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Drumming

as a hobby

AKA: Percussion
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Drumming is a dynamic and engaging hobby that can bring joy and rhythm to your life. It’s not only a great way to express yourself creatively, but it also has numerous health benefits such as improving coordination, reducing stress, and boosting brain power. To get started, all you need is a pair of drumsticks (or kitchen utensils), a practice pad (or a pillow), and a passion for rhythm.

Helpful content to get started

We curated content to familiarize you with drumming as a hobby and to inspire and help you get started.

We strive for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always use your judgment.

Refer to the listed resources for further research.

Short visual inspiration.

The Godmother Of Drumming Plays “Down With The Sickness”
YouTube | The Godmother Of Drumming Plays “Down With The Sickness”
How Fast Can Non-Drummers Learn A Beat? ($20 Challenge)
YouTube | How Fast Can Non-Drummers Learn A Beat? ($20 Challenge)
How To Play Drums - Your Very First Drum Lesson
YouTube | How To Play Drums – Your Very First Drum Lesson
Beginner Drum Lessons
YouTube Playlist | Beginner Drum Lessons
More videos

Play an episode while exploring the page.

Spotify Embed: If I were starting as a beginner drummer today, I would...
Spotify | If I were starting as a beginner drummer today, I would…
Spotify Embed: The Modern Drummer Podcast
Spotify | The Modern Drummer Podcast
Spotify Embed: Drumeo Gab Podcast
Spotify | Drumeo Gab Podcast
More podcasts


Basic lingo for orientation.

  • Beat: The basic rhythmic pattern of a song or a measure. It is usually played by the bass drum and the snare drum.
  • Fill: A short musical phrase that breaks up the beat and adds variety or excitement. It is usually played by the toms and the cymbals.
  • Groove: The overall feel or style of a drum part. It is influenced by the tempo, dynamics, accents, and syncopation of the beat and the fill.
  • Rudiment: A fundamental drumming technique that consists of a combination of strokes, such as single, double, or triple. There are 40 official rudiments that every drummer should learn and practice.
  • Stickings: The specific sequence of left and right hand strokes used to play a drum pattern or rudiment.
  • Ghost Note: A note that is played very softly, often on the snare drum, to add texture and complexity to the groove.
  • Flam: A rudiment that consists of two notes played almost simultaneously, with one hand playing slightly before the other.
  • Paradiddle: A rudiment that consists of a four-note pattern of single and double strokes (RLRR or LRLL).
  • Rimshot: A technique where the drumstick hits the drumhead and the rim at the same time, producing a loud, sharp sound.
  • Swing: A style of drumming where the eighth notes are played with a long-short pattern, giving the music a swinging feel.
  • Tempo: The speed of the music, usually measured in beats per minute (BPM).
  • Time Signature: The number of beats in each measure and the type of note that gets one beat, usually written as a fraction (e.g., 4/4, 3/4, 6/8).

More terms: 100+ Drum Terms: A Beginner’s List – Drumeo Beat

Term Videos

How to break the ice and make a start.

  • You can find an in-person trial drum lesson near you.
  • If this is not possible, or you prefer to start on your own, you can:

💡 Tip: If you have a video game console, consider playing rhythm games.

First Steps Videos

Get read-y.

Step-by-step tutorials.

How-To Videos

Practicing On A Pillow - Drum Lesson
YouTube | Practicing On A Pillow – Drum Lesson
Drumming Warm-Up (Beginner) - Drum Lesson
YouTube | Drumming Warm-Up (Beginner) – Drum Lesson
More how-to videos

Essentials to have.

Product Demos

Can You Play Drums WITHOUT Drums? TRUTH About Aeroband PocketDrum 2 Plus | Review
YouTube | Can You Play Drums WITHOUT Drums? TRUTH About Aeroband PocketDrum 2 Plus | Review
Vimeo | Drumeo-Quiet-Pad-Demo
Everything You Need To Start Playing The Drums
YouTube | Everything You Need To Start Playing The Drums
More product demos


Further reading.

Video Articles

More video articles

Go-tos for information.

Website Previews

Drums Game: Play the Free Virtual Drum Set [Mobile Drumming]
YouTube | Drums Game: Play the Free Virtual Drum Set [Mobile Drumming]
Michael Jackson - Beat It (Virtual Drum Cover)
YouTube | Michael Jackson – Beat It (Virtual Drum Cover)
More website previews

Nothing like a film for inspiration.

Movie Trailers

Whiplash | Official Trailer HD (2014)
YouTube | Whiplash | Official Trailer HD (2014)
I Used to be Famous | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube | I Used to be Famous | Official Trailer | Netflix
More movie trailers

Get a clue.

Can I start learning drumming without a drum kit?

Yes. You can practice on a pillow or a practice pad. Practice pads continue to be useful even after moving to a drum set.

Another option is air drumsticks, which mimic an actual drum set. They require no space and make no noise.

How quiet are electronic drum sets?

Electronic drum sets are quieter than acoustic drum sets, but they are not silent. Some are quieter than others and should be quiet enough not to interrupt the neighbors.

If you need to be even quieter, consider air drumsticks.

How can I practice drumming without interrupting the neighbors?

You can use a pillow, a quiet practice pad, air drumsticks, or a quiet electronic drum set. You can also use silicone tips to mute your drumsticks.

If you have a video game console, rhythm games are a great way to experiment with drumming while controlling the noise.

How expensive is a drum set?

You can get a decent beginner drum set for around $300.

FAQ Videos

More FAQ videos

Smart start.

App Trailers

More app trailers

Get smart.

Video Courses and Trailers

Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion | Official Trailer | MasterClass
YouTube | Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion | Official Trailer | MasterClass
The Beginner Drummer's Masterclass
YouTube | The Beginner Drummer’s Masterclass


Get together.

Related Videos

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Additional advice for beginners.

  • If you have a video game console, consider playing rhythm games.
  • Some public libraries have practice electronic drum kits.

Video Tips

Do Video Games Make You A Better Drummer? (Rock Band, Beat Saber, and more)
YouTube | Do Video Games Make You A Better Drummer? (Rock Band, Beat Saber, and more)

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