Drums For Dummies

by Jeff Strong

You've got rhythm; now learn how to use it! Drumming is universal; every musical culture in the world incorporates percussion. From just tapping a straight 4/4 beat with your foot to follow the radio, to the intricate polyrhythms of a West African ensemble, the possibilities of keeping time are limitless. If you just can't stop yourself from banging on cans with bent twigs, rolling your fingertips on the kitchen table, or twirling an imaginary drumstick in the air when the radio plays "Sweet Home Alabama," the only question is, how to get started?

Drums For Dummies takes you from the basics of what makes a drum right through how to carry a solo on a full kit. Whether you're a budding Buddy Rich or a rising Ringo Starr, you'll benefit from author Jeff Strong's straight-ahead guidance on:

Rhythm
Technique
Drum sets
Other drums
World beats
Styles
Grooves
Fills

Keeping the musical notation simple for total beginners, this book nonetheless delves into a wide range of music, allowing you to both sample forms of rhythm from across the globe and lay down a foundation in rock, funk, jazz, blues, and Latin. At the same time, you'll find out about the right way to splash a cymbal, kick a bass, slap a conga, scrape an udu, or ring the agogo bells. You'll also discover:

How to choose and tune your drums
Backbeats and syncopations
Drummers you should know about
Rattles, bells, and other such percussion instruments
How to get a feel for pulse and meter
African, Cuban, and Brazilian polyrhythms

An accompanying CD works closely with the book to bring its exercises straight to your ear, while illustrations show how to hold and strike a huge range of instruments. With a fun, easy-to-understand tone that leaves the standard, dry musical method-speak in the dust, Drums For Dummies will have you shaking, rattling, and rolling in no time.

Genres: Music, How To, Nonfiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2001

Reviews

[Jay Goemmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book doesn't just concentrate on the traditional drumset, but delves extensively into percussion instruments from around the world.

(25 June 2011)

[jizzboy reptillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whats a drum? (Also, not as good as cat in the hat)

[Synyster Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

My friend who is a drummer gave me this book, and I read it so I could give him any ideas to improve his craft, and if there was anything that might improve my rhythmic skills on guitar. Strong geared this towards any skill level of drummer, and somebody who had never touched a drumset before in their life could easily pick it up. It walks the reader through everything from how to play a drumset, how to read drum music, how to set up and maintain a kit, and even how to play diverse percussion instruments from all over the world, and so many more things. I "liked it", because I have always had a mild interest in drumming, and it gave me a slightly higher understanding of the different components in a band. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating, was because I sometimes find non-fiction pieces to drag on a bit, and lose my interest.

[matpik nawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction for somebody who doesn't know music..good for beginners who are zero..but some chapters really need a few basic technical and music reading skill..easy to navigate throughout the book..