Learn To Play Rock Style Drums

Learn To Play Rock Style Drums Want To Learn Rock N Roll Drums? ChaptersThe Configuration Of Rock N Roll DrumsThe Importance Of Having A Bass Drum When It Comes To Rock N Roll DrumsChoosing A Drum HeadChoosing Your Rock N Roll DrumsSo you’ve decided that you’d like to learn how to drum â€" congratulations! One of the first things that you might decide on as a new drummer is the kind of music that you’d like to play and what drum kit you’d like to use.Whether you’re into drumming along to jazz, fusion drumming, rock n roll drumming, or drumming without access to a standard drum kit, there really is no wrong answer when it comes to what you play.However, you might have decided that rock n roll drumming is for you, or maybe you’ve found a group of friends who would like to form a group, and have you as their drummer?This article outlines some of the basics of rock n roll drumming, and some of the things to look out for when buying a rock n roll drum kit.If you want to play in a rock n roll band, a rock n roll drum kit can be great to hav e. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Free-Photos, Pixabay)A 12-inch alto tom;A 13-inch medium tom;A 16-inch floor tom; andA 14-inch snare drum.The alto and medium toms are suspended, while the floor tom stands on the floor.Additionally, it’s not uncommon to find a hi-hat, a ride cymbal, and a crash cymbal when it comes to rock, punk, or blues music.What’s more, every drummer is free to change up the configuration of their drum set. For example, you could add extra cymbals, or make use of a snare drum.The best way to find a configuration that works for you is to try out a few different set-ups, some common and some perhaps less-used, and see which result you like the most!If you want to play rock style drums you need to decide what kind of drums you'd like to have, just as you'd have to choose which type of guitar you'd like to play if you want to take up the guitar. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, herryway, Pixabay)The Importance Of Having A Bass Drum When It Comes To Rock N Roll DrumsThere’s n o question that the bass drum has a huge role to play when it comes to drumming in a rock n roll style. Incredibly, you can find bass drums at enormous sizes, such as the 26-inch bass drum that John Bonham, the drummer in Led Zeppelin, used to play.So if you’re looking at learning how to play rock n roll drums, it’s highly recommended that you make sure that you’re comfortable using and playing on a bass drum and focus your efforts on playing it well. This can even be one of the first things that you start learning to do.The reason why it’s worthwhile getting to know how to play the bass drum is that, in order to create a rock n roll sound, it’s not enough to simply hit the skin on a bass drum.For an improved sound, try to position your foot in the centre of the pedal, and make use of one of the two common ways to hit the bass drum pedal, which are as follows:The flat foot technique: This position isn’t too tiring as it’s the ankle that’s doing the work;The heel up t echnique: For a more rock n roll sound, this technique relies on your upper thigh and knees to drive the pedal, which should give a punchier sound.Another tip to help you keep control when using the above techniques is to try to keep your foot on the pedal when drumming (i.e. don’t take your foot off it!)If you’re looking for other ways to try and recreate a rock n roll sound when drumming, then a good idea is to try and recreate the way in which your favourite rock n roll drummers played. This should also give you some extra motivation and inspiration when it comes to improving your own play style and technique.So whether you’re a fan of Travis Barker, Phil Collins, Dave Grohl, Keith Moon, or another drummer entirely, don’t be afraid to do some research and see whether you would fancy trying to emulate their drumming styles and kits.Choosing A Drum HeadA drummer has a number of different roles to play, particularly when playing within an orchestra or as part of a group. For instance, a drummer can:Provide tempo;Play a catchy beat; andMake you dance!Of course, these are just a few things that a drummer can provide within a group.However, for a drummer to be successful at what they do, it’s also important that they have a drum head that is well-suited when it comes to that drummer’s style and the style of music that they like to play.As a result, the type of drum head that you choose to use is arguably just as important as choosing which rock n roll drum kit you’d like to play on.In essence, a drum includes a batter head, which is what a drummer actually hits, and a resonant head. The resonant head reacts when the batter head is struck and has an influence on the richness of the sound being produced.If you’re looking to play rock n roll style drums, then it may be worthwhile opting for a double-ply batter head. This is because they tend to offer a more powerful sound, a better attack, and can last longer than single-ply heads.When it comes to ch anging the heads, try to aim to change the batter head at least once a year. Essentially, you don’t want to get to a point where the head breaks and then you’re forced to change it â€" you should change it before it breaks.Equally, try not to neglect your resonant head too much, as they can sometimes be forgotten about. If you can aim to change the resonant head every two years, then so much the better.Of course, the more that you play, the more often you’ll likely have to replace the heads on your drums. Often, the snare drum is the most used, and so it may also end up being the drum head that you need to replace most often.When changing the drum head of a tom-tom, you might also consider whether it’s worthwhile changing over all the heads on all your toms, as this may help to maintain a consistent sound. Of course, this decision is ultimately up to you, and whether your budget would allow you to change all the heads at once.Choosing what rock n roll drum set you'd like to buy is an important decision. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, jeanvdmeulen, Pixabay)Choosing Your Rock N Roll DrumsWhen it comes to picking which rock and roll drums you’d like to play, it can feel as though the choice is endless.For instance, there are plenty of factors to take into consideration, such as:Your budget;How much space you have for a drum set;What elements you’d like to see in your rock n roll drum kit;Whether you’d like to buy each element separately; orWhether you’d prefer to buy a ready-made kit.As a result, one of the best things you can do when looking to buy a new drum kit is to do your research. Ask around and see which rock n roll drum kits have gotten good reviews, and which kits specialists would recommend you buy.Also, take into consideration your ability level. If you are a relatively new drummer or a complete beginner, don’t feel pressured to buy an expensive, top of the range drum set when more entry-level drums will suffice. Equally, if you get the cha nce to try out the drums before you buy them, then so much the better.Ultimately, the drum kit you choose should be one that will help you to play and get better at the drums and become a better musician. It also shouldn't put too much pressure on your budget and should be a set that you’re comfortable playing with, whether you're following a beat or playing your own drum solo.