Learn To Play Drums On Your Lap
That’s right, no drum set needed.
When I was young and wanted to learn to play drums, there was really no way my parents could afford a drum set, not even a cheap one. In fact, I’m not sure I ever actually asked for one, though it would have been a nice addition to my bedroom, I’m sure.
I’m not the world’s greatest drummer, in fact I know I’m probably mediocre at best when it comes to shock and awe tactics on the drums, but then again, I’ve always felt like a good drummer should be felt, not necessarily seen so I value consistency over flash any day. That means all of you double kickers and cymbal killers don’t really impress me that much.
Give me a solid 4 on the floor that keeps the band together over Animal from the Muppets any day. Though I do enjoy some good drum soloing occasionally, it’s not necessary, and in fact might even be a distraction when it comes to drumming to create environments for worship.
Is it Hard to Learn the Drums?
Not really. Playing the drums really isn’t rocket science. It just takes a bit of natural rhythm, a desire to learn, and a bit of discipline to move past the “do I hit the snare now?” to the cruise control steady rhythm machine mode that all worship leaders dream of their drummers exhibiting. The bottom line is that if you really want to learn to play the drums all you need is the tools God gave you: your hands and feet.
You don’t need a set. You don’t need a practice pad. You don’t even need sticks.
All you need is your lap.
Lap Drums?
Seriously? Yep. I play the drum occasionally on our worship team, even though I’m the point leader of the ministry and we have 2 other capable drummers at the moment. This month I’ll play several times because one of our drummers is “off” for the month and the other works every other weekend. I jump right in and don’t miss a beat (no pun intended) because I learned early how to drum without ever hitting a drum head or cymbal.
I learned how to play the drums on my lap. Here’s how you do it:
1. Sit in a chair or on the couch.
Make sure your sitting up with good posture. You don’t want to be all slumpy when you get older, do you? It’s important to sit up so that when and if you ever do get to sit on an actual drum set you won’t look like you’ve been lounging on the couch learning on your lap while watching Dr. Phil fix someone’s marriage.
2. Label your left* hand: SNARE.
You don’t literally have to break out the Sharpie, but always remember that your left hand is going to be your SNARE hand.
3. Label your right hand: HAT.
Again, make a mental note that your right hand is going to be your HI-HAT hand.
4. Label your left knee/thigh: SNARE.
For this learning exercise we’re going to keep the left hand with the left knee. When you hit the SNARE drum (your left knee/thigh) you’ll be using your left hand.
5. Label your right knee/thigh: HAT.
When you hit the HI-HAT (your right knee/thigh) you’ll be using your right hand.
6. Label your right foot: KICK.
Since you don’t have a drum set in front of you, there won’t be a kick drum, right? So you’re gonna have to improvise and stomp that KICK sound. It helps if you do this on a surface that gives you a little noise so you can hear it. Or you might just want to lift your foot a little higher and make that KICK really sound out.
* If you’re left-handed, switch the hands and feet around.
So Now Your Lap Drums Are All Set Up, What Next?
Assuming you’ve never played drums before, you’re probably going to find that even the most basic beats will require coordination between your hands and KICK foot that you didn’t know existed. Well, fret not, it’s not too hard to learn and even the most uncoordinated can usually pick this up in no time at all with a little determination, work, time, and Red Bull.
When I was a kid I started with a pretty basic pattern (beat) and grew from there.
Listen to the 3 distinct elements in this audio clip.
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- Kick: It’s the low thump that happens on 1 and 3 of each measure (count 4 beats for each measure). Right Foot.
- Snare: It’s the higher pitched crack that happens on 2 and 4 of each measure. Left Hand.
- Hi-Hat: It’s the metallic sounding cymbal that happens on every beat and on the 8th notes in between. All in all you hear it 8 times per measure (there’s 8 of them, hence the name 8th note). You count it like: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & with a hit on the numbers and the &s (for 8 hits total per measure). Right Hand.
And here’s how it looks:
Here’s what I think we should do! Even if you’re a drummer of many years or if you’re a drum noob, make a short video of yourself attempting to play your lap and post a link here in the comments section. I want an ARMY of lap drummers!
This is probably my favorite blog post of the year! Hahaha. I love it. :D
Ha! Thanks Kayln Where’s your video!?
