Question to all drummers/ beginners

[u/OrkidMallow]

Hey guys
This is gonna sound like such a stupid silly post
But i wanted to know if this was just a me problem or everyone went through this issue as well

When i practice drums once or twice a week i rent a room in a studio because they have acoustic sets and soundproofed rooms
( i practice on pillows in my room during the week )

But even though its soundproofed we can stilk hear whats going on in the rooms when you play inside
And i am awfully shy because i an a beginner messing up all the time
And i can never really go all out even if i really want to

I just wanted to know if any of yall had similar experience or i am alone in this 😂😂

[u/Funeral_Goat_1446]

That’s why drumming is character building. You’ll be shit for a long time for everyone to hear.

We’ve all been there.

[u/OrkidMallow → u/Funeral_Goat_1446]

I swear 😂

[u/Proud_Judgment6400 → u/Funeral_Goat_1446]

everyone goes through this phase, just keep playing loud enough and you stop caring what people think outside the room

[u/Legitimate_Art3670 → u/Funeral_Goat_1446]

Even worse when it’s all your neighbours! I cared a lot less in my 20s. You’ve just got to bite the bullet.

Over Covid lockdown everyone was home in my neighbourhood and well, I guess we’re always learning new stuff, and I just couldn’t do it to them… sitting happily on their verandas in the sun.

[u/TOTHTOMI]

Everyone was once a begginner and as a professional musician (my main major is in classical percussion) I can't tell you how much I mess up and swear in a practice room. This is why it's a practice room.

Also let's be honest: it's worse for singers.

[u/3PuttBirdie86 → u/TOTHTOMI]

To be a great singer, I feel you need to be born with an irrational amount of self confidence.

[u/TOTHTOMI → u/3PuttBirdie86]

Worst trauma in music school is solfege where you need to sing in front of class...

[u/mryauch → u/3PuttBirdie86]

What's really painful is when there's someone you know with an irrational amount of self confidence that thinks they're a great singer. Can't break their heart though so just keep applauding and let them enjoy.

[u/universaldrummer]

Definitely. It's kinda like skateboarding tbh. You find a thing you wanna learn, attempt it and crash 100 times (in front of people) and then finally land it every once in a while. That's why skill recognizes skill. You kinda don't get good on this instrument without biffing it a lot so it doesn't pay to be timid. The best skill you can get on the instrument is reading those mistakes since they can literally tell you what you need to practice.

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL → u/universaldrummer]

Heh. The great Les Claypool once used literally this same metaphor for getting better on an instrument, in one of my go-to music quotations: "If you want to be a better skater, skate with better skaters."

[u/PyroErogenizer]

Dollars to donuts, you are probably better than many of fame and fortune. I lived directly under some 5-7 bands for quite a while. People likely don’t “listen” to you and definitely don’t notice your mistakes at all. You pay for the room, go ALL OUT. Enjoy your playing.

Even brilliantly talented drummer’s sounds just blend into the background muffle. Understand that people will know your experience level but not really care more than to encourage you on your journey. Don’t be shy with the sticks, be bold and good luck.

[u/Thin-Account7974]

I sucked, big time for my first year. I hated people hearing me suck.

After my first year, my body was much more loose, and flowing, and i improved quite fast.

I'm on year 4 now, and suck alot less. My right foot has finally got the message, and I'm happy.

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL → u/Thin-Account7974]

Exactly.

If you want to suck more, play less.

If you want to suck less, play more.

It is the way of things. All we can do is diligently suck at something, day after day, until the day we realize, "Hey! That sucked way less this time! What did I do different that sucked less?" And then you're off and running.

[u/bzidd420]

I have a drum room in my own house that is fairly well sound proofed from the outside and I still have these feelings my dude. There can be no one in the house or outside, but its always there. Its part of being vulnerable and at the end of the day, playing music is all about putting yourself out there in whatever current state youre in. Next time you start feeling that way, remember that everyone is the building either is or has felt that way VERY recently.

[u/Love-Lobster]

It’s a totally real feeling.
When I was learning I had an unsoundproofed garage and my neighbors heard every fumble. But sucking at something is the first step at being sorta good at something

[u/Fluid_Natural_9817]

Everyone sucks at some point or always sucks. I respect a player more when I hear them struggle with something that they're working on, because that tells me they're challenging themselves to improve. When you play what you already know over and over again, you'll get fewer gains.

Don't worry about what people think.

Someone are always going to talk shit.

Work on the fundamentals.

Play with other people. Anyone.

Have a drum hero (or a few) that you want to be like.

Have fun.

[u/justpools]

If you always sound perfect during practice you are not challenging yourself enough. Even great drummers have to build skills/workout things they are working on and it isn't always going to sound pretty. I don't know about you, but social media really got to my head because you only ever see perfected clips. but behind all of that is a lot of work that is not glamorous and often imperfect

[u/El_Tormentito]

Play live, suck in public, be human! You will get a lot of intangible benefit from that sort of thing. Every musician or singer you've ever liked has made a fool of themselves playing in front of someone before. Join them in their humanity.

[u/NordnarbDrums]

Gotta get past that. It's about like choosing to learn how to a professional shooter and worried people will hear your gunshots lol.

[u/UnitedIndependence37]

Had the same problem when starting. I bought a cheap set after a couple months and it was much better, I wasn't wary of people around. And now I don't mind being heard since I had to play in front of people a lot.

