A Guide To Drumming For Beginners

There are hundreds upon hundreds of percussion instruments available for any drummer to use, and you wouldn't be a drummer if you didn't have intentions of learning how to play each and every one of them.  The best of all these options is to start with the snare drum for three reasons: 1. It teaches basic and advanced rythms, preparing you for reading music on any other instrument, 2. It teaches proper sticking techniques, 3. There are a lot of cool tricks to learn on the snare drum.  Essentially, the snare drum is a gateway into playing other percussion instruments.  And the very first step, other than getting a pair of sticks of course, is to learn the 40 essential rudiments.  It seems like a lot, but they are very simple, easy to learn, and, as the name suggests, are essential to reading and playing music becuase they are the backbone of any drum music.

Learning the 40 essentials is only the begining, but is key in mastering any percusison instrument.  It all comes down to practicing.  Don't set a specific amount of time for your practicing, because there is no sense in guessing how long it will take for you to grasp any concept.  Just ensure that you take some time every day to sit down with your sticks and play for however long it takes you to feel comfortable with whatever you're working on.  Keep practicing, and you'll be on the fast track towards greatness.