Drum Lesson 01 Starting Off Right

Playing the Bass Drum

The basic function of the bass drum is to help state the beat or the pulse of the song. The beat is what makes you tap your foot  when you listen to music. So the bass drum is the foundation instrument of the drum set and the foundation for the groove of the band. So it is very important that you set it up correctly so that you'll have a comfortable playing position.

Now the bass drum pedal  is a very important thing. The bass drum was originally played in a marching band, strap style like the Energizer bunny battery commercial. Around the turn of the 20th century, the invention of the spring loaded bass drum pedal made it possible to play the bass drum with the right foot, which is how we play it today. Since the pedal is your connection to the instrument and since the bass drum is the foundation instrument and the most important instrument on the kit. It stands to reason that having the pedal adjusted properly is vitally important to your comfort level on the drums.

The bass drum pedal beater should rebound off the bass drum head like a bouncing ball. So we want to set up and fine tune the bass drum pedal action in order to maximize the bounce off the bass drum head. One detail that profoundly affects your comfort level on the bass drum is the angle of the beater. Most pedals will have an adjustment to adjust the at rest angle of the beater. The angle that is right for you is the function of your weight, your musculature and playing technique. Angle the beater around 2 o'clock position to start with. That will give you enough throw to have a nice smack. After the pedal is attached to the bass drum, position yourself so that your right knee is bent at a slightly greater than 90 degree angle when your foot is on the pedal.

There are two basic techniques of playing the bass drum–HEEL
UP and HEEL DOWN. It is important to learn both techniques.
Both use a rebound stroke where the beater strikes the bass
drum head then bounce back to the “at rest” position.

Heel Down Position

In the HEEL DOWN position, the heel of the right foot is in constant contact with the bass drum pedal when striking the bas drum. This position works best for achieving delicacy in your bass drum playing and is mostly used when playing soft passages or slow songs called ballads.

Heel Up Position

The HEEL UP position uses the front part or “ball” of the foot to press the bass drum pedal. This position works great when playing Rock and Funk or any heavy kind of music where a strong powerful bass drum hit is desired. To get the rebound or bounce while playing with the heel up, immediately return the heel to the footboard, but only for a moment.

Bass Drum Exercises

Now that you know the proper technique for playing the bass drum and getting a good rebound, practice the following exercises. Practice playing a steady beat on the bass drum using the heel down technique. Then use the heel up technique.

Bass Drum Exercise 1
Play the Bass Drum using the heel down technique, then using the heel up technique.

1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4

Bass Drum Exercise 2
Play the pulse for 4 beats, then double pulse for 4 beats.

1 2 3 4 / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Setting Up the Snare Drum

The SNARE DRUM has metal wires called snares attached to the bottom head. It rests in the stand’s cradle without being clamped down. The height affects the comfort level of the drummer, so set the height where your hands are comfortable and your shoulders are relaxed. Angle the snare drum back toward you.

Proper Hand Movement

When playing the drums, your hands should move in a motion similar to waving good-bye or bouncing a basketball. Place your hands in front of you, palms down, and flex at the wrist. Practice this motion without sticks, one hand at a time.

Learning proper hand technique will enable you to
1. Maximize your rebound
2. Get a good, beefy sound
3. Maximize your ability to transfer your ideas from your brain to the drums with minimum effort

Gripping the Drumstick

                             Butt            Shaft      Shoulder      Tip 

                                     Fulcrum

The DRUMSTICK has four basic parts: the BUTT, the SHAFT, the SHOULDER, and the TIP.

The BUTT is the end of the stick and can be used to strike the snare drum when a more powerful sound is required, as in heavier Rock or Funk. The SHAFT is the part of the stick that the player grips. The SHOULDER is the part of the stick that tapers down to the tip. The TIP is the main playing end of the stick.

Hold the stick between your thumb and index finger about 2/3 of the way from the tip at a point called the fulcrum. The FULCRUM is the perfect balance point of the drumstick and is the optimum place for gripping the sticks to achieve maximum bounce or rebound. The hand should grip the stick at the fulcrum loosely. Both hands should grip the sticks identically forming a MATCHED GRIP.

Developing a Rebounding Stroke

Now, let's learn the proper way to strike a drum. Take the sticks and form your grip. The stroke we will employ makes use of the fingers, wrist, forearm, and elbow. You will make a whip-like motion similar to cracking a whip or casting a fishing rod. Here is how the stroke should look.

 Start with both sticks in an at-rest
position using a loose matched grip.

 Raise elbow and forearm of
lead hand.

 The lead wrist and hand follow.

 Bring elbow down first, dead weight
fashion, creating a whipping motion.

 The stick strikes drum.

The stick rebounds off the drum.

Practice this motion first without striking the drums, like “air drums,” then practice playing the snare drum with a proper rebounding stroke. Strike the snare drum dead center to get a full sound. Maximizing rebound allows the sticks to do the work, not the drummer.

Exercise 1
Play the Snare on the beat with the right hand first, then the left hand.

R R R R / L L L L

 R R R R / L L L L 

1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4

 Exercise 2
Play the Snare doubling the beat, alternating hands.

                                 R R R R R R R R / L L L L L L L L

                                 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Exercise 3
Play 4 beats with the right hand, then alternating strokes with both hands.
ALTERNATING STROKES are when the hands alternate individual hits of the drum.

R R R R / R L R L R L R L

1 2 3 4 / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Exercise 4
Play alternating strokes.

R L R L R L R L / R L R L R L R L

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
 

Exercise 5
Play the BD and Snare on the beat, then alternating strokes on the Snare.

                                SNARE / R R R R / R L R L R L R L

                         BASS DRUM / B B B B / B   B   B   B  

                                            1 2 3 4 / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

“Stay with Me” Exercise

                    R R R R / R R R R / R L R L R L R L / R L R L R L R L

                    B B B B / B B B B / B   B   B   B   / B   B   B   B

                    1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4 / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +/ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 

Tips for Improving

• You don’t need to be at the drums to do the exercises.
• Relax at all times.
• Get rebound from your strokes on the snare drum and bass drum.
• When you feel pain ... Stop! Take a break.
• Don’t get frustrated.

 - Learn and Master Drums