Drum Kits and Lessons?

Question

I played drums in a school band when I was in middle school and I just played on a snare. I was considering taking it up again but I have a few questions.

1) Should I by a whole kit, a snare or just a practice pad to start with? When I was in band we got practice pads.

-If so, would an electric or acoustic be more suiting for a beginner? And can I have a list of good brands.

-My price limit is around 600.

2) Should I take lessons? I play Guitar, Bass, Violin and piano so I know all my theory. Is it worth paying for lessons or should I just get a beginner book?

Answer 1

Definetly you need to start out on a real acoustic drumset.  I prefer PDPs and DWs because they are quality kits.  Basically any company will have a beginners kit for under 600 but you'll still have to buy cymbals and stands which can sometimes cost as much as the set itself.  As for lessons I think you should definetly take them because they help you far more than a simple book could but books and DVDs are still good to have for doing some studying on your own.

Answer 2

just get a practice pad to start.  acoustic is the only way to go.  DW is the best, non custom brand in my opinion, and pearl, PDP, ludwig, ddrum, and mapex are also decent.   All the best brands though, are custom, such as six gun drums, orange county drums and percussion, SJC custom drums, shine, risen etc.  Yeah you need lessons.  you can teach yourself, but lessons are worth it, theory wont help you much.

Answer 3

1. Yes...you should buy the whole kit.  Why oy might ask?

I'll tell you why. Because if you ONLY practice on the snare...you are NOT getting the full drumming experience...which of course IS ON the whole drum kit itself...including the Bass Drum, the Floor Tom, the Tom-toms, the Hi-Hats and the Ride, the Crash Cymbals...etc.

Look...when I started playing drums at 16. I had no job, I had no money...& my guitar was stolen at 15!

So...what did I do?  I made a cheap organic drum kit using Folgers Coffee cans, a few Tupperware bowls to use as Tom-toms, a Dictionary book as a snare...a cheap used film reel as a Hi-hat cymbal on a cheap Sears hi-hat stand....

and played on my bed for the first 2 years. I used to drum along with cassette tapes & headphones back then. I was broke and wanted to drum so bad that I did something about it.  I didnt actually get my first REAL drum kit until 1988. I worked a few odd jobs to make the cash...then I spent $800 on a brand new 5 piece misty chrome Tama Rockstar kit with Sabian B8 cymbals pack included. I had that Tama kit from 1988 onto like 1991 then I sold it to a friend for $400. Back then...I used to play a lot of speed metal songs and that Tama kit took the abuse just fine...I had no maintenance problems with it at all.  

So, if you do decide to buy a whole drum kits...I'd suggest the getting a 5 piece Tama Imperialstar kit for $700. It's a great deal I've seen around. It even comes complete with a set of free 4 Meinl cymbals included

( a pair of Hi-hats, a  Ride cymbal, a Crash cymbal and a China cymbal too)   Because cymbals are expensive just by themselves...I used to own Paiste 400s, 3000s & 2002s too cymbals from 1988 onto 2003 so I know how the hundreds of dollars that I paid for them.  

www.guitarcenter.com

www.music123.com

www.midwestpercussion.com..........dru... only website

www.westcoastdrumcenter.com......drums only  website

To be honest...I dont like Electronic Drum kits. I would never buy one either. Don't get me wrong...they are great toys to fool around with.. Roland & Yamaha make some amazing electronic kits. But,  I've played both acoustic and electronic kits....& honestly...you just can't compare the "sound" and "feel" of a REAL acoustic drum kit. Most drummers you see these days most have an acoustic drum kit for a reason...that is because of the "sound and feel" of it.

2. Bear in mind that drum lessons aren't cheap. I finally took some drums lesson in 1999 or 2000. I was paying $20 for a half hour back then...so that means the Drum Teacher charged $40 an hour at that time...NOW the price have gone up & are like $30 for a half hour. So, that means they are $60 for full hour of drum lessons.  So, if you dont have the money to get drum lessons....try buying a cheap "how to drum" Book & CD deal for $20. They are just as good and will teach you the basic notes on the notation, timing,  Staff, the basic 5, 7 & 10 stroke rolls, the flams, the paradiddles, the double paradiddles,  the buzz rolls, and all that other basic drum rudiments.  I used to have a cool drum book called "Syncopation" by Ted Reed. Its only $5 for it and it's good stuff. Also, go to your local library and check out FREE "How to play Drums" books too. They are totally free & you'll still learn that way too.

One last thing...get yourself a Metronome like a QUIKTIME one. That will be the best $15 you ever spent in your life!

A drummer is useless to anyone if they dont have excellent timing...A Metronome will TEACH you the BPMS ( beats per minute).  Drumming is ALL about keeping time and keeping it locked solid!!! The band follows the drummer because they keep the time in the song. That IS THE drummers job and you have to learn that real fast.

Hope this helps & good luck