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Drum Kits

Percussion section instrument in the jazz trifecta (Melody, rhythm, percussion)

The percussion section is responsible for setting up a groove of a song and setting up the time for the entire team.

For those that haven't played a drum yet..

  • Go to a drum studio. One hour is surprisingly enough to learn the basics.
  • The first drum studio I went to had sticks available! Make sure you ask the receptionist if they provide sticks.
  • Go learn what each drum is called

    • Foot percussions:

      • Kick drum: The kick drum is sounded using the right foot pedal. It's the big bass one on the floor with the pedal that you step on.
      • Hi-Hat: A cymbal attached the snare attached to a left foot pedal. To remember it easily, just imagine the cymbal as a cute gremlin saying "hi" whenever you open it wiyth the foot pedal.

    • The middle 4

      • Snare: This is the "default" drum, it's the one in white on the bottom left and sounds kind of filled.
      • Toms
      • Floor tom: This is the biggest tom and is usually standing from the ground. It sounds hollow and deep, and it sits in front of you on the right
      • High tom / low tom: This are the two other toms on top left and top right. Sometimes only one of them is available.

    • The right side:

      • The ride cymbal: Appropriately easy to remember because it's.. on... the.. ride.... sorry i meant right.
        • Sometimes there's two of them.

    • The Left side:

      • The crash cymbal: The ride cymbal is on the right so the crash cymbal must be on the left.
  • Then, go learn how to read drum sheet music, and play along to each of them! You don't have to be perfect.
  • Then, search up the basic "rudiments".
    • Rudiments are kind of like scale practice for drums. They're simple and fundamental but rather important.
  • Finally, go have fun! Turn up a song and play.

Free Stroke

  • Basically you should avoid death gripping the drumsticks.
  • Instead of death gripping, you should try holding it such that when you hit the drum with it, it automatically rebounds into your hand without much force, like a basketball.
  • Also, this force should be applied from your wrist, not your entire limb.
  • Another way to think of how to hold the drumstick is kind of like doing the wobbly pencil trick. You can't do a wobbly pencil trick if you death grip it.