A Natural at Drums?

[Berk]

When I started playing drums I wa pretty good(As in playing basic beats). But I know a kid who sais he has been playing for over 4 month's and all he can do rolls on his snare.
The main thing Im asking: Did drums come easy or did you have to really practise to get somewhat good?

[Josiah]

Everyone is going to have different learning curves. It's a large equation.

That kid may be more into it then you, practice more then you, have a private instructor, be more atune with visual learning and can replicate what he see's, etc

It'd be pretty hard to pin down some exacting occurence of natural drum specific thing.

If you have a great memory, that will help with drumming. Natural hand/eye cordination.. again will help.

[dairyairman]

when i started out at age 11 i advanced pretty quickly, but i practiced all the time too so it's hard to say if i had any natural ability. i think if you look at any of the really good drummers on this forum or anywhere else, you'll find they all have one thing in common: they've played a lot to get to where they are.

[pitchfork]

It took me something like 2 hours playing to get basic beats in time down, i don't know if thats good or not i never had great hand eye co ordination i'm terrible at catching. The only thing in my life apart from drumming that requires exacting precision is air rifle shooting, i dunno.

[FL3P]

I was a natural, by the time I got a kit I knew enough to sound ok. I didnt take that very far though and am now trying to play catchup.

[fishbulb']

I specifically remember this one summer day. My brother and his friend were watching fear and loathing in las vegas. I saw the first 5 minutes of it then went to play drums and practice a basic beat. A good three hours later i had finally got it down for 2 minutes long. Then when i came out of hte garage, the movie was done.

[Jezen]

If I have any hand-eye coordination it would be from counter-strike and day of defeat. I spent way too long playing computer games online.

[punkrocker2o1]

Both the instuctors I've had said I was a natural on the first lesson and I'm supposedly one of their best students learning wise. I've now been playing just over a year (6 months with lessons because my previous teacher got cancer. He should be back in a month :))

Edit: Plus I'm really athletic. Might go pro in soccer if drumming doesn't happen for me :D

[mamcdonald]

I bet you suck.

[Kratos]

Natural ability means dick. I have a gift for music, incredible twitch skills, and good hand/eye coordination, but I'm not great by ANY means -- if you don't practice and be honest with yourself about your abilities, you won't be good. One of the biggest skills to being a great drummer (or any kind of musician) is being humble. Arrogance will destroy any "advantage" you may have from natural abilities.

[overnothing]

I was a natural, by the time I got a kit I knew enough to sound ok. I didnt take that very far though and am now trying to play catchup.


same with me

[Zildjian]

after finding my rythem I could be considered a natural

[Arrowsurfer]

Both the instuctors I've had said I was a natural on the first lesson and I'm supposedly one of their best students learning wise.

all instructors will tell you that to get you buttered up so you'll give them more money

[punkrocker2o1]

True heh..

To mamcdonald: I never said I was great I'm just pretty good for my time period.

edit: but i did sound a bit boastful...

[FockerTheLopper]

Yeah josiah got it right(as always). I thought I was good until I got up to latin, I have horrible co-ordination. I have an easy time playing rock but when it comes to playing osantios with 2 limbs(latin, boom chickboomboom or more of a mambo which I can't get the left foot good, cascara over bao bass drum with 2 4 + on snare 2 4 hats) I have a really hard time.

[Murd_666]

Drums came a little easy to me, well in the beggining. My first year, more or less, I played without actually owning a set but I played every chance i got. I have taken no lessons, unless school counts, and a year a bit later this is where i am, playing synocapated rythms and working on my ghost notes and use of my newly found cowbell.

[GhostGrooveMike]

didnt come easy at all then again im very insecure about how I play drums. I never feel that good even though many people have told me that I am, meh

[PremierManiac]

When I started in 4th grade (11th grade now), drums were easy, and they still are. I really don't practice much at all, but I still hold my own quite well with other drummers from the area.

[a7xdrummer00]

I don't think there's such thing as a "natural to drums". I feel like you hav'ta work your way to the top. Plus I'd never call myself good, simply because, I probably never will think I am being there is so much left to learn haha. I've been playing for about, 5-6 years I think, but no matter how long you've been playing, whether it's 1 year to 20 years, I don't think anyone can say they have nothing left to learn...

[Ellx]

I don't believe anybody has a "natural" talent, but I know some people that have a "natural" sucking at it. I got into it fairly quick once I started saying "hey Im getting allright, I should practice more", but before that I was seriously thinking about quitting.

[DuckinFutch8]

Wow, I've stumbled on the meeting place of every naturally brilliant drummer in the world!

