Drums: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide

One of the most challenging aspects of drumming is to switch between rhythms. Playing multiple rhythms together can be equally nerve-wracking. That’s a major reason music learners should understand the basics of counting beats and switching rhythms. A music theory lesson from a good music school helps with such basics.

Humans Love Drumming

According to Kristen Veggeberg, a scholar from the University of Illinois, anthropology and evolutionary biology prove why humans love drumming. She notes primates have been known to use crude drumming sounds to mark territories and keep enemies at bay. The drum’s rhythm is effective, soul-stirring, and mood-changing.

Beginning from the Basics

Knowing the basics of drumming helps you track the rhythm and change pace accordingly. Once you know the rhythms, you almost always know when to switch between them. The instinct builds upon a lot of performative movement of hands and feet.

About Drums

Drums come under the category of percussion instruments. You will eventually have to strike them to create a sound or vibration. Notice the white vibrating part of the drum that the drummer beats? That’s called the membrane. Some drums come accompanied by a thumb roll, the resonant head located at the bottom of the drums.

Components of a Drum Kit—A Collection of Percussion Instruments

Some of us were exposed to beats and rhythms through banging pots and pans.   You can add several percussion instruments—like tambourine and electronic drums—to your drum kit. A basic drumming kit has:

• Large and small drums
• Cymbals (with different tonal attributes to be used in different playing setups)

Playing for a particular music genre? Rearrange your drum kit to adjust the number and types of percussion. Several drummers use drum kits made up of the following:

• Tambourine
• Cowbells
• Blocks
• Other textured instruments to add more acoustic variety

Drum Kits for Kids

An adult drum kit would be a bit too elaborate for young drummers between eightto eleven years of age. Purchase a junior-sized drum kit for drum lessons. You might come across pocket kits for drummers around five to six years of age.

Buying Drum Kits Online

When shopping online, make sure you check the list included on the website. Consider the following before your hard-earned money on drum kits.

The Price and Quality

Most kids outgrow their initial drum kits. But, they take drum lessons in music schools through those kits, so they need to be high-quality. Go for drum kits with sturdy, reliable drum membranes and quality cymbals.

Research the Hardware before Striking a Deal

If you’re buying the drums online, research the brand well. Check out the music store we deal with at our music school in Abu Dhabi.

Stick to the Basics

It’s high time you make drumming more convenient and manageable for you. As a beginner, go for the standard drum kit that includes:

• Three Tom-Toms (Two Rack Toms and One Floor Tom): You have two types of tom-toms available; the rack toms and the floor toms. The floor and rack toms are most commonly used as drum fills. The toms are either made from wood or metal.
• A Bass Drum: the bass drum is the most prominent in a drum set. Bass drum shells are mostly made of wood like heartwood birch. If you prefer metal bass drums, those would also do for beginners. To produce a rich sound through a bass drum, strike the bass drum pedal with your foot during set intervals. Learning the bass drum right is pivotal to mastering intonation in drumming acoustics.
• A Snare Drum: Remember the loud cracks and upbeat rhythm you hear during your favorite songs? That’s the snare drum for you. The snare drum has a thin and responsive bottom, and its sound comes from its shell, usually made of maple wood or birch.

Pro tip: You need ace snare drum skills to become a better drummer. Practice some snare drum exercises with reputed music teachers at quality music institutes in Abu Dhabi.

The Drumming Technique

The Grip

The grip is a central part of the hand and feet technique in drumming. Find your grip through these simple steps:

• Stand with your hands by your side
• Use your left hand to place the stick in your right hand
• Your thumb should make contact with the stick, and your fingers should wrap naturally around it.
• Don’t grip the sticks too tightly. This will limit your hand work on the drum. Hold the sticks tight enough that they don’t fly out of your hand. Famous drummer Jim Chapin insists you hold the drumsticks like baby birds.

Angle of Attack

The American grip on the stick should come as an extension to the lower part of your arm, producing a drum striking angle of around 60 to 80 degrees. This way, the drummer strikes the inner concentric circle of the membrane. There is no fixed way to hold the stick. Some different grip options for drumming include:

• The German Grip: Palms faced downwards while holding the stick
• The French Grip: the thumb comes on the top

As a good drummer, you should know these different drumming grips for an impactful drumming experience. To take music lessons for beginners, reach out to our music school representative in Abu Dhabi.

A Shift Towards the Electronic Drum

If you listen to the music produced recently, it comes off as zestier than before. This may have to do with electronic drums producing less noise than acoustic ones. The drummer uses a headpiece for private practice when it’s impossible to find a studio.

Electronic drums are much lighter than acoustic drums, making them more portable than a standard acoustic drum kit. They also don’t require microphones and complex stands for a recording arrangement. The sound can be procured through line-out connections. An electronic drum would be perfect for education, music lessons, and training.

To excel at playing drums, take the rock and pop drum lessons at The Young Musician Music Institute. Our institute is affiliated with Trinity College, UK.

The Sound Range of the Electronic Drum

A reason for drummers to switch to the electronic drums is the tonal diversity it offers. The tonal switch options are equally impactful. A drummer can switch from a slow track to a more energetic range within minutes. From hard rock songs to vintage jazz songs, the electronic drum suits all.

You deserve a holistic music education with a robust curriculum! At The Young Musician Music Institute, we ensure the curricular and extra-curricular activities bring out the best in our music learners. At our music school, we offer piano lessons, drum lessons, and Trinity Graded Exams and diplomas to a variety of learners. For more details, call us at +971 2 556 2080 or +971 2 6783550.