Hey there, hope you’re doing well!
Below is a list of tips for those who are wondering how to get back into drumming.
Whether you’ve just taken a break for a few years, or for those 40, 50 or 60 year olds who have been out of the drumming scene for a long time, I think you’ll find this resource quite useful.
A lot of the material I’ve outline here has been taught by the team over at Drumeo (online learning website for the drums).
To begin, here’s a great video from Mike Michalkow:
Learn more about Mike and Drumeo >> Click Here
Tip #1
Get your gear sorted.
If you've been away for a while, you'll need to review what kind of drum set you need.
You might have to decide if you can afford a new set, or pick up a used set. Obviously your budget will play a big factor here, but if you want to really get back into it, you'll probably want to get something nice.
If you're more of a beginner and on a tighter budget, I would recommend the Gammon Percussion Complete Drum Set.
For a better quality set but still very affordable, consider the Pear Roadshow 5 Piece Set. If you have some experience, you'll probably want at least something like this kit.
These are two great recommendations for you if you're getting back into the drums, and you need an equipment upgrade, but don't want to spend thousands of dollars. These are great, but you do get what you pay for.
If price is less of a factor and you want the highest quality, then consider these top rated drum sets. Click here.
Tip #2
Find an instructor.
The best advice is always to find a local instructor.
However, for most people this is just not possible.
It's not possible for a few reasons: You might not be able to afford an instructor, you might not be able to find one in your area, and you might not want to commute to see them.
If you can relate to any of these reasons, then an online program like Drumeo is something to consider.
There are so many benefits to getting back into the drums through an online program. You can access the material whenever you want, you can go at your own pace, and you can find a community of other people who are in the same situation as you.
I'm not going to go into all the details here about these online courses, however you can read my full review of Drumeo Edge which is a program that offers online drum lessons. Click here.
Tip #3
Make a practice schedule.
You might be a bit rusty right now, and you'll never get back into the groove if you decide to practice randomly. Don't do this.
You want to get some type of schedule up and running. Whether it's every morning, every day at 8 pm, or just on Sundays, the point is to try your best to get on a schedule.
At this point, you probably have a lot of other priorities. This is why you need to make practicing a priority as well. Set that specific time to practice your drums, and don't let anything distract you.
Tip #4
Play with others.
Once you've got some good practice under your belt, and you've started to refresh your skills, it's time to jam with other musicians.
You might have friends you can play with, ex band members, or groups in your local community. Whatever access you have to other musicians, playing together will really help you improve.
As long as you have some essential grooves under your belt, and some classic rock song beats, you should be fine to jam with some other people.
So find those people, and events. If there's a local show or band playing, head down and see them for some inspiration.
Tip #5
Do some exercises.
Finger stretch exercises and forearm stretches are important.
You might be a bit sore after not playing for so long and getting back into it. So take it slow, and don't go crazy at first.
Also, get a practice pad, like the Evans 2 sided practice pad and practice the single stroke rule: right left, right left, right left.
It's a great warm up and very easy to do. You can change it up and do the double stroke rule: right right, left left.
Then try basic flam strokes (with different stick heights one drum stick lands just before the other). This helps with control and is very crucial for advancing and really getting back into the groove of things.
Your Next Step
These are some basic tips to help you get back into the swing of things.
A lot of people in your current position will see great results from learning more about the online resources available.
As a final recommendation, I would encourage you to read my full review of the online learning program Drumeo Edge. Click here.
