It’s 1968 and I’m in 8th grade and had to go to an assembly in the gym. And like cattle they stuffed us into the bleachers row by row until we’re all, well, stuffed into the bleachers. And sitting right behind me was probably the cutest and most popular girl in school. Of course being a nobody I was a complete wreck just sitting in front of her. Well at the assembly the swing choir did a couple numbers and had an upright piano and drums with them. So they started singing the 5th Dimension classic “Up, Up and Away” and behind me I heard her lean over and tell the girl next to her, “those drums are SO cool”. And you guessed it: I raced home after school and said “Mom, I gotta learn to play the drums!” So for Easter 1968 my mom bought me my first pair of drumsticks. That girl never knew what she started that day, but as they say, the rest is history……
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What got you started playing drums?
- Thread starter Stevis
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rhumbagirl
Senior Member
Last time I tried to acquire the Acrolite it was a disaster - lugs falling apart within a week. I'm at the point that I'm going for the newer ones for $500 with 10 lugs. When I have the cash that is - root canal last week destroyed that idea real fast!
Skul1Drummer
Active Member
I got started playing drums when I went to hang at a friend's house in my freshman year. and everyone there could play an instrument except me. but the drum set in the corner was open so I tried it and loved it (mainly because it was so loud.) and 2 months later I bought my Alesis turbo mesh kit.
green glass drum
Silver Member
The AM radio in 1962.
doggyd69b
Platinum Member
For most of us, something or someone made us choose the drums over other instruments (Mainly guitars)
I started at 5 years old when my grandfather gifted me a small drum for Christmas (I believe I had that drum for ONE day, and then the drum disappeared to never be seen again) I bet I was driving my grandfather crazy banging on that thing all day long so he probably was the one that disappeared that drum.
From then on, I always gravitated towards drums.
I started making my drum sets of cardboard boxes and can lids (which surprisingly worked ok as cymbals) I used to "play" along my favorite recordings.
It wasn't until many years later (when I turned 18) that I was able to buy my first drums (a really beat up used Ludwig kit probably from the 60s).
I never took lessons but I taught myself by watching videos (where the drummer is featured in about 5 percent of the video) and mostly by listening to the music. Still do that to this day and it has served me well many bands and gigs later.
I am still improving and still have the same level of passion I had when I first played a drum.
Being a teenager in the 80's made me very aware of bands and music in general (as we all know the guitar players stole the spotlight for a while until Tommy Lee brought the drummer to the front by pure showmanship and simple playing that served their songs well. He is to this day one of my biggest influences because he showed me that you don't need to destroy the drums to look bad ass, you just need to mimic hard hits through controlled movements instead and playing upside down was just awesome.
I love everything drums from playing to building to programming and of course hearing other drummers play.
What is your story?
I started at 5 years old when my grandfather gifted me a small drum for Christmas (I believe I had that drum for ONE day, and then the drum disappeared to never be seen again) I bet I was driving my grandfather crazy banging on that thing all day long so he probably was the one that disappeared that drum.
From then on, I always gravitated towards drums.
I started making my drum sets of cardboard boxes and can lids (which surprisingly worked ok as cymbals) I used to "play" along my favorite recordings.
It wasn't until many years later (when I turned 18) that I was able to buy my first drums (a really beat up used Ludwig kit probably from the 60s).
I never took lessons but I taught myself by watching videos (where the drummer is featured in about 5 percent of the video) and mostly by listening to the music. Still do that to this day and it has served me well many bands and gigs later.
I am still improving and still have the same level of passion I had when I first played a drum.
Being a teenager in the 80's made me very aware of bands and music in general (as we all know the guitar players stole the spotlight for a while until Tommy Lee brought the drummer to the front by pure showmanship and simple playing that served their songs well. He is to this day one of my biggest influences because he showed me that you don't need to destroy the drums to look bad ass, you just need to mimic hard hits through controlled movements instead and playing upside down was just awesome.
I love everything drums from playing to building to programming and of course hearing other drummers play.
What is your story?
jda
Diamond Member
I actually took 4 lessons on guitar first..
When couldn't press that low F down with fingers I said - I dropped it (Still have a 1st Guitar lesson book) and still/ have an acoustic and know some chords scales and stuff.
