Happy St. Patrick's Day! We figured we'd launch a lesson by our favorite Irish drummer - Jimmy Rainsford. What are your opinions on being self taught?

How many of you drummers here are "Self-Taught"?

1) Play to your favourite music 2) Play with other musicians 3) Practice with a metronome 4) Record your playing 5) Listen to every style of music

I'm 16, and being a self taught drummer myself, my eyes lit up when I saw this video! I Love these tips because they're actually things I do and it made me feel really proud of myself. Thanks drumeo and Jimmy!

I am going to learn playing drums at my age 73. I believe that it's real fun for retirement. Wait and see.

save 10 minutes, here's what he said. 1. Play to your favorite music. 2. Play with other musicians. 3. Play to a metronome. 4. Record your playing. 5. Listen to all styles of music. *Be yourself.

I wish we had KZfaq 33 yrs. ago when I started playing drums. These videos are extremely advantageous to drummers old or new, who can't afford drum lessons or perhaps don't have access to a good drum teacher because the may live in a small rural town. Thank you Drumeo, and Thank you Internet.

Great video. I've been playing and teaching for over 30-years. My tips would be: 1- Learn how to play a beat/rhythm/song SLOWLY at first, and then increase the speed until you can play it correctly at the proper tempo. 2- Learn from the greats; pick 3-5 drummers that are the best in their genre, and study everything you can about how they play. 3- Learn how to read drum music, then learn how to play 'by ear'. 4- Experiment until you find 'your own sound'. 5- Make drumming a life-long adventure!

Drumeo: tip number 1, play your favorite music, it doesn't matter what style Noob me: starts playing Slipknot

Awesome tips. I too was a self-taught drummer... Moved to LA at 20; signed sponsor deals with DW, Paiste, and Regal Tip as an unsigned drummer; later signed a few indie record deals with various bands; and recorded at some of LA's finest spots. I can tell you that I did every single one of those tips extensively, and it's an excellent piece of advise.

1 more tip : learn how to hold stick properly from KZfaq lesson and do the single and double Stoke exercise, speed it up and then learn the basic rudiments and paraddidle.. you can see the magic... 👍👍 👌👌

I am a self taught drummer as well and I am in a band now for nearly 2,5 years ... (I play drums for 6 years now) We went to a studio to record an EP like after 1,5 months I joined the band .... the guy in the sudio was going nuts because I wasn't a thight drummer to this point, even if my ideas were good. So he told me that my playing was a big piece of shit ... so I began to practice more and with a click on my ears . That really helped me to improve my drumming . Last year we recorded our first album and the sudioguy this time almost couldn't belive what he was hearing. So you see everything he just told is true ... and here is my tip for you all - belive in yourself and learn from others without being mad about what they say.

Great video. I started playing at 15, no formal training, I saw my dad play when I was very little and that memory helped jumpstart my interest in playing an instrument. Always loved music, parents made sure of that. I learned to play by listening to Rammstein albums (Sehnsucht is a great one to learn from) and Rob Zombie albums. I stopped playing for five years during my military tenure, but jumped right back in when I got home. I had a drum battle with a friend of one of my bandmates who had played for nearly 30 years and he couldn't believe I hadn't played for so long. That reinforced my determination to learn all over again and I haven't stopped playing since winter 2014 and will keep playing until my body can't hang anymore. Again, great advice, and if any new drummers are reading this, remember, failures are necessary in order to get better. Don't give in to the frustration, just keep going until your mind and body adapt to it and build off it. You can do it, but you really have to want it.

34 years playing self taught no lessons. 51 and still gigging & loving it.

In order : 1) Listen 2) Listen 3) Listen 4) Listen 5) Listen

I'm in jazz band with 2 other drummers who are way better than I am, but just watching them do what they do and figuring out what sounds cool has taken me way farther than I could've ever gone by myself

Double Bonus Tip: Drink lots of beer! Practice drunk in the dark with blinking lights.

But what if ur favorite band is meshugga?

