There are a few telltale signs to look out for if you are wondering whether you’d be good at drums. Not everyone is cut out to be a drummer, as it requires talent, skill, and dexterity. If you feel as though drumming is the path for you, read on to find out for sure.
If you're constantly tapping on nearby surfaces to a beat in your head, this is a good indication that drums would suit you. Drumming is all about listening to and manipulating baseline beats of a piece of music. If you are already doing this off your own back, you're likely to have a strong sense of rhythm.
Drum notation on sheet music can appear complex and confusing to the untrained eye. If you can look at it and make some sense out of the notes, you will find drumming easy.
Drum notation is written out to incorporate all of the drums in a set, so you must have a decent foundation of knowledge to understand.
If you are already musically inclined, you will find it much easier to play the drums. You will have a good understanding of notations, rhythm, and timings which makes playing drums much easier. People who start playing drums with a background in other instruments often succeed faster as they have a better ear.
Drums are very loud instruments, so you must be okay with high noise levels to become a good drummer. The people you live with also need to be accommodating, so you can practice to your heart's content.
You cannot expect to play an acoustic drumkit quietly, so if you cohabitate, maybe consider soundproofing a room or purchasing some drum pads to practice quietly. Having an electronic kit is another option.
The best way to tell if you would be good at drums is to pick up some sticks and start playing. It is impossible to tell for sure without trying, and some people may even be shocked to discover a natural aptitude. You may be much more dextrous than you thought, or have an impeccable sense of rhythm and timing.
What makes a good drummer?
The number one quality that helps to make a good drummer is perseverance. Nothing comes easy, particularly an activity as highly skilled as drumming.
If you truly wish to become a talented drummer, you will need to practice consistently and not be dissuaded by setbacks or failures. Every great musician has had a crisis of faith, and the successful ones are those who can push through this point.
In the same vein, you will need to be patient. Accept that mastery does not appear overnight and set yourself up for a long journey. Practice the basics over and over until you develop a 'muscle memory', and then begin to work on more skilled techniques.
A good drummer will always have a strong passion for the instrument. This helps to encourage you to put in the necessary time and will drive you to continue even when times seem tough.
Passion for music shines through in your performance. You can be technically brilliant but if you do not enjoy it, the audience will be able to tell.
You should be able to take constructive criticism well. Good drummers will be able to hear critiques of their performance and use this to improve their skills for the next time.
If you get defensive when people try to offer advice, you will come across poorly and it is likely that people will be less inclined to listen and help you in the future.
Active listening is another key quality for a good drummer to have. This allows you to fully understand the song you are playing and establish how the drum part fits into it. You should also have strong timekeeping skills.
Drums are vital to help maintain the correct tempo of a song, and if you are off then the entire piece can be ruined. Don’t be afraid to use a metronome to help you get to grips with this.
How long does it take to get good at drums?
Malcolm Gladwell once postulated that in order to become a master of a skill, you must spend 10,000 hours practicing and perfecting it. This is equal to 417 days of non-stop drumming. If you reduce this to 3 hours of drumming per day, it would take you just over 9 years to reach this point.
There are some people out there who have a natural aptitude for drumming, and others who do not. The more naturally drawn you are to the drums, the faster it is likely to be that you master the instrument. If you lack any passion for drumming, it is likely that you can practice forever and never reach a professional level.
When practicing the drums, you should ensure you do it properly, otherwise, the time you spend is wasted. You should take care to warm up your wrists, hands, and fingers before you start drumming. This reduces the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome or a repetitive strain injury.
The more effort that you put into your practice, the faster you will improve. Using a metronome as a timekeeping device will ensure you stay in the correct rhythm and tempo. We recommend practicing regularly and following some kind of schedule.
Drumming has been shown to change your brain composition as you are repeatedly conditioning it to act differently. This change cannot come on immediately and will take time to reach the optimal point.
You should always start from the fundamentals and build your skills up from there. Do not attempt to progress too quickly, as this can cause you to fail.
Repeated failure leads to a loss of morale and this can completely halt your drum playing career. Accept that you will not be professional immediately and that it will take time to generate your skills. This is the fastest way to become a talented drummer.