7 Brutal Truths Every Beginner Drummer MUST Know

[@DrumBeatsOnline]

Level up your drumming in 7 days 👉 bit.ly/brutallyhonestbeginners

[@PersonThatExi]

0:32 "You ARE NOT as good you think you are." Me: Well... I didn't know I was *beyond* terrible.

[@Arqzzzzz]

legit just commented to talk about your pfp, ultrakill got a universally good ost

[@AlecWyld]

Your PoV videos got me to finally pick up drumming. I've been producing in a DAW for 15 years but drums have always been very interesting to me. Just picked up a Simmons Titan 50B-EX kit and started taking in person lessons and your course! Love your videos man.

[@zribmusic]

This is solid advice for practicing and improving with any instrument, ESPECIALLY your thoughts on social media comparison. You have to see the social media virtuosos as inspiration, not competition. If you make a habit of listening to your old recordings from time to time, it's easier to keep perspective on how far you've come. That's how I kill that feeling of being the worst. Ask anyone you look up to and they'll tell you, everyone always feels like they suck 🤣

[@BrX___]

I've just started learning to play the drums about a month ago, and since I discovered your channel, I HAVE TO watch every new video!! You're SO inspirational!!

[@lmatheus6]

You can't imagine how happy I am of following part of my progress with your advice, watching this made me realize I made the right decisions quitting the wrong bands and following a better way to make music. Also made me realize I'm in between intermediate now. Which is great.

[@DrumBeatsOnline]

Keep it up my friend

[@markusvakalis7369]

This is all incredibly good advice. I'm nowhere near as good as I feel I should be, yet I just played a sold out debut show with my band last night. So many mistakes, but I feel more motivated than ever to get better

[@DrumBeatsOnline]

Good for you for getting out there (and for selling it out)! I'm sure you'll learn a ton from the mistakes and get better with each performance!

[@SkywalkerOne1977]

I bet no one but you and your band noticed your mistakes. Keep going!

[@ClawAnimates]

I’ve spent 4 years drumming and 1 year in my band. We already have a development deal with a record label, an EP releasing in January and beginning to tour next year!

[@michaelniner98]

Change the title to ‘all drummers’ 😂 been playing for 16 years gigging for 10 and I was agreeing with everything but also learnt a lot from this!! This is up there with one of the best videos I’ve seen of yours man - Amazing advice I wish I had when I was a young drummer specifically don’t compare yourself to someone’s with 20 years of practice on you!

[@deansarabia9782]

That last piece of advice was great. Goes a lot of different ways in life

[@S1L3NTIGamer]

When y’all get back from the tour you HAVE to get on drumeo. Would love to see that collab.

[@mihneastfn]

I don't see that happening, he wants people to join DBO not Drumeo

[@jakedellacroce]

I would argue this video is perfect for just about any instrument. This is great stuff.

[@randymarsh6477]

I would love to see a video on the “Reality Of Tour”. Explains how it is very exhausting, do and don’ts, early walk up with late night bed times, constant travel etc

[@HenryTheExplorer300]

You are litereally my biggest inspiration gabe!

[@zolv]

That's a really insightful step-by-step tutorial to master anything. Not just drums! Thx, insightful video!

[@markuspfeiffer8829]

Last and most brutal advice: do not trust in online courses. Find a drumteacher to work with in real live. He can listen to you and help you to get better and he can jam together with you.

[@EzDyt]

As someone who is not good with human interaction, I appreciate the advice, but will not be taking it

[@jacquessmith7031]

You can actually send Gabe videos with your progress while you take his online courses. Definitely not 100% the same as having an in-person teacher, but the feedback is still VERY good!

[@joe_tipakuah4880]

Gabe your new video that you posted right here right now had made my day awesome😂 Yeah,im one of the drummers who is problematic before and encountering most of this problem.Your advice to all beginner drummers had boost my confidence to dive in into the basic roots more than comparing to a drumner who'd played long term than me.Your advice on "stop comparing" and "social media is a trap" had bring my confidence back again as many musicians had make me down by comparing and underestimate me with my skills.Gabe Thanks a lot and God bless you!! Greetings from thr far east,Malaysia!!