Thanks Mr Rainsford! I am a 50 year old drummer currently starting a 70s music cover band and your main points never get old, especially when it comes to what you learn from playing with other musicians. It was true 30 years ago and it remains true still today, playing with other musicians is a lesson unto itself. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

I'm mostly self-taught and it's always great to get tips from the pros. Playing along to records is incredibly fun and will help you get used to timing and different genres.

I'm a self taught drummer, current favorite album is Lateralus by Tool, help me!

I would also like to add: Play around with odd time signatures! It takes a lot of time to get out of the straight-time rut, but just make a simple 7/8, 9/8, or 5/4 groove and play around with it until it feels as natural as 4/4. It will take more than one sitting, but it's so much fun to freely jump across time signatures, and you can make some really cool sounding beats with them.

Jimmy Rainsford was actually a huge inspiration for me when i was self teaching. I learned the para diddle diddle from him, which changed my drumming exponentially. I also learned how to do killer linear fills, incorporate the bass drum, ect. Truly a gifted drummer.

hey said "play it through" but because of his accent the closed captioning claimed he said "play it true".... either way it's not wrong

I hear that about using a metronome, great tip for newbies and re-learners too. When I was a kid I could stay on the beat like a Swiss watch - drum line hotshot, first chair orchestra percussion. Fast forward a few decades and I couldn't be a cadence lead for 30 seconds. The tick doesn't have to be loud or even audible (a visual metronome will do) but it needs to be there. Great suggestion.

Rain & Wind here in the west of Ireland all frickin' day. Never mind a day indoors playing drums. I'm at it for 2 and a half yrs, self taught sofar but with a huge help from Drumeo, You guys are awesome! A big THANK YOU for putting up so many really helpfull vids here on yt for free! I know at the end of the day it all comes down to practice, practice, practice. Without Drumeo i wouldn't be half the way with my drumming as where i am now. Still endless efforts ahead, blisters, sore wrists.... Whatever i'll keep going and checking for new Drumeo vids daily. Cheers.

I am a self taught drummer and I have been playing since 2002. These are amazing and very crucial tips for everyone who plays anything. great tip! thanks

I have played drums for 46 years I am 56 now these are some of the best lessons I have seen to help all, beginners or years experience , I have learned a few things myself on drum fills that I didnt know how to do or had never seen it done by another experience drummer thanks for the video

I'm self taught, and have done all of these things, before hearing tips. It does help. I've played all kinds of music too. Expanded my abilities. It's been a success. I've been on stage many times. Made a lot of money. Even had a gig last week. Thanks for this video.

well fuck my favourite music is metal and i cant do that shit yet

Drumeo is a great channel. Just all the free KZfaq videos can also help you learn drums very efficiently . I recently brought a new drum kit and this channel has videos helping you even about the spacing of all the drums,how to hold your sticks,etc. So as someone who didn't know how to hold sticks to being a beginner drummer this channel has helped a lot ..! Thanks for the free KZfaq tutorials

You're so genuine in your love for the drums and in your tips for us. Thanks; very helpful to this beginner.

Best burn and he doesn't even realize it. "I wanted to be Lars Ulrich(...). It wasn't working for me. I want to be a drummer who is innovative".

I'm a self-taught drummer. I've been playing for 37 years. After 23 years of playing I switched to traditional grip due to a injury. I took lessons for three months just to get the basics down for the grip and haven't looked back.

Great Tips! i like the idea of playing thorugh a whole album. Sometimes just playing through as bunch of songs gets you to realize how much you actually know without thinking so hard about it

This is great advice from someone who is self teaching late in life after a bar stage hack background. Better than all of a lot of self teaching resources online now. I can appreciate the Lars comments also, 35 years ago Lars was a huge influence on me and shaking that off now isn't easy now that I'm trying to expand. Thank you!