Plus I love the Yellow Jackets T-Shirt.
Uh…Maybe you’ll get a video later…Maybe. :D
Well, I am very intentionate about learning the guitar right now, but in 20 years when I have mastered it, I will move on to the drums.
Actually I’ve filled in on the drums twice at church, but if it’s anything more then the beat in your video, I would not be the first choice.
@Toby: Keep working on that guitar, but you have to at least give me a “fun” video of you lap drumming! Don’t let me down!
You asked for it {seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/95gZla2Frd_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:”You asked for it ”}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/ginr8REaQK”}}}
@Toby! That’s what I’m talking about! Yessssss!
Thanks and Puppy Licks {seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/TyADtB1ZAL_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:”Thanks an Puppy Licks ”}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/aQA4A11byp”}}}
What a brilliant post, Russ.
I’ve always been in awe of people who can just sit down and drum (or beatbox) in time. Possibly surprisingly for a musician who loves beat-driven electronica, I’m the most arrhythmic person I know. Which probably helped (or came from) my time in choirs doing things in all sorts of odd time signatures (music which had a different time signature every 2 to 3 bars!!)
But it doesn’t help with dancing or drumming…
I might be back with a video to prove that…maybe…
@David: Definitely join the lap drum CHOIR here at russhutto.com. It’ll be fun!
Such a great post Russ. You have had my girls (5 and 1 yrs) wrapped!! Such a sight seeing them trying to play their knees but even funnier seeing Mum trying. I think there must be something awry in our genes David, wonderful bro, as well as all that contemporary singing.
David has me on a mission to master iMovie so we’ll see what happens soon.
Great post! Your appeal will be far reaching I am sure.
Cee
@Cee: Awesome, would love to see some family lap drumming!
WOWZA! Russ you’re so talented and COOL!!! lolz…
I wanna join the choir… :)…
OOHHH I could change it up a tad and be the air-guitarist!! haha!
Cya tonite!!!
@Maddie: thanks dear, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
That’s how I learned. Growng up in the Hutto family was like being at lap drum practice 24 hours a day! All us boys and my dad probably drove the ladies of the house crazy with constant drum beating everywhere. Master the lap drums and Russ will have to post about counter drums next!
@Billy: Thanks for stopping by, BRO! (Billy is my brother and a great musician and worship leader!)
I’m getting too old for drums – heh. I wish I had known this 40 years ago when I was your age!
@Papa: But if you just broke out your Smith & Wesson goggles, you could rock it!
“2. Label your left* hand: SNARE.
You don’t literally have to break out the Sharpie”
thank you. you are so detailed.
ok. im gonna have to try this with kota.
i’ll be back!
WAY too many comments here with no video!!
I, for one, can’t wait to see Tam’s lap drumming!!!
@Tam: Waiting for a vid!!!!
@Toby: You’re the bravest, I guess. Still waiting on Fred and Tam to post something…maybe we should bug Mandy Thompson too!
Trying my best “bugging” technique now!!
Those west coasters seem to think they need sleep. I don’t get it!
{seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/7Ut6Vyb5Xj_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:” ”}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/GoWyq5skeQ”}}}
There it is :)
Yay Mandy!
Wow, I’m impressed!! Well done :-).
Now Tam will come with Kota and embarrass us all :P.
Oh yeah. Nobody can drum like Kota. (Especially Tam!)
Still waiting for Fred and Tam!
and David!
Well, it IS 2.30AM… {seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/vLaOOZVQkQ_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:”Well, it IS 2.30AM… ”}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/N41HlN0RHV”}}}
Wow David that was amazing!
It was like a concert and a date movie all in one!
You hung out, you gazed into each other’s eyes, You fought, then you made out!
Awesome! All in 24 seconds.
I think lapdrumming has been missing in romcoms.
Haha, definitely!
Thanks for playing along!
The things a wife has to do to get a husband’s attention. I never figured drumming was one of them – who knew? :-)
Diane! Thanks for joining David in this experiment! It was lovely!!
WOW David!! I’ve had this wrong the whole time. Your including the wife in the video looks much more fun than mine!
I guess I’ll know for next time!!
Well done!!!