

How To: Treat the skin on your bodhrán drum
Michelle Stewart of BodhranExpert.com demonstrates to viewers how to treat the skin on a Bodhran drum. The skin on this particular drum is made of goat skin and, much like your own skin, must be treated with a skin-conditioning treatment in order to maintain proper moisture.

How To: Play the drum fill from "In the Air Tonight" on drums
Learn how to play the famous drum fill from Phil Collin's "In the Air Tonight" with this free drum lesson. This video guide presents a complete, step-by-step breakdown of fill. For more information, and to get started playing this popular Collins fill on your own drums, watch this tutorial.

How To: Build your own Xylophone
The xylophone is one of the most universal musical instruments, with variations existing in cultures throughout the globe. Build your own xylophone by following the instructions shown in this helpful video. You can make a xylophone out of found or recycled materials like wood or glass.

How To: Play a basic rock groove with the hi hat on the drums
Playing the drums can be pretty easy, all you need is a drum set, a decent sense of rhythm and a lot of practice. In this how to video you can learn how to play a basic rock groove using the hi hat and the snare drum. This basic rock groove is a pretty common drum rudiment. It is necessary for the beginner drummer to learn this basic rock groove with the high hat. Watch this how to video and you will be able to play a basic rock groove with a high hat on the drums.

How To: Play the mother of all jig rhythms on the bodhrán drum
A bodhrán is a shallow one-sided Irish drum typically played with a short two-headed drumstick, and if you want to learn how to play this Irish frame drum, you've come to the right place. This two-part video tutorial from Michelle Stewart will show you how to play the "mother of all jig" rhythms on the bodhrán drum.

How To: Play accents and ghost notes on the drums
Learn how to play accents (hard hits) and ghost notes (un-accented notes) on the drums. This drum lesson is designed for the beginner or novice drummer.

How To: Hold the bodhrán drum tipper
There are two recommended ways to hold the Bodhran Drum tipper for beginners. The first way is called the "curved wrist" technique. You put the stick in between the area of your index and thumb finger. Then you put the end of the stick in between your index and middle finger. You must make sure not to keep your fingers tight, they must be elongated and resting gently on the stick. When you drum, you keep your wrist curved and swing your hand up and down. The next method is the "straight wrist...

How To: Play triplets & rolls using the bodhrán tipper's top
In this video you will learn some wrist techniques for striking your Bodhran as well as how to play and count triplets. As a percussion you know how important it is to know your rhythmical figures and how to count. Just be sure, if triplets are hard for you, be sure to tap your foot and clap out quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes and count them out loud. Once you've got that down, start doing the same thing, but counting out quarter, eighth and sixteenth note triplets, and count them out LOU...

How To: Play the maracas
How to play the maracas; get professional tips and advice from an expert on playing traditional Mexican musical instruments in this free music lesson video series.

How To: Perform a drum major finger roll with a mace
Learn to do the finger roll using a mace with this tutorial. This is a basic move for a drum major or baton twirler. Watch this how to video and you will be able to perform a mace finger roll.

How To: Play various rhythms on bongos
Itching to start slapping some bongo skins? In this three-part bongo tutorial, learn how to play various bongo rhythms. Hosted by Manny Cepeda (a composer, songwriter, & performer), you will learn the Son Rhythm (4/4) Martillo, the Borello Rhythm, and Guaguanco Rhythm.

How To: Play tabla drum basic techniques
The tabla is a popular Indian drum used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. In this how to video you will learn basic techniques of playing the tabla. Watch this tutorial and you will be playing the tabla in no time.

How To: Play the dhol drum
The dhol is a drum or percussive instrument, widely used in Bangladesh , India and Pakistan, usually the Punjab region, the Indian/Pakistani province of Punjab, Maharastra and Gujarat. This 4 part video is an introduction to the dhol and how to begin to play this ancient double sided drum. Watch these tutorial and you will be able to play the dhol in no time.

How To: Play the 'spang a lang' or 'ride cymbal' jazz drum pattern
The drum beat pattern for jazz drumming is sometimes called 'spang a lang' or 'ride cymbal pattern.' This is a very common, groovy drum pattern. In this video, the pattern is broken down into individual beats using both the ride cymbal and hi hat drums.

How To: Play 16th notes on the drums
In this drum lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play 16th notes. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, and to get started playing sixteenth notes yourself, watch this free video drummers' guide.

How To: Break down a drum beat and master tempo dynamics
In this brief video tutorial, the host 'Uncle Todd' demonstrates how to 'attack a beat'. This video is intended for beginners. Watch as he shows you how to keep your tempo up as you time your drum strokes in a beat. You should practice my trying just your right foot and your right hand, and then alternating to to your left foot and your left hand. The host in this video uses an electric metronome to keep his tempo steady and accurate, something that he recommends you try at home. Don't forget...

How To: Practice without a bodhrán and make your own tipper
In this how to video, you will learn how to practice without a Bodhran and make your own tipper. This is useful if you do not have enough money to buy a Bodhran or you want to practice silently. To make a tipper, buy skewers from any place. Take about 14 and put the together. Tie them together with 2 rubber bands. You can get different sounds depending on the distant of the rubber band from the end of the sticks. Next, you must get a practice board. A clip board can be used for one. You can m...

