Many drummers put in significant hours every week but are dissatisfied because they are not seeing the outcomes they desire in their careers. We get demoralized because of our frustration, and we finally give up on practicing entirely. In this article, we will see some effective tips for drum practice. It will be an introductory guide if you are a beginner.
10 Drum Practice Tips that Will Help You Everyday
1. Organizing Practice Time
Wondering how to practice drums? For a beginner drum practice routine, it’s impossible to do all things without a planner. It would be best to work on timing, rudiments, learning songs for a show, independence, weak left hand, bass drum speed, etc. You can end up doing no practice because of stress. That’s no good at all.
Break it down and carefully plan your timetable and write down what you will practice each week, and even which day. This will lead to more frequent, motivated, and effective practice by organizing what you learn each day.
2. Improve Muscle Memory
Never take the fundamentals for granted; make sure you know your paradiddles before you start playing (basic beat drum patterns). For better drum practice, keep your eyes open for 20 minutes as you play, then shut your eyes and get your snare drum hand in rhythm with your metronome or computer click track.
Make a mental image of your gear in your mind, as if it were an extension of your arms, legs, and body. Exercise with your eyes closed helps you to establish muscle memory in your arms, legs, feet, and hands as you go through your routine.
3. Keep Track of Time
It is your obligation to maintain the time for the music you play, just as it is your responsibility to keep the time for the songs you play on your laptop. You can also get help from ultimate guide to drum programming for better efficiency in less time. Make use of headphones and sync them with your laptop so that you can hear the click in your ear when you need it. Practice keeping up with the beat of the music you’re listening to on the radio.
4. Find Your Productive Phase
I have noticed that we all have different parts of the day when our brain is in its optimum state for learning and being creative. Many of us are not morning people. Others are useless after evening or night. Once you identify your most productive phase in the day, you know you will benefit from practicing the drums then. This may cause problems if you are best at 1 am because that doesn’t go well with the neighbors. But if you can make it work using a drum practice pad, electronic drums, drum practice sheet, best electronic drum pads, etc., see if you can schedule practice for this optimum point in the day. Watch your progress skyrocket!
5. Collaborate With Others
For practicing drums, it is one of the best techniques. Your band members may assist you in becoming a better person as well. During your performance, they might focus on you and provide comments to help you better. Try bouncing ideas off your bandmates to see what sticks. This results in a humorous dynamic. Your bandmates may also provide you with vital comments that will assist you in becoming a better drummer in the future. It is one of the best ways to practice drums.
6. Make Use of Video Tutorials
Make sure you have a regular workout routine to warm up before you begin. To track your development, record yourself playing in 4/4 time and upload it to your YouTube channel. We don’t recommend putting your film on YouTube just yet, but you should have it on hand in case you need to utilize it as a learning aid in the future.
7. Make It Swing
To make the song swing, use a 3/4-time signature over a 4/4 rhythm. This is an ancient jazz technique that is being used today. In several of his songs, Paul McCartney uses this technique to great success. Begin slowly and gradually raise the speed of the music.
8. Master The Basics
Examine a variety of musical styles, such as pop, rock, jazz, Latin, classical, and so on. Choose your favorite drummer from each genre and concentrate on what it is about their style of playing that you like. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, experiment with incorporating your own personal style.
9. Keep Track of Your Progress
Anything you learn, feedback is essential to your development and avoiding acquiring bad habits. In addition to listening to many recordings of music and drummers and practicing, you should also listen frequently to recordings of yourself to track your progress. Beginners should share those practice recordings with their teacher to identify issues to work on; advanced or best metal drummers can do this independently. You can also use drum practice apps. Try to involve your family and friends to recognize any weaknesses in your playing. Here’s a good habit: Try recording yourself every time you practice. Even if it’s just for a couple of minutes playing on a pad, it doesn’t matter to evaluate what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Use Cymbal Sets properly to get the best out of your practice. Three cymbals are often found in a drum kit: two hi-hats, a crash, and a ride.
10. Have Fun!
Why do you play drums? Because it’s your favorite thing to do and it’s fun. Undoubtedly, the focused, serious stuff discussed earlier is essential to becoming a great drummer. But it’s got to stay fun, or you just won’t be motivated to drum anymore.
So, end your daily practice or schedule in a fun, freestyle way. Use it as a reward in the end when you are done with your training. Improvise jam with your favorite songs and enjoy yourself. Not only does it give you that creative energy, but it also allows things that you have learned previously to show up on your free playing.
So, these are some of the best tips for drum practice. Thanks for reading till the end! If you have more ideas, then please tell us in the comments section below. We always love to hear from you.
