How To Play Drums - The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Rock beats with kick & snare variations
Drum fills around the kit
Jam sessions with matt
Drum & cymbal names
Sheet music / drum notation

Stick grip & technique
Increased drumming speed
Improved coordination
Hand & foot independence
Keep time & play to a metronome

Rock beats with kick & snare variations
Drum fills around the kit
Jam sessions with matt
Drum & cymbal names
Sheet music / drum notation
Stick grip & technique
Increased drumming speed
Improved coordination
Hand & foot independence
Keep time & play to a metronome

Syllabus

A Step-By Step Guide to Perfecting The Most Famous & Recognisable Drum Beat in History!

Welcome to The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course! Here you will meet your Drum Coach, Matt Crute, as he outlines the course and what you will learn, as well as getting an insight into Matt's experience as a Professional Drummer & Teacher.

You will be shown Matt's Drum Setup & also learn the names of all the different Drums.

Matt will talk you through the different cymbals used throughout this course.

See how you can best position your drum kit so that you can play with the most ease & comfort!

Develop a good, strong drumming posture right from the get go!

Learn how to correctly position your arms & hands to make your drum with ease & without tension!

Learn how to grip your drumsticks comfortably, while having an awesome hitting technique.

Learn how to keep time on the Hi-Hats & how to hit them correctly.

Learn how to correctly play your kick pedal to get the most power, while reducing fatigue.

Here you will be shown a great way of playing your cymbals so that they not only produce a better sound, but also avoid cracking.

By the end of this quick 3 minute lesson, you will know the basics of how to read sheet music for Drummers!
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Here you will learn one of the quickest & most effective stretches to relax your arms & wrists before a drum session.

Matt will show you how to play 'The Rock Beat' by breaking it down piece-by-piece. First we start with playing the Hi-Hats, then we add the Kick Drum, and lastly we add the Snare Drum to complete the beat!
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

It's time to Jam with Matt! In this Interactive Round, Matt will play The Rock Beat at 70 Beats Per Minute, then you will take over once he's finished. And Back & Forth We Go! While it's your turn to drum, Matt clicks his sticks together to keep the timing going for you, and a Visual Metronome appears on the screen so you can also SEE the timing!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

In this Final Round of Lesson 1, we Jam Back & Forth again, but this time we play at our Goal Tempo of 80 BPM!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

Time to learn some cool Bass Drum Variations! Matt will play through each line and you can play along when you're ready.
Have fun with it!
PDF Available: Please download the PDF associated with this lesson

It's time to Jam with Matt! In this Interactive Round, Matt will play the first half of each line at 70 Beats Per Minute, and you will play the second half of each line once he stops. Matt clicks his sticks together to keep the timing going for you, and a Visual Metronome appears on the screen so you can also see the timing.
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

In this final round of Lesson 2, you will be jamming back & forth with Matt at our Goal Tempo of 80 BPM!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

Matt will guide you line by line through the various snare drum variations. After a few run-throughs, you will be completely confident to jam them with Matt in Round 2 and 3!
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

It's that fun time again where you and Matt jam back & forth at 70 BPM!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

You are doing great! It's now time to jam with Matt at our Goal Tempo of 80 BPM!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF you downloaded in Round 1

Jam Session Time! You'll be playing back & forth with Matt at 70 BPM.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Now that you've jammed back & forth with Matt at 70 BPM, it's time to crank the tempo up to 80 BPM. You can do this!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF from Round 1

Here you will learn how to add a cool open Hi-Hat feel to The Rock Beat.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Now it's time to move the open Hi-Hat hit back a bit. You're going to learn how to add it just before the 2nd kick drum.
PDF: Please refer to the PDF from Round 1

In this round you will drum along with Matt and learn how to play an evenly-spaced, well-hit, Single Stroke Roll with your left & right hands.
PDF: No PDF for this round, but there are PDFs for rounds 2 and 3

Drum Along! In this round you will play along with Matt at 60 BPM.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Let's now add Kick drum hits to really drive this Single Stoke Roll home!
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson
TIP: Aim to consistently get your Bass drum kicks happening at the exact same time as your Snare hits.

