Suddenly I find myself drumming

[hrodbert696]

Just sharing a bit of an oddity... This past holiday season, in the course of conversation, it comes out that my twelve-year-old son, my fourteen-year-old daughter, AND my wife (whose age shall remain undisclosed) all have been thinking they'd like to learn to play drums. Huh, OK, cool.

We poke around some music stores to get a sense of what's what. A week or so after Christmas a set comes up on CL, five pieces (bass/snare/three toms) plus a hi hat, two cymbal stands but only one broken cymbal (intact enough to practice on, though), no throne, $145. We figure it's as good a deal as we're going to get and grab it, stick it in the basement. I get some carpet mat to duct-tape to the drums for practice pads for $4.50. We put a little stool-thingie down there until we find a cheap drum throne somewhere.

That's about two or three weeks ago now. My son banged at it rather randomly from time to time the first week but I haven't heard much since. Similar for my wife, and I don't think my daughter has even touched it yet. Since the college I teach at is on winter break, I find myself wandering down there once or twice a day to poke at it for five or ten minutes at a time.

Two weeks of that and I'm starting to be able to do something that sounds like a -- very basic -- backbeat. You know, boom boom chick, boom boom: chick. Even some halting variations on it. Nobody else is touching it. I never even wanted to be a drummer! It's like it's just this black hole down there wanting to be played so I have to go feed it from time to time.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

[Riverrunsred]

Don't get GAS with drumming.....very expensive ! Yes, I know from experience ! Now I have all of this gear in the music room that I have to keep the dust off of that never gets played.
The main reason I don't play is the volume, I hate to bother folks.

[007 Bassist]

Drummin is fun!

[CostaBass]

You know Jaco Pastoruis was a drummer before he was a Bassist.
So yea...............

[onosson]

Drums are the funnest instrument... but also the most tiring, both to play and haul around to gigs.

[pacojas]

i love playing my friend's kit! infact, i've gotten better on the bass by learning different beats. gl.

[superdick2112]

Originally Posted by Riverrunsred

Don't get GAS with drumming.....very expensive !

You got that right! I bought a Yamaha electronic kit a few years ago, just because I'd rather spend time learning to drum as opposed to programming a drum machine for hours on end, just to get a 4 minute song.

Six years later, I have a 10-piece set of DW Collector's series drums, with a dozen Zildjian A-custom cymbals, bell trees, temple blocks, and tree chimes, and MANY thousands of dollars invested.

The good thing is, I'm done buying now, the kit is complete, and I'm a better bassist for knowing how to drum. I have a kit at the house for when "real" drummers visit, I enjoy playing drums for about an hour a night, 3 nights a week, and having bought the "good stuff", I could recoup most of my money if I ever sold them.

[LegoBass]

My dad was a drummer so I always have had a drumset around the house. I love playing on that set. There is nothing better than flailing behind a soild set for a good thrity minutes.
I am also a very strong believer of knowing a little bit of every instrument in a band. If you can understand and know the basics of every other instrument you can easily relate to that player and know how they will work in practice or a gig. Limiting yourself to one instrument will give you more time to master that one instrument, but you may not be able to play or listen to your bandmates as well. I am all for a bassist picking up guitar or drumsticks, nothing bad can come from it. I say just keep on rocking with what ever floats your boat.

[ba$$player]

I agree! I was a snare drummer in marching band and I believe I am a better bass player because of it. I can still hammer it out on a kit if I have to, but I was always a bass player at heart.

[Martin89]

I picked up drumming recently while deployed and it has sparked my interest enough to consider a kit to keep in my music room when I get home. I'll probably go the electronic route just because I like having more volume control. I think it definitely helps musicianship, I mean it's all rhythm and subdivision, what a learning tool!

[FrenchAK]

I have a drum kit in my bedroom. It's a beginner kit, but sounds nice and got it for a steal. As soon as I got it home I started thinking about how it needs new cymbals... And begin the drum GAS - which is about twice as expensive as bass GAS and the results aren't nearly as cool.
Damn drums, suck the money right outta you.

[Plays_For_Dog]

I play other's sets whenever I get the chance. Waaaaayyyyy too expensive for me to ever invest in a set. Knowing how I am with Bass gear, I couldn't afford drums...

