This is simple: Hand to hand or right-left. Starting slow then accelerate. Start slow. 
We will start with match grip. For real keeners, you might work with traditional grip and French grip as well. 

As always:
1. Start slow, over time you will be able to speed up with minimal tension.
2. Let the sticks rebound, or bounce freely off the head. If the stick is buried in the head, the drum will not speak. 
3. Keep the hands and arms relaxed, it comes primarily from the wrists. No "Death Grips".

​David

Great hands!
How do you get great hands?

1. Practice patiently and methodically from exercise books such as "Progressive steps to Syncopation". The accent studies are particularly effective.
2. Use a metronome at various tempi.
3. Record yourself.
4. Listen back.
5. Find a teacher to guide you. It will save a lot of wasted effort. 

See my last blog post for more information, then call me. 

David

There are drum books for technique, styles, and advanced concepts. I own more than a 100. But let's start simple, the basics.

1. posture
2. kit set up
3. grip
4. basic rudiments: singles, doubles, paradiddles, closed flams, ruffs
5. sticking patterns
6. counting out loud
7. reading
8. playing in time
9. learning tunes

None of these fundamental concepts and techniques require a book. All of them can be learned while you learn some tunes and have some fun. 

So, why a book?

Books lay out a roadmap, give a sense of accomplishment, develop reading skills, and impart important drum culture attitudes in students among other things. 

​Below are a few favs of mine.

Classics for a reason...

​With the following steps in order, success and fun will be so much closer.

1. Your drums set up properly and in working order
2. The lighting is good
3. Sticks and brushes ready at hand
4. Music stand in place
5. Your books and videos are open at the relevant pages
6. You have a plan of what to practice
7. Your pencil and eraser are ready to make notes and highlight areas of concern in your books.
8. The sound system loaded, turned on and ready to play your play along tracks
9.  Phone in airplane mode
10. Metronome or metronome app beside you
11. The teachers notes are on the music stand
12. Audio recorder is ready to record your efforts
13. Ear protection on
14. Bonus: Drum journal ready to be filled in. More on this coming up.

Have fun.
 
David
“Musicians live to practice, and practice to live”
​

1. Thirty percent of your time working on your drills, rudiments, and homework as prescribed by your teacher.
2. Seventy percent pf your time playing along with your favorite recordings. 

Remember you signed up to play, so play. As you acquire skills the playing will improve. And, you will be having fun as you slowly get there. 

Now, there are other ways to allocate your time, I tend to flip it 70%  drill/time/feel etudes, technique and 30% repertoire.  But, I'm not a beginner. 

Best, 

​David

​Can changing drumheads make a cheap set sound better?

Yes, and yes.

Drumheads make a big difference. Coated/clear, single ply/double ply. Ported bass drum/non-ported. Then how you tune them.

I’ve played many kits found on bandstands around town. They are uniformly cheap, heavily dampened, and wildly tuned. Played well, out front in the audience, they usually sound fine or even great. The only comments I’ve ever gotten are remarks on my Paiste cymbals I’d brought to the show.

I still love my pro level kits. But it took many years before I purchased them. On early recordings the cheaper, well tuned, with coated drumheads, my Gretsch Catalina 20” sounded good, sometimes really good.

When I moved into classic rock bands, I used clear drumheads, tuned them lower and voila: Rock and roll baby!

Moral of the story?
I use: 
Remo drum heads
Aquarian drum heads

It’s the drummer. It’s the room. It’s the band. It's the tuning. It’s the music.

David

There are lots of thoughts out there on this subject. Should I sit  high/low, sideways?(just kidding). Should my cymbals be high/low? I won't settle that here, but I invite you to check out https://drummagazine.com/how-to-set-up-your-drum-kit-for-comfort-and-efficiency/ 

Last night I dreamed I met Billy Cobham on the bus. He was living in Toronto, we struck up a conversation, hit it off right away. Two musicians sharing stories: journeyman/master.  He sets up like this: HIgh.

Travis Barker of the rock band Blink -182 sets up like this: Low

So, please have a look at the article through the link above. Today, I will be exploring some alternative set-ups on my kits. myself. 

The goal is comfort and  and ergonomically healthy set up. 

David