{"id":28213,"date":"2021-05-03T08:33:23","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T15:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=28213"},"modified":"2023-11-14T17:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T01:58:21","slug":"what-to-know-before-you-start-drumming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/what-to-know-before-you-start-drumming\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Drums Hard To Learn? (And Other Beginner Questions Answered)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 class=\"blue-text-block\">Compared to other instruments, drums can be hard to learn. But the benefits are 100% worth the effort, and anyone can become a drummer with enough practice.<\/h4>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One day, you\u2019re just a person going about your regular life. And the next day, <em>boom &#8211; <\/em>you\u2019re a drummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wouldn\u2019t it be awesome if you could just dive in like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some people are comfortable taking the plunge &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signing up for drum lesson<\/a>s and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/drumshop\/quietpad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buying a practice pad<\/a> or drum set &#8211; if you\u2019re reading this, you might be the type of person who needs to think a bit more before you decide to take on a new hobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article answers some of the most common questions people have when they\u2019re first thinking about picking up this instrument. New drummers start here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#whats-the-best-age-to-start-drumming\">What\u2019s the best age to start drumming?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#is-it-easy-to-learn-the-drums\">Is it easy to learn the drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-to-play-the-drums\">How long does it take to learn to play the drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-much-time-do-i-need-to-commit-to-learning-drums\">How much time do I need to commit to learning drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#is-playing-the-drums-expensive\">Is playing the drums expensive?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-do-you-need-to-start-playing-the-drums\">What do you need to start playing the drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-much-space-do-i-need-to-play-drums\">How much space do I need to play drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#do-you-need-to-read-music-to-play-the-drums\">Do you need to read music to play the drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#where-should-i-get-drum-lessons\">Where should I get drum lessons?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#should-i-start-playing-the-drums\">Should I start playing the drums?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whats-the-best-age-to-start-drumming\"><strong>What\u2019s the best age to start drumming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best age to start drumming is <strong>any age<\/strong>. Other articles might imply that younger is better, but this isn\u2019t the case. Anyone can learn how to play drums, whether they\u2019re 5, 15, 35, 60, or 75. As long as you have the time and energy to practice, you can do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIs it ever too late to start playing drums?\u201d Nope! Did you see a video of a 4-year-old performing a face-melting drum solo and now you aren\u2019t sure if drums are for you? People of all ages doubt whether they missed their opportunity to get started, but there\u2019s no \u2018perfect\u2019 age. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/play-music-to-improve-memory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">It\u2019s a healthy and fun activity<\/a> that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. As they say, it\u2019s better late than never.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/am-i-too-old-to-learn-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Am I too old to start learning the drums<\/a>?\u201d Not at all! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/singapore-drum-off-global-winners-2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">And you aren\u2019t too young, either<\/a>. The best time to start drumming is right now &#8211; what do you have to lose? Before you know it, you\u2019ll be playing your favorite songs and wondering why you didn\u2019t start earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Godmother Of Drumming Plays &quot;What&#039;s My Age Again?&quot;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WTu09li_4Fo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-it-easy-to-learn-the-drums\"><strong>Is it easy to learn the drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drumming can be both easy and hard. If you find that you pick up rhythms quickly, you have natural coordination, and you can clap in time, you may find that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">learning drums<\/a> is easier for you than someone who struggles with these things.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But like any new undertaking, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/beginner-drumming-tips-podcast-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">there can always be a bit of a learning curve<\/a>. Enjoy your successes, and use challenges as opportunities to push harder. You might even impress yourself! The best part? Whether you find drumming easy or hard, the more you practice, the better you\u2019ll get. And the payoff feels <em>amazing<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-to-play-the-drums\"><strong>How long does it take to learn to play the drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You could be playing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-start-playing-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">simple beats and songs<\/a> in just a few weeks. It all depends on how quickly you pick up on the coordination and how often you\u2019re practicing. The more you practice, the quicker your muscle memory will kick in, and the less you\u2019ll have to think about what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-learn-songs-on-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How soon do I want to be playing drums<\/a>, and how much am I willing to do to get there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Stick Control Challenge - 30 Minutes To A Stronger Weak Hand\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Du31MCIlYO0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Try this drumming workout every day &#8211; or every week, if you&#8217;re busy &#8211; and see how quickly you improve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-time-do-i-need-to-commit-to-learning-drums\"><strong>How much time do I need to commit to learning drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To see the quickest results, you should spend at least a few hours a week practicing drums. The more you practice, the faster you\u2019ll improve. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drum-practice-routine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try to set aside at least 30 minutes a day if you can<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, life sometimes gets in the way, so this might not be possible for you. Any practice is better than no practice! Learning a new instrument should be fun, not feel like a chore. So even if you just sit down on the kit for an hour once a week, you can still make progress and enjoy yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143022\/2021-04-29-bad-neighbour-ad-256-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28220\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143022\/2021-04-29-bad-neighbour-ad-256-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143022\/2021-04-29-bad-neighbour-ad-256-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143022\/2021-04-29-bad-neighbour-ad-256-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143022\/2021-04-29-bad-neighbour-ad-256.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-playing-the-drums-expensive\"><strong>Is playing the drums expensive?