[Bevo1995]

I bought a set of Pearl Vision VSX drums for my son. And yes, drums are expensive! Even though these are not expensive by drum standards I've dropped over a grand into them including cymbals, hardware, heads, and a few extras. He's getting really good and it's fun to be able to have a family jam session. Plus, I love playing them myself!

I wish there was a drum section here on TB. All the drum forums I've found are horrible.

[BigOldHarry]

Several years ago... More like 20... I got a kit and learned to play just enough to have fun. My purpose wasn't to go out and play drums so much as it was to learn better rhythm & beat control for my bass playing. I guess it was a good use of my time, since I am often complimented on my sense of timing and groove. So go learn you some drums - it will make you a better bassist.

[fourfinger]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Just sharing a bit of an oddity... This past holiday season, in the course of conversation, it comes out that my twelve-year-old son, my fourteen-year-old daughter, AND my wife (whose age shall remain undisclosed) all have been thinking they'd like to learn to play drums. Huh, OK, cool.

We poke around some music stores to get a sense of what's what. A week or so after Christmas a set comes up on CL, five pieces (bass/snare/three toms) plus a hi hat, two cymbal stands but only one broken cymbal (intact enough to practice on, though), no throne, $145. We figure it's as good a deal as we're going to get and grab it, stick it in the basement. I get some carpet mat to duct-tape to the drums for practice pads for $4.50. We put a little stool-thingie down there until we find a cheap drum throne somewhere.

That's about two or three weeks ago now. My son banged at it rather randomly from time to time the first week but I haven't heard much since. Similar for my wife, and I don't think my daughter has even touched it yet. Since the college I teach at is on winter break, I find myself wandering down there once or twice a day to poke at it for five or ten minutes at a time.

Two weeks of that and I'm starting to be able to do something that sounds like a -- very basic -- backbeat. You know, boom boom chick, boom boom: chick. Even some halting variations on it. Nobody else is touching it. I never even wanted to be a drummer! It's like it's just this black hole down there wanting to be played so I have to go feed it from time to time.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

My experience was extremely similar, to a point: 12-year-old son, $150 for a five piece kit.

Also similar: I have learned a little bit of drumming for the first time ever, and really like it every time I try it.

What's different: My son is now 13, still plays and is taking inexpensive kit lessons from a drummer friend of mine, and playing drums in school. He is still very much a beginner, has limited chops, and it took him many months to get excited about it. But in the past couple of months he has been playing every single day, and getting better fast. I think this is mostly because he has discovered two bands he really likes (Disturbed, and Three Days Grace) which were not bands that I had liked first.

So if your family hasn't really gotten into it yet, it doesn't mean they won't. In the meantime, enjoy having the kit all to yourself... just make sure that whoever wanted that kit the most understands that it's really theirs if they learn to play it.

[SteveC]

I debated trying to drum when we were having trouble finding a good one, and bass players are a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to get good.

Then there's the GAS. You think bass GAS is bad...

[hrodbert696]

Yeah I've been pricing cymbals, cause we just have this one cracked Sabian to practice on. Holy crap.

And unlike bass, you can just keep adding and adding to the thing....

[plangentmusic]

I played drums for many years befoe switching to bass. Recorded some albums and was even written up in Modern Drummer. But it was too restricting in terms of growing as a musician.

Still, there are times when I play...it makes me realize. The drummer is the leader of the band. It's so powerful. I played drums on my CD mentioned in my sig. In some ways, it was the most fun.


Some examples:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzlCvuIIAd0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://...Uv=KNdxFnCdlxo

A mediocre band with a great drummer will sound like a great band. A great band with a mediocre drummer will sound like a mediocre band.

ALL musicians should learn to play some drums just as ALL drummer should learn to play a musical instrument. If for nothing else, to translate information to each other.

[drummer5359]

I suffered two stokes within a couple months of each other in 2008. I returned to work, but realized that 14 hour work-days were not in my future any more. I'm recently retired from being the president of the local region of a national company. My girlfriend and I are currently renovating a 1910arts and crafts foursquare home in Pittsburgh.

My drumming has suffered a great deal due to the strokes, now my playing is more about physical therapy.

I'm a total gear-head and have become a bit of a drum collector. (I used to consider myself a serious player who sort of collected, now I'm a serious collector who sort of plays.)


