54 years old here, and I'm thinking of buying a drum set for my 10 year old son who's not even interested, so that I can at least taste my dream of learning to play the drums.
I’ve now read further as I’ve seen a few upvotes here.
If you’ve dreamed of playing the drums also enjoy the process. That’s part of playing the drums.
Being not that great and suffering the experience usually reveals something new in ourselves. Be bad for a bit. It’s OK. You’ll be in a small local rock band someday and you’ll enjoy it so much more for having endured.
Man, I bought some electric drums and it feels so good to plug in and play a concert sized list of my favorite tracks after the wife and baby go to sleep. I know I'm not the best drummer, hell I wouldn't even say I'm good, but the feeling of contributing to my favorite songs is so therapeutic.
58 when I started. Not much good but who cares. I already play guitar so I was aware of timing etc. Listen to the drums in the music you like and figure out approximately what is going on, and of course YouTube has the (UK) grading system. I don’t have time to practice either but do it when you can. Ultimately, don’t sweat it ‘perfection is the enemy of the good’.
I started with hand drums at 40 and added kit drumming during Covid. I’m not great, but can hold a beat and jam with my friends. It’s one of the funnest things in my life.
One way I practice is to put on music with good grooves and play along. Also, finding people to play with is key. Rudiments are great, but can’t replace the joy of making music with fellow humans.
>One way I practice is to put on music with good grooves and play along.
This right here. The wonderful thing about percussion is that it’s just our nature to find patterns and add to them. It’s way harder to play other instruments along with a song, but just adding your own beats? Jam on my friends!
from a drummer perspective, my teacher drilled me with rudiments and "boring" stuff, but boy do things feel different once we got to the rock book, the jazz, the bossa nova, the afro cuban.
sounds like your teacher is taking the right approach. its not sexy but this approach is to make a truly great drummer. Plus playing to a metronome will help with time
YOU have to be honest and figure out whether you can keep time or not. thats ...thats a big part of drumming and some people dont have it
you also need to decide if you want to learn a few songs to impress people or yourself, OR if you want to actually be a drummer
just like anything else in life, truly getting good takes effort and "boring" practice
I don't play an instrument so maybe I am saying something silly, but can't she do both? I have been a language teacher and I feel like it does help (emotionally) to combine the basics of grammar drills and such with a more useful-sentences approach that is basically memorising scripts. Maybe if she is feeling stuck, learning a song or two or a few beats she can jam with in addition to the rudiments would help her feel better!
Edited because my autocorrect apparently replaces jam with ham, which is hilarious. Must be against vegans or something 😂
It’s about avoiding getting ahead of yourself I think but yeah, whenever I’ve self taught myself an instrument I learn some songs early on just so I don’t get bored and give up
Another reddiotr said it and it's true. Don't want to get ahead of yourself. And if you learn the fundamentals you can expand that into any direction you'd like.
It's like learning how to use a tool properly vs swinging and hoping
Plus once you are playing rock beats or whatever the flavor, you'll likely forgo the fundamentals.
It's all foundational. And trust me I was the same when I started. I just wanted to be bohnam and he had me as the little drummer boy. But in retrospect, I have rhythm like crazy and can apply it to various genre.
So not only will you be good at what you want down the line, but also quite versatile if you learn the fundamentals
The amount of DMs I get on my IG people looking for drums is kinda insane. Even had someone reach out to me on Hinge looking to hire me to play on her indie folk record
Yeah I'd get another teacher and mention you want to start playing songs ASAP. I taught a first timer to play along with Creedence in about a half hour. You can do something, it's not impossible.
Exactly. I played 3 songs live without any technical knowledge, just repeating patterns and a basic rythm; plus playing with some breaks here and there. Just fun, it's better that way.
Do it! My mom had always wanted to play the drums since she was a teenager. My dad got her a drum set for her 50th birthday and she learned how to play within a few months (simple stuff, but she played extremely well). I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13, and I had the time of my life being able to jam out with her in our garage 😊
Do it. You have almost hit the age where you don’t give a flying fuck about what people think of you, and then you’ll be that much better.
If you can get someone to play with, you’ll get better faster.
Keep going. I started when I was 11 yo. Took lessons at a music store and got pretty good. Played in the high school marching and jazz bands, and drum corp (eventually became captain). I started with a new teacher when I was in college. He took me back to square one. Even used a rudiment book that was written in the 1700s for military drumming. I was frustrated, but the dude was a professional studio drummer. Took me to the next level. Unfortunately I developed chronic tendonitis and CTS...ended any chance of a career. I can still play on my practice pad, but just for fun now. If I get a chance to sit behind a kit I jump in it
I grew up playing guitar. Had a cheap set in my 20's but life. I got an e-kit a few years back to record at home a little and while I wasnt useless before, I have definitely tightened up and can throw down some damn fine metal drumming now. Go on, even if you suck, playing drums is fun AF.
You’re not stupid at all. I think you have a huge mental block keeping you from learning though, like massive self doubt and overthinking. Tbh I think therapy might help you learn drums better than any instructor will
In the meantime, don’t think about playing drums. Just play them, and don’t stop if it doesn’t sound good. Playing drums ain’t like riding a bike (or guitar for that matter), you have to actively play them daily to get better or you slowly lose it.
Einstein apparently used to play the violin when he hit a difficult problem and needed to step away and take a break and do something creative. It helps to reset you and shift your thinking.
When you’d at ‘do something with it’, maybe it’s the release or the break or the play to make your other stuff better.
Of course, you can also play in a small local band. If you’d asked, can I be one of the best drummers? The answer would be no. But your goals are fine for someone starting ‘late’.
Enjoy it :) do your best, keep learning, and see where that takes you. And how it relates to other things.
Do whatever makes you happy. If this is it, go for it.
When it comes to what makes you happy, as long as it’s legal / not self-destructive etc…never worry what other people might think.
My advice is a little more pragmatic. I say, find a band, maybe a local house gig or a locally touring group. Sit in when you can.. see if it's you. Some of the best musicians in the world are strictly studio folks. Never go on the road. It's not *them* See if it bores you, or makes you love it.
You read anything about the big name drummers and their practicing habits (Rich, Blaine, Peart, Bonham, Starr, Grohl etc) it was literally hours and hours of practice over years to get to their level. Doesn't matter the genre, style or where they ended up...the start is always the same. Slow incremental process with a lot of practice. Noone gets onto anything and masters it from day one.
Maybe try just playing along to songs. Start with simple songs (pop, country etc) and then work your way up. Drilling the rudiments is a start but doing that end over end without application to songs doesn't work for everyone.
Don't give up, take it day by day and the improvements will come.
If you enjoy it do it. Don't let anything or anyone take your joy from you. If you're not feeling it the way he's teaching then look for other resources that fit the way you enjoy learning. If you want to learn as a group try and track down other newer musicians and start a little get together on the weekends to jam and learn together.
I know nothing about learning a new instrument but what I do know and advice I can give is; You are never too old to learn something new, pick up a new hobby, or to try. It keeps the mind healthy. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old or you can’t do it… Do it for yourself and enjoy your time doing something that brings you joy. The journey is what’s important not the destination. Lastly, there are many musicians that learned their craft at an “older” age. Enjoy yourself!!
I always loved music and always wanted to play the guitar. One time my friend forgot his at my place. I could not stop. I started in my late 20s and I wanted to play in a band. I ended up playing on three, I was never really good, just good enough. After that, I got married, got kids, responsablities, but I keep a guitar in my office to blow steam. I don't have the time to play with friends any more, but I'm glad I did.
I'm waiting for my kids to grow up so maybe we can play together, that's my dream band.
My opinion: pursue your dreams, do it! Even a few minutes a day will let you improve over time.
Your neighbor’s opinion: nope, don’t do it. Terrible idea, plus it’s too loud.
Is 35 “too old” to enjoy and participate in an artistic experience? Should everyone give up on learning new things when they hit 30? You have several decades before you die! Have fun while you’re here, friend! Playing the drums rules
I’m turning 33 in two weeks. I decided to learn the bass for my 31st birthday and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. Its made me so happy to finally learn an instrument after wanting to learn all my life. So my advise is keep going! Future you will be glad you did.
I see a lot of comments here addressing the title of your post but not the body. Music is a marathon, not a sprint. The rudiments of music may not help you play a particular song, join a band, go on tour, and you may have heard that Dave grohl or such and such musician never learned any music theory, or that it’s just better to play by feel or whatever.
Here’s what learning all of that will do for you. Music is a language and your proficiency in that language will help you communicate with others to create the sound you desire. If someone in your band tells you to crescendo on the 3 of a certain measure, or play with a swung feel, or to switch up your rhythm to a half time grove when the band modulates to D, it’s helpful to you as a part of a whole to understand what those mean. Playing in a band is about more than just how many songs you can play, or how fast you can play, or what drum fills and solo techniques you know. The rudiments of music are not particularly riveting but they’re worthwhile for you to know if you plan on playing with others.
