5 Mistakes Most Finger Drummers Make (And How To Fix Them)

Summary

In this instructional video, finger drumming instructor Dragon outlines common mistakes made by finger drummers and offers solutions to enhance their skills. He emphasizes the importance of a proper pad layout for realistic drumming, maintaining a consistent layout to develop muscle memory, and avoiding fixed velocity sensitivity to control dynamics. Additionally, he advises on the significance of consistent fingering positions and the pitfalls of trying to learn too many techniques at once. Dragon invites viewers to his free starter course for a comprehensive guide to finger drumming, aiming to build a solid foundation for aspiring drummers.

Takeaways

• 🎶 Dragon, a finger drumming instructor with over 10 years of experience, emphasizes that finger drumming is a legitimate musical instrument that should be treated with the same respect as traditional drums.
• 🎵 The importance of having a proper pad layout for finger drumming is highlighted, as it can greatly affect the efficiency and realism of drumming on pads.
• 🔄 Avoiding the 'mirror layout' is suggested for those aiming for realistic drumming, as it does not accurately reflect the hand isolation techniques used in traditional drumming.
• 📐 Dragon offers a free finger drumming starter course that includes a full pad layout breakdown and setup, which is crucial for beginners to establish a solid foundation.
• 🚫 Changing pad layouts too often is discouraged as it can hinder the development of muscle memory and the consistency needed for proficient finger drumming.
• 🔨 The pitfalls of using fixed velocity sensitivity are discussed, noting that it can lead to a lack of dynamic control in one's playing.
• 👆 Inconsistency in fingering, or the positioning of fingers on the pads, is identified as a common mistake that can impede the development of muscle memory and efficient drumming.
• 📚 Learning finger drumming should start with mastering the basics and gradually building up, rather than trying to learn too many complex techniques at once.
• 🛠️ Dragon's Foundation course is recommended for those looking to develop a comprehensive set of finger drumming skills in a structured and progressive manner.
• 💡 The script encourages viewers to focus on learning good habits early on to facilitate faster progress and avoid the need for correcting bad habits later.
• ✅ Lastly, the video script invites viewers to share any other common mistakes they've observed among finger drummers, fostering a community of learning and improvement.

Q & A

What is the name of the finger drumming instructor mentioned in the script?

The name of the finger drumming instructor is Dragon.

How long has Dragon been playing finger drums according to the script?

Dragon has been playing finger drums for over 10 years.

What is Dragon's mission in teaching finger drumming?

Dragon's mission is to help teach people how to play finger drums like a real drummer.

What does Dragon consider finger drumming to be in terms of musical legitimacy?

Dragon considers finger drumming to be a legitimate way to play drums, treating it as a real musical instrument.

What is the first major mistake Dragon discusses that finger drummers often make?

The first major mistake Dragon discusses is having the wrong pad layout for finger drumming.

Why is having a standardized pad layout important for finger drumming, according to Dragon?

Having a standardized pad layout is important for finger drumming because it optimizes the setup of the drums, making them easier to play and allowing for more styles of drumming in one setup.

What is the mirror layout mentioned by Dragon, and why is it not the best for realistic drumming?

The mirror layout is a popular pad setup where the pads are split in half and the hands alternate to hit all drum hits. It is not the best for realistic drumming because it does not effectively mimic the way drummers isolate their hands on an acoustic drum kit.

What is the issue with changing the pad layout too often when learning finger drumming?

Changing the pad layout too often inhibits the development of muscle memory, as it is crucial to have a basic standard in place to develop consistent muscle memory when learning a new instrument.

What is fixed velocity sensitivity, and why is it a mistake to use it when learning finger drumming?

Fixed velocity sensitivity is a setting where the pad controller gives the same level of output regardless of how hard the pad is hit. It is a mistake to use it when learning because it trains the muscles to ignore the power of the hits, leading to a lack of control over dynamics.

What is the significance of consistent fingering in finger drumming, as explained in the script?

Consistent fingering is significant in finger drumming because it provides a standardized central position from which to play the drums more effectively, aiding in the development of muscle memory and skill in each finger.

What is the final mistake Dragon identifies that finger drummers often make, and how can it be addressed?

The final mistake Dragon identifies is trying to learn too many things at once. It can be addressed by starting with the basics and gradually building up skills one step at a time, following a structured learning path.

What does Dragon recommend for those who want to learn realistic finger drumming?

Dragon recommends checking out his free finger drumming starter course for setup and basics, and then his Foundation course for a complete set of finger drumming skills.

Outlines

00:00

🥁 Finger Drumming Fundamentals and Common Mistakes

Dragon, a finger drumming instructor with over 10 years of experience, introduces the concept of finger drumming as a legitimate form of musical expression. He emphasizes the importance of treating finger drums as a real instrument and avoiding common mistakes that hinder progress. He offers a free finger drumming starter course to help learners master realistic finger drumming techniques. The first mistake discussed is having the wrong pad layout, which can impede effective drumming. Dragon explains the significance of a standardized layout for hand and finger isolation, crucial for playing complex rhythms. He contrasts the ineffective 'mirror layout' with the recommended setup that mirrors an acoustic drum kit for realistic drumming.

