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Wasn't really sure where to put this, but

So my college has this jam room with a couple amps and beat to hell guitars and a drum set. There are like 2 bands on campus, so hardly anyone ever uses it. Part of the reason that there are no bands here is that we have no drummers; I know at least a dozen people who play guitar or bass (and like five hundred who play classical instruments, 'cause this is nerd school), and maaaybe 3 people here who can pull off drums, two of whom learned everything they know from playing Rock Band. I figure I can go down there a couple nights a week after doing sets and maybe become halfway competent at drumming.

I kind of know nothing about drums, though, or how to go about starting to play. Any particularly helpful resources out there on the interwobs? I mean, I can go to Google and ask it how to play drums, but... lots of spammy sites and such. It would probably be better to have lessons, but lessons cost money, and I have free access to a drum kit, and I generally like learning on my own. Somehow I think just sitting down at a drum set and trying to figure out how to drum will be a little more difficult than sitting down with a bass and figuring out songs, though. Or maybe I'm over-thinking it and I should just start hitting things.

rudiments and technique and doing that thing where you pat your head and circle formations with your other hand on your gut
then switching real fast

From my experience the most important thing is to start slow! Get some nice sticks you feel comfortable with (just try to grip different sizes in the store). Next up- single strokes and simple rudiments (paradiddle, single stroke rolls, open rolls, double strokes, closed rolls, ... ) first only on the snaredrum (for more rebound and better control over your stick I would suggest not hitting the snare in the center. A little closer to the rim gives you more control). I would recommend using a metronome and start with a slow speed. just single strokes... R-L-R-L. And then increase the tempo. Start doing paradiddles (RLRR-LRLL) and double paradiddles (RLRLRR-LRLRLL) open rolls (just drop the stick on the head and let it jump on it's own)... It's very important to use the rebound of the drum. The drumhead is like a trampoline for your drumstick. don't force it.. just let it jump. Then you can try double strokes (RR-LL-RR-LL) and so on.
If you feel comfortable with the basic shit- expand! Don't get stuck on your snaredrum. Move stuff around the set (double paradiddle with toms, kickdrum, hihat, cymbals.....) and get your foot technique settled.
And the most important thing- DO STUFF YOU LIKE!! Don't force yourself to practice the perfect drum roll... just have fun!

First things first, you have to learn to act like a drummer.
If you say you are going to be there to practice at 8pm don't show up until at least 9:30pm.
When you do show up do so with only 1 stick and a story of how the other one ended up lost in your girlfriends car.
It doesn't matter if anyone is there to know you were late, hear your story or be let down.
The important thing is you'll be prepared for it when they are.

my brother started on drums out of rock band but he is actually really good now. he even mostly plays jazz now. shit's weird man. he tried to teach me drums but i still suck. here's his advice: just start playing drums. simultaneously the best and worst musical advice anyone has ever given me.

basically all the general rules for practicing (go slow, don't go on to the next thing until it's perfect, keep doing the same shit even if you're bored, record yourself and play it back, etc) apply like 10x to drums because if you fuck up everyone fucks up.

i liked playing rap on drums a lot because it's really hard at first to hit the bass drum and like anything else. also i just like rap a lot.

MEC wrote:First things first, you have to learn to act like a drummer.
If you say you are going to be there to practice at 8pm don't show up until at least 9:30pm.
When you do show up do so with only 1 stick and a story of how the other one ended up lost in your girlfriends car.
It doesn't matter if anyone is there to know you were late, hear your story or be let down.
The important thing is you'll be prepared for it when they are.

show up late when practice is at your house because you don't want to move your set

or when someone brings your set because you refuse to drive your parent's van and want to take you little two door instead, then show up without sticks, the only thing you had to bring with you...

Have a recording or someone to jam with. In my latest project we've been switching instruments during our set. I learned drums just by jamming with my band mates on guitar/bass so it was pretty sporadic and not really technique based but I find I learn/figure out new things every time I'm at practice. Probably not the best way to start, but once you think you're good enough to jam with someone do it, as with any other instrument that helps a lot. And like someone said above, start slow. I think playing along with my friends slow poppy love song helped me out a lot in figuring out leg/arm coordination.

Thanks for the advice y'allz! Reading up on rudiments and such now, then I'll have to figure out why my ID card will no longer swipe me in to the jam room.

the_carl wrote: I'll have to figure out why my ID card will no longer swipe me in to the jam room.

I see you've already found an excuse not to practice.
You're really getting the hang of this drummer thing.

MEC wrote:

the_carl wrote: I'll have to figure out why my ID card will no longer swipe me in to the jam room.

I see you've already found an excuse not to practice.
You're really getting the hang of this drummer thing.

I bring only the highest levels of dedication to all my endeavors. And the card office is only open on weekdays, during really weird hours, so I probably won't be able to sort things out and get started until Tuesday or Wednesday. Damn, I really am good at this!

the_carl wrote:

MEC wrote:

the_carl wrote: I'll have to figure out why my ID card will no longer swipe me in to the jam room.

I see you've already found an excuse not to practice.
You're really getting the hang of this drummer thing.

I bring only the highest levels of dedication to all my endeavors. And the card office is only open on weekdays, during really weird hours, so I probably won't be able to sort things out and get started until Tuesday or Wednesday. Damn, I really am good at this!

Kid, you're gonna be a star.

Tabbed out the first drum pattern I learned for you with some variations and a fill. Super simple.

http://justinfreyvogel.com/DrumPattern.gp5

Also, this guy has good drum lessons on youtube.

This is the first one. Go through them in order.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wsLZO_wEqg

Remember, you're going to want to speed up, but slow is king.

when i had drums to play, my loop station helped me a lot. i'd play guitar or bass and make a loop i liked and then just practice on drums for hours.

when i first started, it took tons of practice just to get a hang of playing the basic quarters-on-the-hi-hat, alternate-kick-and-snare beat. once you get that, and you start learning independence with each of your limbs, it gets way more fun.

Fuzzy Picklez wrote:

the_carl wrote:

MEC wrote:

the_carl wrote: I'll have to figure out why my ID card will no longer swipe me in to the jam room.

I see you've already found an excuse not to practice.
You're really getting the hang of this drummer thing.

I bring only the highest levels of dedication to all my endeavors. And the card office is only open on weekdays, during really weird hours, so I probably won't be able to sort things out and get started until Tuesday or Wednesday. Damn, I really am good at this!

Kid, you're gonna be a star.

But seriously, I wish I had a set to practice on. I can at least fiddle my way around on nearly every normal band instrument, until I get behind a drum set. I can't get the whole "hand hand foot" thing down.

Be one of the cool stand up drummers; instant indie cred and you don't have to worry about that whole, "hand foot coordination," thing.