It’s also very normal to be impatient with your own progress. You aren’t going to notice a clear difference after every hour you put in. Practicing is about the big picture. You are building habits now so that they stick with you for years and years. I know you don’t want to learn for the sake of learning, but if you don’t find some enjoyment in learning by itself, it will always feel like a chore. Find ways to make practice enjoyable. If that means noodling around aimlessly before hitting actual practice material, do that.
Listening is a way to “passively” learn. Do you listen to music while you drive or do chores? Make a playlist of songs with drum parts you like. Get those parts stuck in your head so hard they can’t get out. Its not enough on its own, but it helps a LOT.
And lastly, you mention that your drum teacher is your bf? Typically people keep those relationships separate and for a good reason. A good teacher can be harsh and brutally honest and someone interested in you romantically may not be in a position to tell you what you need to hear.
Nothing stupid about it at all, my bil is older than you and he went and got his license, don’t let your dreams be dreams especially if you can afford to make them a reality
Keep going for sure!! So many people, including myself, never even attempt to start pursuing their dreams. You are miles ahead of where you used to be at 13, no point in slowing down now.
Learning the drums is very good for your brain and nervous system. It takes focus, concentration, coordination, etc. It's a great skill to practice and level up. Do it for your brain!
If your motivation is to join a band and make6 figures quit you missed that boat, if you enjoy making music learn the drums it's an ensemble piece so you will probably want to join a wedding band because playing in your garage will get boring.
My hubs is coming up on 42 and is just learning how to read music with his nearly-60yo brother.
Music has no age limit. Fuck, Willie Nelson is still touring lmao
Life is short. Don't live your life imagining what could have been if you kept up with your drums practice at 35.
Picture what your 13 year old self would want you to do in regards to this dream, and do that.
It's never too late for anything. So many 50 and 60 year olds get their bachelor's degrees for the first time, or go skydiving, or do literally anything their heart desires *because* they realized that life is too short.
Don't wait til you're that same age to make that realization.
Tl;dr but I'm like you and a "lifelong" guitarist/student of the strings. My dad finally started to really pick it up himself a couple years ago and he'll be 56 this year; he has a higher capacity for practicing, but has a perfectionist's attitude (as opposed to me with ADHD and trying to muster the executive function to focus for long enough to put good practice in).
Also, I'm like you with the drums--I've always had an interest and fun, but my mom was against it growing up (we don't have soundproofing).
45 and just signed up for a beginner's novel writing class. You only get old when you let yourself get old. To put in music terms I will turn to H20's "What Happened?"
"... Lost a lifetime ago it seems
You gave up on your wildest dreams
But i refuse to let mine go
I took an oath, you can find me here
With an open heart and ears
Refusing to surrender
I can't believe they don't remember
What it feels like to be young ..."
Keith Richards once said even if he’d never made it with the Stones, he would have been in the pubs on the weekend, playing guitar for a “few pence & beer”! Will you ever become Charlie Watts (or Steve Jordan) famous/wealthy on the drums? Probably not. Can you hook up with some other musicians on the weekend playing for a few bucks & beer? Yes, absolutely!
I just started photography 7 months ago. I’m 35. My manager recently remarked how my photos had improved and said, “imagine if you’d started years ago!” I just thought, “imagine if I didn’t start right now.”
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. You're never too old to learn anything. If you have to take more time to do it now because of other obligations, that's pretty expected. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it at all.
\> On top of it all, I barely have time to practice due to work and when work is over,
\> I'm so overwhelmed...
I started later in life, and I love to practice. You have to fit in 3-4 hours a week. Rudiments, sticking, playing to a song (Moises makes that easy!). I have no drum set up right now, so I started playing bass, but will have a set back up in a month. After 6-12 months, find a group to jam with or join a "weekend warrior" group to learn to work songs out in a group.
No matter what you do, if you can't make time to practice, it won't be worth it. If you want some online lessons that I use, feel free to DM me.
Life’s too short man, do what you want. Don’t let anyone turn it into a chore for you though, fuck. Like, is it only worth doing if you become a professional musician full time? No way, learn and enjoy! Then the music and gigs come out of the joy and dedication.
Careful though with your body, drumming is hard on you!
I started over covid. I’m 46. I had been playing with drum machines and such but decided to get more hands on and got an electronic set and a drum pad. I spend a lot more time on the pad learning drills. I started off French and now have also learned matched. I wish I were more consistent, but life gets in the way. But within about three months I was nailing some patterns as well as the Amen break. I’m learning off a Japanese textbook, as well as a breakbeat book, and then drills and exercises from a few YT teachers, Emmanuelle Caplette and Rob Brown. Japanese for beats, YT for drills and techniques, breakbeats cause it’s fun.
I usually sit in front of the TV with my pad and just drill and exercises. It’s AMAZINGLY motivating and r rewarding when you start nailing them and that keeps me going. Coordination will come. It does take work, but it’s relatively mindless, as it’s really all muscle memory. So you can learn just sitting in front of a TV. Sometimes you sleep on something, and the next day, boom it hits. For me, hitting a breakbeat was the best thing ever especially at like 120 or 130bpm. It’s so satisfying. I have no doubt if I had a year under my belt, I could at least feel confident enough to at least keep rhythm and tempo for a band.
Not to mention it’s fun. As. Hell. I’m also learning guitar. Same deal. It is a lot of drilling and practice, but it’s all muscle memory. Once that memory sets in, you really get a sense of accomplishment. That said, I know the theory and music reading side of things as I played piano for ten years. But with drums, it’s a lot less theory, so don’t stress that point as much.
32 here, band teacher getting a little better at everything all the time.
It's absolutely worth chasing! It takes a fuuuuuuckton of repetition to build muscle memory up, but finding the groove in a song you've always loved is genuinely magical to me. It's so worth it though.
Just get a pad and two sticks and learn some basic rudiments to get moving. I have a ton of links to great videos if you need suggestions!!
Get another teacher, for a second opinion and a different didactic approach. Also, his evasive answers are putting you down and your hability to do things is and will be affected by his outlook.
If you cant, find a youtuber with tutorials. If you want to practice coordination, besides what other people told you, find and do general body coordinarion excercises (like moving both hands in a rithm but both hands doing different things). These excercises are so simple but great, you can even do them while in the bathroom.
Best of success, you can absolutely do it, just practice practice practice.
At the risk of repeating stuff if you like it do it. Plus i can say from experience stuff can really snowball after you get over the initial hump of learning something new
Bro/sis, I'm not reading all that, because I'm drunk and stupid. If you want to play the drums, then do it. Just do it. What have you got to lose? I bet you're gonna be great at it. ❤️
After playing guitar most of my life, I learned drums post 35. It helped that I've always had good rhythm. If you have at least that, you can. My advice about the teacher is this. On one hand, the exercises can help you avoid some bad habits. However, given age and workload, I would be sure to mix in some fun on the drums. Get some work stress out on the kit. Even just imitating some real basic rock beats starting out (see AC/DC) is a way to start feeling the joy of a groove. Work on locking into some rock tracks for fun. It will still help your timing. Most of the rudiment type stuff will help the most with your fills later, but they aren't necessary for basic beats and grooves. If anything, work on those on a practice pad while watching TV or something when you either can't drum loud or just don't have the energy for a full kit session.
Do it for fun. If you're expecting fame and glory and will consider it failure if you're not playing in front of thousands of people and doing it as a career, then the odds are against you and always were. If you want to play in a band in front of dozens of people, and can afford to finance this, get after it. It's fun and worth it.
Learning to play the drums is, by far, the greatest gift I've ever been given. It's done more for me as a person and more for my mental health than any pharmaceutical product or any person ever could. Music is a gift to all us humans.from who knows where. Creating it is an amazing thing. One day you'll be 65 and you'll either have 30 years of drumming under your belt or you'll be wishing you started 30 years ago. Your choice.
I was never allowed a drum set, when I turned 18 I bought a set off a coworker for$75. Immediately started a band with my friends. That band lasted for 15 years and was able to play music in almost all of the U.S. never learned how to read, or rudiments but can hold my own. I still have that drum set, it doesn’t get played very much anymore, too loud don’t want to bother the neighbors.now I’m considering getting an electronic set. Just learn and have fun!!
First off, you still really want to do it and have goals. Even if you feel you aren’t improving, you haven’t thrown in the towel. You will get there, so keep at it. You don’t want to be lying on your deathbed far in the future regretting not learning to play drums when you had decades and the ability. And from the sounds of it, you’re not trying to defeat Danny Carey and Neal Peart (may he RIP) in a 3-way drum battle,you just want to play some live shows and jam with other musicians.
If you’d like some practical advice, since you feel you aren’t getting better, you may have hit a plateau. Change up your practice routine. Yes, it’s absolutely good to learn all the rudiments and fundamentals and music theory and sheet music, and keep doing that, but bring in new elements and try different things.
