Should I take some drum lessons?

factorplayer · #1 11-07-2009, 01:06 AM

I'm at kind of a plateau in my playing right now and it occurred to me that taking up another instrument might be a good idea. Particularly since that instrument is drums and I have noticed some rhythmic weaknesses in my bass playing as of late.

I'll confess I really didn't consider this until a local pro who plays in a national act started offering lessons in my area. The rates are reasonable and I can find the time. The only downside is that I don't have a kit of my own to regularly practice on, so I'm wondering how well I could feasibly keep up progress in the lessons with no kit of my own and only intermittent practice on friends'/bandmates' kits.

TrevorOfDoom · #2 11-07-2009, 01:20 AM

few thoughts: if rhythm is your weakness, i'd hardly consider your bass playing at a plateau. that's easily rectified without taking up another instrument.
2. if you want to take drum lessons, do it. it can't really hurt unless it takes up too much time from the bass.
3. if you don't own the instrument, i wouldn't suggest trying to learn said instrument. if you can't practice between lessons, you can't really get better, you can only learn pointers at random intervals.
4. i don't know everything.

factorplayer · #3 11-07-2009, 01:57 AM

Well I'm not implying that I want to take drum lessons to address any specific deficiency in my bass playing, just that learning drums might offer some tangential benefit. I agree that not having the instrument could be a major limitation though...

Orangeclawhamme · #4 11-07-2009, 07:04 AM

I started drums this year. It has helped with my reading and rythm. I obviously don't know your financial situation, but GC has a set on sale for $330 this month. I have the drums, but I bought slightly better cymbals. They were recommended to me by my friend who's been playing drums for 45 years.

I'm not recommending that learning drums will do anything for your bass playing. Im just offereing some ideas in case you choose to go ahead with drums. I'm hardly an expert, but I can't possibly see the value of taking lessons when you do not have access to the instrument, even if it's a borrowed set.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

mavericklover · #5 11-07-2009, 07:15 AM

I play Drums, guitar and synth as well as Bass and I find that learning different instruments gives you different perspective on music, and better understanding of how everything fits together to create the piece you're playing. However you'll find it hard to progress without regular practice, so I would recomend investing in a kit.

kraigo · #6 11-07-2009, 07:31 AM

Drums are my primary instrument. Getting a kit is a somewhat expensive proposition. I'd hardly advise against it, but you're going to be into the $1500 range by the time you get reasonable cymbals, so be aware or it.

I picked up bass to become a better drummer and I think it worked out. I also picked up bass because I could practice in an apartment when I was an apartment dweller. Will drumming make you a better bassist? I can't say. I think you'd do as well for a lot less money if you focused on percussion instead.

I've got a lot of hand drums, but most often I bring a djembe, an egg shaker, a "GoJo" bag, a brush and a stick. That's an easy one trip load and works very well with acoustic guitar ensembles. I focus on singing along with that and it's still a challenge to make transitions among instruments smoothly and making the band sound polished, even if I've got a somewhat limited palette of instruments in front of me. It helps my drum set playing in that my job is still to provide a good pulse for the band, add some color while leaving room for the rest of the band. It's nice because the entire band can come in with one trip each, and practice in one of the band members' "Family Room" without anyone getting angry. It's also great because everybody in the band becomes a lot more intent on listening to what's going on around them and not overpowering the vocals.

Drumset focuses a lot on doing multiple things at a time, which is cool, but a lot of time the quest for coordination overshadows straight line rhythms, whereas a lot of the time percussion will help you with feeling the clave (pulse) of the music and the concept carries over nicely into non-Latin forms of music and bass.

In my own case, I've got guitars and keyboards that I really can't play very well. This morning I'm thinking that learning keyboards would be a better use of my time, but most days I think it'd be guitar.

Anyway around, I think learning another instrument will move you forward even if it takes away from bass practice time. It broadens your perspective and helps you appreciate what your band mates want from you.

KO

Jason Hollar · #7 11-07-2009, 07:43 AM

Why not just buy a pair of sticks and a practice pad? That should be like $20-$40.

Then buy a book of drum rudiments and take a few lessons.

I have several drummer friends who are super funky on electric bass (even though they don't know all the notes, etc.) because they can slap & tap very hip rhythmic patterns much better than I can!

As for my weakness -- it is actually reading syncopated rhythms cold off the page. I've always thought some drum & percussion lessons would help me as well. Good luck!

sackvegas · #8 11-07-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Hollar

Why not just buy a pair of sticks and a practice pad? That should be like $20-$40.

Then buy a book of drum rudiments and take a few lessons.

I have several drummer friends who are super funky on electric bass (even though they don't know all the notes, etc.) because they can slap & tap very hip rhythmic patterns much better than I can!

As for my weakness -- it is actually reading syncopated rhythms cold off the page. I've always thought some drum & percussion lessons would help me as well. Good luck!

THIS

T-Funk · #9 11-07-2009, 09:28 AM

If you wish to solely work on your rhythmic skills, also consider percussion instruments, such as bongos, djembes and timbales. The cost of entry is much less than a full drum set.

I have a djembe, a set of bongos and a few percussion books. It is fun to learn new rhythms and patterns, especially syncopated grooves.

varunkapahi · #10 11-07-2009, 09:31 AM

i am just about to buy a drum set in a week or two myself! i hardly "practice' bass anyway, so i thought i might practice drums

jacofox · #11 11-10-2009, 06:16 AM

I took up the drums casually a little while ago. My bands drummer left his kit at my house so I can practice on it whenever I'm home or we're not jamming. Not only is it fun to hit things loudly (always a plus), but I have noticed a significant improvement in two areas of my bass playing which is my rythm (I always spell that wrong) and my songwriting. I find it easier now to listen, know and predict exactly what my drummers doing which means I can lock into him better. Jams are more fun and productive. I think taking up drums is a great idea

MarkTAW · #12 11-10-2009, 03:19 PM

Picking up drumming is a great idea, plus you may be able to land a few gigs as a drummer too. Here in New York drummers are very rare - my theory is apartment living makes it very difficult to practice anything that must be played at ear splitting volumes.

Phe · #13 11-10-2009, 03:35 PM

Yes, you should take drum lessons because drumming is fun.

And +1 on the sticks/practice pad/rudiments. Excellent and noise free way to progress. When you are not practicing rudiments just put some music on and drum to that on the practice pad.

That being said I think I'm going to get my pad and buy new sticks and get back on the horse.

Good luck with the lessons!