I currently own 8 kits

1964 Leedy (from the era that Slingerland owned them) kit with a virgin bass. The 12" tom originally clamped to the bass drum rim. It is in blue sparling pearl finish. It must have spent 40 plus years in cases as it is the cleanest 1960s kit I've ever seen. I picked up a 1958 13" tom on ebay in the same finish.
12", 13", 16", 20".

1973 Slingerland kit in sparkling blue pearl finish.
13", 16", 18", 24".

1975 Slingerland blakrome 7 pc kit with a virgin bass.
12", 13", 14", 16", 18", 22".

1970s Slingerland blakrome kit with a virgin bass
13", 14", 15" concert tom, 18", 24" (I haven't researched the serial numbers for the age yet.)

1981 Gretsch "Drop-G" badge 6 pc kit in walnut lacquer finish.
12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

2005 Gretsch Catalina Birch 6 pc kit in Chestnut fade finish. This is a nice kit, but the one I use as my gig kit as I have a lot less invested in it.
8", 10", 12", 14", 22".

2008 8pc DW Collector's Series kit in Broken Glass finish. I lusted after a set of DWs for 10 years before I took the plunge two years ago.
8", 10", 12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

1980s Remo Legero nesting kit that I bought to carry in the motorhome. They don't sound wonderful, but they will likely be the nicest kit at any campground we visit.
10", 12", 14", 20".


My current snare drum arsenal

2007 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 13"

2009 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 14"

1990s Ayotte Drumsmith Stainless steel 5 1/2" x 13"

2004 DW Solid Shell Natural Satin 5" x 14"

2008 DW 10 ply maple Broken Glass 5" x 14"

2008 DW Edge Broken Glass 6" x 13"

2009 DW Super Solid Shell Broken Glass 5 1/2" x 14"

2008 Fibes maple White Marine Pearl 5 1/2" x 14"

1970s Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

1981 Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

2006 Gretsch Catalina Birch Chestnut Fade Lacquer 5 1/2" x 14"

2007 Gretsch Nickel over steel 5" x 14"

1990s Legend Maple 6 1/2" x 14" with die cast hoops Natural Lacquer finish.

1970s Ludwig Acrolite 5" x 14"

2000s Ludwig Acrolite 5" x 14" Black Galaxie finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 3" x 13" Natural Lacquer finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 6 1/2" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Ludwig Black Beauty 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Supraphonic 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Classic Maple 5" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Mapex Big Cat 8" x 14" blue wrap with "Big Beat" logo signed by Jimmy Chamberlin.

1988 Noble & Cooley 7" x 14" solid shell maple Red Lacquer finish.

2000s Pearl Free Floating Brass Piccolo 3 1/2" x 14"

2007 Pearl Chad Smith 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Remo Black Piccolo 3" x 13"

1960s Rogers COB Dynasonic 5" x 14"

1958 Slingerland Radio King single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling blue pearl finish.

1962 Slingerland Artist model single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1963 Slingerland Artist model 3-ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1970s Slingerland Chrome over Brass 5 1/2" x 14"

1976 Slingerland Buddy Rich model 5 1/2" x 14" Blackrome finish.

1979 Slingerland Model 140 Ribbed Aluminum 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Slingerland Radio King Solid Maple 6 1/2" x 14" natural lacquer finish with die cast hoops.

2009 Sonor Force 3007 Dark Blue lacquer 5 1/2" x 14".


And I own a bunch of cymbals (70 something)

I have full setups of

Paiste Signatures

Paiste 2002s

Sabian AAXs

Zildjian "K"s

Zildjian Constantinoples

and about 20 or so Zildjian "A"s.

I'm putting together Sabian HHX, Zildjian A Custom and Zildjian K Custom setups now.

Latin Percussion Classic series Congas and Bongos are now part of my toys.

I'm now gigging regularly as part of an acoustic duo, playing hand percussion with a singer/guitarist friend of mine.

And now I'm learning to play bass...

My sweetheart is REALLY hoping that I don't get into bass gear like I have drum gear. In any case, I'm happy to help my bassist friend with drum questions you may have.



You can reach me at drummer5359@hotmail.com if you'd like.

[Bevo1995]

Originally Posted by drummer5359

I currently own...

Good lord!