Can you learn drums without lessons?

axisus · October 2016

I've picked up other instruments by myself, but drumming seems like a different beast, with tricky elements of precision, coordination, timing etc.

Is it doable oneself or better to get going with help?

Drew_TNBD · October 2016

Yes you can.

octatonic · October 2016

What are your goals?
I struggled along for 4 years self teaching.
I took 6 months of lessons and learned more in that time than the previous 4 years.

Of course you can do it yourself, it just takes longer.
You will make more mistakes and reinforce them.

guitarfishbay · October 2016

octatonic said:
You will make more mistakes and reinforce them.

This is the main point.

If you don't know you're doing it wrong then you don't know to change anything. Like with guitar you'll be able to get to a certain point but will plateau if you're unable to diagnose what is blocking progress - a teacher will hopefully stop you from developing bad technique in the first place... much easier to learn it right once than to have to re-learn.

joeyowen · October 2016

Yes,

but make sure you watch some technique videos to start

EricTheWeary · October 2016

I'm sure some of the most famous drummers did but then some of the most famous drummers have bad habits and limited technique.

I think the initial barrier is not understanding what drummers do ( aside from looking up porn on their mobile phones): how many things are going on at once and how it all fits together. My son had some drum lessons and I learned stuff just from the books he had. Quite interesting, I learned a lot about how drum patterns work.

Whilst I could do some basics on the drums I didn't enjoy it very much. For example, somebody shows you the basic riff on guitar to Louie Louie then after a few runs through you can probably keep it going for 2.5 minutes and you've learned a song. The drumming equivalent seemed to require massively more concentration and a song of that length was like a mental marathon.

bingefeller · October 2016

kick on one, snare on two. That's all there is to it!

joeyowen · October 2016

bingefeller said:

kick on one, snare on two. That's all there is to it!

soz Green Day

colourofsound · October 2016

Drums, to my knowledge, is the only instrument that involves 4 limb co-ordination using the whole of your body. It is fucking hard.

My experience as a drummer has been very stark - you either have it, or you don't. So I've seen people pick up the drums in a year and totally smash it, whereas there will be other guys who have been playing for years and will never be as good.

In my experience at least, co-ordination and patterns can be learnt, but groove and time feel is very much inherent. Some drummers just 'feel' better (easy now) than others, even if objectively speaking they have the same skill levels.

Speaking of co-ordination, this is a little bit built in as well. Good at driving/racket sports/multi-tasking? You'll pick up drums easier than others.

So your experience of teaching yourself the kit will be dependant on how good at rhythm and time feel you are. I'm not saying that no one can learn the drums - but it's certainly easier and more natural for some people than it is for others.

Benny Greb's latest DVD is on how to learn feel and improve groove. I'd recommend Benny Greb and Mike Johnston to anyone self-teaching; they are IMO at the top of their game.

PolarityMan · October 2016

I learned drums on my own, i'm not awesome but considering its a tertiary instrument I do ok. I have no doubt lessons improve things but theres so much great stuff on youtube.

Placidcasual79 · October 2016

I learnt drums without lessons. I started when I was 16. I didn't have a drum kit so made one out of piles of books at different heights and used tins for cymbals and pencils for sticks. I used to video any good music performances I could find on tv (this was 1995) then watch them on video and copy what the drummer was doing. I progressed from there to playing along to cd's. By the time I got to a kit a year later I could already do a bit. Many hours spent stoned in my bedroom drumming along on books with just a lamp on..... Once I had access to a kit I copied records as my taste expanded so I learnt different techniques and styles. I never listen to Jazz or metal so there is lots I cant do and I am sure I have some technically bad habits, but I can enjoy jamming, and play on my own compositions.

I found the opposite to @erictheweary - I found it much harder to manage the basic coordination it takes to play the guitar than I did the drums!!! Probably why I am a severely average guitar player.

Sassafras · October 2016

Apparently playing drums is similar to flying a helicopter in that you're using all 4 limbs.
I wouldn't get into a helicopter if the pilot hadn't had any lessons.

olafgarten · October 2016

Sassafras said:

Apparently playing drums is similar to flying a helicopter in that you're using all 4 limbs.
I wouldn't get into a helicopter if the pilot hadn't had any lessons.

Then again, the consequences of messing up helicopter piloting are quite a lot more than messing up drumming. A bad drummer might ruin your day, but a bad helicopter pilot will ruin your life, if you still have one at the end of it.

