Your Drum Kit, Explained: Names, Materials and Sticks
The names of the drums and cymbals, what shells are made of, the makers you’ll see on every kit, and how to read a drumstick size like 5A or 7A.
Ant JamesOctober 21The FluentDrummer Blog
How drummers actually learn — so you get better in less time, keep what you practise, and always know exactly what to practise next.
Ant JamesOctober 21How to Set Up Your Drum Kit (and Tune It)
Set up your drum kit around your body, in the right order, then tune each drum so it has a clear note. A step-by-step guide for new drummers.
Ant JamesOctober 21Choosing Drum Sounds for a Style: Tuning, Cymbals, Sticks
How tuning, damping, cymbal weight and stick choice point the same kit at jazz, funk, rock or metal, and how to match them to the room.
Ant JamesOctober 21A 30-Minute Drum Practice Routine in 10-Minute Blocks
A drum practice routine for adults who already play: 10-minute blocks, one goal each, and a simple check that tells you it’s working.
Ant JamesOctober 15The Paradiddle: What It Is and How to Play It on the Kit
What a paradiddle is, how to play it evenly, and three ways to use it on the drum kit: on the pad, as a groove and as a fill. With playable notation.
Ant JamesOctober 13Drum Beats: The Four Grooves Behind Almost Every Song
You don’t need a thousand drum beats. Four families cover most songs: the backbeat, four on the floor, funk and the shuffle. Hear and play each one.
Ant JamesOctober 13Browse articles by category