Thanks Glenn/John. I will read your response moer closely but for now I have to scramble to get to a funeral visitation. Thanks so much!

Jeff C

Thanks again everyone!

John, I watched the video and wow! he is so fast. I have read before about the fulcrum point of the stick. I can see how he was using his pinky and ring finger to bounce the stick back. I’m here trying to do that and finding it very uncomfortable, but I will work on it. I do a ton of hand sanding on my cabinets and I use different size pieces of paper and blocks for different applications, I think my fingers are stuck in those positions, lol.

I did order the Tommy Igoe video, cant wait to get it.

Glenn, the paradiddle is one of the first things I learned and I have been doing just what you are suggesting. I watched a great Mike Johnston video on using the paradiddle around the kit. Sorry to hear about your carpel tunnelram, I don’t have that problem but sometimes after running the random orbit sander for a while my wrist will buzz while playing and it’s very uncomfortable. And by the way, I still need to send the wraps to you. Sorry for the delay, I have the "can you have this done before Christmas" effect going on here, but I will get it to you.

Thanks again everyone, I hope many others will benefit from this thread. There have been times when I have felt like I don’t belong here due to the fact I’m just a cabinet maker banging on drums like Animal from the Muppets interfering with all of you professional drummers. But you guys keep answering my questions and offering your help whenever it’s needed. So thank you for taking the time, it’s very much appreciated, hard to put into words.

Jeff C

Jeff,

First of all, I bet most of the guys on this forum (including myself) only consider drumming a hobby and are not full time players, at least not anymore. Secondly, this forum is centered around vintage drums and their acquisition, information and restoration. It is not necessarily a performance oriented site. Most of us simply love drums. To that end, your restoration and finishing skills have been marvelous to watch. I, for one am a huge fan of what you do. Your are truly an asset here! The nice thing about developing a skill is you can always improve. Music should be fun. Enjoy it my friend.

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php

Here are some rudiments!

I have an unorthodox technique that I used to use with students who had a hard time "unlocking" their fingers. While holding your forearms straight up, hold a stick in each hand right below the tip. The butt of the stick should be hanging just above your elbow. Now start playing any exercises that include double strokes such as a double stroke roll (RRLLRRLL), inverted double stroke (RLLRRLL...), paradiddles (RLRRLRLL) etc. You will quickly figure out that moving your wrist to propel the stick is extremely awkward and the only way to do this in a fluid fashion is with your fingers. When I did this with students that could not get into finger control it was like a light bulb going off. Then they could start applying it to their conventional technique.

Snaremania, thanks man, great site!

Scott, thanks for the tip. Not sure if I get it yet but I will figure it out.

I know this site is intended for restoring and collecting vintage drums but this general drum question section seem to be the ask anything section. I mean gee how many ebay topics have been discused here. I think this thread will be benificial to many others who come across it. Lets face it, if we cant play these beautiful drums properly then why have them? LOL!

Thanks guys!

What's the problem with "banging on the drums like Animal"? Watching him as a kid made me want to play drums.

All the advice so far has been great but sometimes taking a break is the best thing to do when you get stuck and it becomes frustrating. Sometimes it just takes a few minutes other times it will be a week or two but when I come back to it the impediment isn't as big if it is there at all.

tom

hi jeff, i'm kinda new round here and not a drummer (but love to play them) and i'm a "girl" lol so not real sure how my oppinion stands up...but

here it is. this is what i do.

i want to be a drummer too but not for getting into a band and giggin' every weekend. i don't know anything about the lrlrlrlrllrrrrlll or is it rlrlrllrrlllr or reading music, and at my age am not interested in going that deep with "learning the drums". i just like to have fun with them and what has helped me alot is getting some of my favorite music, throwing it in the cd player and sittng down at my drums and playing along to the cds. i do this for bout an hour every day. i'm getting pretty good, i actually surprize myself at times. by just doing this i have actually picked up how to do different beats and rolls and stuff. for me it is alot of fun and has helped me to relax a lit'l better, now i'm not so tinst when my brother says play some music with me sissy. he plays the guitar and i keep the beat for him lol.

anyway, don't give up, hang in there, if i can do it you can. have fun with them drums.

so there's my thoughts. flower

Jeff I am like yourself. New to playing, love playing, and working on drums, and have days where I think I am going backwards. This thread has been helpful to me as well. Lots of good tips. Keep doing it for the love of doing it brother!

It's the Journey, not the Destination.

My Bud Vintagemore2000 gets his "exercise in tolerance" every time he watches me play.... I do everything wrong, and it's reflected on his face, but we are still Budzzz !!

I'll never arrive at the BR level, but I'm havin' a blast along the way......