How do you play your drums?

[Taffer]

A bit of a stupid question, but let me explain:

I'm finding it a bit boring playing my drums, as in, I kind of want some kind of reason to play them. It gets pretty dry and dull if I'm just hitting them playing beats I know. I don't have a CD player in the room, and I don't really have any books to work from. And even then I can picture working exercises in a book to be quite uninteresting, unless it's good.

What do you guys do when you play? Do you put your iPod in your pocket and stick em in and play along? Or do you put your favourite CDs into the player and play along to that? Or do you just exercise from books, or just random unplanned drumming from the heart?

I'm looking for recommendations for getting in the habit of playing MUCH more, without getting bored. The only time I feel like it's worth drumming is when I have my band playing with me. I love playing in a band, but by myself I feel uninspired. A little help?

[GooseFilms.net]

i half play along to other recorded music, doing a lot of double bass work that way, and then I practice my band music to our recordings.

[sLarkin20]

Exercises from books for the most part. Then just creating stuff on my own, or playing along to CD's. Sometimes I'll do single or double stroke rolls with the hands and/or feet for a while, but most of my playing time is spent with books.

[the_pure_drummer]

How do you play your drums?

I sit on a seat and hit them!



Sorry i couldnt resist!;)

[jttdrummer14]

i use drumsticks

[White]

well, some of us are just born to love something, I get inspired by watching Youtube videos of ppl around my age playing drums then I just try to beat them (there is nothing better than beating people you own age who think they're cool) but yah, you just gotta get used to playing for long times, a while back ago I couldn't paly for half hour straight, now I paly for 2 hours at a time

[DrumIntoTheNight]

I tend to play just grooves for at least half an hour a day, then jam along to songs and jam tracks for a while. Usually get half an hour a day on the pad aswell.

[Taffer]

well, some of us are just born to love something, I get inspired by watching Youtube videos of ppl around my age playing drums then I just try to beat them (there is nothing better than beating people you own age who think they're cool) but yah, you just gotta get used to playing for long times, a while back ago I couldn't paly for half hour straight, now I paly for 2 hours at a time

It's relieving to know I'm not the only one. :chug:

[Jred250]

When at home I normally play some songs on my CD player. Beef em up, and play along. Often enough when I have played a few songs and I am a little hot and sticky. I will play one of the songs I just played without the music, I will change it and add better fills. I often just jump on for 30 mins also, play some complex beats, try to play something new. I often find listening to dream theater songs is good for encouraging new, complex beats.

[We_Love_Lime]

dude.
I do it because I love it.
That's step one.

From there I branch off into the different areas as you mentioned
Playing to Play
Playing to songs
Playing out of books to get better

It just all depends really.
I mean I don't force myself to get better.

I do it because I love it, and than go from there.

[goalieman92]

I try to work on fills and off time beats for a while, Then I'll do a extemperanous solo which I really need to work on. Then possibly play along to some cd's, but wish I could find some drumless tracks to play too. that would be the sh*t. any recommendations?

And then on trips or something, I'll take a practice pad along and work out of Synco. and shortly stick control

[Bonham#1!]

Play along with stuff, and maybe join a band or something, any change. Sorry If this has been said, but I didn't read any other post.

[Skin Beater]

Maybe drums aren't for you, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. If just sitting down and playing the first thing that comes in your head isn't fun, you may just not really like drumming that much. I love to create when I sit down at my kit, and I like practicing. Granted there have been times where I got a little bit "burned out" and didn't play for awhile, but any time I go a few days without playing I itch to play, it's like an addiction. If you don't feel that, you may not be passionate about playing.

[Sabian4015]

i usually just listen to music, mainly funk, and then go try to play it on the set. Then once I get that beat down I expand. Then the possibilities are endless.

But if I do get tired of that beat I repeat the process.

[Corkofski]

home - blast along to a CD player for 20 mins, 10 mins exercises

college - stick a metronome on and work for an hour solid.

[the fat llama]

i play to songs, muck around on kit and use pad. go on to vic firth and find '40 rudiments.' once there choose one and play along to it using the bronze, silver, gold, platnium and diamond buttons. using this u challenge ur speed and control on how fast u can control the rudiments.

[Brokensticks]

Playing along with my ipod is one of my most favorite things to do.

[Chippy569]

I'll grab my drumbox, pop in some random beats, and try to play it back.


some are really easy, some kick my ***. but it's really, really, really fun.

google around for like a freeware drumbox.

[Inkstar]

I'll usually warm up in the lounge room by sticking a coushin on the coffee table, and I'll just get my sticks out and warm up my hands for about 15 minutes while watching TV.

Then I'll go to my drums, have a quick bash around on the actual drums to warm up to them, and then I'll get my ipod out and play along to songs for about an hour - hour and a half.

[MeaninglessPhoto]

I play to my ipod everyday for about an hour or so. Then before I go to bed, ill do rudiments.

[Plan B.]

I just need to play. I'll feel it, and then I"ll just go and play. I don't need music, or a stimulus, it's all inside me.

[moogoogaipan]

It helps to have a really focused approach.
I'm naturally competitive, and mixed with the fact that drums put me in a meditative state, I can practice the most tedious things for hours.
I'll sit and play the same rudiment for an hour... as slow as possible, as fast as possible, with all wrist, with extremely loose wrists... in and out in every possible way.
The only way to become a better drummer is to scrutinize every little tiny detail of your playing and to work on it.

[Inkstar]

^ I can't sit there for hours. I'm get distracted easily. There's no way in burning hell that I could sit there for an hour on the same rudiment.

Actually, I could if I was in front of the TV.

[FUnkarockadrummer]

Listen and play rarely eclectic styles. Change it up. Playing the same exercises, songs and beats over and over and over is bound to get boring. Get wild!

