SNEAKY DRUMMING MISTAKES That Are KILLING Your Drumming

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There are SO many drumming lessons I wish I had learned earlier in my drumming career. Here are 10 of the drumming lessons I wish had come sooner. Hopefully they help you sooner than they helped me!
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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Cymbals: Zildjian
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[@mojappa]

“If you make a mistake, make it again” is essentially the foundation of how I taught myself to play drums.

[@Mari000]

I also learned that resting is needed as well. A day or two really helps your mind and body. I sometimes take three or four days off between practice sessions to reset.

[@dreamerrt216]

100%.

[@FranksDrumCave]

Definitely

[@irafair3015]

Stephen I have to tell you, I'm 65 years old and have been drumming since age 4. That was one of the best drum lessons I've have ever experienced. Everything in that video was golden. I'm impressed. Thank you.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

Completely agree with the point about preparing for the gig first. "Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong!"

[@davidmitchell8127]

The jazz conversation. That applies to me. I tried to learn jazz when I was in college taking lesson with the drum instructor. Never could get the hang of it. But the lessons I took transferred over to my rock drumming and my pocket got better. Still can't play jazz very well after 24 years. But still playing rock and metal and those lessons still stick with me.

[@staciepaul]

Stephen is a musician that plays drums. He's not a "drummer". That's why I keep watching.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Biggest compliment you could ever give me. Thank you for that.

[@lucaswedderburn]

Well said! I am about a year into playing and I’ve learned most of my knowledge from this man right here. I trust him because I get better every time I apply his teachings to my practice/play. We’re too lucky to have him haha

[@peaceandwealthseeker4504]

Practicing with metronomes really help resolving mistakes

[@SSGTStryker]

Exceptional video and message. As a post metal/post punk drummer, I tell my son; “I’ll teach you everything I know, but let’s both reach out to other resources for what I’m weak on.” 🥁

[@ILikeWafflz]

6:08-6:53 That there is a game-changer. When you make a mistake, 2% of the problem is the actual mistake and 98% of it is up to how you respond to it. If you keep this on your mind you can be more prepared to work with a mistake and make it invisible.

[@sandracrocker6143]

🔥 Great quote about the “wrong note”. Reminds me of a quote by Victor Wooten about always being a 1/2 step away. It’s all in how you play it - play with confidence!

[@kevinsundelin8639]

Yes! One of the greatest compliments I received was that I look very confident when I play. Even when a groove or fill didn't go how I wanted or expected it to, I make a mistake, I drop a stick or anything like that, I keep going as if it's all intentional and that really helps with the feel of the song, especially on live performances.

[@peterszeligiewicz7239]

Thanks Stephen , just the pep talk I needed .

[@paulchioda6742]

Hi Stephen! I just watched this video and everything you said was priceless! I'm 53 and have been playing since I was about 10. Very knowledgeable advice! For me, the key components was control, timing, rhythm. If you have these, you can be a pro drummer. Along with everything that you added! Perfect words of wisdom! Thanks much!...

[@Cheryl_A222]

This video is great and I know will help me. I am a member of sds and started playing drums over a year ago but after I injured both my knees and foot I was unable to practice for 10 months and now I’m starting all over and back at the beginning. I’m so disappointed but I believe I needed to watch and hear this video. Thank you!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I get the mental disappointment injuries bring. But, just try to remember, it's not a race. You're right where you need to be for this moment in time. And now that you're healed, you have tons of passion to learn the drums now. All about them daily wins 😉

[@voxextremos22]

I agree everything has to be in the pocket. Especially when playing in odd times if you don't have a a good pocket in 5 or 7 it's gonna sound like a mess. Also to play in odd times you have to have a good pocket. You must learn in 3,4 and 6 and be really good in those before you learn 5 and 7

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Totally agree

[@coribald]

started playing a few months ago and have been practicing every day, but with no real focus and no technique. getting better, but hitting a wall and lots of what i'm playing feels...bad. so glad i found your channel! lots of encouraging stuff - think i'm ready to learn properly.

[@JASSONIDRUMWORKS]

Thank you Stephen for talking about the weaknesses part towards the end. For a long time I focused too much on things that I didn't need too, and worked on what I needed to strengthen what actually needed work.

[@Mari000]

I find making faces helps me play better and with more feel/groove

[@kevinsundelin8639]

This is a genuinely good tip, if you're not into what you're playing, it will be audible in your playing!

[@dalekay9ine]

I've always been pretty good at double bass but using a single pedal has made my right foot even better. Great stuff here!

[@meekoloco]

One of your best vids imo! 💪🏼👊🏼💪🏼👊🏼

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks!

[@jghillstudio1857]

Thinking new channel name No BS Drumming. Stephen hits it out of the park with this video…

[@tdrum21]

Amen! Well said here 🔥👌🏽

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

🤘🏻

[@jamnjayjams577]

As an older drummer, i agree with everything you’ve stated here. Great advice for everyone. If it doesn’t make sense as you watch this, give it about 25 more years. It will.

[@drumsrlife71418]

Thanks for the lesson. I'm definitely going to incorporate those tips into my playing and my daily life.

[@peaceandwealthseeker4504]

Really good video here

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks....glad ya dig it!

[@moonquake1967]

Brilliant advice! Thanks for sharing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@waltonbrown]

Solid info here 💪

[@aakkoin]

Bass player Carol Kaye said she tries to make the metronome groove

[@JohnGatesIII]

Practice does NOT make Perfect........Perfect Practice makes Perfect. Most of what people call "practice" is playing along with their favorite band/etc. It has nothing to do with learning/perfecting a new technique.