[@rajeevrajvansh]

You are an inspiration to all of us. Thanks Gabe.🎉

[@loukameyskens5785]

I just gain so much confidence in me. Great advices. Keep the work. Thank you

[@kukukachu]

This wasn't just solid drumming advice, this was great life advice.

[@theresabrons]

Thanks for the video…I’m definitely guilty of being afraid of sucking/failing, which kills what little I actually CAN bring to the table! I will keep your advice in mind.

[@freddystephens4758]

Well said. Thank you very much Gabe Proud to be your subscriber 🥰😇

[@navasings]

Yes!

[@freddystephens4758]

@@navasings ♥️

[@navasings]

@@freddystephens4758 🤍

[@hyusisns]

thanks, you helped me and i am sorry and sad hearing that you have ever felt the worst from the group, i understand it... but good that you learned something from it and happy to know that you are really good now! and performing on the scene

[@jacobm3261]

Thank you, Gabe, for your solid advice

[@GamingGrenade1]

Another really good video with great advice that can be applied to learning anything

[@alexandertrejo4458]

YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

[@josuearbelo27]

A bass player was asked how to get to Carnegie Hall. He replied, "Practice!" My drum teacher told me this joke but has lots of truth! Thanks Gabe for the tips ❤

[@Hyphezz]

Yeeees, your my biggest inspiration to drum!

[@jamesstemmler7620]

"You can only play fast by learning to play incredibly slow" is so true and I can honestly say every drum pattern I've ever learned especially the ones that seem to be the hardest for my coordination to grasp, progress infinitely faster when I play them slow to start. I'll take a pattern/beat and play it absurdly slow like 10-15 times, then increase the speed in small increments and by the time I have significantly increased the temp I find my muscle memory has already started to really grasp what's going on. Playing slow trains the muscle memory to make playing it fast something you don't even need to think about it just kinda happens.

[@immanuelcalunod8518]

This video covered the whole "The Triple Package" book by amy chua into drumming. Thank you very much!

[@ranbenyair5890]

Such a good video. There are lots of useful and important lessons to take from this video. I am a drummer for 10 years and still most uf not all the advices in this video were helpful gor me. Thank gabe

[@Williammcewing]

Thanks gabe this really helped Love your POV vids

[@icankeepabeatnik]

If you have the mind to, having a video talking about different places/platforms/etc to go from playing in your basement to playing with a friend or with a casual band or real gig. Been struggling getting to this phase of my drumming, and I don't want to lose focus and have my kit become a forgotten dust collector as I have seen real progress in the past year.

[@Rico-RR]

Extremely helpful information 🤙🏽

[@blehsheesh]

"The Impossible Job of My Chemical Romance's Drummer" pleaseeee

[@karichurchilllaidman7391]

Thank you so much! I needed this video because I’ve been playing for year and a have and I suck!!!!!!!!😅😅 I keep hearing exactly what you’re saying. Practice one thing at a time and master it then move on 👍

[@1963Pearl]

I have been playing for 40 years. Bar gigs, club scene and huge concert venues, over 20,000 +. I first start with stick control rudimentary drumming, then I work on just single then double bass work. I then after about 30 minutes of that go straight into hwy star and space trucking by Deep Purple, then same jazz, blues, reggae, Harder Rock. After breaking a major sweat, I’m ready to actually start playing AC/DC my favorite band and play any genre that comes on my radio station. After about 2 hrs of practice/ Fun all music is turned off and I complete my practice with RLRL at many different tempos and volumes. 40 years and still loving it and I agree, I am the best drummer!🥁 as quoted from Ginger Baker

[@Zegor515]

thank you for telling of your experience ,i am 16 now, and starting playing about 6 months,i don't know what to do which exercise i need to learning,but when I see comments like you I have a way more motivation to keep doing what i love to

[@lobbyrobby]

I started learning almost 1 year ago. I'm not where I want to be but finding the time to practice is difficult sometimes. The more I learn the more I realize how little I know and it's a long journey to get there. I'm just doing this for the fun of it tho. I was about 3 months and I started to not like it. That's because I wasn't practicing what I was learning. I'd learn something new and the moment I could do it I'd move on to something else. Then one day I just went back to basics and played simple stuff that I didn't even need to think about. I started having fun again. I'd say don't rush the progress.

