Pre-Lesson 1: Musical Terms

  Just starting playing, or interested in learning? Then you're definitely at the right place. The first 4 Pre-Lessons I offer are universal - stuff everyone needs to know, whether you're playing a marimba or a drumset.. so let's get started.
  Common terms such as the ones I will provide you shortly are essential in learning any musical instrument, and while they may be a little confusing now, they will help you to be more efficient in the future. I will give you the name of the term, a short description, and how to count that note, if applicable.

These are hard to explain so feel free to leave comments so I can clarify.

• Quarter note - Equal to one beat no matter the time signature. (1 2..)
• Eighth note - Equal to half a quarter note, so in 4/4 timing you would count twice as fast. (1 & 2 &..)
• 16th note - Equal to half an eight note, so in 4/4 timing there is 16 beats (1 e & a 2 e & a..)
• 32nd note - Equal to half a 16th note, so in 4/4 timing there is 32 beats (1 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 2 e & a..)

Anything I missed? Think I should add something? Need some clarification? Let me know!

Pre-Lesson 3: Beginning Hints Pt.2

Two very important and unrelated aspects of drumming are your sticks, and your motivation. Your choice of sticks can affect your ability and comfort levels, as well as produce different genre-specific sounds, so choosing the rights sticks can make you play and sound better. Your motivation is what keeps you persistent through the hardships of becoming a drummer, such as those grueling practice hours spent trying to perfect that one rudiment or fill.. so, on to the which kind of sticks work best to hit things.


  Ah, the sticks. So overlooked.. Sure you might fret on which set to get or which cymbals, but don't forget about the sticks! The 5A or the 5B? 2B or 3S? Your preference is completely unique to you, so make sure you choose the right ones. Stay with me now, they make more sense when you know what your looking at. The number represents the circumference, but the higher the number the thinner the stick, the lower the number the thicker the stick. An exception, though, is the 3S which is thicker then a 2B.. so nothing is set in stone, and exact specifications tend to vary between manufacturer. Alright, we got that down but what do the letters mean?

• S - Intended for Street applications. Designed for higher volume and projection, Such that a marching band would require
• B - Intended for Band applications. Smaller circumference then "S" and preferred by beginning drummers for ease of use.
• A - Intended for Orchestra applications. Preferred by Rock and Jazz players. Smaller circumference then "B"

  So, we understand the kind of stick, but what kind of tips should I get? Well, that depends completely on the genre of music you think you'll be playing. Round tips give a focused sound that's especially good on cymbals, ranging from the tight ping sound of small round tips to the broader, fuller tones of larger round tips. Barrel tips have a larger contact area for a broader, more diffuse tone. Pointed or triangle-tipped sticks produce a focused medium tone. Teardrop or olive-shaped tips produce a range of sounds from tightly focused to diffuse depending on how they are held. The material is important too; Nylon for durability and distinct sound, Wood for warmer, softer sounds.


  Motivation.. it's what motivates you :) My motivation is God.. It was God who introduced me to drums, and it was God who continued to provide me with a place to practice and a team to play on. It's a good idea for you to have motivation behind what you do, because without motivation I would, for example, give up on this blog after realizing that I'm going to have to write at least 5 to 10 paragraphs a week to be somewhat successful. Your motivation can be something as simple as a promise you make to yourself, as long as it really does matter to you. Just make a promise to yourself to practice at least 20 minutes everyday, even if you forget until your ready to go to bed and really don't want to. 


Well that's pretty much it.. My next lesson will be Percussion Lesson 1: Just Starting Out, and then on to either Drum Lesson 2 or Percussion Lesson 2, the first real, hands-on lesson, so be sure to check back daily!


Anything I missed? Think I should add something? Need some clarification? Let me know!