05:01

🎶 The Importance of Consistent Pad Layout and Velocity Sensitivity

This paragraph delves into the pitfalls of frequently changing pad layouts and the importance of establishing a consistent setup to build muscle memory. Just as a guitar has a standard tuning, finger drummers should maintain a standardized pad layout to optimize learning and performance. Dragon also addresses the issue of fixed velocity sensitivity, which can lead to a lack of dynamic control in playing. He advises against setting the sensitivity to maximum, as it trains the muscles to ignore the force of the hit, thus hindering the development of nuanced dynamics in drumming.

10:02

👆 Developing Consistent Fingering for Effective Finger Drumming

In this section, Dragon discusses the concept of 'fingering' in finger drumming, which refers to the resting position of the fingers on the pads. He compares it to typing on a keyboard, where fingers rest in a home position for efficient typing. Consistent fingering positions are essential for developing muscle memory and playing efficiency. Dragon points out that changing pad layouts can disrupt the development of these positions, as it forces the player to adapt their finger placement. He offers a more comprehensive exploration of fingering positions in his 'Finger Drumming Foundation' course, which is designed to build a complete skill set for finger drummers.

📚 Sequential Learning and Avoiding Information Overload in Finger Drumming

The final paragraph addresses the common mistake of trying to learn too many techniques at once, which can lead to confusion and discouragement. Dragon suggests a step-by-step approach, starting with the basics and gradually adding complexity. He likens learning to building with blocks, where a solid foundation allows for easier acquisition of advanced skills. He promotes his 'Foundation course' as a structured learning path that provides a clear order of learning, ensuring that students are not overwhelmed and can build a strong base of finger drumming skills.

Keywords

💡Finger Drumming

Finger drumming is a form of percussive performance using electronic drum pads with finger movements to play rhythms and beats. It is an alternative to traditional drumming and is often associated with music production. In the video, the instructor emphasizes that finger drumming is a legitimate way to play drums and should be treated with the same respect and skill development as any other musical instrument.

💡Pad Layout

Pad layout refers to the arrangement of drum pads in a setup for finger drumming. It is crucial for the efficiency and effectiveness of playing. The video discusses the importance of having an optimal pad layout that supports hand and finger isolation, which is essential for realistic finger drumming. The instructor mentions that while there are many ways to set up pads, some layouts are not ideal for certain styles of drumming.

💡Hand Isolation

Hand isolation is a drumming technique where each hand plays a different rhythm simultaneously, creating a compound rhythm. The video stresses the importance of hand isolation in drumming and how it should be reflected in the pad layout for finger drumming. The instructor contrasts this with the 'mirror layout', which is less effective for realistic drumming as it involves alternating hands rather than isolating them.

💡Mirror Layout

The mirror layout is a common setup in finger drumming where the pads are arranged in a half and half split, with each hand alternating to hit different pads. The video points out that this layout is not the most effective for realistic finger drumming because it does not mimic the hand isolation technique used by drummers on an acoustic kit.

💡Velocity Sensitivity

Velocity sensitivity is a feature of electronic drum pads that responds to the force of the hit, allowing for dynamic control over the volume and intensity of the sound produced. The video warns against using 'fixed velocity sensitivity', where the output volume is constant regardless of the force of the hit, as it can hinder the development of dynamic control and muscle memory in finger drumming.

💡Fixed Velocity

Fixed velocity is a setting on drum pads or controllers that ignores the force of the hit and produces a consistent output volume. The video explains that using fixed velocity can be detrimental to learning finger drumming as it does not allow the musician to develop a sense of dynamics and control over the intensity of their hits.

💡Fingering

Fingering in the context of finger drumming refers to the resting positions of the fingers on the pads and their positioning for playing. The video emphasizes the importance of consistent fingering positions for developing muscle memory and efficient playing. It contrasts this with the negative impact of changing pad layouts and fingering positions frequently, which can inhibit skill development.

💡Muscle Memory

Muscle memory is the ability of muscles to remember and automatically perform certain movements after they have been repeated a number of times. In the video, the instructor discusses the importance of developing muscle memory in finger drumming through consistent practice with the same pad layout and fingering positions, which allows for more efficient and accurate playing.

💡Dynamics

Dynamics in music refer to the variation in volume and intensity of sound. The video explains how learning finger drumming with fixed velocity sensitivity can negatively affect the development of dynamics, as it does not allow the musician to practice controlling the force of their hits and the resulting sound intensity.

💡Foundation Course

The foundation course mentioned in the video is a comprehensive learning program designed to teach realistic finger drumming. It covers essential principles and building blocks in a step-by-step manner, ensuring that students develop a solid foundation in finger drumming techniques without becoming overwhelmed.

