Practice

[Jessica G.]

When you sit down to play, what do you practice? Do you just jam, or are there specific exercises that have really worked for you?

I'm a beginner. Although I've had some lessons in the past, right now, though, I'm teaching myself. I work out of a great beginner/intermediate level book, mostly rudiments and various exercises. I also play to music when I can. I just got a CD called "Turn it Up and Lay it Down", which allows you to create your own drum parts and play along to bass lines of various styles.

[xxxHAYLEY]

i practice most of the rudiments with a metranome on my practice pad and when i'm satisfiedi mostly just sit down and jam. at the moment i just play my favourite parts of the songs i've learnt and it usually inspires me to come up with something new, spontaneously. then i work on it. occasionally i'll learn a new song.

i'm getting lessons again thoug soon, and i just joined band, and they gave me a couple of songs to learn so i should probably start on them...

my favourite part of drumming is just jamming, so i mostly just do that. its mostly about the fun for me.

[Melinda]

Hi Jessica,

I hope you read this..The best way to practice is to work on your rudiments first..Then learn to break them up around the kit..You need to use a metronome for your timing. Learning to play be ear to different songs is great, but if you go to record yourself your timing and precision may be off. There are all types of web sites with great lessons if you check out you tube..But beware of the forums there, don't get to involved. Most of the drum sites are male dominant and it shows. Great advice but you can check them out as a guest, the lessons too..without signing up.

[Jane 'Pogo' Paterson]

I just think of a beat and start playing it, then gradually try and add more rolls & fills as I go on. Sometimes I play along to CDs or jam with my boyfriend on his bass. I can't be bothered with lessons or instruction books, I play drums for the fun of it and always figured I'd never be the female Carl Palmer!

[Gee Cappella-Grohl]

I have to play to stuff I love like Queens of the stone age or something and then I find its easier to get down to learning new things. It gets easier the more you practice to just jam .....i remember when i first started people would say just play something and I would just freeze up but now I get lost in the music and play with out thinking about it.

Gee

[Lisa Jane Waters]

i had lessons for about 1 year and i learnt the basics. but now i don't do my lessons anymore. i wouldn't call it practicing for me, because i just sit there and play whatever, and practice fills. i like adding the drums into acoustic versions of my favorite songs. i don't really read out of my book anymore.... i just do my own thing :)
cause its fun

[kate]

do u know any other cd with play along parts? i find the play along very good way to exercise ...

[Lisa Jane Waters]

i go onto youtube and use a youtube downloader to get the live versions onto my ipod and then i burn them to dc. its fun :)