EricTheWeary · October 2016

Placidcasual79 said:

I learnt drums without lessons. I started when I was 16. I didn't have a drum kit so made one out of piles of books at different heights and used tins for cymbals and pencils for sticks. I used to video any good music performances I could find on tv (this was 1995) then watch them on video and copy what the drummer was doing. I progressed from there to playing along to cd's. By the time I got to a kit a year later I could already do a bit. Many hours spent stoned in my bedroom drumming along on books with just a lamp on..... Once I had access to a kit I copied records as my taste expanded so I learnt different techniques and styles. I never listen to Jazz or metal so there is lots I cant do and I am sure I have some technically bad habits, but I can enjoy jamming, and play on my own compositions.
I found the opposite to @erictheweary - I found it much harder to manage the basic coordination it takes to play the guitar than I did the drums!!! Probably why I am a severely average guitar player.

Basic drumming is pretty repetitive so once I'd got the hang of a basic beat I thought I could just nod along doing it for a few minutes, whereas that wasn't the case at all. It may be that I'm just a sloppy guitarist and I can get away with that whereas you can't really be a sloppy drummer.

Teetonetal · October 2016

Yes. I got a technique video to begin with (Tommy Igoe I think) then just learnt by ear. So much fun. Drums all packed away now though as new flat doesn't have enough space

IvanMC · October 2016

I reckon it's always hugely better to have real lessons. But isn't youtube a top-notch teacher nowadays? I'd love to learn drums. I've studied music for years, but used to dream of being a drummer. Once I'll win the lottery and purchase a massive house with a room just for playing in. Joking apart, I usually watch tutorials on youtube and put them into practice (as it were) on EZ Drummer. And some other times, I might have lost the plot entirely, I do practise, falling back on books, pads, and the floor. Youtube is great. Of course real lessons are way better, as long as you get hold of a proper teacher.

samzadgan · October 2016

comparatively, i found drums to be a lot easier to learn than guitar. I'm self-taught on both...and i played drums for a couple of years...i think i played 1 or 2 ac/dc songs, then i started playing stuff that i loved at the time, like sepultura, fear factory, slayer, deicide, etc.

lessons are probably better, but it just depends on how you approach learning and what stimulates you. Everyone's different.

Also, I dont agree that developing bad technique because you're self taught is a bad thing. I guess, if you want to play covers or be a studio musician, yes it may limit you. But if you're creating your own music, bad technique would actually make you different and unique. The way you play as an individual is just as important as the notes you choose to express yourself musically....but that's just my musically uneducated opinion.

JookyChap · October 2016

@colourofsound said:

Drums, to my knowledge, is the only instrument that involves 4 limb co-ordination using the whole of your body. It is fucking hard.

My experience as a drummer has been very stark - you either have it, or you don't. So I've seen people pick up the drums in a year and totally smash it, whereas there will be other guys who have been playing for years and will never be as good.

In my experience at least, co-ordination and patterns can be learnt, but groove and time feel is very much inherent. Some drummers just 'feel' better (easy now) than others, even if objectively speaking they have the same skill levels.

Speaking of co-ordination, this is a little bit built in as well. Good at driving/racket sports/multi-tasking? You'll pick up drums easier than others.

So your experience of teaching yourself the kit will be dependant on how good at rhythm and time feel you are. I'm not saying that no one can learn the drums - but it's certainly easier and more natural for some people than it is for others.

Benny Greb's latest DVD is on how to learn feel and improve groove. I'd recommend Benny Greb and Mike Johnston to anyone self-teaching; they are IMO at the top of their game.

I did love the fact that you are looking for a drummer, according to your signature

paul_c2 · October 2016

IvanMC said:

I reckon it's always hugely better to have real lessons. But isn't youtube a top-notch teacher nowadays? I'd love to learn drums. I've studied music for years, but used to dream of being a drummer. Once I'll win the lottery and purchase a massive house with a room just for playing in. Joking apart, I usually watch tutorials on youtube and put them into practice (as it were) on EZ Drummer. And some other times, I might have lost the plot entirely, I do practise, falling back on books, pads, and the floor. Youtube is great. Of course real lessons are way better, as long as you get hold of a proper teacher.

It depends which way round you're using Youtube. If you're viewing videos of others drumming/teaching drumming, then its quite possible that you'll develop a bad habit or some other defect in your playing, and blindly carry on never knowing about it or how to fix it.

If you're recording yourself drumming then posting it onto Youtube and inviting comments....then it may be better and can fix the issue, IF you find someone who knows what they're talking about who is also prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue. But I have no idea how you'd filter that out from other comments or other wannabe drummers who have done nothing except try to learn from Youtube.

Then again, real lessons cost money, plus travel time, and you'd never know if it were a good or bad teacher until possibly months down the line.....

paul_c2 · October 2016

ETA: You could probably gain more, by videoing yourself, then posting it (possibly as an unpublicised video) onto a drummer's forum. There's a few decent ones around for sure.

octatonic · October 2016

samzadgan said:

comparatively, i found drums to be a lot easier to learn than guitar. I'm self-taught on both...and i played drums for a couple of years...i think i played 1 or 2 ac/dc songs, then i started playing stuff that i loved at the time, like sepultura, fear factory, slayer, deicide, etc.

lessons are probably better, but it just depends on how you approach learning and what stimulates you. Everyone's different.

