Drumming is a great hobby to have, and it takes great skill to have the correct rhythm and coordination to do it. However, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks.
Like with the majority of musical instruments, when played for long periods of time, this can lead to some discomfort and pain.
While drumming is not bad for your back in general, it can cause problems, especially if you’re not using correct drumming technique. Given the position at which you’re sitting, and the duration you’re playing for, this is something all us drummers need to be aware of.
In this article, we'll be discussing some actions you can take to help prevent back pain and potential problems while drumming.
Common Causes of Back Pain from Drumming
In general, no, drumming isn’t bad for your back. Given how many muscles are engaged and used while drumming, it’s actually a good form of exercise.
However, this is reliant on whether you’re sitting in the correct position, and are drumming correctly. If you’re not doing this, then over time, it is likely your back and other muscles may begin to feel pain.
Back pain is an issue that a lot of people will experience when drumming, and it's often due to drummers sitting incorrectly on their throne. Sitting incorrectly is usually caused by poor posture, especially if you're prone to slouching.
This is something that can be easily rectified, but at first, you may not be aware that you’re slouching, especially after longer periods of playing.
If you’re new to drumming, your back may feel more sore to begin with. This is because you're not used to the action of drumming, and how to sit with the correct posture.
A lot of new drummers will play the drums too hard. This is tempting to do, especially if you don’t appreciate the concept of dynamics - using different volumes to enhance the music.
If you’re playing too hard for too long, this can lead to a strain on your muscles, including your back.
Solutions To Back Pain Caused By Drumming
Drumming shouldn’t be a painful experience, and if you’re experiencing persistent back pain, this is something you’ll want to prevent as much as possible.
Here are some of the most common causes of back pain, and how you can avoid them:
Technique and Posture
The first thing you want to consider is your posture. Incorrect posture is one of the more common causes of back pain. You’ll want to ensure your back is nice and straight while you’re playing.
While it may seem tempting to slouch after a long drumming session, this should always be avoided. It is better to take a short break from drumming, instead of drumming with bad posture.
Your back should be relaxed as you’re sitting upright, instead of being too rigid, and your lower back should have a slight curve. It’s helpful to sit on the edge of the throne, rather than too far back.
This will allow you to maintain your posture, and reach the drum set without straining. While this position may feel awkward to begin with, the more you practice playing in this position, the more natural it will become.
Drum Kit Height
The height of your drum kit is important. If the drum kit isn’t sitting at the correct height, this can cause problems if you’re straining to reach. The drum pedal should be placed directly where your feet are reaching the floor.
This allows you to press them easily, without compromising your upright position. You’ll want to place the snare in a position that’s a few inches higher than your thigh. This will ensure you’re not slouching downward.
The floor tom should sit at the same height as your snare, and in an accessible place, so you're not twiting. The rack toms should be at a sensible height that is easily accessible when you perform a fill around the kit. Again, you don’t want to have to strain to reach them.
When it comes to the cymbals, don't have them too high. Yeah, I know it can look cool to have a gleaming wall of bronze, but if they’re too far away it'll cause bad posture.
The Throne
When it comes to solutions for back pain, one of the key aspects you should consider is the throne height. Alongside incorrect posture, this can be a common cause for this issue. You should always purchase a good quality drum throne, that’s the correct size and height.
The throne should be high enough that the snare drum is about level to your stomach. This will ensure that you’re not leaning upwards or downwards to reach the snare.
You’ll want to place yourself in a position where you can reach all the drum kit from your throne without having to strain or adjust it. The sitting position should feel natural. If it’s too low, there will be pressure placed on the lower back.
When setting up the throne, always ensure your two feet can be placed firmly on the ground in a comfortable position. You don’t want your knees to be above your hips, this is a sign that the throne is too low.
Take A Break
While it can be tempting to continue playing the drums when you feel slight pain in your back, it’s always best to stop and take a break. If you carry on playing after you experience pain, this can cause the pain to become worse, and you may hurt your back further.
Always ensure that you’re stretching your back muscles before and after drumming. This can help to alleviate the pain that you are experiencing, and will only take a few minutes to carry out.
Summary
While drumming isn’t inherently bad for your back, if you’re not drumming correctly this can cause pain. Given this, you always want to ensure your drum set and throne are set up correctly, and you maintain the correct posture.
You should try to practice the correct position and posture, so they become natural for you. In addition to this, it’s always useful to stretch before and after drumming.