[Det_Nosnip]

Maybe drums aren't for you, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. If just sitting down and playing the first thing that comes in your head isn't fun, you may just not really like drumming that much. I love to create when I sit down at my kit, and I like practicing. Granted there have been times where I got a little bit "burned out" and didn't play for awhile, but any time I go a few days without playing I itch to play, it's like an addiction. If you don't feel that, you may not be passionate about playing.

Yeppers...although who knows? I wouldn't give up right away.

Anyways, nowadays when I practice I'll usually run about 60-70% of just open ended, free improvised grooving. Around 50% of that is usually swung/jazz, and about 80% of it is to a click. The rest of the time I'll usually spend working out of books (John Riley's "Beyond Bop Drumming" and Latham's "Advanced Funk Studies" have been my current focuses) and creating my own exercises to work on. For that, my focus has mostly been on "translating" phrases from "open" (lots of space/rests; essentially, the basic melody of the phrase without any filler) to "closed" (spaces are filled in, usually by ghost notes...unaccented notes are usually diddled, etc), and anywhere inbetween. I've also been working on hearing ideas in my head and/or sounding them out verbally and then working them out on the kit, which helps out a ton for improvising.

[Det_Nosnip]

It helps to have a really focused approach.
I'm naturally competitive, and mixed with the fact that drums put me in a meditative state, I can practice the most tedious things for hours.
I'll sit and play the same rudiment for an hour... as slow as possible, as fast as possible, with all wrist, with extremely loose wrists... in and out in every possible way.
The only way to become a better drummer is to scrutinize every little tiny detail of your playing and to work on it.

True, that...you can be the most laid back person in other areas of your life, but when it comes to your playing OCD is a bonus! :lol:

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Yeah it can be boring practiceing the same things over and over again, But long term thing about the good things to come out of it.

I find that if you put variety into your practice sessions you get more out of it. Plan your session, for example you could do:

15-30 min- pad work with click and rudiment book
15-30 min- Applying what you just practiced to the kit
15-30 min- Work on any beats you've been working on
15-30 min- Wind down, playing with tracks, that sorta thing

Thats the kinda thing I do anyway, usually with longer time periods for each but your get the idea. Also set goals for yourself short term and long term. This will help your focus while playing and practiceing.

[wongacaster]

i just play man pklay a couple songs some beats, the most things i do is like build on an easy beat then once ive got it perfect and itd be a good time to fit in a solo i solo and then go back into the beat.
or i lik do some snare stuff and change that into a beat quit fun stuff actually.

just play man play whatever makes you wanna play

[Kosmos Tree]

I try to keep focused when i practise, work through books, do rudiments etc.
For me, the challenge to get better and to be able to play complex things, IS the fun - i never could just sit around on the kit and play without progressing.
All this is benefitial for playing with my band - my groove is improving, i can provide more ideas and most of all create the music i love. That is fun, that makes me happy, that's why i practise focused.

[jversluis88]

Dedication, bro. If you're going to be serious about drumming you shouldn't have to have an excuse to play every day. I play every day, and I enjoy it every day. I play because I have to in order to be the best drummer I can be. As for what I do: my entire practise is with a metronome, and I work out of stick control a lot, as well as whatever my drum teacher gives me to work on. Lots of soloing in there too.

[pitchfork]

I sit down and hit the ****ers

[Arock]

what i do is play what i hear in my head. i've had different practice habbits, when i was NY i would come home and practice for like 2-5 hours, challanging myself as much as i could. i would try to take a tool from one drummer and mix it with another tool of my own design. then i would do about an hour of rudiments with a book on the pad.

but now that i'm here in detroit i have less time, so i only practice about an 1-1/2 to 2 hours a day. playing mostly odd time, lots of ghost notes, off beat, etc. then i do about another hour of rudiments, 45 mins french parralel grip, 15 mins traditional. i really enjoy challenges and and inovation.

also drummers try this for strengthening your week hand: hold your hands palm up and flat in front of you, your hands should be facing each other (like your middle fingers should almost touch, and your thumbs should be on the side of your pad, pinky on your side), now put your thumb on top of your palm and put your sticks under each thumb. your should be able to play your sticks by rocking your fingers up and down.

[dairyairman]

i agree that just playing on your own, with no task or goal is boring. if i'm not playing to music either live or with headphones, i need to have something to work on or i get bored. this week my drum teacher told me to pick a specific funk groove and play it over and over again until i can not only play it accurately, but also with a solid feeling. that's turned out to be a lot harder than i thought. i mean, i can "play" it ok, but absolutely nailing it balls on with perfect feeling and consistency like my drum teacher can is difficult.

[Phototropic]

playing in a band is the most fun i find

Can't beat that crushing feeling when its flat out rocking :)

I'd probably be bored of drums if I didn't play in a band, I don't enjoy playing on my own that much

[Stickman Sam]

Check out a couple of drum solos on youtube, might help if you're looking for inspirational solo playing.

~~

[Zildjian]

I play 3-5 songs on the iPod, mess around with stick control, then about 30 min of making things up

[RedDot]

I don't really need to keep myself entertained, I hardly get a chance to play everyday. Because of that, I always crave my drums, anytime I get the chance to play them, I go until someone stops me.
While I'm on the set, I do everything, I usually play a slow tempo beat and slowly speed it up and add more intricate parts to it for about 10 minutes to warm up. Then I do whatever I feel like, exercises, improvisation, or I'll mess around poly's, od signatures, I'll even apply tabla logic to the drums. But, I do'nt have a CD player to play along to, or iPod.

[rohbit]

Badly.

Try to join a band.

[double stroke roller]

I sit down and hit the ****ers
Ha ha ha:smash: beat them into submission...