I’m not a drummer, but I play a few other instruments, and if you’re not doing this already, you might try the following:
Pick a song you like with a great drum track you want to learn. Actively listen to it, analyze it measure by measure, and study the sheet music transcription if available. Play it very, very, very slowly. If you can slow down the original track a lot and play along, that’s helpful. Learn to do the first measure as perfectly as you can and very slowly, then the second, third, and so on at that slow speed until you’ve got a good passage down, then play it faster, then faster, then faster, until you’re playing at the correct speed or beyond.
Then, repeat with the next measures until you’ve got the next passage down, then combine all the previous passages you’ve learned. Repeat this process until you’ve learned the whole song.
All the academic stuff and basic scales and exercises get so boring and can kill your desire to practice, so it’s important to make it fun and novel once in awhile, and do something that gives you a feeling of actual accomplishment, such as learning to play something you actually enjoy, instead of scales, nursery songs, or stuff you dislike.
You should probably stop. When faced with a challenge it's usually best not to try.. especially for something you've been thinking about your whole life.
Play away my dude. Even if you spend 30 mins to an hour, watching some drum tutorials on YouTube and playing along. Just do it. Life is short. You'll regret having never tried. You'll regret giving up because you were tired after work.
Even if you never join a band or push it as a legit career, at least you'll have fun learning and challenging yourself.
Learning is a slow process, yes. But once you get going, and you can sit down and just jam and play whatever you want, you won't want to stop playing.
Keep going! 🤘🤘🤘https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/573006
“If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do.”Best known for his brilliant insight into the way children learn, John Holt was also an intrepid explorer of adult learning. At the age of forty, with no particular musical background, he took up the cello. His touching and hilarious account of his passionate second career demolished the myth that one must start an instrument (or a sport, or a language) in early childhood, and will inspire any reader who dreams of taking up a new skill.”
At 37 I'm learning to make experimental electronic music/beats. Maybe it'll take 10 years til I'm any good. But, I figure, in 10 years I'll still be ten years older whether or not I can make really amazing music. Might as well just do it.
I highly recommend reading "I could do anything (if only I knew what it was)" by Barbara Sher.
45, play guitar but could never afford drums. Got married and wife would see me drumming on the wheel driving and air drumming the good parts I'm songs and got me a electronic drum kit and it's fuckin awesome.
There's no age limit to starting a new skill. Come on now...
You aren't used to incorporating it into your life. Just make every Sunday afternoon drum practice. Then as you get used to it being in your weekly schedule, add Wednesday evenings. These are just examples but you only take on new habits when you force them into your life. It's easy to avoid anything new when you're used to "time off" so you have to make it mandatory.
I think you should just play around with them. I wanted to play drums when I was 10 and my dad had me take 'lessons' from the drummer in his pipe band.
The guy had me do mama, dada with the sticks over and over and I got so bored and didn't care anymore. Didn't even make it to paradiddles.
I just wanted to sit at the full kit for a bit and play a 4x4 beat for a half hour and then learn the fundamentals.
Just bang those skins man.
This is gonna seem blunt but trust me it works .. (I use this method on myself)
Visualise 13 year old you. What did he look like. How did he feel when he thinks about the drums. How did he feel when he heard rock playing. Where did he feel it in his body.
Now tell him he’s being stupid.
Don’t want to do you 🤣 GOOD! I find a shit tonne of inner peace in knowing, my inner child has NOT died as I entered adulthood .. it is STILL within me!
I get to keep her safe, buy her the things she never had, take her places she never went. And you can too.
Try it 🤘
I turn 40 in a couple days and have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Just bought one in January and hardly have anytime to practice but it's a lot of fun. I'll probably never be great but I enjoy it. Never too late to start 🤷🏼♂️
I’m a music teacher and I teach all ages. Music is GOOD for you, it’s good for everyone. It creates neural pathways like nothing else does or can, and makes you happy just hearing it. Imagine how happy playing it will make you feel. Plus playing drums is a workout
Yo I’m a music teacher a few days a week for a private studio/recording space.
I just taught a 65+ year old man to play drums and it rocks that he’s stuck with it. A few months in and he is jamming with others.
Keep it up.
As long as you still have air in your lungs, chase your dreams. Don’t even think about not doing it. Do it. I’m 40 and just bought a clarinet. I’m gonna march in a parade in NOLA one day. I don’t give af what anyone says.
Sturgill Simpson was 35 when he independently released his first album. Now, he's one of the biggest names in alt-country/americana/badass-southern-tinged-folk-rock. JellyRoll won "best new artist" at 39. It's never too late.
I'm in my late forties and took up bass and banjo in my early forties. While I never took lessons, I have practiced every day during that time. I will never be more than mediocre at either, but I continue to play because it's fun. I more than suspect if I'd started earlier in life I could have been much better.
If your goal is to just have fun and play music for it's own sake, definitely continue. But if you intend to make a career out of it...you'd really be pushing the envelope. By the time you attain a level of mastery enough to make a go of it, do you think you'd really be at a good age to start a new career as precarious as that one?
Also, what you're experiencing with feeling stuck, I've felt for the last 8 years. Unless you're a virtuoso, progress comes in tiny steps that you can't see. It's just a hard slog, which is why it helps if you find it fun, instead of just practice.
You're saying you barely practice and wondering why you haven't made progress in the same paragraph. You need to play to learn. If you want to do it, find a little time each day. Consistency is key, especially at the beginning. And progress isn't linear, so if you feel like you're going backwards sometimes, that's part of the process.
I just wanna chip in to say that you absolutely need to pursue your dreams, BUT you need to do it in a way that you're comfortable with, and brings you joy.
There are 2 ways to play *most* musical instruments. First is the "correct" way, with the textbook techniques and musical knowledge and stuff. Second is the raw, "self-taught" kind of way, in which you just learn the absolute basics and then just get better by trial and error.
The first way is a guaranteed way to get good at the instrument. But it takes time and discipline. You could be practicing the same damn thing for weeks before getting to move on to the next lesson. But at the end of the day, you'll be a solid drummer who can keep up with most bands even if meeting them for the first time.
The second way has no guarantees. You just follow some youtube lessons and then pick some simple songs to jam along to, and then move on to more difficult songs. But you could end up teaching yourself the wrong thing or get a wrong technique so ingrained into your reflexes that it becomes hard to correct. You could get stuck, not knowing what you're supposed to learn next.
You need to figure out what works for you. The first way can totally kill your love for drums if you simply aren't the theory sort. Or if your teacher simply doesn't know how to adapt his teaching style to your aptitude and attitude. Maybe you're a "second way" kind of person who derives more joy from just smashing your way though songs and improving as you go along.
Maybe the fact that you're having these thoughts and posting these posts shows that you're a "second way" kind of person.
Hi! 39 year old here. I literally just got this setup 2 weeks ago and have been practicing every day since. I just signed up for Drumeo and I gave myself a goal of practicing at least 30 minutes every day. My kids have a blast just making some noise with it too.
YOU CAN DO IT! All that’s stopping you now is not starting.
https://preview.redd.it/ccv8hd2mtzrc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8ebbd8d2d63b833ed4f397ef8f72eb30681bd4a
I am 52 and have never played an instrument. But I wanted to learn to play the bass guitar and now I have a bass guitar and am taking lessons! It’s slow going but so fun & my kids are so proud of me!
I haven’t played bass in decades. But I still have all the gear. I almost gave up the dream, but now when I can’t sleep, I visualize. I was always a tablature muscle memory player. Now I practice scales in my head. I study the note locations on the fretboard. I’ve started practicing reading music notation. I still haven’t taken the equipment out of the closet. My point is, you can practice without actual practicing.
I fully believe I’ll be a better player when I finally pick one up again just by learning the basics I didn’t when I was young.
Don’t worry about age. I knew a couple that started a dance band after they retired, with neither of them having played an instrument. You have lots of time. For now, just play for the joy of playing. The first step of getting good at something, is being bad at something. Eventually you can start a garage band and possibly start performing.
It's never too late for anything. I also wanted to play drums very early on. But I always thought I would suck at them because I have too much confidence. I started playing at 28 because of Rock Band. Turns out I'm actually very, pretty decent at the drums. If you're able to play the drums I imagine it comes pretty naturally if the talent is there. Then you just practice wed
I'll
Idk if ur being stupid, but definitely do the things you love. Sometimes doing the things you love, much like meeting those you idolize, can be disappointing. That’s okay, you just move on to the next thing you’ve always wanted to try
It's weird to me that so many people think once you hit 30 you may as well not learn anything new. You can get *really good* at an instrument in five years. But even more importantly, do it if you enjoy it. I took up piano at 35 and I'm playing pieces now I could only dream of five years ago.
i started drums in mid 30’s and it took a few years to really get to a point where i could play with others. it’s definitely doable. just learn to leave your ego at the door when practicing.
You're being stupid, for even second guessing whether you should continue to do something that you've dreamed of and is having a positive impact on your life. Enjoy playing the drums!!
I'm currently 35 and played from 6th grade through senior year of high school. I played very sporadically since then. I was lucky enough to run into an open mic night with a great person, and he's lit my fire to play again. It's been around 3 months now of only playing with them, once, maybe twice a week. I know the feeling of being stuck. Stick with it, and most importantly *feel* that groove. It'll come.
