Tommy Igoe Groove Essentials
Dave Weckl The Next Step
Rhythm Tune Up

If you have the money, the best thing for you to do is get lessons.
I don't care how long you've been playing or how good your coordination is.

You're only as good as your technique.

[SabianKnight]

Amen!!!

To add to that,

You musical influences will show. Listen to GOOD MUSIC not just  the same ole same ole. Listen to different styles and not just the drums. in fact listen to music that doesn't even have a drum set in it sometimes... Percussion ensembles, trip hop, ambiant, Africana.

THey have got that new XM radio portable mp3 player recorder out where you can listen to all styles without commercial garbage.

[rjthakid]

Amen!!!

To add to that,

You musical influences will show. Listen to GOOD MUSIC not just  the same ole same ole. Listen to different styles and not just the drums. in fact listen to music that doesn't even have a drum set in it sometimes... Percussion ensembles, trip hop, ambiant, Africana.

THey have got that new XM radio portable mp3 player recorder out where you can listen to all styles without commercial garbage.

I've heard about that.  Would you still have to pay a subscription for the XM with that?

[SabianKnight]

I've heard about that.  Would you still have to pay a subscription for the XM with that?

yep

[rjthakid]

yep

Did some research.  You can actually record up to 50 hours of XM radio.  If you hear a song you like, you can just press a button to record.  Too cool.

[B_XALTED]

Thanks to you both. I been playing for about 2 years... nah, maybe a year and a half, and I NEVER had lessons, no one ever showed me how to hold the sticks, how to finess the set instead of trying to play all hard and rough and LOUD!!!! I have finally sat down and decided to take lessons. In my lessons, we do 30 minutes snare and reading, and 30 minutes on the set and reading set music. I have grown a lot in the short time that I have been in lessons, and i give God the glory. i think that the hardest thing for me though is to not have the same beat in my head all the time. Amen sabe, you said not to listen to the same ole same ole. I have broadened up my listening to latin, Funk, Jazz, and more Hip Hop, and even some raggae. the basics is good for EVERYONE, it's your roots. I played 1,2,1,2 beats for the longest.... It was like pulling teeth for me to add breaks and rests and stuff.... I was so scared of messing up.... but I have mastered the art of making wonderful mistakes ...lol.... I am in college and pay rent and have car payments and a very healty craving for seafood 3 times a week, and Haagen Dazs ice cream , but the only way I was able to buckle down was to SACRAFICE... Lessons for me are $40 an hour... Worth every penny. Can't say i like going without fried oysters on friday and crab legs on saturday, but I made the decision to take the drumming to a new level...

Okay, that's enough of my sob story.... but i feel you on the basics... Like my homeys in new orleans say, 'Thats for ture'