[@Mari000]

Yep. Practicing on your own is essential.

[@geraldm7435]

Awesome tips!!! Stephen, it's been a while since I checked out your channel, when did you grow your hair out? 😃 I love drumming to country music and enjoying the story being told 🤙

[@DaveDamageDrums]

Great video as usual Stephen, thanks! ✌❤🥁

[@DeeDrumin]

Awesome tips...👍✌️

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

👊🏻🤟🏻

[@julianaferry]

This is so helpful!!

[@angelorasmijn7306]

Great advise!

[@FansFriends]

It's all about the recovery!

[@scottbray3053]

oh man that was good the resolve is so important because we will all mess up when we play night after night and we can resolve on stage with out them knowing even when i think its horrible yeah with the recovery lol as i type this you said it and i've messed it up a million times live and made it awesome. shit i messed up on a live jam so bad that it sounded so good now i had to recreate the mess up on the album because it sounded so cool and it was harder to recreate the mess up until i made my self do it a few times.

[@darinwood2183]

I am soooo guilty of making a face when I make a mistake. I’m working on stopping that. I believe it’s important to remember the brain is neuroplastic. Ther😅a good Andrew Huberman video on neuroplasticity.

[@Bamibakker]

Hey man, what make/model mic clip are you using for your hi-hat SE mic?

[@FranksDrumCave]

Always…ALWAYS play for the song!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yes!

[@FranksDrumCave]

@@StephenTaylorDrums as I get older, I find myself listening more, and playing less, until I fully understand what makes the song tick. I feel that I have so much to learn still

[@Mr-Foad]

RE under/over playing, during guitat solo's etc I avoid fillls, I even avoind cymbals

[@ryanbaldwin8352]

This becomes even more important if you're playing in a jam band.

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

Depends. Sometimes you need that cymbal swell from a ride cymbal to add to the drama.

[@Q1776Q]

While I agree with almost EVERYTHING you said.... I hate to say it...BUT I don't think you (not you personally but most drummers) could possibly learn a very fast, very accurate double bass drum song like BabyMetal 'Arkadia' or perhaps 'Road of Resistance' in a reasonable amount of time. It took me literally months and months and months or hours and hours a day to get up to that kind of speed.

[@Mari000]

Agreed. It takes time, patience and practice to get to that level.

[@matthewkeesler1871]

Oh I get this. I practice a hour a day. 15 minutes of my practice is rudiments with my feet, with and without hats and snare. I'm just reaching 16 notes at 140 bpm after 3 months of daily practice. It all takes a massive amount of time and ability to critique yourself.

[@Q1776Q]

@@matthewkeesler1871 Great!!!...and I hope you are recording yourself...I can play 16th's all day at 200 and still I have a pretty hard time above 210 ...but I have gone for short bursts of 5 seconds at 250...Then again..I've been playing for a VERY LONG TIME. and pushing my self extremely hard constantly. You will be doing 200+ if you just keep pushing yourself!!!

[@downtown4028]

Drumming... what an art form. The best advice I would give to drummers.... practice, listen and feel the flow of music. Steve Gadd is a prime example of this approach. Fluid... anticipatory.... beautiful. Blessings all...

[@Ester0ck]

Since you prepared for the comments, here I am 😈 About the weaknesses... I totally agree with your explanation 😂

[@ignacioperezdelcastillo3182]

💪💪💪💪

[@YewrinePish]

Hair? Also leet runtime

[@daddyorpapi7396]

What does playing in pocket mean?

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

Playing in time in a manner that best serves the song. Cats talk about playing ahead or behind the beat. Jeff Porcaro explains it well in many of his interviews.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

That's a pretty in depth discussion, but essentially it means making your playing feel good based on the song you're playing. We can play the right notes and they can feel bad. So it's more the specific placement of those notes and how they feel while you play them.

[@Q1776Q]

What would Greyson Nekrutman say???

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I know Grayson...he would say play the song 😉👊🏻🤟🏻

[@Q1776Q]

@@StephenTaylorDrums Yep... and there is probably nothing he can't play.

[@bsandoval2340]

Just casually flexes he was taught by the dr. John Wooten

[@yaardbird3259]

Does he ever let go of those drumsticks?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

N.E.V.E.R.

[@jaygee8566]

Or... when you make a mistake you go the exact other direction yell the f word at the top of your lungs. Worked for Buddy :P

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

You gotta decide if you're getting older and going bald or staying young with hair lol (i thought this video was really old at first)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I shaved my head for years. I'm not balding. I'm not sure why people think this. Just decided to grow hair

[@jchope777]

I'm guilty of the cringe face 🤣

[@randyjensen7007]

I'm new here and man I agree with everything you saying! Mentally stay in the game and you can get through anything! "Focus" 🫵

[@matthewkeesler1871]

I suck during practice. I always told the people I'm showing drums that they should suck during practice. If you sound great during practice, then you're just playing. Practice what you suck at during the beginning.

[@kevinsundelin8639]

I used to play an hour a day and it was really valuable for me, but what also taught me most of what I knew was applying what I learned understand where I can use it. I think playing along to drumless songs that you can find here on KZbin and using it to make use of what you're learning is super valuable. It can also teach you about over- and under-playing Practice can be theory, rudiments, playing along to your favorite songs, as long as you're learning and applying it.

[@joshuagharis9017]

Listen to larnell lewis