Jam Session Time! Let's play the Single Stroke Roll around the entire kit, back & forth at 70 BPM.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Let's jam that again! Back & forth, but this time at our Goal Tempo of 80 BPM.
PDF: Please refer to the PDF from Round 1

Here you will learn a fun snare exercise which is a great warmup and also benefits your hand speed the faster you learn to play it.

PDF: Please download the PDF notation associated with this lesson

It's time to play along with Matt at 60 BPM.

PDF: Please download the PDF notation associated with this lesson

Jam Session time! Get ready to jam back & forth with Matt at 70 BPM!
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Let's do that again, but this time we are at our Goal Tempo of 80 BPM!
PDF: Please refer to the PDF from Round 1

Now it's time to play the Fun Snare Exercise along with Matt at 60 BPM, a total of four times through.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Here we will increase our coordination by playing the Bass drum at the same time as alternating right & left on the Snare.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson

Here we go! You'll be playing on The Ride Cymbal for this round, back & forth with me.
PDF Available: Please Download the PDF associated with this lesson
TIP: Play with the tip of your drumstick on the 'bow' of the Ride, approximately 3-4 inches in from the outer rim. (The 'bow' is the main surface of the cymbal). If you have an electronic pad as your Ride Cymbal, just hit anywhere on the flat surface. Wherever feels most comfortable and natural!

The final round of the course! You'll be playing on the Floor Tom, back & forth with me.
PDF: Please use the PDF from Round 1
TIP: Try to strike the middle of the Floor Tom consistently.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides sheet music PDFs, which can help learners visualize and understand drum notation, a fundamental skill for reading and interpreting musical scores

Features interactive jam sessions with guided tempos and visual metronome, which can help learners develop timing and coordination skills in a fun and engaging way

Teaches stick grip and technique, which are essential for developing proper drumming form and preventing injuries, ensuring a solid foundation for future progress

Offers access to a private community Facebook group, which allows learners to connect with other students and receive support, fostering a collaborative learning environment

Focuses on the rock beat, which is a foundational rhythm in popular music, providing learners with a practical and immediately applicable skill

Requires learners to download PDFs associated with lessons, which may require learners to have access to a printer or PDF annotation software

Reviews summary

Beginner drumming with matt crute

According to learners, this course is a highly effective starting point for absolute beginners wanting to learn drums. Students praise the instructor, Matt Crute, for his encouraging teaching style, clear explanations, and patient approach. The interactive jam sessions and step-by-step structure are highlighted as particularly helpful for practical application and building foundational skills like the rock beat and basic fills. Reviewers appreciate the useful PDF sheet music and visual aids. While the course is concise, it's seen as efficient, focusing on quality over quantity. The responsive support from Matt and the supportive community are also frequently mentioned positives.

Short course but packed with value.

"Although the course is short, it's very focused and doesn't waste time."

"Quality over quantity, this course gets straight to the point effectively."

"It's concise but covers the essential basics thoroughly."

"Some might find it short, but I found the length perfect for quick progress."

Excellent starting point for novices.

"As someone who had never touched drums, this course was exactly what I needed."

"Perfect for absolute beginners, it covers all the fundamentals clearly."

"I went from zero knowledge to confidently playing a basic beat very quickly."

"If you're just starting out, this course is highly recommended."

Instructor and community offer great help.

"Matt is incredibly responsive to questions, which is rare and awesome."

"Being able to email Matt directly with my struggles made a huge difference."

"The Facebook group is really positive and supportive, a great community."

"It's great having a real teacher you can contact for help."

Course structure is logical and easy.

"The course is structured perfectly, starting from the absolute basics and building up."

"Each lesson flows nicely into the next, making the progression feel natural."

"Breaking down the rock beat piece by piece was incredibly helpful."

"I appreciated the logical order of learning grip, posture, beats, then fills."

Jam sessions are a key learning feature.

"The interactive jam sessions with Matt are invaluable for timing and confidence."

"Practicing along with Matt in the videos really helped me cement the beats."

"I love the jam sessions, they make practicing much less intimidating."

"The visual metronome and stick clicks keep you perfectly in time during practice."