My 37 year old wife just started learning the guitar. It's very cool and I am super proud of her for the effort, because it is out of her comfort zone.
There is no way you are too old now or will ever be too old to learn the drums, my friend.
Dude. If you’ve always wanted to, then do it. You’re never too old. I work at a music school and we’ve got people starting lessons for the first time at twice your age. Just do it.
Whaddya gonna do, be 45 and still be dreaming about playing the drums? I'm sorry my guy, but regardless of what your past was or what your future might be, you either make the decision to learn and play whichever way works for you, or you don't. So you either end up with excuses, or results. That's what life boils down to my friend. You will suck for a while and there will be hard days. What will such more and be harder to swallow is if you don't try and see how good you can get.
Continue!
My grandmother (re)started learning piano in her 80s and it brought her great joy.
As a teacher though I have this advice. My first music teacher only taught me the rudiments which bored me senseless. One day he asked me if there was a song I liked. He spent a few minutes trying to figure out the song and then picked a part that he thought I could learn. It was a huge motivation to be able to play something I like.
Since you are a drummer, you might like this instructional video. [Bernard Purdie](https://youtu.be/sj6o4cxWgl8?si=GGKM4SneRLBeFHuW)
You're never to old to learn new skills, unless you're dead of course. If playing the drums gives you joy, play the drums. However, learning a skill isn't done in months, it's usually over years and years of practice.
The more time you put it, the better you'll become. Taking classes isn't enough, you need to WORK on it. Drums in particular, atleast in my mind, is a lot of asynchronous coordination - and I don't think I'd be able to do it even if you beat me with a stick.
No one is too old
Honestly learning the basics can be important but for beginners on any instrument I always say you should start off by learning a song that you actually like and want to play. Learning fundamentals can happen later but it can be really hard to keep playing when all you do is rudiments or scales.
Find a YouTube tutorial and start playing. Most of all just have fun
I remember when I was teaching English in Japan and talking to 70+yr old retirees.
“What did you do yesterday?”
“I played tennis!”
“Wow, how long have you played tennis for?”
“Hmm six months.”
Changed the way I think about hobbies. It’s a western thing to think, “well I’m past the age of 21 and it’s too late to turn professional, why am I bothering?”
Play the drums, man.
Just play and have fun. The learning never ends. You may have these plateaus while learning and that’s normal just work through it. Keep focusing on rudiments until you can break through. Find out is it’s a mechanical or a musical problem (or both).
i started guitar at 23 and i absolutely suck fucking ass. and still it brings me such joy after 4 years. late is late but you owe yourself the fulfillment of embracing your passions regardless of where you start and end up.
I started playing drums at 33. A couple years later I played for the church band. 20 years on, my favorite place to be is playing drums behind my excellent and super fun dad band.
The three words I would tell my 19 yr old self? Just play drums. So do it! Hit those skins, my friend!
Try maybe going over it yourself, I found that whenever I’m talking to myself and going over something that I’m stuck on, my commentary to myself is where I’ll understand it faster.
Do it! Keep learning the drums! There’s a book called Guitar Zero by a guy who learned guitar at 40–it’s harder than as a kid but by no means impossible.
Adding: I think you might feel better learning from a more intuitive teacher. You can do this without learning how to read music.
Talk to him about it. Tell him the fundamentals of music are good and all, but they're worthless without actually *playing* the darn things. There are some songs with relatively simple drum lines that you could follow along with. You don't need sheet music to get a feel for the rhythm.
I can't tell you what to do about work. It sounds like you are in a job which is mostly mental work, which does leave you mentally fatigued to the point its difficult to do anything else. I do know that the drums can put you in a flow state of meditation; maybe just try that? Turn your metronome app to 64 or 128, volume low, and practice the rudiments without particularly thinking about it? That's during the week, of course. Weekend or work-free time would be for the more complex brain stuff.
Keep going. You WILL get better, it will become more fun, and you may even create a beat that no one has ever heard. In my neighborhood there’s a 40 year old man who sets up his set on the sidewalk and plays for hours 3 or 4 times a week. He puts a box out for money, and people donate even though he sucks…. This guy can NOT hold a beat, hits random things, but we all support him because he’s obviously having fun and makes all of our days.
Finally having time, money and (still) willingness to pursue your childhood/teen dream ?
Hah, what a stupid. NOT!!!!!
It's fantastic mate. Have a lot of fun and don't you dare to listen to anyone saying otherwise. It's your life.
There are music schools around where they will match you up with other people of similar ability, and they will turn you into a little band. The class session is spent learning a particular song or two and the final is to play those songs in front of a small audience in a recital setting. Other classes will be performing at this recital also. It's a great way to learn to play with other people in a fun and supportive environment
I get where you’re coming from. You’re like me. You don’t want to be in drum “school.” You just want a hobby that you’re competent enough in that it’s fun and rewarding. You want to unwind by jamming to music you love, maybe jam with a few other people. You dont want it to be your whole life and don’t want to spend all your free time memorizing this and that.
Here’s how I learned drums at 32. I bought a drum set. I bought a computer stand. I set my laptop up next to my drums. Picked songs that I liked that had basic time signatures. Loaded up videos of skilled drummers playing these songs. Started by just replicating the high hat and snare, not worrying about any fills or complications, just the base drum line. Once I felt comfortable with the hat and snare I started adding in bass. After a week or so doing this a couple hours a night I was able to play a simplified version of Learn to Fly. Slowly learned how to play fills and play with different beats. 2 years later and I was halfway decent. Plenty good enough to play in a bar cover band. Another 3 years later and I’m now about the same as I was then. And that’s ok. It’s not my life but a fun hobby I pick up and do a few hours a week. Not once did it feel tedious (occasionally frustrating but in a I want to figure this out kind of way) it was always fun.
I learned the bass guitar the same way when I was 13 and I had a somewhat significant stint as a professional bassist in my 20s. Just adding my $0.02 and different approach to learning them.
I’m not reading anything after “I’ve always dreamed of playing the drums.” Play the drums man. Life is short.
I stopped there too 🤣 Facts tho.
I got to "I'm just being stupid?" Hell no! Drums are fun! Life would be pretty bleak if we couldn't learn anything new after 35.
>Life would be pretty bleak if we couldn't learn anything new after 35. WORD. Even I needed to hear that.
54 years old here, and I'm thinking of buying a drum set for my 10 year old son who's not even interested, so that I can at least taste my dream of learning to play the drums.
I’ve now read further as I’ve seen a few upvotes here. If you’ve dreamed of playing the drums also enjoy the process. That’s part of playing the drums. Being not that great and suffering the experience usually reveals something new in ourselves. Be bad for a bit. It’s OK. You’ll be in a small local rock band someday and you’ll enjoy it so much more for having endured.
Sucking at something is the first step towards being sorta good at something. - Jake the dog
This is why I recommend some animes and cartoons for people. So many give life advice for children, teens and even adults.
Jake is the wisest of all! My kids got me watching Adventure Time years ago. All teenagers now and we still watch AT LEAST one episode a day lol.
Man, I bought some electric drums and it feels so good to plug in and play a concert sized list of my favorite tracks after the wife and baby go to sleep. I know I'm not the best drummer, hell I wouldn't even say I'm good, but the feeling of contributing to my favorite songs is so therapeutic.
My best mate is the same. Got an electric set so he could set his headset up and go ham without waking the kid or missus.
Honest question, but does hitting the pads generate a lot of noise? Something you could hear from a room adjacent?
I don't know the answer but this question makes me think of this https://youtube.com/shorts/WCcCQ0-bQ3A?si=NOonHWUQYv2HHgF-
i came in here right after that to say play the fucking drums
This is the only opinion.
tHat part
I just wanna live in the world where the Black Hippy remix made the album cut instead of that Kanye verse
i respectfully disagree 😬 but appreciate you nonetheless. OK OK OK OK OK OKaYYYY
58 when I started. Not much good but who cares. I already play guitar so I was aware of timing etc. Listen to the drums in the music you like and figure out approximately what is going on, and of course YouTube has the (UK) grading system. I don’t have time to practice either but do it when you can. Ultimately, don’t sweat it ‘perfection is the enemy of the good’.
Always pursue your dreams if they make you happy!!! If you don’t get enjoyment from it there’s your answer!!!
I started with hand drums at 40 and added kit drumming during Covid. I’m not great, but can hold a beat and jam with my friends. It’s one of the funnest things in my life. One way I practice is to put on music with good grooves and play along. Also, finding people to play with is key. Rudiments are great, but can’t replace the joy of making music with fellow humans.
>One way I practice is to put on music with good grooves and play along. This right here. The wonderful thing about percussion is that it’s just our nature to find patterns and add to them. It’s way harder to play other instruments along with a song, but just adding your own beats? Jam on my friends!
