Technique

Beginner

Key grip

If you've always wanted to play faster, or for the sticks to feel lighter in your hands, learning to hold the sticks properly makes a massive difference! Even if you've been playing for years already, there's still things you can learn from this video about rebound strokes, doubles, and rolls.

A good speed exercise

This is a fantastic exercise to do even when you're not near a drum kit, and it'll help you play faster singles.

Know your rudiments

Learning rudiments = better technique + improved solo and fill ideas! This place will take you though most of them.

Open handed playing

Simon Phillips drum lesson: open-handed playing – the ability to be able to play the Hi-Hat with either your left hand or right and can open up option on playing around the drumkit. This is good for left handed or right handed players.

Paradiddles

What Is a Paradiddle On Drums? This for beginners, but can also help remind you who have been playing for a while if you've forgotten!

A Fresh Approach to Snare Drum: Intro / Rebound Strokes

Snare drum technique - This is a essential lesson that will teach you how to use the rebound stroke correctly.

A Fresh Approach to Snare Drum: Lesson 1 (B): Single Stroke Roll

Snare drum technique - This lesson covers learning the single stroke roll, an essential rudimental for expressing yourself on the drum kit.

A Fresh Approach to Snare Drum: Lesson 1 (C): Double Stroke Roll

Snare drum technique - Another essential rudiment that will help you develop your flexibility moving around the drum kit.

A Fresh Approach to Snare Drum: Lesson 4 (D): Single Paradiddle

Snare drum technique - The single paradiddle teaches you to mix single and double strokes. It is brilliant for helping you move around the drum kit for grooves and fills.

Intermediate

Rebound strokes

Figuring out how to get your wrist muscles and finger muscles working together is the key to playing double strokes really well. This video is great for figuring out how to do that.

Moeller stroke

The moeller stroke is really useful for playing accents and rolls, and this is a really good step-by-step process to help you master that. Be warned - it might take a while to get the hang of! But it's worth it.

Heels & toes

If you want to be able to play a double kick pattern, mastering the heel/toe technique is a must. Here's an exercise to help you do that.

More rudiments!

Learning rudiments will give you better technique, plus it will give you more options for solo and fill ideas! This playlist will take you though most of them.

Eric Moore's bass drum exercise

This exercise uses a pattern you will probably need to play in a song at some point.

Finger Technique

Thomas Pridgen – Finger Technique on the snare and around the drumkit

Hi-Hat Techniques

Jazz Hi Hat Cymbal Sounds, pedal techniques, and how to use these in some 4/4 and 2 Beat Grooves

Emmanuelle Caplette: Linear Fills

Combine this with the practice pad routine above and you will see your playing become more consistent, controlled and powerful.

Emmanuelle Caplette: Warmup - Full Stroke On Practice Pad

Warmups should become part of your daily practice routine, this will help you develop more power and control around the drum kit.

Advanced

Independence Exercises

House / Techno Drumming Independence Exercises by The Hybrid Drummers

Importance of dynamics

When to be loud and when to be quiet in a song, and how.

Rudimental Ritual - notation

This is the best challenge for if you want to get to know your rudiments. NOTE: You'll have to click through to watch this video on Youtube.


Rudimental ritual - examples

Here's a good example of someone playing the rudimental ritual.
Accents 2020 BMS version.pdf

Accents

These are some good exercises for developing full strokes, taps, upstrokes and downstrokes.
Stick control BMS version.pdf

Stick control

These exercises are great for developing coordination. Try them between your L & R hands, and then try between hands and feet.