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing the drums actually <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/diy-practice-pad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doesn\u2019t cost much to get started<\/a>. It can get more expensive later, but it depends on the quality of gear you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you first start learning how to play drums, you don\u2019t need a drum set. You can start with a pair of sticks and a practice pad (or even sticks and a pillow). Once you\u2019re able to play <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/practice-pad-lessons-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rolls and rhythms with your hands<\/a>, you can add your feet, at which point you probably want to get a drum kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many other instruments, drum sets can run you back a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. It all depends on what you\u2019re looking for and whether you buy used or new gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out this article<\/a> for a detailed look at how much drum sets and cymbals cost, which brands you should consider, and much more.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to take drum lessons, the average price for a one-on-one teacher is $30-50 USD for a 30-minute lesson. You can also get a membership to an online drum lessons site like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drumeo<\/a> for $29\/month, which gives you access to thousands of lessons, live coaching and Q&amp;As, the ability to submit videos for teachers to review your playing, and more. Or check out this<em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Drummers Start Here<\/a><\/em> course, which is three months of specialized drum lessons for $7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-do-you-need-to-start-playing-the-drums\"><strong>What do you need to start playing the drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All you need is a pair of sticks and some time in your schedule. You don\u2019t even need a drum kit to get started (try making a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/diy-practice-pad\/\">DIY practice pad<\/a> with stuff from the dollar store!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to teach yourself or learn by watching videos online, there\u2019s a ton of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/freedrumlessons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free content for beginners<\/a>. If you prefer to have an expert provide some guidance, you can sign up for an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online drum lessons membership<\/a> or take one-on-one lessons in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a drum kit, make sure you have enough space, and a carpet so it doesn\u2019t slide. Browse through the first part of our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to play drums<\/a> if you <em>really <\/em>want to be mentally prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you start drumming? All it takes is one decision. And if you realize later that it\u2019s not for you, it\u2019s okay. The worst that can happen is you have to sell your drum set. You\u2019ll never know how much you might love it if you don\u2019t try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-space-do-i-need-to-play-drums\"><strong>How much space do I need to play drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should have at least a few square feet of space. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/why-you-should-buy-electronic-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">basic electronic kit<\/a> will have a smaller footprint than acoustic drums, but you also have to take into account an extra foot or so on at least one side so you can get behind the kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Set Up Your Kit Ergonomically - Drum Lesson\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lWOAhOPHRdE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It can\u2019t hurt to give yourself more space than you need, especially if you aren\u2019t sure how close you\u2019ll want to bring your cymbal stands or how close your seat will be to the drums. The only way to be sure is when buying a kit, ask how big the footprint will be, and measure the room.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-you-need-to-read-music-to-play-the-drums\"><strong>Do you need to read music to play the drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need to read music to play drums. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/dennis-chambers-sheet-music-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">there are many professional (and legendary) drummers who don\u2019t read music<\/a>, but who have made a career in music. If you can learn by listening and by \u2018feeling\u2019 the rhythm, reading music is just the cherry on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, if you learn better by reading, the language of drum notation can help you pick things up more quickly. Reading music can help you communicate better with your drum teacher or bandmates, and can be a valuable skill if you ever decide to become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-true-financial-life-pro-drummer-podcast-42\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">professional drummer<\/a>. If you want to learn how to read drum music, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-read-drum-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here&#8217;s an entire guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-solid fa-question\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n                    <strong>Want to know more?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drumming-questions\/\">The Most Common Drumming Questions (Solved)<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-should-i-get-drum-lessons\"><strong>Where should I get drum lessons?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find drum lessons online or in person. The most important thing is to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-find-a-drum-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> choose a drum teacher<\/a> who has good reviews from students and who you feel comfortable with. You can always try one or two lessons and decide if this teacher is right for you and a good fit for your learning style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you become a member of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video lesson community<\/a>, take virtual one-on-one lessons with your favorite drummer, or are introduced to a local teacher through a music school, you get to choose your learning journey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find that you aren\u2019t \u2018getting it\u2019 with one style of teaching, try something else. Everyone can play drums &#8211; we just learn differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"should-i-start-playing-the-drums\"><strong>Should I start playing the drums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes! Like learning any new skill, drumming just takes a bit of time and energy. Even if you only have a practice pad, even if you only play once in a while, and even if you\u2019re just picking up drumming for fun or exercise or to make new friends&#8230;it\u2019s absolutely worth it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any drummer can vouch for the incredible community and feeling you get when you join this group of passionate people. There are so many reasons to start drumming. You have nothing to lose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-1024x203.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"203\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ve launched a course to make getting started on the drums easier than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s called <em>New Drummers Start Here<\/em> &#8211; and it&#8217;ll take you from a total beginner to playing drums with <strong>real <\/strong>music in 90 days or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\"><strong>Click here to check it out<\/strong>!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is drumming hard? Is it expensive? What&#8217;s the best age to start? Find out with this FAQ for anyone who&#8217;s thinking about playing drums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":28215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4015],"tags":[4014],"class_list":["post-28213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beginner-lessons","tag-beginner"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28213"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49272,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28213\/revisions\/49272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}