Instructor Matt Crute is highly praised.

"Matt is a great teacher, explains everything in a very clear and encouraging way."

"Matt's energy and teaching style make learning so fun and easy to follow."

"The instructor is very patient and breaks things down perfectly for beginners."

"Matt's enthusiasm is infectious and really motivates you to keep practicing."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How To Play Drums - The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course with these activities:

Practice Rudiments

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Improve hand speed and coordination by practicing essential drum rudiments before starting the course.

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Select a few rudiments to focus on.
Use a metronome to gradually increase speed.
Practice each rudiment for at least 10 minutes daily.

Read 'Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1'

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Build a strong foundation in drumming fundamentals by working through a beginner-friendly drum method book.

View Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1: The Most... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1'.
Work through the exercises in the book systematically.
Practice each exercise until comfortable before moving on.

Metronome Practice

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Improve timing and consistency by practicing basic beats and fills with a metronome.

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Set a metronome to a slow tempo (e.g., 60 BPM).
Play basic rock beats along with the metronome.
Gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
Incorporate simple drum fills into your practice.

Four other activities

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Explore Online Drumming Tutorials

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Supplement your learning by exploring online drumming tutorials on YouTube or other platforms.

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Search for drumming tutorials on specific topics.
Follow along with the tutorials and practice the techniques.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Record a Drum Cover

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Apply learned skills by recording a drum cover of a simple song.

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Choose a song with a simple drum beat.
Learn the drum part for the song.
Record yourself playing the drum part.
Share your recording with others for feedback.

Practice with Other Drummers

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Refine your skills and learn from others by practicing with fellow drummers.

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Find other drummers in your area or online.
Schedule regular practice sessions.
Share tips and techniques with each other.
Jam together and play different styles of music.

Read 'The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary as Applying to Music'

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Expand your drumming vocabulary and musicality by studying an advanced drumming text.

View The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary as Applying to Music'.
Study the concepts and exercises in the book.
Apply the concepts to your own playing.

Career center

Learners who complete How To Play Drums - The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who plays percussion instruments, primarily drums, in a variety of musical styles and settings. This course, with its focus on techniques like stick grip, timing, and playing to a metronome, helps build a foundation in the core skills needed to be a drummer. The course's structured approach, with lessons on rock beats, fills, and variations, allows aspiring drummers to develop their skills gradually, starting with the most fundamental concepts. The interactive jam sessions included in the course help build confidence and playing experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Drummer

Percussionist

A percussionist is a musician who plays a variety of percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, and other rhythmic instruments, in a range of musical genres. This course, which covers fundamental drum techniques such as stick grip and posture, as well as rhythmic concepts like playing to a metronome, helps hone the foundational skills useful for a percussionist. This course also covers beats, fills, and variations, thus, it can be a stepping stone to a career as a percussionist.

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Band Member

A band member contributes to the overall sound and performance of a band, typically specializing in a particular instrument like drums. This course may be useful to those who wish to join a band as a drummer, as it teaches core concepts like stick grip, posture, and basic rhythms. The course has lessons on rock beats and variations and will help players develop a sense of rhythm and timing. The course's jam sessions also build confidence and playing experience.

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Music Teacher

A music teacher instructs students in musical skills and theory, often specializing in a particular instrument such as drums. This course may be useful for aspiring music teachers, especially those focusing on drums, as it provides a structured approach to teaching fundamental concepts like stick grip, posture, and basic rhythms. The course offers interactive activities and lesson plans, such as jam sessions and tempo-guided exercises, which could translate well into a lesson plan. The course also provides sheet music, which will help music teachers.

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Session Musician

A session musician is a skilled instrumentalist who is hired to perform on recordings or live performances, often on a freelance basis. A session musician must be proficient with their instrument, and a course that focuses on stick grip, hand and foot independence, improved coordination, and keeping time may be useful. The jam sessions will help them rehearse for performances. The sheet music included in the course will also be very useful to a session musician.

