3 Things All Beginner Drummers Should Focus On

_______________ 3 Things All Beginner Drummers Should Focus On --

It's tough these days when you are a beginner drummer...there is SO MUCH information out there. How do we know what we need to focus on in our drumming? What is the most important? What really doesn't matter.

Here are 3 areas that all beginner drummers should focus on. These are not cool licks...they're not crazy beats...they are time tested and proven big picture items that will have you up and playing along to your favorite songs in no time. They're not easy and you won't master them overnight. But focusing on these items in your drum practice time will put you well ahead of other players. Focusing on these 3 items is the reason I was able to start playing professionally at the age of 16. When you're on the gig, NO ONE CARES whether you can play that cool, slick sextupletratamcueinsanesetthedrumsonfire fill. They care that you can play good time, make the music feel good, and get from point A to point B on the drums without screwing it up.

Real talk. But these will give you real results when playing actual music.

Here's some other beginner drum lessons in this series:

Leave a comment and let me know which one of these you struggle with the most!
#StephenTaylor
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Cymbal Setup From Left To Right:

All Zildjian

Hats:
16" EFX Crash on top
16" K Light Top Hat on bottom

18" Kerope Crash

22" K Custom Dark Complex Ride

22" Renaissance Ride

Drums:
Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Tiger Wood finish

Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A

Drumheads:
Aquarian
Classic Clear on toms and snare resonant
Response 2 on toms batter
Hi-Velocity on snare batter
Regularor (Ebony) on kick resonant
Super Kick 10 on kick batter

Alclair In Ear Monitors #StephenTaylor #BestDrumLessons

[alexwalker]

An exercise I get my students of all instruments to improve their timing is to walk around with their iPods. They walk to the beat of a chosen song, not too fast, not too slow. At a random point they pause the music but keep walking at the same speed. When they restart the music they *should* still be in time if they have a good sense of timing. Greetings from the UK.

[genewilliams]

Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.
Not my saying.

[RUHDDHVN]

3-5 Things All Beginner Drummers Should Focus On
1. Being on
2. Keeping good
3. Having a good
4. Knowing when it's time to go
5. Bonus: Knowing your times tables, fractions and how to count to at least

[bonnieking]

I am a 64 year old retired elementary school music teacher who always wanted to play drums. I just ordered my first drum set and am using your videos to prepare for their arrival next week. I love your philosophy and approach to teaching the drums. Having fun and using music along with playing.

[jamesmiddleton]

When starting am instrument i always say the same thing, pick a somg you love and learn it the whole way through, when you get stuck, thats what you work on. If you know your favourite song, you generally will practise more. In the very beginning you have to learn what you find fun, deal with groove and metronomes after because ive tried teaching people with a metronome and stuff but most of them give up. People who know their favorite song tend to give up less. Your first task as a teacher is to make your student love music, as soon as they love music they will teach themselves, then you can work on their weaknesses with them

[mathiashls]

When the drummer is so good he struggle to play out of tempo

[emilmakin]

I am 73 and just got a real nice drum kit and I am loving your channel. I tried someone else and could not get into their learning style. You are doing great. I have always wanted to learn. I am loving your cymbals. I have to have a set like that. Thanks for what you do.

[Godzukidan]

At age 51 I just started playing drums 4 days ago and this info really helps, thanks! 😎🥁

[MrBuzzzzz]

I just started teaching drum basics to a few people and I can say for sure that it is the transitions that give most people the most trouble in the beginning. As soon as they do a fill, something goes wrong trying to get back to their beat. I remember having the same issue too. Great video, nice kit.

[MsGandhi]

The thing I seem to struggle with most is maintaining groove and timing through and after transitions.
This video was super beneficial to hear the difference!

[corypinkowski]

Thanks man I'm 28 and trying to learn. I appreciate your help man.

[kimberlyfelton]

I am a 51 year old woman that is fixing to start lessons. I have loved Drums since I was 12. I hope to be good at it. Thanks for the lessons.

[josephkuhlman]

Returning to drumming after around 30 years and struggling. Started watching your vids and like your approach to teaching. Thanks.

[tomjones]

I'm 65, am a classical pianist, violinist, and jazz guitarist for decades. My wife just got her first drum set 2 days ago, so I'm learning to play them to help her learn. This presentation is very helpful. I've always loved the drums, even got the Dave Weckl sticks and snare workout 15 years ago just to improve my guitar timing. my hat is off to you, Stephan, for being able to imitate playing "out of the groove". It's so easy to hear the difference when you get back in the pocket.

[plainmainaccount]

I’ve been playing drums in my church youth band since 2016, and when I first started I sounded like the example you showed of bad timing lol. The problem is I don’t have a drum set and couldn’t/can’t really afford one atm, so the only time behind a set I got was Mondays and Wednesdays, but we had to go through the songs and that’s it. I didn’t have much extra time to practice. Eventually I got there early and stayed a bit late on those two days, and I finally had time to really work on the fundamentals. I’m not perfect, but I definitely have improved.

[garyh]

When I was in the military we marched to the point where even when we weren't marching, if a few of us were walking somewhere we would be in step, even when we tried not to be. I guess learning to keep time in drums is similar.

[minisurfbanana]

I’m about to start drumming...this lockdown has given me too much time. Ready to buy an Ekit

[zohraishv]

Stephen: Which one do you struggle with the most? The timing, the groove, the transition?


Me: Yes.

[NortiWhips]

Straight up resonate with these problems. It's something I know I desperately need to focus on. Especially transitioning between drum fills, I constantly find myself offbeat coming from the fill. Good to know it's a common problem for beginners

[Frecklefrog]

Transitions!!!! Nervousness approaching fill!!!