OK - so I'm a drummer now...how do I work this thing?
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fuzz_factor
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Lessons! At least for a couple of months.
When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to play drums. My band teacher wanted me to play sax. We made a deal that if I took drum lessons, I could move to drums but I'd start out on the sax (in hindsight, I love sax music and should've stayed with it).
Money being tight, my first "job" was cleaning the house every week to pay for those drum lessons with a drummer from the symphony. Sticks and a practice pad. This is the book I used:
Drum Method: For Band and Orchestra
There are probably better, more modern books, but getting your snare technique down will benefit you immeasurably.
I took lessons for a maybe a year (half a year?) - never on drum set - and played in school band through high school. All my drumset learning came from just jumping on kits when I could.
Those drum lessons helped in many way: Learning how to hold the sticks, learning rudiments, drum rolls and - importantly - how to sight read rhythms. I think taking a few months of drum lessons were more valuable to my guitar playing than any guitar lesson I've ever taken.
These days, I'd love to buy a drum set and probably will someday. My girlfriend is on board, but I don't think she knows how loud it will be! But, she might want to learn, however, or just f**k with out super annoying, rude, always loud and obnoxious neighbors.
Whenever I play with other musicians, there are always too many guitarists and no drummers, so I jump on the drum kit. I'm not great, but I can keep time if I don't get too fancy with fills.
Good luck!
When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to play drums. My band teacher wanted me to play sax. We made a deal that if I took drum lessons, I could move to drums but I'd start out on the sax (in hindsight, I love sax music and should've stayed with it).
Money being tight, my first "job" was cleaning the house every week to pay for those drum lessons with a drummer from the symphony. Sticks and a practice pad. This is the book I used:
Drum Method: For Band and Orchestra
There are probably better, more modern books, but getting your snare technique down will benefit you immeasurably.
I took lessons for a maybe a year (half a year?) - never on drum set - and played in school band through high school. All my drumset learning came from just jumping on kits when I could.
Those drum lessons helped in many way: Learning how to hold the sticks, learning rudiments, drum rolls and - importantly - how to sight read rhythms. I think taking a few months of drum lessons were more valuable to my guitar playing than any guitar lesson I've ever taken.
These days, I'd love to buy a drum set and probably will someday. My girlfriend is on board, but I don't think she knows how loud it will be! But, she might want to learn, however, or just f**k with out super annoying, rude, always loud and obnoxious neighbors.
Whenever I play with other musicians, there are always too many guitarists and no drummers, so I jump on the drum kit. I'm not great, but I can keep time if I don't get too fancy with fills.
Good luck!
Plaid Sabbath
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Once you get everything set up, look for some stuff with really easy beats. Oldies...like 50s and 60s stuff are really good for simplicity. Lots of doo wop tracks had some basic boom-chicka-boom beats. Focus on your snare, kick drum and hi hat to start.
British Invasion groups...Beatles, Stones, Kinks, etc. Lots of cool, simple grooves.
Load up on some disco tunes too. You might not dig the guitar parts, but the drum grooves are solid four on the floor stompers. A lot more fun doing Bee Gees tunes on drums. Trust me. I'm a card carrying metalhead for over 35 years.
Once you start getting some playing time under your belt, you'll start paying more attention to drums in everything you listen to.
My wife actually started playing my e-kit about 3 months ago. Complete novice. She's keeping up with lots of 70s-90s pop songs. Nothing crazy, but she can keep a steady beat and improved quite a bit. Previous musical experience was piano and bass. Making very steady progress.
Have fun. Be patient.
British Invasion groups...Beatles, Stones, Kinks, etc. Lots of cool, simple grooves.
Load up on some disco tunes too. You might not dig the guitar parts, but the drum grooves are solid four on the floor stompers. A lot more fun doing Bee Gees tunes on drums. Trust me. I'm a card carrying metalhead for over 35 years.
Once you start getting some playing time under your belt, you'll start paying more attention to drums in everything you listen to.