Item Review: Vic Firth American Classic w/ Vic Grip

Classic Vic Firth came up with a great idea - a grip to prevent slipping. These sticks can really help you hold on, especially if you're a casual player, but are not as effective for people like me who have overly sweating hands when playing. The sweat tends to cause the stick to slide just a little, but still retains most of the friction and as long as you aren't really playing hard, you should have no problems whatsoever. If you prefer playing with gloves, then the sweat/clamminess stays out of the equation entirely, and you're free to enjoy playing without worrying about any possible problems with your sticks. Even better, They come in most sizes and types, so whatever your preference, you might as well pick up a pair of Vic Firth's w/ Vic grip to add to your arsenal.

You can pick these sticks up at your local guitar center, or online at Guitar Center or Musician's Friend

Anything I missed? Think I should add something? Need some clarification? Let me know!

Pre-Lesson 2: Beginning hints

  When I first begged my youth pastor to teach me something on the drums, I wasn't expecting to pick it up so quickly. For the next few days I had been steadily practicing what he had taught me (using my hands and feet) in anticipation for transferring it to the drum set. When Wednesday finally rolled around, I got my first ever chance to play a drum set. I had gotten everything he taught me down on my lap, but when I tried the same thing on the drum set it just didn't flow.


  While just starting out, I would have loved to have the help of an experienced drummer, but unfortunately my youth pastor could only help me out so much. Something he told me that I shrugged off, but later found to be very important is this, my first hint: Customize the drum set. Not only did my fills flow better and my errors become few and far between, but my overall feeling of comfort skyrocketed. Now I didn't have to extend my arm so far to hit the ride or raise my hand high enough to hit the snare without touching the rim.


  When I moved up to replacing our current Wednesday night youth drummer about a month later, I still wasn't all I could be.. My timing was horrible. It's an understatement to say that most musicians have an issue with timing when they first start out, but that problem can be remedied with the help of a certain tool and concept. First the concept - Count. When you play, you play in measures, and according to the tempo of the song you'll have to play slower or faster. As you progress, identifying the tempo of the song and counting to it becomes second nature. Most songs are in 4/4 timing. The second most common timing is 6/8.

• The lower numeral indicates the note value, which represents one beat.
• The upper numeral indicates how many such beats are in a bar

  For instance, 2/4 means two quarter-note beats; 6/8 means six eight-note beats. Confusing now, sure, but you'll get the hang of it. When I play it's absolutely necessary for me to count while playing, and when I learn a new fill or drum beat, breaking it down to be able to count it is very helpful.


  And now for the tool: The metronome. A metronome is a tool used to keep time. In the coming days I'll be sure to upload a metronome for use when you're around your computer, or you could spring $20 and buy one online at Guitar Center or Musician's Friend.


Anything I missed? Think I should add something? Need some clarification? Let me know!

Drum Lesson 1: Dissecting the Drumset

  When I was first immersed into the world of percussion instruments, (namely the drumset) I freaked out. I had no experience whatsoever and was being piled with stuff I had no clue about, and constantly forgetting which one is the ride and which one is the crash ride can be really annoying when practicing. So for your sake, I'm going to completely break down the drum set for you and label each piece with as much information as I can.

So first off, let's identify the main parts of a drum set.

1. Snare - Probably the most important drum in a drum set. Produces a sharp, snapping sound.
2. Left rack tom - Used mostly for fills. Usually tuned to produce the highest pitch.
3. Right rack tom - Used mostly for fills. Usually tuned to produce a medium pitch.
4. Floor tom - Used mostly for fills. Usually tuned to produce the lowest pitch.
5. Bass kick - The lowest sounding drum, the bass kick is essential for that heart-pounding feel.
6. Hi hat - Consisting of two cymbals, the hi-hat is the most important cymbal in a drum set.
7. Crash Ride - Usually hit on bow, great for louder performances, accompanies a distorted guitar excellently
8. Ride - Usually hit on the rim, good for softer playing.

Anything I missed? Think I should add something? Need some clarification? Let me know!