[@Beogorn]

great tips! thanks for sharing! ⚒

[@RPSchonherr]

12:20 I've been playing guitar for 40 years and recording yourself is a must. How are you going to know how you sound to others if you never sit and objectively listen to how you sound on a recording? Sometimes you'll surprise yourself and go, "damn that sounded pretty good." I'm learning drums and I now record myself every couple of days just to hear if I've improved and where I'm still making mistakes.

[@ledifw3891]

9:07 damn being a drummer is hard

[@booyamuthafukaahs]

Gabes Notes: 1. Nail the Basics • Stop trying to learn 100000 drum beats that you play poorly. Instead, learn a few and totally nail them! • Learn the beat slow, then s-l-o-w-l-y go up 5bpm at a time • Learn the beat in a multitude of ways. Nail the beat, then go from ¼ to 8th note on the hat, then go to 16th • The more ways you can play a single drum beat, the better, more versatile drummer you will be 2. Learn How to Practice • There is a difference between playing and practicing. Jamming is not practicing. • Create a plan around your weaknesses and focus on making them strengths 3. Keep Drum Fills Simple • Nail your single stroke roll. This will transform into hundreds of fills when orchestrating. • Add accents to your single stroke roll. Accent first note. Then accent the upbeats (L). Then add them randomly and get used to playing them around the kit. 4. Volume Control • If you can’t hit your drums with conviction, no one will like the sound of your drumming. • The best way to sound confident on the kit is to hit your drums confidently • There are nuances so it’s important to be able to play dynamically at any volume level • Learn how to play the beat incredibly quiet, then medium, then loud! • The best drummers can play at all volumes and know when to play quiet and when to play loud 5. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Drummers • Only focus on your own progress and only compare yourself to where you were last week / month. • This is the key to keep drumming fun and motivating for you to continue improving YOU SUCK, GET USED TO IT! • Practice what you can’t play. If you sound good when practicing, you’re not getting any better • If you don’t sound bad when practicing, then you’re not actually practicing • The more you can be okay with sucking and sounding bad and just focus on sounding better each day, the better you will get. But once you don’t suck at that thing anymore, its time to find the next thing you suck at and lean into that! • Practice a 50/50 of things you like and things you don’t like (jam sandwich) • Always practice with a metronome. If you don’t have good timing it will sound sloppy if the timing is not locked in. • Stop chasing speed. Speed is only a byproduct of control. Start at 60bpm or slower! Only move up in increments of 5bpm at a time You Need to Record Yourself! • The brutal truth is: You are not as good as you think you are. This is what will highlight your mistakes and weaknesses. Be open to sucking and improving your weaknesses every step of the way! • You get a new perspective, see exactly what to work on, hear your drums in a new way Play with Other Musicians • Adds a level of pressure to your performance • If you are not the worst musician in the room, you are missing out on an incredible opportunity to grow and learn at a rapid rate • Closes the skill gap, advice from more experienced musicians, more opportunities to show up at your best level Failure is not something to avoid, it’s something to expect. There are only 2 outcomes. You either win or you learn!

[@navasings]

Dude, thank you!!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🤩🤩🤩

[@DiegogoRMZ]

Matt Greiner from ABR says something similar to the jam sandwich, he called it the "Smile, Suck, Shred" practice way. I've been playing drums for about 15 years, never had a drum set, never had a practice pad, but I practice on my legs haha, I agree about the gear, but I think at least I will get a practice pad and come back to basics, 'cause yes... I suck 😅

[@Mementø2024-o5i]

so helpful bro! trying to master some fills for a band im in...