Am now 67 and am also self taught, started playing around 1966 playing records on the folks stereo then got in a rockroll basement band from then on made a living at it. so yes anyone starting out should play along with all kinds of music but would advise to get professional help to further learning......"hence , it would have helped greatly if I would have took basic lessons early on! But now as I watch youtube have picked my sticks up again along with a practice pad and am going back to the basics, am also considering a basic set when the time comes

I'm teaching myself now, and one thing I have come to realise is that there is no such thing as a self taught drummer. My teachers are Moon, Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Dave Grohl - and the hundreds of other drummers I have checked out in countless youtube videos - maybe even you! One great point this guy makes is start listening to ALL genres - I do mostly rock stuff, but after playing along to jazz for a while my vocabulary improved massively. One thing he didn't mention was rudiments - I know they are not as much fun as thumping away to Zeppelin (or whatever you are into) but they have to be practiced - I do them in groups of five in the evening just by tapping away on my leg - much to the wife's annoyance.

This video is perfect yo. I’ve been self taught for 2 years, doing all of these things, it’s good to know I’m doing this shit right

Those are great tips, Jimmy. As I was listening to them even though I'm a new Drummer I have been playing guitar for 40 years, I was self-taught guitarists and I'm now becoming a self-taught drummer, anyway I recognize many of the things that I did as a guitarist that you were saying to do as a drummer. Recording yourself, listening to all kinds of music, being yourself. All good stuff man. Thanks!

I'd like to add go out and listen to your local bands, when you hear a drummer you like or something they played, go talk to him/her. Drummers are an amazing community of musicians who are for the most always willing to talk about the craft with you. I had quite a few bands that I'd see around the area often. I would go in while they were setting up the next time i'd see they were playing that night and ask if they could show me how they went about playing a certain groove or fill. More often than not they are open to having their brain's picked. I made a lot of drumming friends as well as other local musicians which quickly opened up to tip #2. I am now more than happy to talk with the other beginning drummers who come pick my brain. I have even given my number to a few that i notice at a lot of shows and really into learning and have had a few come over and teach them a groove and/or a fill they want to learn. Pay it forward.

My drum teacher was 1981's "Moving Pictures" "The Professor"

Very nice video! I'm a self taught drummer as well and what really helped me in the beginning and still to this date is playing with my ipod with headphones on! Its real fun playing to songs and helps your progress tremendously!

So true! I was self taught from the age of 13 and then I met some guys in the jazz combo at my community college when I was 20. I enrolled just to get involved. At that point, all I wanted to play was rock and metal. Really opened my eyes to some great technique, dynamics and listening skills that I use to this very day as well as music genres that groove sooo much!

Today there's no such thing as self taught anymore, if you're watching these videos, you're being taught by someone, if you get a book to study, someone wrote that as a lesson, so you're also being taught even if it's not directly. My best tips of all as a teacher for people getting on drums would be 1-LEARN SHEET MUSIC! Even if you can drum by ear, sheet music is going to elevate your musicality to another level, and 2-Be able to do something in various ways, so you will exercise your brain and develop creativity, do not stick to your confort zone, always aim higher in your playing.

Self taught and been playing for a few years, I was really happy to see that I'm employing a number of these tips into my drumming already. Thanks for the information, drum on

I got 3 outta 5 of these. plus just been gifted an older electronic kit with the two features (recording, and click track) that I been missin built right into the software. been playing for over 30 years, never had one lesson, these videos, especially this one, are penultimate to my motivation to improve. the act of humility is to remain teachable, thank you, from the teenager who used to put on Mtv as loud as it would go and just play along, inside of all of us self-taught drummers out here!!!

Just came across this video, and you have some very valid points. Listening to other type's of music is a big help, especially when dealing with other bands and style of music. Having played the drums for some 40 years (yes, self taught) I've had the pleasure of playing with a multitude of great musicians, with a wide arrange of skills and music (rock, country, jazz, etc...) I also didn't learn to play with a click track until I went into a studio. When you've played numerous years without it, it's an adjustment and you learn just how important it is. A couple things I would add though...1 - you, as the drummer, are the heart of the band. If you are off beat, even by a smidgen,the band as a whole sucks (not good when playing live). 2 - THE BASS PLAYER is your best friend!!! Believe it or not, you and bass player do complement each other and are the main stay of any band and are the constant! Even though I've been playing for a long time, I never stop learning. Whenever I see a band live, I will always watch the drummer to see if they do something I haven't see before (a different roll, how they attack the drums). One last thing, keep to your strength. I will never be able to play death metal and wouldn't attempt it. Whenever I play at a jam session, they always ask what style I play. I always tell them I have three styles of drumming... FAST...SLOW...AND JIMMY BUFFET. Can't go wrong with that.

