16 Tips for Beginner Drummers to Improve Technique

Don’t you just hate it whenever someone says, “Oh, drumming’s easy; you just have to hit the drum and that’s it! I mean, how hard could that be, right?” Well, no. It’s absolutely easier said than done! What beginners have to understand is that professionals have invested tons of hours to reach their current level and perfect their technique.

Make no mistake; to be on top of your game in any craft like music, art, or sport takes patience, dedication, and determination. Drumming is no different from learning other musical instruments, and it’s definitely not easier — it just looks that way for beginners.

Whether you’re a professional or a beginner — you still need to put work, time, and effort into honing your drumming skills. Yes, it’s indeed a long road to reach proficiency and expertise. But we all have to start somewhere, right?

And speaking of starting somewhere, congratulations, reading this blog by  DCP  is already an awesome start! For beginners out there — sit back, relax, and make sure to take some notes because here are 16 Tips for Beginner Drummers to Improve Technique!  

Ensuring that you have a solid foundation is crucial if you want to become a professional drummer. And how do you do that as a beginner? Simple, by starting with the basics. You can begin jamming only with basic beats and simple fills. Mastering these will give you the skills and confidence to take on more advanced techniques!

Remember — no drummer ever reaches a point where they’ve already learned everything there is to learn. That’s impossible because there will always be room for improvement. And for continuous improvement, mastering the basics is key, especially for beginners!

Indeed! Finding the right teacher can be 100% beneficial for improving the drumming technique of beginners. Why? At this point, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain. And the right teacher will definitely help you achieve that!

The right teacher can give you personalized guidance, teach proper technique, follow a structured learning path, keep you motivated, hold you accountable, offer helpful resources, and provide immediate feedback for beginners — to help put you on the right track!

Oh, and not only that! Having the right teacher can expose you better to the drum community and discover awesome opportunities especially if you want to pursue a musical career as a beginner. 

The beginner stages is also the perfect time to learn the rudiments of drumming. But first of all, what are these so-called “rudiments”? Simply said — these are rhythmic patterns that drummers learn to grasp different sticking patterns and improve stick control.

According to Drum Magazine, there are  Five Essential Rudiments  for drummers: the single-stroke roll, double-stroke roll, paradidle, flams, and the six-stroke. Take the time to learn these things as a beginner because it will be extremely beneficial to you in the long run!

Hey, every expert was once a beginner. Just like what I said earlier, we all have to start somewhere, right? So make sure to put in the work as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to make all the mistakes that you can!

Consistent practice is key to improvement. Yes, even short daily practices are more effective than occasional long ones! So for beginners out there, make drumming a regular part of your routine. And if you can, practice harder and harder every day. In the end, it’ll all be worth it! 

Consistency in drumming is a crucial skill to learn and a challenging one at the same time. But thank the heavens because metronomes exist! A “ metronome” is a device that marks time in music and sets the tempo, which in musical terms means speed.

Working with a metronome can help you develop the consistency required in your technique during your beginner stages. Regular metronomes offer a choice of pre-set speeds, but digital metronomes let you tailor your speeds even more precisely.

Oh, but one issue you might find in keeping time as a beginner with a metronome is that you can’t hear the device. Drumming is loud, and that’s unavoidable. There are also wearable metronomes in a watch or clip-on format to counter this. These devices help you to feel the beat that you may not be able to hear as you strike the drumhead.

We have available metronomes and rhythm watches for beginners here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth, make sure to check them out and see what works best for you!

Try watching the performance of any legendary drummer — and you will be mesmerized by how coordinated their hands and feet are when they play.

 Drumming uses all four limbs. Sometimes your limbs play together, and other times they perform independently of one another, depending on the demands of the rhythm.

One of the biggest challenges for a beginner is when the drum pattern requires a different performance from the hands or feet. But hey, you must master them! You can try using linear drum beat exercises to help improve the independence between your hands and feet to build better coordination over time. 

Most beginners don’t give much thought to how they set up their kit. But in reality, it’s actually one of the first and most important things to ensure! Sadly, beginners don’t pay much attention and often construct their drum set poorly, making it uncomfortable or awkward to play.

All the drums and cymbals should be within easy reach without leaning or twisting. Sounds obvious, right? But this is often overlooked by beginners. The snare drum should sit between your legs just above knee height. Angle the rack toms towards you.

One thing you can do to discover more ideas in setting up drums is by watching your favorite drummers play or checking out YouTube tutorials — the popular way of learning nowadays for beginners!

Ah, yes. This one goes hand in hand with tip number seven. Aside from sorting your set so that it is reachable and comfortable, finding a good drumming posture is also essential to making progress as a beginner.

Don’t ignore this crucial tip because one day you might injure your body, ruin your health, and of course — stop you from playing drums! Sitting correctly is more relaxing, which means you will be able to play for longer. 