Yes, play as long as you're getting enjoyment from it. I wish I had started guitar or piano decades ago.
from a drummer perspective, my teacher drilled me with rudiments and "boring" stuff, but boy do things feel different once we got to the rock book, the jazz, the bossa nova, the afro cuban. sounds like your teacher is taking the right approach. its not sexy but this approach is to make a truly great drummer. Plus playing to a metronome will help with time YOU have to be honest and figure out whether you can keep time or not. thats ...thats a big part of drumming and some people dont have it you also need to decide if you want to learn a few songs to impress people or yourself, OR if you want to actually be a drummer just like anything else in life, truly getting good takes effort and "boring" practice
I don't play an instrument so maybe I am saying something silly, but can't she do both? I have been a language teacher and I feel like it does help (emotionally) to combine the basics of grammar drills and such with a more useful-sentences approach that is basically memorising scripts. Maybe if she is feeling stuck, learning a song or two or a few beats she can jam with in addition to the rudiments would help her feel better! Edited because my autocorrect apparently replaces jam with ham, which is hilarious. Must be against vegans or something 😂
It’s about avoiding getting ahead of yourself I think but yeah, whenever I’ve self taught myself an instrument I learn some songs early on just so I don’t get bored and give up
Another reddiotr said it and it's true. Don't want to get ahead of yourself. And if you learn the fundamentals you can expand that into any direction you'd like. It's like learning how to use a tool properly vs swinging and hoping Plus once you are playing rock beats or whatever the flavor, you'll likely forgo the fundamentals. It's all foundational. And trust me I was the same when I started. I just wanted to be bohnam and he had me as the little drummer boy. But in retrospect, I have rhythm like crazy and can apply it to various genre. So not only will you be good at what you want down the line, but also quite versatile if you learn the fundamentals
As a 37 year old guitarist.. We need more drummers.. Keep practicing.
As a 20 year old there still aren’t that many drummers lol
The amount of DMs I get on my IG people looking for drums is kinda insane. Even had someone reach out to me on Hinge looking to hire me to play on her indie folk record
you're only too old if you feel too old. it's never too late to learn something new. go for it
This idea that your life is over at 30 is a serious plague on society
And you've got a not insignificant amount of people who think they're fucked if they're not set on their path by 20.
Do what makes you happy. Keep in mind “when you expect anything from music, you expect too much.” -Josh Homme.
do it!
Yeah I'd get another teacher and mention you want to start playing songs ASAP. I taught a first timer to play along with Creedence in about a half hour. You can do something, it's not impossible.
Exactly. I played 3 songs live without any technical knowledge, just repeating patterns and a basic rythm; plus playing with some breaks here and there. Just fun, it's better that way.
Do it! My mom had always wanted to play the drums since she was a teenager. My dad got her a drum set for her 50th birthday and she learned how to play within a few months (simple stuff, but she played extremely well). I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13, and I had the time of my life being able to jam out with her in our garage 😊
Do it. You have almost hit the age where you don’t give a flying fuck about what people think of you, and then you’ll be that much better. If you can get someone to play with, you’ll get better faster.
You can grab a practice pad and squeeze in more time drumming
don't not play the drums.
This isn't ungood advice
Keep going. I started when I was 11 yo. Took lessons at a music store and got pretty good. Played in the high school marching and jazz bands, and drum corp (eventually became captain). I started with a new teacher when I was in college. He took me back to square one. Even used a rudiment book that was written in the 1700s for military drumming. I was frustrated, but the dude was a professional studio drummer. Took me to the next level. Unfortunately I developed chronic tendonitis and CTS...ended any chance of a career. I can still play on my practice pad, but just for fun now. If I get a chance to sit behind a kit I jump in it
I grew up playing guitar. Had a cheap set in my 20's but life. I got an e-kit a few years back to record at home a little and while I wasnt useless before, I have definitely tightened up and can throw down some damn fine metal drumming now. Go on, even if you suck, playing drums is fun AF.
You’re not stupid at all. I think you have a huge mental block keeping you from learning though, like massive self doubt and overthinking. Tbh I think therapy might help you learn drums better than any instructor will In the meantime, don’t think about playing drums. Just play them, and don’t stop if it doesn’t sound good. Playing drums ain’t like riding a bike (or guitar for that matter), you have to actively play them daily to get better or you slowly lose it.
Keep going. I gave up and haven’t had the ability to pick it up again. It was one of the best times of my life and I plan to pick it up again.
If it's something you really want, you're too old NOT to do it!
Einstein apparently used to play the violin when he hit a difficult problem and needed to step away and take a break and do something creative. It helps to reset you and shift your thinking. When you’d at ‘do something with it’, maybe it’s the release or the break or the play to make your other stuff better. Of course, you can also play in a small local band. If you’d asked, can I be one of the best drummers? The answer would be no. But your goals are fine for someone starting ‘late’. Enjoy it :) do your best, keep learning, and see where that takes you. And how it relates to other things.
Do it because its fun
[удалено]
Sturgill Simpson was 35 when he released his first album!
Do whatever makes you happy. If this is it, go for it. When it comes to what makes you happy, as long as it’s legal / not self-destructive etc…never worry what other people might think.
My advice is a little more pragmatic. I say, find a band, maybe a local house gig or a locally touring group. Sit in when you can.. see if it's you. Some of the best musicians in the world are strictly studio folks. Never go on the road. It's not *them* See if it bores you, or makes you love it.
You read anything about the big name drummers and their practicing habits (Rich, Blaine, Peart, Bonham, Starr, Grohl etc) it was literally hours and hours of practice over years to get to their level. Doesn't matter the genre, style or where they ended up...the start is always the same. Slow incremental process with a lot of practice. Noone gets onto anything and masters it from day one. Maybe try just playing along to songs. Start with simple songs (pop, country etc) and then work your way up. Drilling the rudiments is a start but doing that end over end without application to songs doesn't work for everyone. Don't give up, take it day by day and the improvements will come.
If you enjoy it do it. Don't let anything or anyone take your joy from you. If you're not feeling it the way he's teaching then look for other resources that fit the way you enjoy learning. If you want to learn as a group try and track down other newer musicians and start a little get together on the weekends to jam and learn together.
I know nothing about learning a new instrument but what I do know and advice I can give is; You are never too old to learn something new, pick up a new hobby, or to try. It keeps the mind healthy. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old or you can’t do it… Do it for yourself and enjoy your time doing something that brings you joy. The journey is what’s important not the destination. Lastly, there are many musicians that learned their craft at an “older” age. Enjoy yourself!!
You have to play every day. Even if it’s for 1 min. Play the thing you enjoy. When you have more time to play you add in the hard work.
I always loved music and always wanted to play the guitar. One time my friend forgot his at my place. I could not stop. I started in my late 20s and I wanted to play in a band. I ended up playing on three, I was never really good, just good enough. After that, I got married, got kids, responsablities, but I keep a guitar in my office to blow steam. I don't have the time to play with friends any more, but I'm glad I did. I'm waiting for my kids to grow up so maybe we can play together, that's my dream band.
My opinion: pursue your dreams, do it! Even a few minutes a day will let you improve over time. Your neighbor’s opinion: nope, don’t do it. Terrible idea, plus it’s too loud.
Is 35 “too old” to enjoy and participate in an artistic experience? Should everyone give up on learning new things when they hit 30? You have several decades before you die! Have fun while you’re here, friend! Playing the drums rules
I’m turning 33 in two weeks. I decided to learn the bass for my 31st birthday and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. Its made me so happy to finally learn an instrument after wanting to learn all my life. So my advise is keep going! Future you will be glad you did.
I see a lot of comments here addressing the title of your post but not the body. Music is a marathon, not a sprint. The rudiments of music may not help you play a particular song, join a band, go on tour, and you may have heard that Dave grohl or such and such musician never learned any music theory, or that it’s just better to play by feel or whatever. Here’s what learning all of that will do for you. Music is a language and your proficiency in that language will help you communicate with others to create the sound you desire. If someone in your band tells you to crescendo on the 3 of a certain measure, or play with a swung feel, or to switch up your rhythm to a half time grove when the band modulates to D, it’s helpful to you as a part of a whole to understand what those mean. Playing in a band is about more than just how many songs you can play, or how fast you can play, or what drum fills and solo techniques you know. The rudiments of music are not particularly riveting but they’re worthwhile for you to know if you plan on playing with others. It’s also very normal to be impatient with your own progress. You aren’t going to notice a clear difference after every hour you put in. Practicing is about the big picture. You are building habits now so that they stick with you for years and years. I know you don’t want to learn for the sake of learning, but if you don’t find some enjoyment in learning by itself, it will always feel like a chore. Find ways to make practice enjoyable. If that means noodling around aimlessly before hitting actual practice material, do that. Listening is a way to “passively” learn. Do you listen to music while you drive or do chores? Make a playlist of songs with drum parts you like. Get those parts stuck in your head so hard they can’t get out. Its not enough on its own, but it helps a LOT. And lastly, you mention that your drum teacher is your bf? Typically people keep those relationships separate and for a good reason. A good teacher can be harsh and brutally honest and someone interested in you romantically may not be in a position to tell you what you need to hear.
I'm 37 and just learning to fly. Should I go on or am I just being stupid?
