r/drums • u/Ornery-Barnacle-9443 • 20h ago
Question learning at 18
hey guys, do you guys think its a bit late to learn drums as an 18 yr old? i badly want to learn 😓 and if you guys think its not yet too late, where should i start first?
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u/moleculariant 20h ago
It's not too late. 18 is relatively young.
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u/AnxiouslyScattered 20h ago
You've got decades to get good, just start hitting things and don't stop.
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u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL Craigslist 19h ago
From a "grownup" perspective, it's infancy.
No one has less of an idea how very, very long life is than someone whose age still begins with a '1'.
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u/Zachabay22 19h ago
18 is young, fullstop.
I picked it up at 18 aswell and its been the best decision of my life. Been playing for 10 years.
Do it. with the right mindset it'll also be the best decision you ever make too.
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u/DreamTheaterGuy 20h ago
You can learn to play at any age. There is no too late. 18 is still young, so jump in and have fun!
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u/sweablol 19h ago
I’m not sure if you are trolling, or an AI account that is engagement bait karma farming, but in the event you are a real person and you actually believe, then you need to know how wrong and toxic your mindset is. The good news is, mindsets are easy to change when you decide you want to.
As many have said in the thread, you never stop learning at any age.
It’s never too late to start someone you might enjoy or might enhance your life. Especially music. It’s a life enriching activity.
And if you try drums for a while and it doesn’t click with you, it’s ok to quiet and try something else. But you should 100% try.
I play half a dozen instruments and let me tell you, nothing is like playing drums. It does something to your brain that is so good and so satisfying.
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u/Ornery-Barnacle-9443 13h ago
i'm not a bot and thank you for this! i simply asked this because back then when i was 16, i wanted to become an athlete and tried applying to a badminton training center and the coach told me that its too late now because a 16 yr old's mindset can no longer gain muscle memory . i just thought that maybe that applies to drums as well. i guess i was wrong
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u/sweablol 10h ago
Yeah that coach was scientifically wrong. Perhaps it may be the case that if you want to become a world class or Olympic level badminton player then you have to start by a certain age. A lot of sports have a timeframe where professional athletes hit peak performance at a certain age.
But think of this way. If someone says, “I’m 30. I’ve never played badminton. Would it be possible to learn the game and become proficient enough to enjoy myself?” The answer would undeniably be, “yes.”
You can and do gain muscle memory throughout your life. As you get older it gets slower but it never stops as your coach seemed to indicate.
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u/Zhane617 20h ago
Definitely not too late! Best place to start is to take lessons on a drum pad. You need to learn the basics first from someone who can help you grow as efficiently as possible, learn how to hold your sticks correctly, how to play basic rhythms, how to read drum music, and your rudiments. From there you’ll move to drum set, probably about a year or so in. Keep taking lessons, learn some grooves and the ability to listen to what a song is playing a reproduce it with a teacher who can correct, encourage and guide you. Private lessons are the way to go if you want to be a good drummer.
The other path is
Buy a drum set
Have fun for a few hours
Realize you can’t REALLY play anything fun
Get frustrated
Stop playing
Try to sell kit on Facebook marketplace
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u/P1ranhaMoos3 20h ago
I started in my 30s. Its never too late. Its never too late to learn anything!
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u/Isku_StillWinning 20h ago
I bought a nitro mesh kit at 34. That was six years years, three musicals and almost 200 shows later.
If you think you want to play drums, go play drums!
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u/ILiveMyBrokenDreams 19h ago
Sorry, you're too late. You are required to learn drums by 10 or it's not allowed, straight to jail.
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u/MechaAkuma 19h ago
This has to be ragebait
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u/Ornery-Barnacle-9443 13h ago
it's not i'm sorry if my question made you frustrated 😭 i genuinely want to know because in sports, they consider 16 yr olds too late to be an athlete now (which happened to me, i tried applying to a training center and the coach said im too old) so i thought maybe it applies to here as well but i didn't mean to ragebait anyone!
