The drummer is the heartbeat of a band. All different kind of bands utilize the drums in their music.
Drumming can take on many different faces. The beats can vary widely and the overall tone of the music can change by the way that a drummer drums.
A good drummer can make all the difference in a band. If a band is average and they convince an excellent drummer to play with them there will be a noticeable difference in the quality of the music.
Keeping the beat steady and consistent is the main role of the drummer. This will give the other members of the band a time to keep to as they play.
Whenever temp fluctuations are absent the beat should stay steady and should not change. This will be the foundation for your fellow band members to play to and will maintain a constant speed.
When the temp fluctuates your beat must also fluctuate. As a drummer you will be the gatekeeper of the beat.
The drummer often leads the songs from one part to another. Most songs have a verse, chorus, bridge and solo. By using fills you will be guiding the audience and other band members through the song.
You may not even use fills to differentiate between different parts in the song. Many drummers use a fluctuation in their volume or may change their sound.
When a drummer changes his sound he is changing the surface that he is playing on. He may start playing on a hi-hat and then change to playing a ride cymbal.
There are also different bass drums that can be played to differentiate between the different parts of the song. Without the drums the transitions throughout the song would be much more unappealing to those in the audience.
Some believe that drumming is just about the fancy fills and the stick twirling, when in reality the main purpose is to keep time for the band. Whenever you go to pick up your drumsticks remember that you must keep the time.
Your band members may not be very happy with you if you cannot keep a consistent beat. Many songs depend on the beat of the drummer to keep them on beat as well.
Before you start to drum it is important that you learn the basic beats of drumming. The first basic beat is an eighth note patter.
You start by holding a stick in your right hand and tapping it clearly and cleanly on the closed hi-hat. You must count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 as you play.
Make sure to keep the beat consistent. You are aiming for a consistent speed by trying to make the gap between taps identical
To practice some people will try to keep in beat with an analog clock. If you are watching a clock and trying to hit one beat per second you may be able to get the feel for having a consistency for a long period of time.
If you want to play slower you just proportionally make the gap bigger. You have to make sure that you keep the time of each gap equal to the time of all of the gaps that comes before and after the note.
Throughout your drumming career you will be using your hands and your feet consecutively. That means that while you are playing the 1 & 3 beat you should be hitting the bass drum at the count of one and at three.
After you have practiced this for a while you should then utilize a snare drum. The best way to do this is as you are playing your 1-2-3-4 beat and playing the bass drum on the 1 and three beat you should also start playing the snare drum on the 2 & 4 beat with your left hand.
When you are playing more than one drum on one beat you have to make sure and hit the drums at exactly the same time. This will keep your beat sounding crisp and accurate.
For every beat that you are playing you are completing a quarter note. There are four quarter notes in a measure and they should all have an equal amount of time between them.
The drums can be a very fun instrument to play. They are a key factor in a band and are worth learning.
Playing the drums with your left and right hand will also help your brain develop. Drumming is a skill that you will be able to use for the rest of your life.
Author Resource:
Ronald Pedactor has been a drummer for over 25 years. He has played in numerous bands and has written hundreds of articles relating to drumming and drum loops .
Contact Info:
Ronald Pedactor
RonaldPedactor09@gmail.com
http://www.drumsondemand.comDistributed by Content Crooner
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