Also, I dont agree that developing bad technique because you're self taught is a bad thing. I guess, if you want to play covers or be a studio musician, yes it may limit you. But if you're creating your own music, bad technique would actually make you different and unique. The way you play as an individual is just as important as the notes you choose to express yourself musically....but that's just my musically uneducated opinion.

I agree that it is important to find your own voice- but learning a bit of technique doesn't preclude this either and it might even help you find your voice.
I think of it as allowing you to level up with your playing quicker than you ordinarily would.

For instance, I made a few changes recently to how I play the hi-hats- using a tip/shank technique.
For every movement of my arm I am getting two hits.
This means that I am using half the energy was previously using for the same effect- which helps me with stamina- getting through a set of songs is easier and it means that I play better overall.

It hasn't robbed me of anything and actually I can choose put a bit of extra effort into the songs (because I have stuff to spare) which helps with my dynamics and my sense of groove.

Once you get beyond a very basic level of drumming you make it very difficult for yourself if you don't hold the sticks efficiently, play doubles and singles efficiently.
Learning a bit of technique hasn't affected my musical taste at all- I am still interested in learning and playing the same stuff as I was before- I'm just able to access some of that stuff now, rather than in a year or two down the line.

A part of having lessons as well is knowing when to quit them and go off on your own.
I feel as though that day is coming for me- but for now I'm still working away and refining some technique things- long may it continue.

Dan86 · October 2016

Yes you can but lessons will speed up the process and teach good technique.

I had snare lessons from aged 6, so been playing for 24 years. A few years of snare lessons, I had probably 5-10 lessons on a full kit, then the rest of my kit playing has been self taught.

Snare gave me a great start, learning rudiments is an excellent place to start and will really help the kit playing come more naturally once you're familiar with the snare.

Obviously there are online lessons, youtube etc , all a great help, but nothing beats some 1-1 tuition.

If you're anywhere near the Midlands then feel free to message me for a hand.

Dan

mrkb · October 2016

I agree with having lessons. I've been playing 18 months, and my tutor is great at analysing weaknesses and giving techniques/practice routines to fix them. If I was self taught I'd skip over any problems and my technique would be limited in the long term.

Timmy · October 2016

axisus said:

I've picked up other instruments by myself, but drumming seems like a different beast, with tricky elements of precision, coordination, timing etc.

Is it doable oneself or better to get going with help?

Hey axisus i teach and play drums for a living, here is my long-winded answer to your question

Yes and no. If you have a good ear and a basic level of coordination then you can get off to a good start your self. If not you will need help otherwise you will probably give up.

It's good to remember that the drumming greats who were self taught started playing straight away with other people and had the benefit of learning from other musicians. So they might not have had one to one drum lessons but they would have had a band leader critique them and guide them how to play. Take up any opportunity to play with anyone you can, you normally learn the most from these situations. If you don't have any musical friends or have any opportunity to play with other people get lessons.

Equally as important as playing with other people is playing along to records. Pick one of you favourite albums and start learning the drum parts and try to play a long to it, even try and sing the parts as well. This will seem hard a first but it is the best way to learn and the sooner you start doing this the better. If this is too hard or overwhelming get lessons.

Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions

Trude · January 2017

One of my favourite tricks is to pick an album that has no drums on it at all (but that is rhythmically interesting) and play along. I do a lot of folk stuff, and I've found the Irish band Lunasa is perfect for this. They have a lot of weird time signatures and tempo changes etc, all with strong rhythm coming from double bass and guitar. It's great fun to see how different drum patterns can completely change the feel of a song - makes for a much more creative experience than just bashing along to AC/DC or whatever.

Rocker · April 2017

colourofsound said:

Drums, to my knowledge, is the only instrument that involves 4 limb co-ordination using the whole of your body. It is fucking hard.

I watched a Church organist play and his workload was simply awesome. He played two banks of keys, one with EAC hand and the bass pedals with his feet. He had to slide over and back to reach some of the bass pedals. And he had to turn the page himself. Made me tired looking at him play. Glad to have seen it though.

ChrisCox1994 · April 2017

I wish i'd got lessons when i started, I'm now making up for bad technique i learned (burying the bass drum beater, proper sick technique using the rebound etc) and its a LOT harder now.

So if you're serious definitely do the "boring" stuff, learn your rudiments, you wont use them for the first year but when you get into choppier linear stuff (the fun stuff) you'll be well equipped - instead of doing what I am now which is paying my favourite function mates/drummers to come round and show me how to paradiddle properly!

...reminds me of guitarists who proudly say "I dont need theory" - they just don't know they need it yet.

(last bit only applies if you're serious, if you wanna play just for a laugh then just hit the things with huge grin on your face)

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Can you learn drums without lessons?

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