[@pedrorochaguitar]

Awesome!! thanks for sharing

[@Thepetephilly0466]

Gabe, I really don’t know if you will see this or even care. I absolutely love your content and playing. I’m probably the most pathetic drummer in history. I took basic drum classes in middle school and am not lying when I say I mastered the single stroke roll into the double stroke roll in less than an hour. I could do a double stroke roll drum roll with incredible speed within an hour. I’ve been playing a full drum set as a left hander, on a right handed drum set. That posed its own set of challenges! That’s not my reason for writing you. My problem is that I learned what I said in middle school, but after all these years, I still have not mastered a paradiddle. Dude, I’m talking 40 years. I just have not been able to use a paradiddle like pretty much every other drummer has. I can play it slow and intently, but to play it naturally across a drum set or even just a practice pad. I desperately need advice, guidance, and/or pointing in the right direction. Meaning your interaction or the right videos or teachers!! Anything you can point me to to correct this bullshit in my life. I can do it slow and intently, but I have never been able to play it naturally and with any flow across my set or even just my snare or practice pads. As soon as I try to add speed or just natural flow, I lose it. Please help!!

[@Thepetephilly0466]

To add a little more history, my good friend when we were teens was in a band. The drummer in that band had a ten piece Tama drum set and I was able to play a standard 8 count beat on the drums without any guidance. I literally played with high hat, bass, snare and even bass drum with cymbals with no one ever telling me to do so . But I continue to fail a paradiddle, even after all these years, while watching drummers seem so much faster than they are just for playing a paradiddle!!

[@Gustavdrummer4881]

Is that zildjian? 0:03

[@twoedgedswordfreeofdark5545]

Great advise ...

[@beachlover5608]

Great advice!

[@riichan2895]

whats good about ur advices is that u can apply it to almost anything

[@Mcs_AV]

It’s funny that the video lasts 14 minutes and since the video was published it hasn’t even been 5 minutes and it already has likes 😅 Anyway, it’s an incredible video ❤️

[@Jimbobs-_-]

Hi gabe so me and my friend are thinking of starting a band but we don’t know what to call it so could you help

[@danyloveretennikov7861]

Great advices!

[@TheLittleLife]

very helpful

[@Callenplaysdrums]

I might be performing a i prevail song from the true power album!🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳

[@cajunatv778]

We need a " the genius of patrick galante" video for his recent departure of ice nine kills

[@CordeAlma]

Hey, man! We're from Chile and we know you're coming to South America on 2025, with only Brazil confirmed (yet). We are waiting for you to confirm Chile, and when that happens, we want to open your show. I hope you get to read this comment, and we invite you to listen to our music. Greetings from Chile, hope to see you down here! ❤❤❤

[@YellowTeeth-mc4gr]

Damn u cleared all my doubts

[@ToOldToTurnProcycling]

My drum coach gave me the same advice, and only practice intensive for blocks of 5/10 minutes then play something else to give the brain a rest, then go back to intensive.

[@TT10Kofficial]

I’m getting into drumming, im thinking of getting a double pedal (2 kicks in 1) on a single kick drum. is that good or do i need a second kick drum and pedal?

[@edms3656]

look at lars, he knows one fill. used on every album, and look at him now.

[@peanutcsgo]

0:53 is Chris Slade, not Phil Rudd

[@skope2055]

Great vid!

[@gusssstt]

what are the sizes of your 2 crash cymbals?

