DrummerGuys: How hard is it to learn to play? (1 Viewer)

[glvsav37]

I'm kind of hitting that stage in life (late 40's) where I want to start doing things that I always wanted to do but never did. One of those is learning to play the drums. 

How hard is it to learn? I'd look to get lessons and such. But overall whats the basic timeline to be somewhat proficient? Learning curve? I'm not looking to join a band or anything, just enjoy hitting things and make it sound better then a car wreck. 

Overall, I've always been in love with the sound, I love the power behind it and I love the gear and setups (for some reason, all my hobbies seem to have a lot of "gear" around them). 

For context, some of my musical influences are bands like Rush, Dream Theater, Tool...all bands with strong drumming personalities.

 

[glvsav37]

BTW "Count Me In" is a really good drumming doc on Netflix right now. 

 

[jb1020]

I'd love to know this too.  2 guys in the neighborhood play guitar and my neighbor has a pretty sweet band room.  He's got some drums set up just waiting for a drummer.  No one wants to take that seat.  I've been thinking about it for 2 years.  

I've put serious effort into learning guitar two times in my life and I just can't get it.  

 

[ChiefD]

If you have any kind of rhythm you can play drums.

Take a video of yourself dancing and post it here and we will let you know if you are qualified. 

 

[bigbottom]

I think you can become passable in a relatively short time period. It then takes an eternity to become good. Seriously though, I have a buddy around the same age with similar influences who just started taking drum lessons and he is absolutely loving it. 

 

[Brony]

I did this exact thing in my 40s.  I played Rock Band on the PS3 and then bought the cheapest set I could find on Craigslist.   Never took any lessons (and it probably shows), but I can ably play along with many songs on my Spotify list.  I still suck, but I am "drumming". 

Edit: my advice: just ####ing do it.   You're not getting any younger. 

 

[El Floppo]

14 yo floppinho is a drummer/percussionist. But he was drumming before he could walk... just always had natural rhythm and pattern recognition, and is also ambidextrous. I'm a linear thinker/doer- moving both my hands and feet at the same time seems impossible to me. I played piano and keyboards pretty well as a kid- couldn't ever even talk and play at the same time.

But I would think with Youtube, you'd be able to get up and running pdq. One thing all my random pro drummer friends have advised- get a pad and practice the hell out out of it to build your rhythm with both hands.