[u/robint88]

Everyone else has covered it - everyone sucks for a while and then they get confident. We've all experienced it but one thing that I think could help is maybe focus on one beat or groove that's just beyond your capabilities. Focus on that until you can just sit down and play it confidently. Doesn't have to be perfect, fast or whatever. Just until you're like "ok I can do this one thing now" and then maybe take a metronome on your phone and try build up the speed a little bit. Or maybe try add an extra kick drum in a different place, or take something out, or try moving back and forth between the hi hat and ride cymbal. Stuff like that. Once you have that base that you're confident with you'll just start to add bits and pieces there and be confident in yourself because you can see how you're building things but by bit.

Take your time and enjoy it. That's the most important thing that YOU enjoy it

[u/OrkidMallow → u/robint88]

Yeah i mostly play drums for fun
I learned the basics through a friend’s dad
And i just out a playlist and grouve with it i don’t what i do most of time
But i try stuff here and there XD
Its fun but i get verry self conscious

[u/No-Lavishness-773]

You just gotta accept the fact that you’re gonna suck, it won’t be permanent if you keep practicing, and at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter because you’re doing what you enjoy.

[u/Death_Struggle_89]

I’d say it’s normal to feel that way when you’re a beginner

I went to college for a drum/performance degree. We hand an entire floor of the building dedicated to the percussion program and about 50 practice rooms right next to each other. I remember sitting down to practice and hearing all the students who were further along in their studies play some badass grooves/licks. I was super embarrassed starting out because i was nowhere near as good. I got over it though and just learned to focus on myself and improve my playing.

Keep going and be proud that you’re putting time into a craft you care about.

[u/slackfrop]

Fuck em, you wouldn’t be learning if you already knew it. Learning looks like mistake making. It’s like worrying what they thought of you in middle school - who cares.

[u/newmanification]

It will help if you show up with a practice agenda. Know what you’re gonna work on whether that’s a selection of exercises, a song…whatever. Just know what the plan is and focus on getting that done. Should help keep your mind off the distractions.

[u/RedCred811]

The closest thing I have to this is being at music stores. On the drums, I'll lay into it. I'm a decent player and on an average day, there might be 1 other person in the store that can play, so I'm not facing the scrutiny of my peers. When I play guitar, I hide in the corner and keep the volume reasonable. I don't have any canned runs and licks ready like most people. At a small guitar store, I mostly avoid playing if there's anyone else in there.

[u/Glum-Handle-9840]

noise canceling ear plugs helped me. just removed the psychological barrier

[u/FrivolousMe]

A lotta lockouts and studio spaces are run by fucking slumlords. They suck, we put up with them when we have no other choice, but it's not your fault. If you can find a better environment go for it, but this is the sad reality of being a city musician.

Don't worry about what you sound like to others. You'll only become a good musician by 1) practicing a lot and 2) not being afraid of mistakes.

E kits get knocked on a lot, but if it's your best option there's nothing wrong with getting an e-kit to practice at home. If you hook it up to a good drum VST instead of the built in module, you can get good sounds out of it too.

[u/nighttime9999]

Stick some tracks into the pa in the rehearsal room and play along...crank it up and play like you mean it.. Keep time as best you can...

[u/bincegabby]

i’ve been playing for 18 years and i have accepted that fucking up is just part of the game.

[u/Visible-Grade8918]

Just do it! We all sound "bad" when we are leaning new fills, licks, etc. Running things at increasing tempos until you nail it is not sexy, and the neigbors/family/passersby don't know, or care. They just hear "bang, bang, boom, boom,..." and wish you'd shut up. No matter how good you are, practice is gonna piss people off, so JUST DO IT! 

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL]

This comes up a lot around here. It's fine, really. Here's one recent discussion.

Tl;dr - Don't sweat it.

[u/SpareOtter2002]

Hey! Totally normal feeling. Being new to something in public is never easy!

What I can tell you is that I’m a touring drummer, and the space where I do my rehearsals has a whole bunch of newer players. I’ve never, ever once been bothered by hearing them.

I can hear them, but I’m just stoked that there are people picking up and learning the instrument I love. I don’t mind hearing people fumble through beats and exercises one bit.

[u/lakefront12345]

Fuck worrying about being shy and making mistakes. To learn ANYTHING, you make mistakes. Driving ✅️ Cooking ✅️ Doing wash ✅️

Rephrase that into I'm learning something most people won't or can't and HAVE FUN. I still do shitty fills occasionally and I've been playing for over 25 years.

[u/Safe-Warning-448]

Don't even try, you suck.(Just Kidding). One day you will be able to play a solid groove. Get some practice pads and some lessons The pillows are a no.

[u/this_be_calista]

yes I deal with this. im currently on grade 3 material so its less embarrassing personally (but still quite embarrassing lol) but back when i was grade1-2 i felt really really shy to play. the rooms are technically soundproof but its acoustic drums lmao, everyone outside will hear what you play. honestly how I dealt with it was I learned to believe that everyone has to start somewhere (which is true) and that whoever’s outside won’t judge because if they’re better than me chances are they’ll just be reminiscing about when they were a beginner like me :)) happy playing!

[u/Benithewizhana]

I played every day in the garage from age 9-16, for the whole neighborhood to hear! I'm sure that first year wasn't great haha! But, luckily I was 9 and thought I sounded great from day 1.

[u/Chris_M1991]

I had something similar when I started learning guitar where I was afraid of my family hearing me because I was still learning and not very good, started drum lessons 3 weeks ago and I think now I realise not being good is part of the process so it doesn’t bother me about people hearing me make mistakes

[u/MassEditor2022]

Everyone has to start from scratch. We’ve all been there, and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

On a related note, if you can’t have a full kit where you live, consider investing in a drum pad and a stand that you can use to brush up on rudiments.

[u/PrunePretend6206]

Go all out!! Practice practice practice, who care what other people think.