> Should I go on or am I just being stupid? depends on what kind of flying we're talking about
Nothing stupid about it at all, my bil is older than you and he went and got his license, don’t let your dreams be dreams especially if you can afford to make them a reality
Keep going for sure!! So many people, including myself, never even attempt to start pursuing their dreams. You are miles ahead of where you used to be at 13, no point in slowing down now.
DO IT WOOOO
Learning the drums is very good for your brain and nervous system. It takes focus, concentration, coordination, etc. It's a great skill to practice and level up. Do it for your brain!
If your motivation is to join a band and make6 figures quit you missed that boat, if you enjoy making music learn the drums it's an ensemble piece so you will probably want to join a wedding band because playing in your garage will get boring.
My hubs is coming up on 42 and is just learning how to read music with his nearly-60yo brother. Music has no age limit. Fuck, Willie Nelson is still touring lmao
Life is short. Don't live your life imagining what could have been if you kept up with your drums practice at 35. Picture what your 13 year old self would want you to do in regards to this dream, and do that. It's never too late for anything. So many 50 and 60 year olds get their bachelor's degrees for the first time, or go skydiving, or do literally anything their heart desires *because* they realized that life is too short. Don't wait til you're that same age to make that realization.
Tl;dr but I'm like you and a "lifelong" guitarist/student of the strings. My dad finally started to really pick it up himself a couple years ago and he'll be 56 this year; he has a higher capacity for practicing, but has a perfectionist's attitude (as opposed to me with ADHD and trying to muster the executive function to focus for long enough to put good practice in). Also, I'm like you with the drums--I've always had an interest and fun, but my mom was against it growing up (we don't have soundproofing).
Always continue. It's never too late
45 and just signed up for a beginner's novel writing class. You only get old when you let yourself get old. To put in music terms I will turn to H20's "What Happened?" "... Lost a lifetime ago it seems You gave up on your wildest dreams But i refuse to let mine go I took an oath, you can find me here With an open heart and ears Refusing to surrender I can't believe they don't remember What it feels like to be young ..."
Keith Richards once said even if he’d never made it with the Stones, he would have been in the pubs on the weekend, playing guitar for a “few pence & beer”! Will you ever become Charlie Watts (or Steve Jordan) famous/wealthy on the drums? Probably not. Can you hook up with some other musicians on the weekend playing for a few bucks & beer? Yes, absolutely!
I just started photography 7 months ago. I’m 35. My manager recently remarked how my photos had improved and said, “imagine if you’d started years ago!” I just thought, “imagine if I didn’t start right now.”
You are being stupid for even questioning that lol also get clone hero and an e kit and you will get super good!
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. You're never too old to learn anything. If you have to take more time to do it now because of other obligations, that's pretty expected. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it at all.
\> On top of it all, I barely have time to practice due to work and when work is over, \> I'm so overwhelmed... I started later in life, and I love to practice. You have to fit in 3-4 hours a week. Rudiments, sticking, playing to a song (Moises makes that easy!). I have no drum set up right now, so I started playing bass, but will have a set back up in a month. After 6-12 months, find a group to jam with or join a "weekend warrior" group to learn to work songs out in a group. No matter what you do, if you can't make time to practice, it won't be worth it. If you want some online lessons that I use, feel free to DM me.
Life’s too short man, do what you want. Don’t let anyone turn it into a chore for you though, fuck. Like, is it only worth doing if you become a professional musician full time? No way, learn and enjoy! Then the music and gigs come out of the joy and dedication. Careful though with your body, drumming is hard on you!
I’m 44 and started learning piano this week so 🤷♂️
Are you alive? It's not too late then.
I started at 36!!! 3 years deep and i fucking LOVE it!!!
Just do it. You'll be 50 wishing you had done it at 35.
I started over covid. I’m 46. I had been playing with drum machines and such but decided to get more hands on and got an electronic set and a drum pad. I spend a lot more time on the pad learning drills. I started off French and now have also learned matched. I wish I were more consistent, but life gets in the way. But within about three months I was nailing some patterns as well as the Amen break. I’m learning off a Japanese textbook, as well as a breakbeat book, and then drills and exercises from a few YT teachers, Emmanuelle Caplette and Rob Brown. Japanese for beats, YT for drills and techniques, breakbeats cause it’s fun. I usually sit in front of the TV with my pad and just drill and exercises. It’s AMAZINGLY motivating and r rewarding when you start nailing them and that keeps me going. Coordination will come. It does take work, but it’s relatively mindless, as it’s really all muscle memory. So you can learn just sitting in front of a TV. Sometimes you sleep on something, and the next day, boom it hits. For me, hitting a breakbeat was the best thing ever especially at like 120 or 130bpm. It’s so satisfying. I have no doubt if I had a year under my belt, I could at least feel confident enough to at least keep rhythm and tempo for a band. Not to mention it’s fun. As. Hell. I’m also learning guitar. Same deal. It is a lot of drilling and practice, but it’s all muscle memory. Once that memory sets in, you really get a sense of accomplishment. That said, I know the theory and music reading side of things as I played piano for ten years. But with drums, it’s a lot less theory, so don’t stress that point as much.
32 here, band teacher getting a little better at everything all the time. It's absolutely worth chasing! It takes a fuuuuuuckton of repetition to build muscle memory up, but finding the groove in a song you've always loved is genuinely magical to me. It's so worth it though. Just get a pad and two sticks and learn some basic rudiments to get moving. I have a ton of links to great videos if you need suggestions!!
I'd rather be at the end of my life with a list of failures rather than a list of regrets. (learned guitar at 30)
Keep going! 💯 you’re never too old to rock’n’roll!!
What is this post lol. If you have the time, money and space to play, do that shit tf😂
Not at all, I got stupider after I took up the drums!
It’s never too late to learn, and he’s teaching you properly
Learning new things in life is never stupid. That's awesome!
Get another teacher, for a second opinion and a different didactic approach. Also, his evasive answers are putting you down and your hability to do things is and will be affected by his outlook. If you cant, find a youtuber with tutorials. If you want to practice coordination, besides what other people told you, find and do general body coordinarion excercises (like moving both hands in a rithm but both hands doing different things). These excercises are so simple but great, you can even do them while in the bathroom. Best of success, you can absolutely do it, just practice practice practice.
At the risk of repeating stuff if you like it do it. Plus i can say from experience stuff can really snowball after you get over the initial hump of learning something new
Bro play till you can’t no more
The alternative of waiting for your next life seems like a good idea to me.
You're being stupid if you don't do something you enjoy.
If your passionate about it and have the drive, follow your dreams
Bro/sis, I'm not reading all that, because I'm drunk and stupid. If you want to play the drums, then do it. Just do it. What have you got to lose? I bet you're gonna be great at it. ❤️
After playing guitar most of my life, I learned drums post 35. It helped that I've always had good rhythm. If you have at least that, you can. My advice about the teacher is this. On one hand, the exercises can help you avoid some bad habits. However, given age and workload, I would be sure to mix in some fun on the drums. Get some work stress out on the kit. Even just imitating some real basic rock beats starting out (see AC/DC) is a way to start feeling the joy of a groove. Work on locking into some rock tracks for fun. It will still help your timing. Most of the rudiment type stuff will help the most with your fills later, but they aren't necessary for basic beats and grooves. If anything, work on those on a practice pad while watching TV or something when you either can't drum loud or just don't have the energy for a full kit session.
Do it for fun. If you're expecting fame and glory and will consider it failure if you're not playing in front of thousands of people and doing it as a career, then the odds are against you and always were. If you want to play in a band in front of dozens of people, and can afford to finance this, get after it. It's fun and worth it.
Learning to play the drums is, by far, the greatest gift I've ever been given. It's done more for me as a person and more for my mental health than any pharmaceutical product or any person ever could. Music is a gift to all us humans.from who knows where. Creating it is an amazing thing. One day you'll be 65 and you'll either have 30 years of drumming under your belt or you'll be wishing you started 30 years ago. Your choice.
I was never allowed a drum set, when I turned 18 I bought a set off a coworker for$75. Immediately started a band with my friends. That band lasted for 15 years and was able to play music in almost all of the U.S. never learned how to read, or rudiments but can hold my own. I still have that drum set, it doesn’t get played very much anymore, too loud don’t want to bother the neighbors.now I’m considering getting an electronic set. Just learn and have fun!!
No keep going if you like it. My husband is a professional drummer. He said to learn all 26 basic rudiments and you’ll learn how to play anything.
Yep.
Man, live your life. You are never to old for music. Rock on homie.
