Any drummers around here?

First of all, I'm sorry if this is not quite the right forum to post this.

Anyway, any drummers around here? I've been meaning to buy a drum kit and start learning drums for years. I figured I am getting too old to delay it any longer so I thought, what the hell, and bought one a couple of weeks ago. Since I live in the UK, where houses are usually really close to each other, I had to go for and an electronic kit, in that way I can keep a good relationship with my neighboors and still manage to keep my wife.

This is the kit that I've bought:

http://www.drumwright.co.uk/media/content/td4kx.jpg

So far I am struggling a little because I have never played before so I would like to get ANY kind of information/tips on the best ways to start playing. Taking private classes is not an option at the moment since that's quite expensive from what I could gather so far. I have been watching some videos on freedrumlessons.com which is a pretty cool site imo but still I think I am missing something.

Anyone?

James B. and Phoenix Reign Drummer are both drummers and they're around here somewhere... I'm sure they can help you out.

Hit youtube. There are many tutorials available for free. And practice, practice, practice. Though I am playing guitar much more than drums these days I still have the V-Drums up and I play them a couple of times a week.

What John (bigjtink) said is sound advice. YouTube is a valuable tool for lessons and insight. Shortcuts are alright, but NOTHING beats practice. No matter the skill level, I stress the importance of playing with other musicians. Once that is experienced, you'll understand. Also, whenever possible...play real drums. The feel and responses differ from electronic kits.

John is a Saint or whas that just Stevie?

Quote :

Also, whenever possible...play real drums. The feel and responses differ from electronic kits.

I agree, though I have found by using tiny sticks (7A) on the V-Drums it feels much better but I play with 2B's live on the acoustic tubs.

I self taught myself. I started off with easy an band like Ac/Dc. Basically all their drums are kick, snare, kick, snare, kick kick, snare patters and it gets you the feel then from there I tried getting more into doing fills. Back then I was just getting into Metallica so I would listen to a lot of their stuff especially the black album. Thats one of the simpler albums of theirs drum wise. That helped me get used to playing different patters and fills. From that I moved onto much faster stuff like Helloween and Maiden. Helloween for the double pedal stuff and Maiden for cymbal tricks and again more drum fills. You can hear a lot of Tom Tom work with maidens older stuff. My style is a mix between Helloween, Maiden and Metallica and you can hear it too atleast I think so. Also too when I started out I didn't have a drum set I had sticks and used to pretend my bed was my drums. Later on in school I took a few lessons to be in the school band but I basically learned how to hold the sticks and dropped the class haha. I wanted to play drums not practice on a pad. I could do that home haha. I was young what did I know haha.

Like others have said too check out you tube I'm sure theres tons of videos. I think though Ac/Dc is the best way to go cause you can hear their drums clearly on all the albums and tell which part of the kit is being played. Have fun!

I started out on the kit but my parents thought it was too loud so they bought me a guitar. I was asked to join many bands as a drummer but I was too serious with my guitar playing. I still play to this day but the drums bore me actually. I have more of a Dan Richardson type style with lots of jazz type work as well. I used to practice about 5 housr a day on the kit for about 6 months until my parents said TOO LOUD...

Practice a lot and take baby steps. I am one to practice a certain thing to I perfect it then I go to the next level. Dont start out too complicated, start out simple and ease your way..

Like the other guys above,I taught myself how to play.I just started playing along to songs and practicing all the time.Nothing beats practice.Just take things slow and soon you'll be surprised at how far you've come.Good Luck man.

Something that worked for me was using headphones while playing along to music. Those old giant ear muff headphones from the 70's were great to use while listening to vinyl. It helped to isolate the drums from everything else as well as trained your ears to focus on other sounds besides your kit. When you start playing with other musicians, that lil knack will come in handy. I do not know if you can listen to both music and what your playing with an electronic kit, simultaneously through the same headphones I hope you don't get bored man

Also something I used to do when I was a kid, I would go see as many live bands as possible and try to cop something the drummer was doing. If I saw something cool I would go home and work on it till I had it down.