Questions from Western Canadian Drummer

Truly · Not So Newbie Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

Hey, Names Jeremy. Started drumming in Jan/08.

I understand the notation but im slow at reading it and often mess up.
Im playing double kick, I can handle 4's but after that I mess up.
I play 6 hours a week currently but now have time to play as much as possible.
My hand and foot coordination is getting better and better each day.
I dont know much or any of the lingo to what I learn.
My Hi-Hat, Snare and Kick work is good.
My fills need work.

With the following, what should I work on right now to gain better speed? Should I do more notation reading? Or perhaps work on hand speed? Im in your hands fellow drummers.

tylerdrummer · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject:

they have books, hat have fills to help you read them, but personally for me i dont know any of them and dont use them
the best way to get fills is to listen to some drummers, technique, then move it around your set, and just soloing will throw up things you never thought you could do

gigeoffro · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

I say continue to work on both speed and reading. others here may argue that reading isn't as important but I say other wise. Reading is essential to becoming a well rounded and versitile drummer. it will also help you with your fills once you get proficient at it. Both reading and speed will only come with time and practice my friend. No short cuts here.
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The Lord delights in the ways of man who's steps he has made firm.
Psalms 37:23

Truly · Not So Newbie Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

sounds good, will do.

sbowman128675 · Big Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 967

1st things 1st, GET A METRONOME! its drummers best best best friend

then, if u wanna learn double bass, get your hand speed up. then use a timer and time each part.

like do 10 minutes of double bass practice.
a good practice to start is setting the metronome to a speed were u can do constant 16th notes as good as u can, for me it was 135bpm. then start with just 8th notes for 2 bars, then 16th notes for 2 bars. and so on and so on.

then do a good 15 mins of just a rock beat to your metronome, doing random fills if you can.

then take out your practice pad (drummers 2nd best friend) and practice your rudiments to the metronome. i suggest a good 2 mins of RRLL, then 2 mins of RRRRLLLL, then 2 mins of RRRRRRRRLLLLLLLL, then 2 mins of RRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, then another 2 mins of RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL, then another 2 mins of RLRRLRLL(paradiddle)

after that, chose any song you like, and play to it.

THEN after that, do some double bass to hand cordination for a good 10mins, like this

RL BB RL BB RL BB RL BB
or RLRL BB RLRL BB

THEN do constant 16th notes at a comfortable speed on both the bass and then snare together.

this is usually what i do. i usully do it in under 1 hour.

btw, the RRRRLLLL, and whatnot is a Derik Rody method. use single stroke instead of bouncing the sticks, it gets ure wrist muscles toned.

EDIT- wow forgot to talk about theory.

i still stand by essential elements 2000
good book series

PS- im not big on theory, in fact i hate it, doesn't mean you need too Smile

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