As a beginner, you should also learn how to hold drumsticks using a “matched grip”. This technique simply refers to holding both of the sticks in the same way, as we can see from the picture.

Usually, this is between the thumb and index finger, with the rest of the fingers wrapping around the stick. Hold the sticks lightly. They should be allowed to move and bounce after striking the drumhead. This bounce is an essential technique if you want to play fast and powerfully!

Another essential piece of advice for beginners is to develop a good bass drum technique. There are two types of bass drum techniques: Heel-Up or Heel-Down.

Heel-Up Technique — in this technique, you raise your heel off the pedal, using your leg muscles and ankle to achieve greater power. This technique is recommended for playing louder and faster beats. Many pros advocate Heel-Up as it is more comfortable and allows you to deliver more volume.

Heel-Down Technique — here, your heel remains rested on the pedal while using your ankle to play the drum. Now this one’s more recommended for beginners and suitable for softer and more controlled playing. 

Sounds way too simple, huh? But mind you — hitting the middle of the drumhead is a crucial skill, and it’s not as easy as it sounds especially for beginners. Sometimes, trying to play complicated patterns too early will hamper the development of your technique. Again, we’re highlighting the importance of tip number one for beginners —  Focus on the Basics!

There is nothing wrong with having a crack at complex rhythms but always do fundamental core exercises for beginners to ensure you are looking after your style and building good habits.

If you can’t hit the drumhead in the center, your playing will never develop in the way you want. Sometimes, this can be for a simple reason, like a lapse in concentration. Keep practice sessions short but meaningful so they’ll always be effective in improving your technique as a beginner! 

A lot of people find the prospect of learning to read music a bit too intimidating. Well, we really can’t blame them, right? After all, musical notation is a brand-new language, especially for beginners.

Hey, if there’s a will, there’s a way! You just need to start slowly and take your time. Don't worry, you're a beginner. Familiarize yourself with the basic terms, study them, and apply your learnings.

Not knowing how to read music can limit your progress and prevent you from communicating with other musicians in a band or group. Check this blog by DCP if you want to have more ideas about  learning to read music for beginners! 

Hey, don’t ever feel down or discouraged about your progress! I know that it’s easy to get the blues and even quit sometimes. But allow yourself to make mistakes, because that too, is a part of learning as a beginner.

One of the best ways to counter this and inspire more motivation is by setting some realistic goals. Staging posts are just that, obtainable markers that will make you feel like you are moving forward.

Try establishing goals that help with a feeling of both direction and accomplishment. They can keep you motivated during those annoying plateaus when you have lost the initial excitement of starting to play as beginners but have yet to make the type of progress you were hoping to attain.

Try watching other drummers out there! No, I’m not just talking about the drum icons like John Bonham, Neil Peart, Dave Grohl, and more.

Why? Well, they sometimes seem to be on an otherworldly level. Unreachable. Unlike local guys who are just playing sessions at your favorite bar! Sometimes, it can be helpful to listen to tips from drummers who are just a bit further down the line — their advice can be helpful and relevant for beginners like you.

Oh, and the internet is another source of inspiration, with tens and thousands of clips and tutorials from drummers worldwide. Try visiting our YouTube Channel —  Drum Center of Portsmouth  to give you valuable inspiration as a beginner drummer! 

That’s right! Explore the world of drums as it’s very beautiful and colorful if you really look at it. Try different styles and drums, and don’t restrict yourself to just the same old familiar routines — experiment and challenge yourself from time to time. It's the beauty of being a beginner!

Learning to play the drums is a journey, and you don’t know where it might lead you. But that’s the beauty of it, right? So just keep on going because you’ll eventually find what works best for you. Stay awesome, tough guy! 

Finally, this one right here is the most important piece of advice that we can give to beginners like you. Have Fun! Don’t ever forget the reason why you started playing drums in the first place — because it’s fun! Absolutely fun.

Enjoy the process. Make mistakes. Fail all you want. It’s all part of the journey, especially during beginner stages! So always celebrate your small wins and be proud of your progress. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Every great drummer was a beginner once. And you're already one step closer to your dreams because you’re brave enough to try!

And that was all of it! With these 16 awesome and realistic tips for beginners, you’re already well on your way to improving your technique and becoming legen— wait for it, —DARY! Legendary.

Remember, it takes a whole lot of time, dedication, and patience. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your sticks, hit the pads, and let the rhythm take over!

Are you still looking for more remarkable drums and percussion instruments to add to your collection? Feel free to visit our website www.drumcenternh.com or make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel Drum Center of Portsmouth for more amazing content. From insightful drum and cymbal reviews to exploring everything new in the world of percussion, we’ll never run out of things to talk about. See ya around!

Check out these amazing kits for beginners available at DCP!