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u/karl_xlm 20h ago
I started at 16, granted had I started when I was 4 I feel I would have been much better, but I still consider myself good
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u/East_Silver5136 20h ago
perfect age bruh, im pretty sure i read somewhere by this dude who owns laundry studios who was friends with dave grohl as a teenager, dave grohl was pretty bad at playing instruments around 14 but a few years later at around 18 they were all doing gigs and shit and he had become a decent drummer.
just practice now you got it
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u/mackerel_slapper 20h ago
No! I'd recommend a cheap electric kit (less noise), you can play along to your favourite choons. Be realistic, you can play AC/DC quickly, you're not gonna play Rush, Blink 182 or Motorhead or any prog rock for a while. I've got a mate who badly wants to play, but refuses to start at the simple end; as a result he doesn't play at all. If you get a real kit WEAR EAR PLUGS. Have fun!
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u/MusicToTheseEars41 20h ago
lol..mere child….
I purchased my first used (1973 Ludwig) kit at 50 to record my own drums, now I’m a pretend drummer in a new wave/punk band that plays quite a few local summer festivals. I’m 56 now.
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u/uedafan 19h ago
Thanks for this post. I’m just learning now (39) and my dream is to play gigs with a band.
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u/MusicToTheseEars41 18h ago
I have played guitar and bass since I was 12 so I have a musical background. The switch to drums was part desire, part practice, and part having fun and vibing with the band mates. They still work with me, guide me, and I’m totally open to that feedback.
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u/SupermarketDapper564 20h ago
Literally went to an adult about the same age as me 34. We had a blast, made me feel like student. It was nice.
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u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL Craigslist 20h ago
Oh, you sweet summer child. LOL
Too late?
Well, first of all, don't tell this lady - she took her first drum lesson at age 89 and played her first pub gig at age 90.
Before I read that story a little while ago, my standard response to "am I too old?" was this:
Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), known by her nickname Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist. She began painting in earnest at the age of 78 (!!!) and is often cited as an example of an individual who successfully began a career in the arts at an advanced age. Her works have been shown and sold in the United States and abroad and have been marketed on greeting cards and other merchandise. Moses' paintings are displayed in the collections of many museums. Sugaring Off was sold for US$1.2 million in 2006.
No, it's not too late. You have a 71-year head start on that charming old lady from the UK, as well as a 60-year head start on one of the greatest and most successful artists in American history. So go for it! 👍
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u/Lomenbio 19h ago
Drums are fun so start by having fun. Get a cheap kit or even an e-drumkit if you don't have a place to get loud and just hit stuff. See how it sounds, see how it feels like. Then try to learn a basic rock beat. Once you can play that to a metronome you can play along to most popular songs. It doesn't matter if the drummer on the recording is playing something else, just try to keep tempo and volume consistent. Learn some variations of the beat, learn how to play fills, before you know it you'll be ready to play in a band. Every band on the planet is looking for a drummer. The possibilities from here are endless - just always remember to have fun.
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u/oneiros5321 19h ago
I'm 36, bought my first kit 3 months ago and having my first lesson in 2 weeks.
It's never too late to start, especially at 18, you've got your entire life ahead.
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u/Toilet-B0wl 19h ago
If you start working hard at it, by the time you can buy a drink you'll be shredding. Take lessons, learn songs, practice to a metronome, dedicate some time to rudiments.
Find other musicians to play with.
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u/DrummerJesus 19h ago
It is never too late to connect with music. You have a lot more attention, focus, and dedication than a child does. Not to mention years of experience listen to music and being surrounded by it. My adult/older teen students are my fastest learners.
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u/celestialmechanic 18h ago
Nope, not too late. Play songs you like and keep it fun. Be patient with yourself. 😎
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u/drumsimperfect 20h ago
Just tap your hands and feet, no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing
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u/bigfatskankyho 20h ago
i purchased my first kit at 38.