Nowadays meaning of "self-taught" is that you've not taken formal classes, not that you developed everything by yourself, but then we enter a gray zone where you may ask if you're still self-taught even though you recieve help from other people. I think that getting help is always better than refusing it for mantaining the "pride" of being self-taught.

I'm self taught myself and I don't regret it at all.I just listened to songs when I first started playing and learned that way.....not because I didn't want to take lessons but I wanted to feel the music.John Bonham was self taught so there you go.

I have a friend who's already good at playing drums. I'm a guitarist but I'm starting drums and it really is more convenient when you have a friend who gives you tips. I'm planning on starting keyboards soon too!

Soooooo many good tips. Thanks for sharing ❣ I feel like being self-taught gives you a little more freedom. You're not held back by musical constraints, as can often happen with people who have too much school and then want to fit into the norms.

Be yourself. Best Tip. walking into a Guitar Center and hearing people trying to play what most of the popular drummers are doing is so boring, no matter how poly rythmic it is..

I'm a huge metal fan, but I started off playing other music. shouldn't only be into metal, you should learn rock, jazz, etc. I started playing weezer and led zeppelin and now I play meshuggah lol

I wanted to thank you for your very helpful suggestions, that advice applies to any instrument as well. I was brought up listening to a variety of styles of music. And though I really like smoothe jazz, to me I find that metal drummers are the most exciting to watch and listen to, it's as if the have an extra pair of arms, just terrific timing. I wish you many years of enjoyment on your instrument as you protect your precious gift of hearing along the way. From your fellow music lover, JD of Toledo

Thank you for the tips. I'm learning by myself for 1 month. After years and years I bought a electronic drum and started to play my favorite songs. A couple of days after, I recorded 1 song and it was very important to me to ear how bad I was on tempo. Then a remembered that I have an action cam that I can connect to the module to record the audio without the external mic of the camera and was very important to see even more bad things. Im also a rock and metal guy and found my self playing pop music. I think it's better to find another genres because we suck in the genres we like, and find others that we are better, will help to keep motivated. I uploaded some videos in my KZfaq channel. Almost all of them are first try playing the music. Once again thanks for the tips.

I have friends. Everytime I make something on guitar/drums then be like “here maybe try and add something!” They never do

Buddy Rich never had a lesson and we all know how that turned out.

Thank you so much for this!! also self taught and always wondered if I could make it being self taught. Had know idea that Jimmy was self taught!!

I'm a self taught drummer and have been a drummer for 26 years and this is the best advise you will ever get. playing with other musicians is the greatest way to develop your own.

Play to my favorite album, you say? *Turns on Tool's "Lateralus" album* uhhhh yeah I can't play to that truly yet 😅

In my opiniom self taught drummers are not really self taught drummers. Not the ones who have access to youtube and other types of media. Watching videos and stuff to me counts as having a virtual teacher. At some point a self taugh drummer had to ask questions on how to do things. My tip would be, if you have access do a teacher or videos do it; it will speed up the process. If you dont have money for a teacher then hopefully you have access to internet.

Thank you for sharing these useful tips. I will be doing the 30 day trial and am very excited to begin to learn. I am doing the self taught routine right now. It's ironic that I have been doing a couple of your tips already. There are a couple of bands that are inspiring me to practice. I love all genres of music. From country to metal to hiphop. All genres of music are expressions of emotion. What greater gift than to share emotions with people. Thank you again for assisting me on this amazing journey 🤘

Thanks, this is really useful. I am a guitarist and I started playing drums at church because of a scarcity of drummers. Self-taught and figuring it out.

