Percussion How-Tos
How To: Play the drum part to Back in Black by AC/DC
Learn how to play the classic rock beat to the AC/DC song "Back in Black" on the drums.
How To: Read sixteenth notes for drumming
In this lesson you will learn how to read and play sixteenth noteson the drums. In order to do this lesson you need to be comfortable with quarter notes & rests, eighth notes and 4/4 time. You will need the beat sheet for this lesson. You can find it here:
How To: Spin drumsticks easily
This tiny video shows you the basics of drum stick spinnology.
How To: Play the Marimba
David Hockings demonstrates how to play the marimba, including techniques for using four sticks at the same time.
How To: Practice playing drums with the pyramid drill
Learn a practice drill for drummers - The Pyramid Drill. First you play a beat then repeat it in reverse order.
How To: Hold the drum stick properly
A drummer demonstrates how to properly hold drum sticks when playing.
How To: Boost your foot endurance on the drums
Drummer Dan Britt teaches you some exercises on for bass drum endurance and coordination.
How To: Play 32nd note syncopated fills on the drums
Drummer Jeff Indyke teaches you how to play 32nd note syncopated fills on the drums
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: Impress on the drums
Have you always wanted to play the drums but have been worried that your poor coordination is more likely to injure than impress someone? Don't worry as we are going to show you an rock drum beat that anyone can play with just ten minutes practice! Impress on the drums.
How To: Play steel drums
In this video series, learn how to play the steel drums. Our expert, Alan Mark Lightner, shows you tips for beginning your steel pan music career. Learn the proper posture for the instrument. Alan shows you how to hit and strike the steel drum. Learn how to play notes and chords on this percussion instrument.
How To: Play Bossa Nova drum beat
In this instructional video series you will learn how to play several contemporary drum beats. Our expert, Shaun Schaefer, shares techniques for creating a bossa nova 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 speed, control and endurance exercises for drumming
In this video series, our expert will demonstrate how to build stamina, speed and control in drumming. Expert Kevin Grossman demonstrates these exercises that, with practice, will definitely improve your drumming skills.
How To: Set up a drum kit
In this video series, our expert Patrick Sapia will show you how to set up a drum set or drum kit. Mr. Sapia will show you how so set up a bass drum, a bass drum pedal, the tom tom stands, the cymbal stands, and the hi hat stand. He will then teach you how to mount the cymbals, snare, hi hats, and toms on their respective stands.
How To: Improve your coordination on drums
If you are looking to pick up the drums or just wanting to improve, take some time to watch this free video series. Our expert, Peter Van Dyck, shows you how to improve your hand and foot coordination. Through these simple exercises, you can become an expert drummer!
How To: Play shaker percussion
In this music lesson, learn how to play percussion shakers from musician Ryan Larson. Ryan will show you basic shaker percussion techniques and patterns such as loose rolling effects and muting effects. He will teach you how to play percussion shakers with "soul", and how to play shakers with a band.
How To: Play the conga drums
In this video series, learn how to play the conga. Our expert, Ryan Larson, teaches you everything you need to know to begin your conga playing. Learn how to tune and set up congas. Also, learn how to strike, slap, and mute a conga drum.
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: Play the bongo drums
In this video series Bob Saldana shows you how to play the bongo drums. Part 1 of 9 - How to Play the bongo drums.
How To: Play the doumbek African drum
In this video series, watch as percussion master Alex Spurkel teaches how to play the doumbek African drum. Learn different hits and forms for this African percussion instrument in these quick and easy step by step music lesson and get useful drumming tips to improve rhythm and form.
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 snare drums for beginners
In this series of video music lessons, expert drummer Alex Kasmirov demonstrates several tips for playing the snare drum. You’ll learn tips on choosing drum sticks, cross stick techniques, how to hit rim shots and how to build dynamics in drumming. You'll also learn tips on how to care for your snare drum and drum sticks, and how using a mirror can help improve your drumming.
How To: Make a rumble pipe sound effect machine
You can learn how to make a rumble pipe sound effect machine and you need to cut a pvc pipe to seven inches. Glue a piece of drum skin to the end of the pvc pipe and then check it out. Video is brought to you by KipKay. Make a rumble pipe sound effect machine.
