Is it really hard to learn drums?

Question:i'm thinking about taking lessons

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i'm thinking about taking lessons

Nothing you enjoy doing is ever really too hard.
You might do a trial run, though. If you have a friend who has a set and can show you a few things, or maybe do a couple lessons with an instructor- especially if they have equipment you can use, so you can get a feel for it before making a financial investment.

not really.

I'm a drummer. It's not hard but it does take some time, practice, and patience. But if you really have a passion for drumming, you'll pick up faster than you know it.

no it's not hard. what kind of drums? like a trap set, or more like marching band type?

Anyway, it's not that hard. I'm a drummer and as long as you practice hard you can become great.

some tips:

don't do the "invisible drum" on rests. (when you rest, you pretend to hit the drum stick on an imaginary drum beside the drum you're using at the moment)

don't bring the sticks all the way up to your head when you're banging on drums. it looks retarded sometimes.

when you are holding the sticks, don't have a gap between your thumb and palm. hold them like this:
http://images1.comstock.com/Imagewarehou...

If you are learning just to do it, it can be harder. Band students get to put into play what they practice with me with the band pretty much every day. If you are switching to drums, you need to understand you are way behind the others that have been taking lessons for two or three years already. You have work to do. Lots of it. I'm not kidding. Hear those nice double stroke rolls they are playing during band? (well some of them can do it) Takes several weeks to a year or more to learn just that. It depends on you.

People learn at different paces. What is easy to some can seem impossible to others. Do you find yourself tapping out a neat rhythm with your hands, fingers? Do you tap your foot or bob your head exactly in time with a song? Can you clap your hands and tap both feet in rhythm with a song?

Take a few lessons. All you need are a pad and sticks and at least 30-60 minutes a day. Don't try to do 60 the first time. Work up to it. Be sure your teacher gives you some warm up exercises. These can also help you develop your accuracy, speed, and technique. These are called chops.

Learning to identify and play rudiments are a way to build chops. All you need is an old phone book and a pair of sticks. Get ones that feel right. Try several different pair. Try to improve your speed, accuracy, and note quality. This means how fast can you play it while maintaining form and sound? Whatever you play should be able to be played at all volumes and all tempos within reason. If you like speed metal or death thrash, whatever they are calling it these days, you will need to practice or woodshed (shed, shedding) way more than your average drummer. Those guys' feet are playing 8th notes at 360+!!!

You will also benefit from being able to identify the rhythm notes (and melody if you are in school band and are playing bells FACE EGBDF), rests, and time signatures from music class. If you have forgotten, brush up on it on the web. Plenty of places for info out there.

Get a teacher you like (that is interested in you and your progress) and take a few lessons. Don't settle for the first teacher, all are different. It is best to shop around. For instance I have 5 students at solo and ensemble competitions today (spring 2008). How many does your teacher have? Does s/he even know?