So many people seem to take so much pride in being self taught. While pursuing musical knowledge on your own is fantastic, I dont understand why anyone would want to limit themselves by purposely avoiding lessons. There is such a wealth of knowledge that you may not know is out there, and you might not find it being self taught. Playing with many "self-taught" musicians myself, more often than not they are lacking in one way or another. And they pride themselves on the fact that they got where they were by themselves with no lessons, but they dont realize they are completely limiting themselves. Why would you not use every tool at your disposal?

One tip I have for a beginner is practice, and if u ask another drummer whose been playing some years, listen to advice and for God's man, don't, unless u r a fucking prodigy born with sticks in your hands, do as a kid done me and say I sort of like acdc stuff with a less busy beat and 4/4 time but I want u to show me what Joey jordison is playing and how he plays it that fast. Then if that wasn't enough he actually fucking said to me, well if u can't show me how he does his fills and plays that fast could u show Chris Adler's shit, ya know Lamb of God. I about slapped that kid. I was like u won't take my advice and start out simpler, but u want to start 5-10 years in the future of your ability. That was short changing it on the time he needed to put in practicing I even thought after I said it. Dude had no clue.

This tips on this video is very helpful and applicable not only to drummers, but to other instrumentalist and musicians in general.. Thank you for this..

Been drumming for about a year. I have been playing the guitar since childhood. I had 3 actual drumming lessons. I learned more from watching instructional videos on the web than any one of the lessons.

yeah, be yourself and become a unique drummer...then when u figure out the only way to make money is to play the typical rock beat for 4 sets, start drinking when u figure out the general public just wants to hear the same shit for the past 30 years. Carter Beaufort got lucky...the only fusion player to make it big cuz of Dave Matthews...and even then, the labels didn't want them...cuz the whole industry is unoriginal. Now: everything's been programmed for the last 15 years...no more work for drummers...so, just drink more. Happy days

terd tip lol

I'm so thankful I was able to watch this video and learn very integral aspects that I may have already known of, but didn't use in full force.

this video was pretty spot on. I started playing at around ten and dis all these same things. Jus played along to bands I liked and listened alot. I'm getting back into it now after like five years, got a little electric kit. and I've been finally making myself watch video lessons online and starting to learn basic rudiments and it's making me realize how much I missed in my younger years. My skills have improved alot jus in the past couple weeks. I think lessons are the way to go.

"play your favourite music" yea but i listen to fucking prog :'(

The only music I can't listen to is rap and country. I like songs from every other genre.

Great tips!! My 7yr old daughter is learning how to play the drums on her own. Passion she has and now onto obtaining the skills! :)

Great video! The most important part you missed about playing with other people......it is awesome when you click!!!! The fact that you are playing with other musicians and it sounds good.....that moment is the most important. If you do all the other stuff.....it just makes that moment even better!

If you give them tips they won't be self taught anymore...

First tip should have been "Take Lessons" whether it be seeking them online to teach yourself or thru a drum teacher.

I agree completely with you and your last perspective - play what is in you and not what is in someone else’s shoes. (My observation). Ultimately, you are the the artist along with those whom you practice/perform with. A perfect example is Stewart Copeland. Play with your heart and gut ... you won’t be disappointed. I have taken lessons from “schooled” drummers. It has been a great compliment to me. It can lead you to play note for note but it won’t allow you to be YOU! Music is a universal language and it is felt by everyone. IMHO!

I’ve been teaching my self for about 2 years now but just signed up for school of rock to play with others my teacher said he was pretty impressed with how much I’ve learned just by myself

Recording myself was the biggest one for me. It helped out greatly. Those errors staring you in the face. Sharing it publically. It's embarrassing not being better than you currently are. Great motivator.

I picked up my first kit a couple years ago. At 59, I'm having fun figuring it out.

Best tips ever! I did the same thing as you before ! And it helps a lot all those tips!!!