My wife actually started playing my e-kit about 3 months ago. Complete novice. She's keeping up with lots of 70s-90s pop songs. Nothing crazy, but she can keep a steady beat and improved quite a bit. Previous musical experience was piano and bass. Making very steady progress.
Have fun. Be patient.
Aceman893
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You know...I got ELECTRONIC DRUMS. Amazing modern thing. Like pads, with headphones. 20 kits in a box! Small, lightweight and quiet. Unless I plug it into a little mixer and my 18" EV subs and 15" mains....
redchapterjubilee
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I teach students to recognize what limb makes what sound. Then identify the sounds on music you listen to. Then spend as much time as you can while listening getting in the habit of moving your feet when you hear a bass drum, moving your left/right hand for the snare, and left/right hand for the cymbals. Then take that to the kit. I use AC/DC as the example I show students. Then go from there. There are tons of Youtube tutorials as well.
wraub
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As a bass player who wanted to play drums, I started with some pieces from a thrift store. They didn't really match, but. drums. 
I played on these for quite a while, realizing I actually had some potential, and got a better set and better cymbals.
I suggest you start where you are, and play as much as you can. Start with basic beats and rudiments, stick control, etc.
On YT, I strongly suggest Rob Brown. No BS, straight talk, and he's a really good player too. Lots of videos from him and others that can help you.
I played on these for quite a while, realizing I actually had some potential, and got a better set and better cymbals.
I suggest you start where you are, and play as much as you can. Start with basic beats and rudiments, stick control, etc.
On YT, I strongly suggest Rob Brown. No BS, straight talk, and he's a really good player too. Lots of videos from him and others that can help you.
Daytona57
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I started out, playing with a jam band, having decades of Martial Art training, I was able to use all parts of my body independently, simultaneously at the onset
I took lessons for a few years, and could incorporate, the material into jamming right away. I still have a Taye Tour Pro semi Pro Jazz kit then upgraded to a Taye Studio Maple kit.
I started out with whatever cymbals, I could pick up used. Then bought used Zildjian K Customs set and Paiste 2002 and Giant Beats cymbals sets.
The best way to learn is lessons and playing with people and practice your weaknesses.
I took lessons for a few years, and could incorporate, the material into jamming right away. I still have a Taye Tour Pro semi Pro Jazz kit then upgraded to a Taye Studio Maple kit.
I started out with whatever cymbals, I could pick up used. Then bought used Zildjian K Customs set and Paiste 2002 and Giant Beats cymbals sets.
The best way to learn is lessons and playing with people and practice your weaknesses.
If there's a local teacher whose playing you like, I would highly recommend taking some in person lessons for the first few months so you don't immediately start off with too many bad habits.
Also, Drumeo is honestly pretty fantastic. I'm working through Todd Sucherman's course and it's great.
www.drumeo.com
Also, Drumeo is honestly pretty fantastic. I'm working through Todd Sucherman's course and it's great.
Rock Drumming Masterclass | Drumeo
Unlock your rock drumming potential in this exclusive 26-week masterclass with Todd Sucherman.
In Absentia
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If there's a local teacher whose playing you like, I would highly recommend taking some in person lessons for the first few months so you don't immediately start off with too many bad habits.
Also, Drumeo is honestly pretty fantastic. I'm working through Todd Sucherman's course and it's great.
Rock Drumming Masterclass | Drumeo
Unlock your rock drumming potential in this exclusive 26-week masterclass with Todd Sucherman.
Hey, I’m working through the same course right now! I’m doing the method and some of the stuff with Gavin Harrison, too. But I’ve really enjoyed the Sucherman class.
Yeah, Sucherman is a phenomenal instructor. He really has an excellent ability to distill things down to the essentials. I'm getting so much mileage out of the Gary Chaffee/Rosetta Stone exercises.
tfblaster
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ZeyerGTR
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Rob Brown is awesome. As another long-time guitarist that just started playing drums a few years ago, he's had a lot of good exercises that I've gotten a lot out of.
Space Pickle
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hit drum with stick
make loud
make loud
Where are you at after 2 months?
Aceman893
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