How To: Practice snare drum stick trick
This is a basic drumstick twirl trick. It goes through proper hand placement and finger movement. It's really easy and pretty cool.

How To: Play the "Four Sticks" groove on drums
Check out this music tutorial video that demonstrates how to play the "Four Sticks" groove on drums. Led Astray drummer "Fronzo" explains his approach to the Four Sticks drum groove. John Bonham of Led Zeppelin played this song with two sets of drum sticks, which is where the title of the song comes from. Learn how to play with Four Sticks by watching this instructional drum playing video.

How To: Properly hold drumsticks
Holding your drumsticks correctly will reduce tension and give you greater speed and control in playing while reducing fatigue. In this video tutorial, DRUM! Magazine music editor Wally Schnalle demonstrates how to properly hold drumsticks and provides tips for best performance. Get a handle on drumstick grips with this how-to.

How To: Play "Back in Black" by ACDC on the drums
In this video tutorial, DRUM! Magazine music editor Wally Schnalle demonstrates how to play "Back in Black" by ACDC on the drums. While this tutorial is geared towards intermediate drum players, drummers of all skill levels can play along. Take a look and learn how to play "ACDC"!

How To: Play the upstroke drum rudiment
Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels demonstrates how to play the upstroke drum rudiment. Take a look!

How To: Play the "1-&-a-2" or "1-te-ta" rhythm on the snare
Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels demonstrates how to play the "1-&-a-2" or "1-te-ta" rhythm on the snare drum.

How To: Play dotted quarter notes
Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will teach you a new note value, the dotted quarter note.

How To: Practice the double stop mallet technique
Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth illustrates exercises to isolate the interval changing motion of inside and outside mallets on a mallet instrument such as a vibraphone.

How To: Tune the timbales
Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will walk you through the process of tuning your drums.

How To: Play the mambo bell pattern on the timbales (tymbales)
Take heart, aspiring timbaleros y timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this two-part installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will show you not only how but when to play the mambo bell pattern. Take a look!

How To: Play "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin on drums
Playing the drums for "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin is a great way to not only learn how to play cover songs on drums, but to practice your drumming technique. Learn how to play "The Immigrant Song" on drums in this free drum lesson video series.

How To: Play basic drum beat variations
How to play some great variations on standard drum beats; get expert tips and advice on music theory and drumming in this free instructional video series.

How To: Tune an Indian tabla drum
The tabla is a popular Indian drum used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. This how to video teaches you to tune a tabla. Watch this tutorial and you will be playing and tuning an Indian tabla drum in no time.

How To: Play drum roll accents
This tutorial teaches how to play drum roll accents and how to incorporate them into basic beats. This lesson is designed for the beginner drummers.

How To: Play sixteenth note accent fills
In this lesson, you will learn four unique sixteenth note accent fills. These are slightly more advanced than the sixteenth note fills from a previous lesson, and are perfect for use within rock and related styles.

How To: Play a commercial bolero on the drums
Drummer Jeff Indyke teaches you how to play a commercial bolero on the drums.

How To: Play an off-beat snare drum
In this instructional video series you will learn how to play an off-beat snare drum to a swing beat. Our expert Peter Van Dyck shares techniques for creating a basic drum beat, adding fills, and offers tips and advice on how to begin the process and walks you through some great informational steps to becoming a more advanced drummer.

How To: Do drum music for the Chinese Lion Dance
In these lion dance video instruction clips, learn about the music of the Southern style Chinese New Year Lion Dance and how it influences and directs the ceremony. Listen to the cymbals and drums as the Buddha puts the lion through its paces, taunting him with his fan. Learn how the different instruments create emotional soundscapes related to the narrative of the lion dance. Get an in-depth look at Chinese lion dance drum music in this video series, a thousand years in the making.

How To: Play the Tambourine
Today we teach you how to play the tambourine! Playing the tambourine is So Easy A Guy Could Do It!

Off the Wall: "Flight of the Bumblebee" Played on 101 Bottles
What does one do with one hundred and one bottles of beer after taking them down and passing them around? Why, one gathers a couple of friends and plays Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" on them, of course! As one commenter puts it, "The Greek system has been exonerated!"

How To: Play the bodhrán drums with dynamics
The biggest complaint of most people listening to the bodhran is, "is that ALL the sound it makes?" Well, this video will help you put all those drum doubters in their place, by teaching you how to play the bodhran with dynamics.

How To: Play a three-chord (I-IV-V) ostinato on the xylophone
In this video xylophone lesson for aspiring mallet percussionists, we learn how to play a two-chord ostinato on the xylophone using three mallets. The chord progression is a simple one, commonly heard in popular music. It moves from the root or tonic (I) to the subdominant (IV) to the dominant (V).

How To: Play a two-chord tonic-dominant ostinato on the xylophone
In this video xylophone lesson, we learn how to play a two-chord ostinato on the xylophone using three mallets. The chord progression is a simple one which moves from the root or tonic (I) to the dominant (V) and back.