How to Practice Drums: A Beginner's Guide to Practicing the Right Way
If there's one thing I've learned from more than 40 years of playing drums and over 25 years of teaching, it's this:
How you practice is just as important as how much you practice.
I work with students of all ages and skill levels, and one of the most common questions I hear is, "How should I practice?"
The answer isn't simply, "Practice more." Good practice means having a plan, developing proper technique, being patient and focusing on the areas that will help you become a better drummer.
Here are some of the things I recommend to my students.
1. Have a Plan
It's easy to sit down at the drums and play your favorite beats and fills. There's nothing wrong with that—playing should be fun!
But if you're trying to improve, have a plan for each practice session.
A 30-minute session might include:
5 minutes: Warm-up and sticking exercises
10 minutes: Rudiments
5 minutes: Reading rhythms
5 minutes: A specific beat or fill
5 minutes: Playing along with a song
A focused 30-minute practice session can be much more productive than two hours of unfocused playing.
2. Start Slowly
One of the most important lessons I teach is:
Don't try to play something fast before you can play it correctly.
When learning a new beat, fill, rudiment or exercise, start at a tempo where you can play comfortably and accurately. Once you can play it consistently, gradually increase the speed.
If your technique falls apart when you speed up, you're practicing mistakes along with the exercise.
Accuracy first. Speed second.
3. Use a Metronome
A metronome is one of the best tools a drummer can use to develop a strong sense of time.
Practice your rudiments, beats and fills with it. Start at a comfortable tempo and gradually increase the speed as you become more consistent.
Don't be afraid to practice slowly. Some of your most productive practice may happen at a tempo that feels almost too easy.
Over time, the goal is to develop such a strong internal sense of time that the metronome becomes a reference rather than something you depend on.
4. Practice Your Rudiments
If you're serious about becoming a better drummer, spend time working on your rudiments.
There are 40 internationally recognized drum rudiments, and they provide an excellent foundation for developing your hands, coordination, control, speed and dynamics.
Some familiar rudiments include single and double stroke rolls, paradiddles, flams and drags.
But don't practice rudiments just to memorize them.
Learn how to make them musical.
A paradiddle, for example, isn't just an exercise on a practice pad. Its sticking pattern can become the foundation for drum fills and musical ideas around the drum set.
I'll be exploring the 40 drum rudiments in future articles, including how to practice them and apply them to the drum set.
5. Work on Your Weaknesses
We all have things we're good at—and things we're not.
It's natural to practice the things we enjoy. But improvement often comes from working on what challenges us.
Maybe your left hand is weaker than your right. Maybe you struggle with reading music or rush when playing fills.
Whatever your weakness is, don't avoid it.
Work on it.
It may not always be the most exciting part of your practice, but it's often where you'll see the greatest improvement.
6. Play Music
Exercises, rudiments and technique are important, but we're learning to play drums because we want to make music.
Put on a song you enjoy and play along. Listen carefully to the drummer. Pay attention to the groove, fills, dynamics and how the drummer supports the rest of the band.
A great drummer isn't simply someone who can play a lot of notes.
A great drummer knows when to play—and when not to play.
7. Record Yourself
You don't need an expensive recording setup. Your phone is enough.
Record yourself playing an exercise, beat or song and listen back. You may hear things you didn't notice while playing—rushing, uneven fills, inconsistent dynamics or other areas that need work.
Recording yourself lets you hear your playing from the listener's perspective, making it one of the best ways to improve.
8. Be Consistent—and Have Fun
You don't have to practice for three hours a day. Consistency is more important than marathon practice sessions.
I'd rather see a student practice for 30 minutes several times a week with focus and purpose than practice for three hours once every few weeks.
Find a routine that works for you and stick with it.
But don't forget to have fun. Play your favorite songs, learn a fill you've always wanted to play, improvise and play with other musicians.
Practicing is how we improve, but playing is why we do it.
A Final Thought
I've been playing drums for more than 40 years, and I'm still learning. That's one of the things I love most about the drums.
There is always another rudiment to master, another rhythm to understand, another technique to improve and another musical challenge to take on.
My goal as a teacher isn't simply to teach students how to play songs. I want my students to understand how to practice, how to listen, how to solve problems and how to continue improving on their own.
Whether you're picking up drumsticks for the first time or you've been playing for years, remember:
Practice with a purpose. Start slowly. Build good technique. Work on your weaknesses. Listen to music. Be consistent. And most importantly—have fun.
Keep practicing, keep learning and keep playing!
Interested in Drum Lessons?
AnthonyCDrums offers drum lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. If you're ready to improve your drumming and want guidance from an experienced teacher, contact me to learn more.
