Drums 1: Start here
Set up
What you need
- A pair of sticks. Size 5A fits most hands.
- A snare drum or a practice pad. A pillow works for quiet practice and builds strength.
- A metronome. Any free app or drum machine works.
- 10 to 15 minutes a day. Every day beats two hours on Sunday.
Grip
- Hold the stick between the thumb and the first joint of the index finger, a third up from the end.
- The other fingers wrap around loosely. No squeezing.
- Palms face down. Both hands look the same.
Posture
- Sit tall. Drum at belt height. Forearms about level with the floor.
- Stick tips meet in the middle of the drum.
- Let the stick bounce back by itself. You throw it, the drum returns it.
Drums 1: Start here
Read the grid
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | L | R | L | R | R | L |
The rules
- Always play with a click. The click is on 1 2 3 4.
- Count out loud. If you cannot say it, you cannot play it.
- Start at the first BPM box. Loop the exercise for one minute. Clean? Tick the box.
- Then set the next tempo. Mistakes mean too fast. Go back one box.
1.1First strokes
One stroke per click. Right, left, right, left. Both hands the same height and the same sound.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | L | R | L |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | L | R | L |
BPM
Pass: you cannot hear which hand is which.