The sound of a stick striking a hollow log, maybe a hollow gourd, is so basic, so primal, that it almost had to be the first. A drum gets the feet moving, the heart pounding, the blood racing. It sets the feel of a chant or a song.

One, two, three, four … get started on drums!

You don’t need much to start playing – just a basic snare and a pair of sticks, and you’re good to go!

“Drums Keep Pounding a Rhythm to the Brain …”

Who doesn’t remember the classic Sonny & Cher tune, “The Beat Goes On”? Everyone knows the lyrics – not just those who were around when it came out in 1967 – but what made the song grab us was, of course, the beat. On the other hand, no one listens for long to a band that can’t keep the beat. It’s just that important.

The basics of drums and percussion

Almost anything hollow can be a drum. Stretch a piece of animal skin across the end of a wooden tube and you have a basic drum. For percussion, start with just two blocks of wood, or a jar half-full of seeds. That’s all it takes to start creating music. And from there, the sky’s the limit. In a rock band or jazz ensemble, a basic drum kit includes a snare drum; a bass or kick drum; a tom-tom; and a cymbal. Many players add more drums and cymbals. The Guinness Book of World Records includes a drum set with 340 pieces – its creator says it takes four people 15 hours to put it together!

Top drummers

Neil Peart (Rush), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Keith Moon (The Who), and Ginger Baker (Cream) are among the most famous rock ’n’ roll drummers of all time. Jazz lovers honor artists like Buddy Rich, Jack DeJohnette, Elvin Jones, Gene Krupa, and Max Roach.

What does the drummer do?

Great drummers do much more than just keep time. They set the mood and vary it through the song by playing louder in some places, softer in others. They switch from sticks to brushes to open up a new range of moods and textures. They build complex layers of rhythm, adding complexity and emotion to a piece. Percussion supports the melody and harmony of a song, without competing or clashing with it.

Percussion in a symphony

In a symphony orchestra, the percussion section includes tympani (kettle drum), bass drum, cymbals, the triangle, and often a tambourine. Handel, Bach, Haydn, and Mozart all made great use of tympani in their orchestral works. But it’s Beethoven who is credited with really using them to their full potential. In his First Symphony, the tympani play a bass part that complements a violin/flute melody. In his Fourth Symphony, tympani play a two-note theme that is then repeated by other instruments. In his Eighth Symphony, the tympany play in unison with bassoons.

The band needs you!

Remember – just like bass players, drummers are in short supply. So as you build some basic skills, you’ll be in high demand!