Learn the Drums Without a Drumset With This Not So Unique Method

You live in an apartment or a dorm, and you’re constrained to quiet practice. You don’t have a drum set yet, and maybe you feel like you can’t afford it or would at least rather wait a while to make the investment. Even if you could buy it, though, you wouldn’t be able to play it because it’s too loud! But you really want to learn the drums and get really good at the instrument! You want to learn everything you can so that you can play your favorite songs and maybe even play with a band. But you struggle to really get there when all you have is a pair of sticks and a practice pad.

You fear losing that lifelong dream of becoming a drummer as time passes you by and you get older. You know that right now is your opportunity, and you have to get started drumset or no drumset.

Guess what? You can learn a lot of fundamentals and basic coordination - and even get a really solid start on the drumset just with your sticks & pad. Here’s how you do it. This is what I did when I was in middle school before I bought my first kit, and this is what I have beginner students do all the time:

* Learning rebound early on is the best way to dodge hurdles that a lot of drummers deal with down the road (which I’ll tell you more about in a moment).
* You can use basic sticking patterns to increase coordination and actually help with playing grooves on a kit.
* Finally, you can tap your feet on the floor and play “grooves” to work coordination and prepare for getting on the kit. But I’ll specifically show you two exact ways to tap your feet so you can already begin working kick drum technique without even having a pedal nearby!

That’s pretty much it, and it’s simple! But now I want to physically show you how to work these things, so it’s time to get nitty gritty. There’s also one more final strategy I’ll show you that you can employ beyond these that will reap dividends with your long-term drumming growth. You can do this.

Practice all of that, knowing that YOU CAN DO IT. You CAN overcome this challenge and learn drums without a drumset. You don’t have to give up on the dream. Get started the right way, and get started no matter your budget or living situation right now.

Once you put in the work to learn these things, you’ll be able to jump onto a real kit when the time comes, and you’ll already be grooving. Mastering grip and rebound early on saves you so much frustration down the road, and you’re now well on your way to becoming the pro-sounding drummer you’ve always wanted to be.

I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!

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Contact me here at my email! I’m not always able to reply to comments on YouTube, but I’ll always reply to any question you send to my email. I look forward to hearing from you!

[markrs]

You are never too old to start to learn a musical instrument. I started to play drums at 32, I'm still playing and learning, I'm now 63. Still in a band, we play pubs and clubs regularly. If you want to learn something, go do it.

[dillonsmith]

Dude I live on the road. I don’t even have a practice pad. I practice on a bucket with a towel on top. No excuses bro

[LiamsMom]

Dare I say I went out and bought my first practice pad with sticks and I'm 60!!
Playing drums is something I've always dreamed of.
I love learning something new!!
Your videos are very encouraging, thank you!

[douglasstraight]

I practice a lot this way. No need for drum set to learn coordination and technique. Your videos are right on. You hit all the so important aspects of drumming. Very inspiring. Many thanks. Can’t go wrong with your advice.

[wn]

Great strategy, Stephen. Frustration is the killer of dreams. Practicing fundamental skills is the key to "Life-Long Thumpification". I used a pad for a year before my sticks ever hit a drum. If you can be awesome on a practice pad...your kit will love you.

[miraysongun]

I am just buying my first practice pad today at 29 years old, been wanting to learn drums for many years but was always afraid of it... I have no idea if I got the talent for it even lol, but why keep being scared when you can just try and see for yourself!
Thank you so much for your encouragement and the awesome tutorial, this means the world to me.

[rebeccamouse]

I took piano lessons for several years as a child, and NOT ONCE did the teacher recommend that I listen to music. As an adult I look back and think, “Why aren’t more teachers recommending that students listen to music?”

[mat]

My first drum set was a bed, two pillows, and a chair. I produced a four drum set which actually helped my build a lot of power and technique.
I later purchased a wood and rubber drum pad…the bed was better.

[udaysingh]

With no drumming experience and being a pianist, I had a practice pad and some sticks at home. I started learning with that just for fun and now I know all the fundimentals and can do advance level exercises. I usually place a few pads like a drumset around me and practice, very similar. Great tool to learn.

[modernmusicstudio]

Probably the most interesting tutorial on how to play drums that I've ever seen! learning rhythms and the coordination is just as important and you definitely don't need drums to work on that. Nice job!

[yaroslavleshchukh]

Great lesson, my man.
I think it's so actual now. As a teacher l think a lot of students can't buy a drum set at the beginning of their drum life.

[carlcarano]

I was fortunate to have a kit available right from the start when I got back into drumming. There are still times when the kit will be to loud and the practice pad and the exercies shown are a great way to extend your practice time. During the COVID 19 shutdown the pad became my primary practice tool.

[getitwang]

First week with a pad and sticks. I cant hold a beat to save my life, so time to learn the drums. thanks for the video im 38 never to old to start

[peteskyrunner]

I used to do something similar when I was a teenager before I ever imagined buying a kit. Just tapping my foot (just the right one, didn't know about open hi hats lol) on the floor and tapping my hands on my legs. 'Playing' along to Sunday Bloody Sunday was my favourite. When I finally bought a kit I could instantly play basic beats :-)

[cheesetallica]

This is great! Thank you! 43 year old, here

[ritam]

I learned to play guitar and bass in my youth and I always wanted to learn to play the drums. Sometimes I think I dont have enough time and then I spend hours on YouTube xD so maybe I do have time.

[Jovanmusictime]

Thank you so much for the video. I’m a pianist and lately I’m into drums. Just bought a drum kit. Happy practicing everyone 🎉.

[jonashellborg]

Not only is this useful when you start out, this is great for experienced drummers to, when you’re out travelling, when you want to just build strength and stamina. Another tip for the heel up practise, you can get a foot tambourine and attack to your foot, I find that makes you practise a wide ankle motion and a smooth foot movement, without being very loud.

[aussiewaldo]

Thank you for this video! I've wanted to learn the drums my entire life. I never managed to get a kit but a couple years ago I picked up sticks and a pad, I put them down cause I got frustrated without a proper kit to play. I'm about to get back into it and this has helped reignite the fire and begin learning again.

[vincentbuonora]

Great important basics especially the bounce and holding the sticks loosely. Thanks.