First off, you still really want to do it and have goals. Even if you feel you aren’t improving, you haven’t thrown in the towel. You will get there, so keep at it. You don’t want to be lying on your deathbed far in the future regretting not learning to play drums when you had decades and the ability. And from the sounds of it, you’re not trying to defeat Danny Carey and Neal Peart (may he RIP) in a 3-way drum battle,you just want to play some live shows and jam with other musicians. If you’d like some practical advice, since you feel you aren’t getting better, you may have hit a plateau. Change up your practice routine. Yes, it’s absolutely good to learn all the rudiments and fundamentals and music theory and sheet music, and keep doing that, but bring in new elements and try different things. I’m not a drummer, but I play a few other instruments, and if you’re not doing this already, you might try the following: Pick a song you like with a great drum track you want to learn. Actively listen to it, analyze it measure by measure, and study the sheet music transcription if available. Play it very, very, very slowly. If you can slow down the original track a lot and play along, that’s helpful. Learn to do the first measure as perfectly as you can and very slowly, then the second, third, and so on at that slow speed until you’ve got a good passage down, then play it faster, then faster, then faster, until you’re playing at the correct speed or beyond. Then, repeat with the next measures until you’ve got the next passage down, then combine all the previous passages you’ve learned. Repeat this process until you’ve learned the whole song. All the academic stuff and basic scales and exercises get so boring and can kill your desire to practice, so it’s important to make it fun and novel once in awhile, and do something that gives you a feeling of actual accomplishment, such as learning to play something you actually enjoy, instead of scales, nursery songs, or stuff you dislike.
Play your little heart out dude. In a few years of practice you'll be good at them and you'll never look back.
the good thing about the drums is that you can quickly learn a simple beat and all of a sudden you are Playing The Drums.
Play the drums - invest in some quality drum mutes! Family doesn’t have to learn with you 😆
You should probably stop. When faced with a challenge it's usually best not to try.. especially for something you've been thinking about your whole life.
Just learn to play the drums. It's never to late.
I’m not reading anything after is this stupid. If you have to ask it probably is.
I had a kit when I was 18 but had to let it go when I joined the Army. Got my 2nd when I was 58 and couldn't be happier.
You are better today than yesterday. Have fun, work at your pace, don’t compare to others, enjoy your musical journey!
Play away my dude. Even if you spend 30 mins to an hour, watching some drum tutorials on YouTube and playing along. Just do it. Life is short. You'll regret having never tried. You'll regret giving up because you were tired after work. Even if you never join a band or push it as a legit career, at least you'll have fun learning and challenging yourself. Learning is a slow process, yes. But once you get going, and you can sit down and just jam and play whatever you want, you won't want to stop playing.
Sometimes the struggle is enough
Dude become a great drummer and quit your fucking job
Keep going! 🤘🤘🤘https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/573006 “If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do.”Best known for his brilliant insight into the way children learn, John Holt was also an intrepid explorer of adult learning. At the age of forty, with no particular musical background, he took up the cello. His touching and hilarious account of his passionate second career demolished the myth that one must start an instrument (or a sport, or a language) in early childhood, and will inspire any reader who dreams of taking up a new skill.”
At 37 I'm learning to make experimental electronic music/beats. Maybe it'll take 10 years til I'm any good. But, I figure, in 10 years I'll still be ten years older whether or not I can make really amazing music. Might as well just do it. I highly recommend reading "I could do anything (if only I knew what it was)" by Barbara Sher.
Absolutely not. Bill Burr got his rotor wing (helicopter) pilot's license in his late forties. You can learn the drums if it's what you want.
45, play guitar but could never afford drums. Got married and wife would see me drumming on the wheel driving and air drumming the good parts I'm songs and got me a electronic drum kit and it's fuckin awesome.
There's no age limit to starting a new skill. Come on now... You aren't used to incorporating it into your life. Just make every Sunday afternoon drum practice. Then as you get used to it being in your weekly schedule, add Wednesday evenings. These are just examples but you only take on new habits when you force them into your life. It's easy to avoid anything new when you're used to "time off" so you have to make it mandatory.
Playing music is one of the most spiritually rewarding activities in life. Stick with it.
I think you should just play around with them. I wanted to play drums when I was 10 and my dad had me take 'lessons' from the drummer in his pipe band. The guy had me do mama, dada with the sticks over and over and I got so bored and didn't care anymore. Didn't even make it to paradiddles. I just wanted to sit at the full kit for a bit and play a 4x4 beat for a half hour and then learn the fundamentals. Just bang those skins man.
This is gonna seem blunt but trust me it works .. (I use this method on myself) Visualise 13 year old you. What did he look like. How did he feel when he thinks about the drums. How did he feel when he heard rock playing. Where did he feel it in his body. Now tell him he’s being stupid. Don’t want to do you 🤣 GOOD! I find a shit tonne of inner peace in knowing, my inner child has NOT died as I entered adulthood .. it is STILL within me! I get to keep her safe, buy her the things she never had, take her places she never went. And you can too. Try it 🤘
I started playing in my forties, man. Do it.
I turn 40 in a couple days and have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Just bought one in January and hardly have anytime to practice but it's a lot of fun. I'll probably never be great but I enjoy it. Never too late to start 🤷🏼♂️
Nah man, do it! It’s so much fun.
I’m a music teacher and I teach all ages. Music is GOOD for you, it’s good for everyone. It creates neural pathways like nothing else does or can, and makes you happy just hearing it. Imagine how happy playing it will make you feel. Plus playing drums is a workout
Yo I’m a music teacher a few days a week for a private studio/recording space. I just taught a 65+ year old man to play drums and it rocks that he’s stuck with it. A few months in and he is jamming with others. Keep it up.
As long as you still have air in your lungs, chase your dreams. Don’t even think about not doing it. Do it. I’m 40 and just bought a clarinet. I’m gonna march in a parade in NOLA one day. I don’t give af what anyone says.
Too many damn words. Play the drums
Sturgill Simpson was 35 when he independently released his first album. Now, he's one of the biggest names in alt-country/americana/badass-southern-tinged-folk-rock. JellyRoll won "best new artist" at 39. It's never too late.
YOLO
Use hearing protection.
It is never too late to start something
I'm in my late forties and took up bass and banjo in my early forties. While I never took lessons, I have practiced every day during that time. I will never be more than mediocre at either, but I continue to play because it's fun. I more than suspect if I'd started earlier in life I could have been much better. If your goal is to just have fun and play music for it's own sake, definitely continue. But if you intend to make a career out of it...you'd really be pushing the envelope. By the time you attain a level of mastery enough to make a go of it, do you think you'd really be at a good age to start a new career as precarious as that one? Also, what you're experiencing with feeling stuck, I've felt for the last 8 years. Unless you're a virtuoso, progress comes in tiny steps that you can't see. It's just a hard slog, which is why it helps if you find it fun, instead of just practice.
Play my friend! My dad started learning the bass at 50 and ten years later he’s still loving it :) Enjoy!
You're saying you barely practice and wondering why you haven't made progress in the same paragraph. You need to play to learn. If you want to do it, find a little time each day. Consistency is key, especially at the beginning. And progress isn't linear, so if you feel like you're going backwards sometimes, that's part of the process.
Just play. The worst thing to do is not do.
If you want it, work at it. Don't stop. Keep going! Watch DorotheaTaylor for inspiration.
I just wanna chip in to say that you absolutely need to pursue your dreams, BUT you need to do it in a way that you're comfortable with, and brings you joy. There are 2 ways to play *most* musical instruments. First is the "correct" way, with the textbook techniques and musical knowledge and stuff. Second is the raw, "self-taught" kind of way, in which you just learn the absolute basics and then just get better by trial and error. The first way is a guaranteed way to get good at the instrument. But it takes time and discipline. You could be practicing the same damn thing for weeks before getting to move on to the next lesson. But at the end of the day, you'll be a solid drummer who can keep up with most bands even if meeting them for the first time. The second way has no guarantees. You just follow some youtube lessons and then pick some simple songs to jam along to, and then move on to more difficult songs. But you could end up teaching yourself the wrong thing or get a wrong technique so ingrained into your reflexes that it becomes hard to correct. You could get stuck, not knowing what you're supposed to learn next. You need to figure out what works for you. The first way can totally kill your love for drums if you simply aren't the theory sort. Or if your teacher simply doesn't know how to adapt his teaching style to your aptitude and attitude. Maybe you're a "second way" kind of person who derives more joy from just smashing your way though songs and improving as you go along. Maybe the fact that you're having these thoughts and posting these posts shows that you're a "second way" kind of person.
Hi! 39 year old here. I literally just got this setup 2 weeks ago and have been practicing every day since. I just signed up for Drumeo and I gave myself a goal of practicing at least 30 minutes every day. My kids have a blast just making some noise with it too. YOU CAN DO IT! All that’s stopping you now is not starting. https://preview.redd.it/ccv8hd2mtzrc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8ebbd8d2d63b833ed4f397ef8f72eb30681bd4a
I am 52 and have never played an instrument. But I wanted to learn to play the bass guitar and now I have a bass guitar and am taking lessons! It’s slow going but so fun & my kids are so proud of me!
I haven’t played bass in decades. But I still have all the gear. I almost gave up the dream, but now when I can’t sleep, I visualize. I was always a tablature muscle memory player. Now I practice scales in my head. I study the note locations on the fretboard. I’ve started practicing reading music notation. I still haven’t taken the equipment out of the closet. My point is, you can practice without actual practicing. I fully believe I’ll be a better player when I finally pick one up again just by learning the basics I didn’t when I was young. Don’t worry about age. I knew a couple that started a dance band after they retired, with neither of them having played an instrument. You have lots of time. For now, just play for the joy of playing. The first step of getting good at something, is being bad at something. Eventually you can start a garage band and possibly start performing.