Thanks for this video, I'm teaching myself by playing along to music and to have that validated is great.

Super great advice. I've been doing this for years. Just picked up these ideas.

Good tips! Thanks for the video! I like the one about being yourself the best. It makes you try new things rather than copy what someone else is doing.

i needed to see this! thank you drumeo!!

just wanna say, all of these tips were also given to me through a drum teacher! all are amazing btw!

Excellent, came here as a novice drummer for some good advice and or Good pointers.Trying to achieve the level of self taught drumming and I've got to say 3 out of 5 things he's mentioned I have already been doing. I'm 2 months in going to 3 and already making some impressive achievements. Playing songs pretty well although a bit sloppy and of course inevitably making mistakes but keeping it consistent without getting frustrated. Pacing myself, trying to create my own study routine , half hour an hour a day and if I'm lucky several hours out of my busy schedule. Also glad he mentioned things I haven't put thought into. Thanks for the helpful input, I will definitely give them a try and of course keep the consistency, patience and confidence going. Drumeo will absolutely be in my future interests. Thanks! Keep it up guys!

I'm trying to get back into it. I was never all that great but loved it when I was younger. I know that the few times I've played with other musicians they've always told me that my tempo was on and off throughout so getting used to playing on time and with a clicker is one of the first things I'm going to start with.

I am completely self taught drummer and have been playing for over 40 years. When I started playing there was no Internet,Everything I learned was from friends and enemies who for whatever reason always had an opinion about my playing good and bad, but i learned the most from criticism (lucky for me I have tough skin)It makes you work harder. The advice in this video is all relevant and important to any young drummer today. The best tip of all is the most important one. Be yourself because i wasted 20 years trying to be the type of drummer everyone else wanted me to be. (a back handed compliment of sorts)But eventually i decided Stuff em.I've never looked back.

I thought I was alone as a self taught, thanks for the humble info...the late 70s without you tube or a school that even had drums was difficult most drummers back then kept their "how to"... secret. I gave them up for 25 years...Now the new technology is so awesome...I can only hope to get back what I used to know and hopefully progress in spite the limitations of the inevitable age factor. Music is our most generous gift.

great kudos to drumeo team and people there you guys always come up with so much help to me ....

Great tips here. Be yourself and be open minded. Really valuable info. Perfect Jimmy!

I just started a month ago and this helped me alot! Thank you drumeo!♥️♥️

Five great tips!! I also am a self taught drummer, that's been playing since i was a little guy. My mom was a drummer, so although i never had a lesson i did learn a lot from her. I was kinda hoping to maybe learn something i hadn't already been doing, but it turns out ive been doing all these things for years......lol But for real though these tips really are awesome tips for any self taught drummers out there. Like you will be amazed at how much faster you will progress with playing to a click, and also throwing on head phones and playing to other music. Sometimes ill just throw the radio on, and play what ever the next song is if i know it or not. Also id say take the time to learn some of the basic stuff that you probably skipped over while learning other things. Sometimes not having an instructor to tell you what to learn can be a bit of a set back. So taking the time to learn some of the beginner stuff, will translate into other more complicated things latter, and make them come much faster. Over all great little video and awesome advise...

So far i follow most of these just not the metronome. But I will try to add that in to my practice time.

I am 27 going on 28 and I have been self-taught since I was in 6th grade. I started with classic rock because it teaches you the best of the basics! It was also my favorite genre at the time, then I went from there to the modern rock I liked at the time like 3 Days Grace, Avenged Sevenfold, just to name a couple. Obviously A7X was too much for me, but it helped me develop my ear and listening to what the drummer was doing. You never really understand how much you don't fully use your ears until you start listening intently on musician in a song trying to listen to what they are playing while trying to tune out the other instruments lol. Find songs you like that have good basics! Classic rock was it for me, Queen, Scorpions, Boston etc. All had super useful drum fills and rhythms to learn.

Great tips! Thank you for sharing:) brand new drummer, and excited for the journey ahead!

TO MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICES I TOTALLY AGREE THEY HELP A LOT