| Rhythm: the basis for all music, the core of each | | | | day; after practicing your triplets for an hour, you will |
| song, the special pattern on which we ride the | | | | be tired. John Bonham from Led Zeppelin played with |
| waves of music. The art of the drums have been | | | | thick sticks; those will hurt your arms after a while! |
| around since the early days of music. Drums can | | | | Believe this or not but one of the best ways to |
| either be complicated and exciting or simple and | | | | practice the drums is to air drum with the radio. While |
| powerful. The drums can control the entire genre of | | | | you are in the car just tap your foot to the beat. |
| the music being played, the entire feel, the | | | | Recordings are almost perfect timing so if you can |
| crescendos. The essence of the music is held | | | | get your feet used to staying in the same timing and |
| together by this mighty backbone. This places the | | | | speed that really helps. Practicing with the radio and |
| majority of the responsibility in the hands of the | | | | your set is even better. Set up your iPod even and |
| Drummer. | | | | play to all your favorite songs. |
| I consider it an honor to sit behind that set and | | | | The greatest way to practice in my opinion is |
| establish that beat. There are many things to learn, | | | | improvisation. Get your band friends over and play |
| and many things to practice as a musician. A | | | | along with anything they throw at you. People want |
| drummer can know how to play any beat any way in | | | | a drummer who can jump in there and play on the |
| any time, but if he fails to keep the speed accurate | | | | fly. The more you have to force yourself to learn, |
| it's almost worthless. Nothing more do I stress about | | | | the better you become. Recently I was in a Band |
| the drums than the speed and time. Forget the fancy | | | | class and I had to improvise my way through old |
| stuff, keep it simple and keep it powerful. When it | | | | blues and jazz tunes such as 5.4 on the Richter scale. |
| comes to recording nothing matters more, when you | | | | It was tough but it made me a much better |
| don't need to have software to auto-align your drum | | | | drummer. Playing in different time signatures is very |
| track then your doing good. As a drummer do not be | | | | helpful. The band Tool has one of the greatest |
| picky about the music you play; the best styles to | | | | drummers in my opinion, Daney Carey. This band |
| play drums to are blues and jazz, and that is not an | | | | plays in strange time signatures, practice along with |
| opinion. Becoming proficient in these styles of music | | | | their songs. That will really get you good. |
| will greatly raise your skill. Most of the great | | | | And of course do not forget to learn your theory! I |
| drummers started out with those swing beats. I have | | | | know it might sound like a joke but you cannot |
| learned from a conga player that the best way to | | | | always rely on improvising. When you want to get a |
| practice is with a metronome. Follow that little light! | | | | job being a studio musician and it's you versus |
| Another aspect that makes a fantastic drummer is | | | | someone who knows their theory, they won't hire |
| the ability to play any drum set that is set up in | | | | you even if you can improvise anything in the world. |
| different ways. So test yourself! Get your set and | | | | You have to know how to play what they put in |
| put the toms in the opposite place and change the | | | | front of you, not just play it, but play it perfectly the |
| symbols around. | | | | FIRST TIME. Do not be discouraged though, this is |
| Learn to play with the opposite hand. Just knowing | | | | only one job for musicians; and it is very hard to |
| how to do different techniques will not improve your | | | | become that great at reading sheet music. All in all, |
| playing. When you can learn to switch hands it also | | | | these are some excellent techniques for becoming a |
| makes a cool show when you cross over and cross | | | | savvy and proficient drummer. I hope all of you who |
| back. Constant practice for long periods of time will | | | | read this agree with me and become better because |
| make you great. Consider it your work out for the | | | | it. |