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Music Producer

A music producer oversees the recording process of a song or album, including arrangement, mixing, and mastering. While not directly a drumming role, a music producer who understands the nuances of drumming, as taught in this course, may offer valuable contributions to artists. The course focuses on stick grip, timing, and playing to a metronome, which is particularly helpful for recording drum tracks. They can also ensure the drummer's performance is high-quality. The sheet music will be useful if the producer is creating tracks.

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Content Creator

A content creator produces various types of media, which may include music-related videos. This course may be useful to a content creator who wants to create videos about drums or drumming. The course teaches basic drumming techniques, which may provide a good background for a content creator. The jam sessions may also provide inspiration for a content creator.

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Sound Engineer

A sound engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of recording, mixing, and mastering music. While they don't play instruments, a sound engineer with a solid understanding of how drums work may produce high-quality recordings. This course may be helpful as it gives a user an understanding of the technical aspects of drumming, like techniques, beat, and timing. The course's jam sessions provide examples of how drums are used in a musical setting.

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Drum Technician

A drum technician is a skilled professional who manages and maintains drum equipment for musicians, often specializing in setups, tuning, and repairs. This role requires an intimate understanding of drums and their components, and this course introduces drum and cymbal names, as well as drum setup. This course's focus on stick grip and techniques will help a drum technician who would benefit from a deeper understanding of how drums are played. The course may be helpful to a technician who wants to ensure the drums are set up well for drummers.

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Audio Technician

An audio technician works with sound equipment in various settings, including live performances and recording studios. While not a drumming role, an audio technician who takes this course may benefit from the increased insight into drumming techniques and how drums work in a musical setting. The course offers lessons on stick grip, posture, and basic rhythms, which an audio technician may find valuable when working with drummers. They may also be able to optimize their recordings accordingly. The jam sessions in this course may also give a technician a sense of how the drums should sound in a live setting.

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Live Sound Mixer

A live sound mixer is responsible for adjusting audio levels during live performances, to ensure the best possible sound quality for the audience. While this career does not require the ability to play drums, they must understand the instrument in order to produce good sound. The course's focus on drum and cymbal names, stick grip, and playing in time will assist someone in this role. By taking this course, a live sound mixer will get a better idea of how timing and tempo work, which will elevate their mixes.

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A DJ plays recorded music for an audience, often incorporating their own mixing and effects. While not a drumming role, understanding rhythm and tempo is beneficial to a DJ and this course provides a great way to do that. This course introduces skills like playing to a metronome and sticking to a beat, which are transferrable to the work of a DJ. Gaining experience with keeping time may improve a DJ's sets, which may make this course beneficial for them.

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Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. While not a primary role for a drummer per se, this course may be helpful for a music therapist who wants to expand their repertoire. The interactive components of the course and the focus on rhythm, tempo, and coordination, may be useful in designing therapy sessions as drums can serve as a tool for emotional expression and self-discovery. The course provides a foundation in drumming that a therapist can apply in their work.

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Film Score Composer

A film score composer creates original music for films, television, and other media. While not directly a drumming job, being skilled in various percussive instruments, like drums, may enhance a film score composer's versatility. The lessons on beats, fills, and variations in this course may be useful for someone trying to incorporate drums into their scores. The course also introduces the different drum components, which will be helpful in working with the tracks.

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Music Journalist

A music journalist writes about music for various publications. Although this career does not require the ability to play drums, a music journalist will benefit from learning about rhythm, timing, and drum techniques. The course provides a good foundational knowledge, which is something a music journalist can use to write accurate and informed articles and reviews. The course provides a good basic understanding that is useful for a music journalist.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How To Play Drums - The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course.

Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1

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Comprehensive introduction to drumming, covering basic techniques, notation, and rhythms. It provides a solid foundation for beginners and complements the course material. It is commonly used as a textbook for beginner drum students. This book adds more depth to the existing course by providing a structured learning path.

Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1: The Most...

Kindle Edition

The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary as Taught by Alan...

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More advanced text that focuses on expanding a drummer's vocabulary and musicality. It is useful for students who want to go beyond the basics and explore more complex rhythms and fills. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. It adds breadth to the existing course by providing a deeper understanding of drumming concepts.

The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan...

Paperback

How To Play Drums - The Ultimate Beginners Drum Course

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Beginner drumming with matt crute

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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