[@navasings]

This is necessary advice for anyone who wants to work as a professional musician. This can be applied to any instrument practice and your method is *fucking brilliant*. The way you condensed so much good information into just 14 minutes is mind blowing. Thanks Gabe 🤍🫡

[@DrumBeatsOnline]

It seriously means a lot, thank you 🙏🏽

[@navasings]

@@DrumBeatsOnline man, thank YOU! 🤍🙏🏻 your advice has helped me immensely. These are cold hard facts to understand for those who want to have any success whatsoever in the music business. And it’s a huge privilege to me honestly; being able to learn from you, having all of this knowledge laid out to me in such a straight up to the point and simple way 🤍 It’s always a huge dose of motivation and inspiration in my day whenever you release a video! Keep it up 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@GodofWarZane]

Should I be using big or small drum sticks

[@Edrumachine]

also, to get even better, everything you practice you should do it again but switch hands and feet

[@FireToasterYT]

Hey I love your content and I have been playing drums for a while. I have about 2 and a half weeks until a jazz band audition for my school and there is only two spots out of 10 people. I haven’t really played jazz music before. The audition works by basically playing these short 4 grooves, a small song that’s chosen already, and a song of your choice to show your abilities that im not sure what song to play. Any tips on how I can land this spot it would help me a lot thank you so much.

[@byrne863]

Hey gabe, im a DBO subscriber. How can I incorporate your lessons into the jam sandwich method? Also is it normal to not know what to practice at any given time

[@redfin382]

I agree with the gear issue however....I bought a better double bass pedal and it instantly allowed me to help toe and double bass faster. For the most part I agree though.

[@Printerpenguin]

IMO bad pedals (especially double bass pedals) are the exception to gear not mattering

[@HakfkaOakfnqkd]

Hello mr drum beats online i am 13 years old and have been playing guitar for 3 years now and have been watching your content for a few months now yesterday my brother age 14 gave me his drum set (it does not have a crash symbol) i learned the beat that goes symbol and kick then just symbol then snar and symbol then just symbol my brother is not helping me and i want to know where to go from here any help would be good thanks for your time and thanks for the good vids

[@sixoh_diesel5662]

Huge thumbs up for mentioning Darren King! @DKtheDrummer

[@Nhlanhlamabula185]

I can play a song for a week like, thomas pridgen zildjian live and perfect it

[@mrdillerfar]

I don't have a problem listening to myself, but idk how to listen in an effective way. I mean if I've practiced for 90 minutes, do I then need to listen to myself playing for 90 minutes afterwards? Every day?

[@D.rinenji]

Found this after a session of s*cking while recording. Actually I was feeling great before Record myself. It is was it is. Ty Gabe. I felt your words

[@DrumBeatsOnline]

Keep putting in that work!

[@Drummin-fd3hl]

plz do muse drummer

[@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785]

10:10 Ah yes, my drum teacher stuffed this lesson in my head again and again and again. "The metronome is your new best friend. You have to spend time with it. You have to go to bed with it instead of your teddy." Had a self taught drummer friend who refused to propperly practice to a metronome, always said "well, drummer [xyz] doesn't play with a metronome, he also didn't have a teacher, he's just talanted. If he can do it, so can I" His playing consequentially sucked.

[@psyrenea]

It feels like the first advice (nail the basics) and (if you don't sound bad at practive then you aren't actually practicing) are contrary no ?

[@YeppJesus2024]

Can we get a POV of you playing keys please?

[@drumcarpenter]

Wow... Alot to unpack here... First off, some really good advice mixed with (just in my opinion) some really toxic advice as well. There's too much for me to get it in just one comment and I'm sure things are coming from a good place, but I'd say: -the practice pad is ur best friend. (if ur working on dynamics imo it should start either here or on a snare drum) -most students are actually way BETTER than they think they are. (just bc you don't sound like Matt Cameron doesn't mean ur terrible and just need to practice) -it is 100% OK to practice things that ur good at 🤦🏾‍♂️... should go without saying but, the goal for most ppl having a good time frankly. If it's fun laying down some crazy gospel chops then work on linear fills! If you're a meat and potatoes kinda guy, have at it! There's nothing wrong with staying in your lane. Elvin Jones never learned any blast beats! 😅. But if you want to do more, it's definitely out there Also, I'm not a huge fan of the whole grindset mentality ya know? Like the whole "if ur not gettin better, ur getting worse!" thing? That's garbage. It kind of seems like a video that tears ppl down and then tries to sell you a course to fix it. I hope that's not the case 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@yey-v1b]

What is that background

[@eugeniovasquez3780]

We're here! We suck! Get used to it!