[officer doofy]

If I have any hand-eye coordination it would be from counter-strike and day of defeat. I spent way too long playing computer games online.
i'm the same, but I also just have a natural talent to kick ***

[Sharkey Boy]

Ive been playing 3 and a bit years, and ive only really like made real fast progression once I joined these boards lol

Personally I feel I should be better for how long I've been playing, and that I faffed around too much, but in the past few months (since i started reading here) I've advanced so much so quickly. I guess actually talking to other drummers getting thier advice and listning to what other people play , is what gave me a drive

[beaker_747]

If I have any hand-eye coordination it would be from counter-strike and day of defeat. I spent way too long playing computer games online.
Amen. Most of my hand-eye coordination comes from many previous years of video games. Especially Time Crisis and Point Blank. Alot of FPS helped developing that skill.

[Drumass]

I had a really hard time learning the basic beats in the beginning..took me like a whole day, and then it got easier after that. I have a hard time learning right off of tab, it takes a while, but when I hear a beat or w/e, I can play it right away.. if its not uberly hard.

[Toolboy]

there used to be a kid that had a lesson after mine, and he was incredible. He just picked up new ideas in a second, some weird polyrhythmic stuff my teacher was getting into.

As for me, i'm not a natural at drums, but i can pick up stuff fairly quickly. I'm definately a visual learner, however.

[Josiah]

It's not uncommon for people to be able to pretty acruately replicate what they hear. I have that abbility myself, I can listen to a song once or twice and then nail it.

The danger in that is, is as mentioned above, you can end up learning to play things and you really have no clue what you are playing. So it's a double edged sword...

It's great to be able to have that abbility, but it's just as important to be able to learn what you are playing, rather then straight mindless copying.

[alexmonty12]

My teachers says i have a lot of natural ability and a lot of potential, but he says i don't practice enough :(

[PDD]

I played snare in my younger years for the school band before i started playing on a set.....which helped ALOT!

[rohbit]

I think it depends on your musical background, and your parents.

If you have a musical family, and have a large ancestory of musicians, there's a good chance that you'll have a higher musical aptitude than the layman.

This doesn't mean that you can't learn something. At one point, someone in your family had to learn how to play said musical instrument and eventually, the act of playiong music was repeated enough that it became somewhat synonymous with your family.

For example, I know alot of philipinos who can sing; in fact, the majority of the flips I know are musically gifted, and alot of their families are also musically gifted. This could be because music has become an integral part of their culture.

My granpa was a musician, and I think that's why I have a good ear for music (albeit, my ability to play music is somewhat lacking... even though i can do it), and my dad also has a good ear for music -- my sister as well.

[Talos]

By the time I had my first kit I knew nothing abouut gear and stuff, all I could do was play. Due to mishaps with crap teachers my progression has been rather sluggish, I have a new teacher now but ive only had him for a few weeks...

I ask my Dad for most of the stuff I wanna know as he used to play but with gear and stuff, its all changed so what used to be good no longer is.

[fiojamdrummer]

I think some people have the natural ability to pick things up easier. This means that someone may find it easier to learn new things. BUT this is not to say that a person who does not have the natural ability cannot be better than the person who does!! Natural ability is helpful.... it means you may not have to do a great deal to get by. However, if you have a certain degree of natural ability and you work at it... WOW!! If you don't have the natural ability but you work hard then great!! You may get really really good.... but you will have worked harder. That make sense or did I ramble on? :confused:

[Kazass]

I don't believe anybody has a "natural" talent, but I know some people that have a "natural" sucking at it. I got into it fairly quick once I started saying "hey Im getting allright, I should practice more", but before that I was seriously thinking about quitting.

If there is ''natural'' sucking then there is natural talent :rolleyes:

[rohbit]

I don't believe anybody has a "natural" talent, but I know some people that have a "natural" sucking at it. I got into it fairly quick once I started saying "hey Im getting allright, I should practice more", but before that I was seriously thinking about quitting.

If there is ''natural'' sucking then there is natural talent :rolleyes:


Then his mom's definitely a natural...

:amaze:

Yeah... I went there.

[jalel]

^ You leave his mom outta' this and I'll leave THIS ( 8===D ) outta' his mom!!!!

[Lukerz]

I could play a simple 4/4 rock beat rhythm within 5 minutes of having my first go on a drum kit. I don't know if that's good or not but hey. I can improvise quite well for someone whos been playing a short a time as me so and my drum teacher has said I have what it takes to be an amazing drummer. It gave me confidence to say the least :p

[Wizz]

If I have any hand-eye coordination it would be from counter-strike and day of defeat. I spent way too long playing computer games online.

123 to that , i still play counterstrike source and UT2004 pretty often , plus i play guitar to. So my hands and fingers are trained pretty good

[rohbit]

123 to that , i still play counterstrike source and UT2004 pretty often , plus i play guitar to. So my hands and fingers are trained pretty good

Don't forget the chronic masturbatory problem you have.