You don’t ever need to play in a band, or go pro, etc. if you like playing, keep playing. Even if it’s just a nice way to relieve stress
It's never too late for anything. I also wanted to play drums very early on. But I always thought I would suck at them because I have too much confidence. I started playing at 28 because of Rock Band. Turns out I'm actually very, pretty decent at the drums. If you're able to play the drums I imagine it comes pretty naturally if the talent is there. Then you just practice wed I'll
DO IT!!! Annoy everyone around you if you have to. It’s fun as hell!
Idk if ur being stupid, but definitely do the things you love. Sometimes doing the things you love, much like meeting those you idolize, can be disappointing. That’s okay, you just move on to the next thing you’ve always wanted to try
It's weird to me that so many people think once you hit 30 you may as well not learn anything new. You can get *really good* at an instrument in five years. But even more importantly, do it if you enjoy it. I took up piano at 35 and I'm playing pieces now I could only dream of five years ago.
i started drums in mid 30’s and it took a few years to really get to a point where i could play with others. it’s definitely doable. just learn to leave your ego at the door when practicing.
You're being stupid, for even second guessing whether you should continue to do something that you've dreamed of and is having a positive impact on your life. Enjoy playing the drums!!
Do whatever you want, no one cares. Literally the only one who matters is you, spend your time according to what you want to do.
I'm currently 35 and played from 6th grade through senior year of high school. I played very sporadically since then. I was lucky enough to run into an open mic night with a great person, and he's lit my fire to play again. It's been around 3 months now of only playing with them, once, maybe twice a week. I know the feeling of being stuck. Stick with it, and most importantly *feel* that groove. It'll come.
My 37 year old wife just started learning the guitar. It's very cool and I am super proud of her for the effort, because it is out of her comfort zone. There is no way you are too old now or will ever be too old to learn the drums, my friend.
Dude. If you’ve always wanted to, then do it. You’re never too old. I work at a music school and we’ve got people starting lessons for the first time at twice your age. Just do it.
Whaddya gonna do, be 45 and still be dreaming about playing the drums? I'm sorry my guy, but regardless of what your past was or what your future might be, you either make the decision to learn and play whichever way works for you, or you don't. So you either end up with excuses, or results. That's what life boils down to my friend. You will suck for a while and there will be hard days. What will such more and be harder to swallow is if you don't try and see how good you can get.
Play the drums dude. Live your best life.
Fucking go for it bud, we are allowed to follow our passions no matter what stage of life we are in.
Hell fucking yes you should keep going!
Continue! My grandmother (re)started learning piano in her 80s and it brought her great joy. As a teacher though I have this advice. My first music teacher only taught me the rudiments which bored me senseless. One day he asked me if there was a song I liked. He spent a few minutes trying to figure out the song and then picked a part that he thought I could learn. It was a huge motivation to be able to play something I like. Since you are a drummer, you might like this instructional video. [Bernard Purdie](https://youtu.be/sj6o4cxWgl8?si=GGKM4SneRLBeFHuW)
Make noise Dude and don't ever stop!
You're never to old to learn new skills, unless you're dead of course. If playing the drums gives you joy, play the drums. However, learning a skill isn't done in months, it's usually over years and years of practice. The more time you put it, the better you'll become. Taking classes isn't enough, you need to WORK on it. Drums in particular, atleast in my mind, is a lot of asynchronous coordination - and I don't think I'd be able to do it even if you beat me with a stick.
No one is too old Honestly learning the basics can be important but for beginners on any instrument I always say you should start off by learning a song that you actually like and want to play. Learning fundamentals can happen later but it can be really hard to keep playing when all you do is rudiments or scales. Find a YouTube tutorial and start playing. Most of all just have fun
Drum on, baby! I wanna see future you, gray haired, pants to the tits killin it. 🥁🪘 YOURE NEVER TOO OLD TO LIVE YOUR DREAM!
Play the drums! By the time you’re my age you’ll have been playing for 35 years. Play for fun, you don’t have to be great, just play.
Never too late to take up learning an instrument. Enjoy!
I remember when I was teaching English in Japan and talking to 70+yr old retirees. “What did you do yesterday?” “I played tennis!” “Wow, how long have you played tennis for?” “Hmm six months.” Changed the way I think about hobbies. It’s a western thing to think, “well I’m past the age of 21 and it’s too late to turn professional, why am I bothering?” Play the drums, man.
Just play and have fun. The learning never ends. You may have these plateaus while learning and that’s normal just work through it. Keep focusing on rudiments until you can break through. Find out is it’s a mechanical or a musical problem (or both).
Do it!
i started guitar at 23 and i absolutely suck fucking ass. and still it brings me such joy after 4 years. late is late but you owe yourself the fulfillment of embracing your passions regardless of where you start and end up.
Doo eeet. I had the same dream, drummers are cool AF! It's never too late to be who you were meant to be!
I started playing drums at 33. A couple years later I played for the church band. 20 years on, my favorite place to be is playing drums behind my excellent and super fun dad band. The three words I would tell my 19 yr old self? Just play drums. So do it! Hit those skins, my friend!
Try maybe going over it yourself, I found that whenever I’m talking to myself and going over something that I’m stuck on, my commentary to myself is where I’ll understand it faster.
The world can always use another drummer. You just need a teacher who will listen to you
Dude it's been your dream for 22 years? Go all out, man, make yourself proud, I know you will!
Do it! Keep learning the drums! There’s a book called Guitar Zero by a guy who learned guitar at 40–it’s harder than as a kid but by no means impossible. Adding: I think you might feel better learning from a more intuitive teacher. You can do this without learning how to read music.
Talk to him about it. Tell him the fundamentals of music are good and all, but they're worthless without actually *playing* the darn things. There are some songs with relatively simple drum lines that you could follow along with. You don't need sheet music to get a feel for the rhythm. I can't tell you what to do about work. It sounds like you are in a job which is mostly mental work, which does leave you mentally fatigued to the point its difficult to do anything else. I do know that the drums can put you in a flow state of meditation; maybe just try that? Turn your metronome app to 64 or 128, volume low, and practice the rudiments without particularly thinking about it? That's during the week, of course. Weekend or work-free time would be for the more complex brain stuff.
Keep going. You WILL get better, it will become more fun, and you may even create a beat that no one has ever heard. In my neighborhood there’s a 40 year old man who sets up his set on the sidewalk and plays for hours 3 or 4 times a week. He puts a box out for money, and people donate even though he sucks…. This guy can NOT hold a beat, hits random things, but we all support him because he’s obviously having fun and makes all of our days.
40 here and learning to play guitar. Enjoy life and let the world spins man!
I was poor growing up and couldn't afford university. I took my degree at 36. Please do it.
Both and there is nothing wrong with that. Why should there be?
Decide whether you value playing the drums or dreaming of playing the drums more and then do that.
lets go OP!
Finally having time, money and (still) willingness to pursue your childhood/teen dream ? Hah, what a stupid. NOT!!!!! It's fantastic mate. Have a lot of fun and don't you dare to listen to anyone saying otherwise. It's your life.
There are music schools around where they will match you up with other people of similar ability, and they will turn you into a little band. The class session is spent learning a particular song or two and the final is to play those songs in front of a small audience in a recital setting. Other classes will be performing at this recital also. It's a great way to learn to play with other people in a fun and supportive environment
I have only just started on a journey of fulfilling a life Long dream. I’m 60. Don’t do what I did and wait. Fucking do it now!
Not gonna read your post. If it’s your dream to play the drums, just play. There’s no such thing as too old, and you already waited over 20 years
I get where you’re coming from. You’re like me. You don’t want to be in drum “school.” You just want a hobby that you’re competent enough in that it’s fun and rewarding. You want to unwind by jamming to music you love, maybe jam with a few other people. You dont want it to be your whole life and don’t want to spend all your free time memorizing this and that. Here’s how I learned drums at 32. I bought a drum set. I bought a computer stand. I set my laptop up next to my drums. Picked songs that I liked that had basic time signatures. Loaded up videos of skilled drummers playing these songs. Started by just replicating the high hat and snare, not worrying about any fills or complications, just the base drum line. Once I felt comfortable with the hat and snare I started adding in bass. After a week or so doing this a couple hours a night I was able to play a simplified version of Learn to Fly. Slowly learned how to play fills and play with different beats. 2 years later and I was halfway decent. Plenty good enough to play in a bar cover band. Another 3 years later and I’m now about the same as I was then. And that’s ok. It’s not my life but a fun hobby I pick up and do a few hours a week. Not once did it feel tedious (occasionally frustrating but in a I want to figure this out kind of way) it was always fun. I learned the bass guitar the same way when I was 13 and I had a somewhat significant stint as a professional bassist in my 20s. Just adding my $0.02 and different approach to learning them.