I don;t know why I changed right to the drums but I think the wood; the screws nuts bolts steel, washers.. It was like a contained Mechanical wonderland and I went Yes Go
When couldn't press that low F down with fingers I said - I dropped it (Still have a 1st Guitar lesson book) and still/ have an acoustic and know some chords scales and stuff.
I don;t know why I changed right to the drums but I think the wood; the screws nuts bolts steel, washers.. It was like a contained Mechanical wonderland and I went Yes Go
bud7h4
Silver Member
I'm not sure. I was already playing guitar for a couple years at age 10 when I began playing the leather recliner with drumsticks, followed by assorted tin cans with plastic tops.
A year later My parents bought me an old no brand 5 piece and I started playing along with my records. This was the first drum set I had ever even seen besides photos on the backs of album covers and such.
So that's how it started but that's not how I became a drummer.
The only answer I have to that question is that I "became a drummer" through listening to music interactively by way of the drum kit.
A year later My parents bought me an old no brand 5 piece and I started playing along with my records. This was the first drum set I had ever even seen besides photos on the backs of album covers and such.
So that's how it started but that's not how I became a drummer.
The only answer I have to that question is that I "became a drummer" through listening to music interactively by way of the drum kit.
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Square
El Conquistador
Guitar player 14 to 55 years old. I had “played” drums during that time here and there. By played I mean I could do the basic money beat and roll across the toms. That was it.
I was lucky enough to take a handful of lessons from Simon Wright in my twenties. Even owned my own kit then. Got divorced and forgot the drums and continued with guitar.
Fast forward to being 55. I had a stroke and my right hand didn’t work very well afterward. I dug out a pair of sticks and a practice pad and started my own version of physical therapy to regain function in the right hand. Guitar playing was impossible.
After about a year on the pad I was hooked. I bought the first of many kits and started taking lessons. Now at 61, the hand works fine. I can play guitar again but haven’t really touched it in about 5 years. I did take up bass a while back.
Drums are, since the stroke, my primary instrument. There is no looking back. I really wish I had continued in my twenties. Right now I play about as you would expect from a 4-5 year student. Oh well hopefully I have another 20-30 years to play.
I was lucky enough to take a handful of lessons from Simon Wright in my twenties. Even owned my own kit then. Got divorced and forgot the drums and continued with guitar.
Fast forward to being 55. I had a stroke and my right hand didn’t work very well afterward. I dug out a pair of sticks and a practice pad and started my own version of physical therapy to regain function in the right hand. Guitar playing was impossible.
After about a year on the pad I was hooked. I bought the first of many kits and started taking lessons. Now at 61, the hand works fine. I can play guitar again but haven’t really touched it in about 5 years. I did take up bass a while back.
Drums are, since the stroke, my primary instrument. There is no looking back. I really wish I had continued in my twenties. Right now I play about as you would expect from a 4-5 year student. Oh well hopefully I have another 20-30 years to play.
River19
Senior Member
4th grade in 1984.......kids interested in playing an instrument were encouraged/allowed to pick one for school band. Since everything else was brass or woodwind and in my mind "uncool" at the time, the only obvious choice was drums. Started with the classic wood and rubber angled drum pad and a pair of sticks......eventually leading to a used CB700 drum set in "wine red".......rest was history.
Duck Tape
Platinum Member
I was 1st trumpet in high school concert band and they put us up the back near the drums and I was just fascinated. I took up drums not long after, it was like a hyper fixation. I was 13.
I also played piano prior but I rarely touched either trumpet or piano after age 13.
I also played piano prior but I rarely touched either trumpet or piano after age 13.
Rattlin' Bones
Gold Member
My dad signed me up for trumpet and it was then I found out you just don't blow into it lol. Changed to drums right after.
alparrott
Diamond Member
Got interested in school band in like 3rd grade. Started on trumpet, switched to saxophone, and actually was first chair all-state alto and tenor for a few years. Took up bass because my best friend took up guitar, but drummers were more scarce than bass players so I took that up next. And while I still play bass and also learned a bit of guitar, drums have been my main instrument for going on 40 years now.