[@nwobserver2083]

I quit drums altogether after watching this.

[@TRUTH4U2NO]

If you wanna learn the drums. Join the marching corps Bands. Then the drum kit will introduce itaelf naturally and YOU WILL KICK ASS

[@alexandertrejo4458]

MASTEEEEEEERRRRR

[@mtpstv94]

I don't believe this idea that anyone is "practicing wrong". I've never seen anyone make that statement and prove it. It's all about practicing enough and putting real effort into improving what you're doing and going beyond what is comfortable for you so you aren't stuck in a place that is the same and never changes therefore never improves you. There's so many videos about "technique" and holding a stick correctly and "repeat this over and over again" or whatever. If you're actually trying then you are improving and not doing it "wrong". The only thing I've ever seen that actually holds anyone back from being good on an instrument is lack of effort. 99% of the time. They'll claim they are putting in effort but you'll see 1% actual effort.

[@AaronLevyDrums]

Learning the single stroke roll does not make you learn 1000s of fills in an instant, you have to consider orchestration, dynamics, accents, mixed subdivisions and more to even get remotely close to "1000's of fills"

[@georgenegrete1746]

THIS IS TRUE, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SELF.

[@Octavian-IoanLache]

I have 90 dollar duble pedals and i can play 250 bmp 16th but i believe that i buy more expensive pedals I will play better

[@1sacharming]

I actually disagree with the statement that "jamming" is not a good way to practice. Sure, there are more effective and efficient ways to learn new techniques and stuff, but for me jamming got me in to the practice room far more frequently, thus improving as a musician. Moral of the story is - If something makes you play MORE, then it is not bad for you.

[@HugoAnastácio16]

yeah, I'm not even a drummer... Why did I just watched it all? xD

[@cafe.cedarbeard]

98% click tracks? This is a bad trend for creativity and freedom. How is this healthy if the best music comes from not fearing the suck? The bands of old were so good live cause they didn't have training wheels onstage. The way I compose songs it feels terribly wrong to keep the same exact tempo from beginning to end unless it's one that just chugs along without much change. I prefer the old way of just arranging music to be played live and not being so obsessed with presenting the studio sound live, which has led to scads of mere mime artists pretending to be live stage musicians.

[@Bobsyourunclebro]

Click tracks help me focus when doing blast beats. I can devote more focus to endurance and accuracy.

[@puddingchewer1018]

In my experience most people who complain about the click can't play to one 🤭😂

[@mikebrown8646]

Ditto and go ahead and turn it up a little, live music should be from the heart and loud,

[@D.rinenji]

I started without metronome, had a band from 15 to 19, no metronome what só ever of course, and I've been feeling much better with metronome now. Better fills, better Control, less anxiety, less speed up etc. Its fundamental! Play with and without. And also it helps unlock another vision. I heard my 1/4 with subdivision 3/8 and Im working with that for the last days

[@davidk6504]

I get that, but I think it comes down to the drums. If the drummer plays more complex rhythms throughout the song, it doesn't really come across well if it's not sync to the click. Sure you could accel and decel, but if a drummer hits an "e" or "a" on his left hand on the hi hat for some extra style, it doesn't work if everyone isn't playing in time. It would just sound sloppy imo

[@LouisPlaysDrums]

You know, I really struggle with comparing myself, 9 years in to drumming and I just feel like I should be at the level of like Daniel Furnari or something lmao

[@wishlist_is_here]

second!!!

[@ZacxOff]

It’s almost like Travis is overrated?! Woah!! He’s an astonishing snare drummer and a mediocre kit player🤷‍♂️

[@RobertMurphy-wm3ge]

Bleh... Over polished production Mentions "my courses".. Clearly concerned about personal appearance .... Jeez Next

[@worldwired1838]

I prevail, come to israel!!

[@artemcultura6191]

Yea well your titles are repetitive

[@B1u3_24]

First!!