If you want to learn the drums but have yet to buy an electronic or acoustic drum set, you may be asking:
Learning to play the drums is a genuinely brilliant hobby people enjoy worldwide. With significant advances in electronic drums and sound reduction devices, they no longer have to be banished from the household or the scorn of the next-door neighbor.
Buying drums is a commitment in both money and space, and many aspiring drummers want to test the water before investing. Similarly, parents often want to see some commitment to the instrument before purchasing it for their child.
On the other hand, there are plenty of wannabe tub thumpers that, for many reasons, can't stretch to the real thing at this time but still want to learn.
Is it possible to learn the drums without a drum set in these situations? Is it still fun? Can you learn an instrument if you don't own one? Are there any alternatives worth considering?
Here are five frequently asked questions.
Yes! From the age of eight, I wanted to play the drums. Buying a drum set was not an option at the time for my family, but that didn't stop me from listening and learning.
The early days of learning the drums are about understanding rhythm and building coordination. These are as much mental exercises as they are physical, as we are building the counting skills and muscle memory necessary to play basic drum beats. It's a fun process and challenging one.
If you have a pair of drum sticks, you can air-drum every exercise on Drum Ambition. Air drumming means that you are effectively playing an imaginary drum set. The concept may sound odd, but it works.
Don't take my word for it though. Check out our course preview and air drum along. You'll soon see if it's a good fit for you
These are rubber pads that are typically fixed to a wood base. Practice pads are used to build technique and will act as the snare drum on your otherwise imaginary drum set.
Practice pads can vary in size from 6 inches to 14 inches in diameter. We recommend the larger types as they will sit in a snare drum stand, a separate purchase. While pads range from around $15-$50, snare drum stands can cost more. You only need to purchase the least expensive snare drum stand, as it just needs to hold a lightweight pad, not a drum.
Beware of the pads that come with accompanying stands. These often attach directly to the pad's base, sit too high, and are not as adjustable as a snare drum stand. If you are interested in starting on a practice pad, check out our free eBook below, where we dive a little deeper.
As we have shown, learning drums and developing early playing skills is possible without owning a drum set.
The inescapable reality is that it's a lot more fun to have drums to practice. Air drumming is great but does not make sound and will most likely only satisfy your requirements for a few months. Long enough, though, to help you decide if you are ready to take your drumming experience to the next level!
An actual drum set is more inspiring, and you will find yourself practicing more, thus developing more quickly. If you are putting off a drum set purchase on noise objections, you should check out our sound control and electronic drums features in our free eBook.
Some music stores offer a rental option, and it's always best to check their terms and prices. Unless the monthly rate is under $30, this is not the best value when you consider that you could buy a complete basic starter drum set package from around $350 upwards. The emphasis here is on the word basic but functional and better than not having a set at all.
You will find many of the articles in our free eBook useful. We have published numerous articles on everything from buying your first drum set, the differences between electronic and acoustic drums, to which sticks are best for beginners.
We recommend visiting your local music retailer, preferably a specialist drum store. They can help you find out what's right for you. If that's not an option, there are plenty of great places to buy online, as discussed in our free eBook.
“I have never encountered a drumming course this complete. It has everything you need to start your life-changing journey.”
“I feel more confident as a drummer after one month of Drum Ambition than I did after 4+ months of alternatives.”
“I am loving this beyond words. I am a 55 year old physician. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t think about playing the drums.”