How To: Play the spoons for percussion
This is what drummers do when they're without their kit at a bar or party. Play spoons, yes kitchen utensils. It's a great skill to have.
How To: Play the spoons
Play the spoons with tips from the BeeBeeBeeQueen. She shows you how to use these common household items as a musical instrument. Portable drums, yah! She's quirky and we like her use of red duct tape.
How To: Play hi-hat double strokes
Play beats like Carter Beauford and Chad Sexton by using double strokes on the hi-hat. Darren explains that there is a basis of a beat where you play 16th notes on the hi-hat. Play hi-hat double strokes.
How To: Read drum sheet music
How to read drum music regarding quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes and how they are used to notate drum beats. Read drum sheet music.
How To: Learn your favorite drum licks
Darren talks about learning your favorite drum licks using the intro to Led Zeppelin's "Rock n' Roll" as an example. Visit www.unirunner.com/asd to try the Amazing Slow Downer, software that allows you to slow down music without changing the pitch. Learn your favorite drum licks.
How To: Improve double kick consistency.
There are various ways to improve double kick drum consistency and speed. Start off using a lot of pillows to muffle the sound. Improve double kick consistency..
How To: Practice drums with Joe Morello
In this video legendary jazz drummer Joe Morello shows some practice techniques for the snare drum. Paradiddles, single stroke and double stroke technique are all addresses in this short but informative video.
How To: Learn stick twirling
Impress your friends and kill time while waiting for your band mates to tune their guitars by stick twirling. This technique uses a bit of optical illusions to make the twirl look cooler. Learn stick twirling.
How To: Play Cajun Dixieland beat
Darren Matthes explains that he uses a series of 16th notes to accomplish his Cajun or Dixieland beat. He claps it out and gives pointers on how to crash the high hat on the upbeat and
How To: Use subtle double kick drum technique.
Use double kick drum in a wide range of music styles by employing it in a subtle way. It's no longer reserved for heavy metal and thundering bass. Use subtle double kick drum technique..
How To: Play super fast triplet drum fills
Play super fast triplet drum fills using double strokes. The sticking for those alternating sticking triplets is: R(snare) L(snare) R(snare) L(rack tom) R(floor tom) L(floor tom) R(crash cymbal). Play super fast triplet drum fills.
How To: Play the drums with quarter and eighth notes
A unique how to, this video simply shows you the quarter and eighth notes and how they sound on the drums. It's actually one of the more helpful videos we've seen and if you're serious about playing the drums, this is a great way to start. Play the drums with quarter and eighth notes.
How To: Play barking Hi-Hats
Learn how to encorporate the barking Hi-Hat effect in your drumming. Drummer Darren Matthes gives an excellent breakdown for when to hit the cymbal, when to close it, and how to add this sound into a variety of beats. Play barking Hi-Hats.
How To: Do advanced drumming techniques
In this advanced drumming video series, learn tips and techniques to improve your drum playing ability tenfold. Our expert will demonstrate single and double stroke techniques, how to play quads, how to do flams and paradiddles, how to play eighth note triplets, crossovers, how to increase your speed between drums, how to play odd time signatures—and more important drum tips.
How To: Play electronic drums
In this drumming video series, learn tips and techniques on using electronic drums. Our expert will show you the basic trigger system of the v-drums, how the brain works, how to make your own kit and store it in memory, sound output options, playing electronic drums live, how to practice on v-drums, how to setup the kit, and a few other important tips for musicians new to the electronic drums.
How To: Drum creatively
Watch as professional percussionist teaches advanced drum lessons. Learn how to do various drumming techniques like: approach, rebound, rudimental breakdowns, diddles, paradiddles, flam and flam, herta, pud-a-duh, natural sticking, alternative sticking, polyrhythms, 3 over 2 with accents, and 4 over 3 with accents. Just like every piano player needs to practice his scales to improve, every drummer must practice his rudimental breakdowns in order to become better.
How To: Fix a snare drum
This is a fantastic video clip series that every drummer or wanna-be drummer should see. We all like different snare tones and the different materials each are made but sometimes the drum just might require extra work. That is where this series comes into play. Our expert will teach you how to take the drum completely apart, how to clean it and how to put it all back together better than before. Whether you are a pro musician or a beginner this is a topic any aspiring player can use and take ...