The Drum Buzz

Image From Marvel.com

So I just finished reading a great article entitled “Brute Force Learning” on theparadiddler.com.  The entire article is based on two completely different ways that drummers tend to learn their craft – either by just pushing through without lessons or any feedback, or with finesse by assessing their progress as they go.

If you can’t afford private instruction (you really should start saving for some lessons because everyone can stand to learn something new) – Omar (The Paradiddler) gives a great suggestion…. take away the kit and setup a camera.

Omar talks about how he setup a camera to record him with nothing but a practice pad.

I want to scrutinize every aspect of my playing and how I can better it. I’ll be examining my posture, how I relax, my stick technique – really fundamental stuff. Then, when I’ve done this for a little while, I’ll start putting the kit back together little by little, at each step ensuring that I only progress, and not regress.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

One of the best ways to learn to play drums for little cost is to watch instructional DVD’s.  One of the best companies I’ve found for Drumming DVD’s is RailRoad Media.  These guys have a massive collection at a low cost.  Their qualtiy of video and instruction is top notch.

Well, RailRoad Media has gotten to be pretty big and they are moving their office within the next week.  What does this mean for you?

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Popularity: 4% [?]

When scouring through the internet(s) great websites for drummers seem almost few and far between.  I’ve got a growing collection of RSS feeds that I use when researching articles for this website and for my own personal interest, but I wanted to share with all of you what I consider to be some of the best resources for drummers available on the web.  This is collection of websites and youtube pages that I use to find information and inspiration.

I hope that this page will make it into your bookmarks so that you will be able to jump to these great sites easily.  If you have or know of a website for drummers or another great drumming resource that I missed – please let me know in the comments.

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If you can’t afford private lessons, and don’t have any friends that can help you learn how to play drums… I’ve got a website you might want to check out (this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep checking back here for more tips =)).

This website has a ton of great videos, sheet music (even comes in downloadable pdf format), and play along mp3’s.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Photo by Calabro on Flickr

After I learned how to play drums all over again.  The first thing I started working on behind the kit was a basic triplet groove.  If you aren’t familiar with how to play a triplet, the best way to explain it is this:

Break it down in syllables and say it out lout – TRIP – O – LET – TRIP – O – Let…. there are many different sticking techniques for a triplet, but most learn it as RLR LRL RLR LRL, where each sylabol matches one stick drop.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

After I learned to play drums all over again I knew I had to get my chops back up to par.  I practiced exercises and rudiments as much as possible on a pillow or practice pad.

However, it always bored the living crap out of me…..

the constant Boop Beep Beep Beep of the metronome, RLRRLRLLRLRRLRLL, RLRLRRLRLRLL

- It all began to look and sound the same.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Throughout my years as a drummer I switched many times between match grip and traditional grip, but I wasn’t introduced to the Moeller Whip until about a year ago.

It’s funny that no matter how many summer camps I went to and instructors that I had – very few of them actually focused on hand technique…. lots of “use your wrist and pinch the stick”, but that is about it.

When I started studying with Kent Aberle, the first thing that he taught me was – loosen your grip and use the natural movement of the stick and wrist.  Our entire first lesson was dedicated to nothing but re-learning everything I knew about hand technique…..

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Popularity: 11% [?]

My friend and drum mentor Kent Aberle has started a pre-release of his new drum DVD “Technique and Musicality For The Weekend Warrior”.  When Kent first described his practice technique to me I was a little confused…. I had no idea how I could ever practice without a set of sticks.

However, I’ve been using his technique for the past few months while at work, watching tv, playing video games…. it can be done pretty much anywhere.

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Popularity: 16% [?]

Photo by * Nina * on Flickr

All drummers have gone through it.  You may have even experimented with it in college.   It’s been a question many have asked since the day they found out there was another option…. Should I use match grip or traditional?

All throughout my years in drumline I stuck to traditional grip, even when playing on a drumset… It came to feel completely natural.  Now that I play mostly rock and don’t do any sort of field percussion anymore I tend to stick with match grip.

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Popularity: 18% [?]