Updated: August 21st, 2022
A while ago, if you wanted to learn to drum, you would need to purchase a drum set, attend drum classes or hire your private tutor. Drum sets may be acoustic or electronic and are under music instruments termed percussion. As technology improved, you could go online and learn how to play the drums through various drum lessons. However, you still needed to purchase the drum kits you will use for practice. Since that is still prevalent, you may want to explore cost-effective methods of learning to drum.
Virtual drumming is an online drum practice that acquaints you with the principles playing the drum. To be a drummer, you need to understand the theory of music, learn how to use various drums, and practice several drum beats.
In virtual drumming, your drums and the drum teacher are not physically present with you, but might as well be. It presents a pattern of learning drums starting from the fundamentals of drumming and growing steadily towards becoming a drum expert yourself. A virtual drummer plays the drums at a relaxed pace while learning the keys and steps. It can be used by drum novices, intermediate drummers, and trained drummers as there are several stages of learning on it.
Virtual drumming is a form of practice drumming. And if you are going to perform at an event, you might have to acquire real drum sets.
Features of Virtual Drumming
The Drum Set
Depending on the website or application you are using for your drum lessons, the drum kit to learn might include:
- Bass drum: All drum sets come with a bass drum or a double bass drum. The bass is one massive drum played with the feet through the aid of a foot pedal.
- Snare drum: There are different types of snare drums, with each producing tones and sounds that are unique. Unlike the other drums, the snare drum has a series of metal wires stretched across the bottom of the drum to produce a crack or buzz sound when played.
- Hi-hat: Also known as stack cymbals, it features a unit placed on top of another to create sounds different from when one cymbal is played. Hi-hats are commonly used due to the full range of sounds that they produce.
- Tomtom: Tom toms include the high, the mid, and the floor tom. These drums are one of the conventional, with the top tom having a high pitch while the floor tom has a deeper low tone.
- Crash cymbal: Cymbals are thin and round. The crash cymbal is no different. It is often used to produce different accents. Accents are loud notes played to compliment the regular beat. The crash cymbal has a sharp sound that is important and useful to all styles of music. It also comes in different thicknesses and sizes.
Ride cymbal: This cymbal is large and thick. It produces a higher tone than that of crash cymbals.
Keys to Virtual Drumming
Virtual drumming could be appreciated by those who love playing drums but are often traveling from one place to another. The virtual drum teacher teaches you how to read music sheets, learn various drum set elements, study drum techniques, and play the drum exercises. Drumbeats are relatively easy to arrange; you can compose your rhythms and save them for later use.
The player chooses the drums he/she wants to practice. There is often an abundance of sounds to combine or mix. You adopt the sounds depending on the drum sets and music you select. Control how soft or loud each instrument plays by clicking on the keys from the context menu. You choose the music genre you are interested in and learn the drum beats associated with a particular song.
Virtual drumming allows you to play drums and practice songs of your favorite artists. It affords the student an avenue to learn drums irrespective of location. Drum genres to practice are Rock, Jazz, Pop, Afro Reggae, Funk, Waltz, Afro-Cuban, Samba, and lots more. In virtual drumming, some particular artists may be selected from each genre so you imitate them and master their styles. Virtual drumming apps also have lessons on how to steady and control your posture. You can also check health benefits of drumming too. The body and drumsticks also have to be kept right, making it easy to transition into real drum sets when necessary.
How long does it take to learn drums?
Drums are among the most accessible musical instruments to learn; however, just as in most other tasks, patience is of paramount importance. Learning the drums can be a long process, albeit, a fulfilling one. To correctly learn to drum, you will need a teacher.
Virtual drumming can enable you to improve on your skills quicker than ever before. After all, most people are always with their phones and computers at all times.
Factors that can affect how fast you learn to play drums, whether virtual or real, comprise a lack of time and procrastination. It is best to give it the same efforts as you will the real drums to improve your skills using virtual drumming. For real drums, you can have a look at Sam Ash for high quality and best priced drums. Also, finding other players can help you to focus more and improve. Drumming can be learned if you have the commitment, patience, and desire. It means even if you have only 30 minutes’ break, you can bring out your devices and practice for about 10 minutes.