💡Overwhelm

Overwhelm in the context of learning refers to the state of being excessively burdened or confused by too much information or complexity. The video advises against trying to learn too many things at once, as it can lead to overwhelm and potentially discourage learners from continuing with their musical education.

Highlights

Dragon, a finger drumming instructor with over 10 years of experience, emphasizes the legitimacy of finger drumming as a real musical instrument.

Finger drumming should be treated with the same skill and complexity as traditional drumming.

The importance of having standards for learning finger drumming to ensure efficient and effective playing.

Common mistake #1: Having the wrong pad layout, which can hinder the development of realistic drumming skills.

The significance of a standardized pad layout that facilitates hand and finger isolation for advanced drumming techniques.

The mirror layout's ineffectiveness for realistic drumming due to its alternating hand method, contrasting with traditional drumming techniques.

Dragon offers a free finger drumming starter course with a link in the video description for those interested in learning realistic finger drumming.

Common mistake #2: Changing pad layout too often, which disrupts the development of muscle memory.

The necessity of maintaining a consistent pad layout during the initial learning phase to build muscle memory effectively.

Common mistake #3: Using fixed velocity sensitivity, which can lead to a lack of control over dynamics in playing.

The importance of dynamic control in finger drumming and how fixed velocity sensitivity can hinder its development.

Common mistake #4: Inconsistent fingering, which can impede the development of efficient drumming techniques.

The concept of fingering positions as a foundational aspect of finger drumming, similar to home positions on a keyboard.

Common mistake #5: Trying to learn too many things at once, which can lead to confusion and discouragement.

The recommendation to start with the basics and build up gradually to avoid overwhelming oneself with complex techniques.

Dragon's Foundation course, which provides a step-by-step learning path for finger drumming to prevent confusion and ensure a solid foundation.

The benefits of following a proven learning path for finger drumming to facilitate easier learning and skill development.

Dragon invites viewers to share any other mistakes they've noticed among finger drummers in the comments section.

Transcripts

if you're a finger drummer you might be

making one of these crucial mistakes

it's okay they're super common and

they're super easy to fix but they're

also very important to talk about so you

don't mess up your progress so let's

dive

in so first of all my name is Dragon I'm

a finger drumming instructor I've been

playing finger drums for over 10 years

now and my mission is to help teach you

how to play finger drums like a real

drummer if you want to learn the secrets

of realistic finger drumming on the pads

make sure you check out my free finger

drumming starter course there's a link

to that in the video description or in

the pinned comment down below so first

of all in my eyes finger drumming is a

legit way to play drums to be a drummer

it's a real musical instrument and it

needs to be treated as such so a lot of

people look at finger drumming and they

see it as like a toy or like just

pushing buttons but it's actually a real

musical instrument you can play it with

the same degree of skill and complexity

that you could play any other musical

instrument

[Music]

and so it's important to have standards

for learning finger drumming for

understanding the best and the most

efficient ways to actually play the

instrument so the first major mistake

that finger drummers make is having the

wrong pad layout now there are obviously

tons of different ways to set up your

pads for finger drumming so it's not

like only one of them is the correct way

but there are definitely some layouts

that are not optimal and it all depends

really on what your goals are what your

intention is a lot of people lay out

that their pads for sample chopping

style of finger drumming and that works

fine for in most cases but when it comes

to playing the drums on the pads like I

teach there's a lot of pad layouts that

don't work very well you know you want a

pad layout that actually optimizes the

setup of the drums and makes them easier

to play so you can do more things play

more drums and and more styles of

drumming in one setup so for example

like a drum kit if you imagine an

acoustic drum kit they're always kind of

set up in the same way right drummers

are not moving around their drums or

reorganizing them like if you want to

play metal you don't set up your drums

in a different position than if you want

to play jazz or something right and so

for finger drumming it's also really

important to have a standardized layout

that really works for the principles of

drumming which basically are hand and in

our case finger isolation you want to be

able to to play drums on the pads you

want to be able to isolate your hands

and your fingers to do different things

at the same time that's kind of like the

core principle of drumming and so you

want a pad layout that works very well

for that to isolate your hands that's

the essential principle so for example

one really popular layout is the mirror

layout you might have seen this if

you've seen other uh popular finger

drummers not everyone uses it but a lot

of people do where they'll kind of set

up the pads in a half and half split and

uh their hands will be alternating in

order to hit all of the drum hits in

their drum group that is not as

effective for realistic drumming because

a drummer doesn't do that on a drum kit

they're not alternating their hands for

everything they're isolating their hands

so one hand is playing one Rhythm and

the other hand is playing a different

Rhythm but they're coming together and

playing at the same time to create

what's called a compound Rhythm a drum

beat you know and so they're not trying

to hit all the different parts just by

alternating their hands so if you watch

people play the mirror layout you'll

kind of understand you'll see what

they're doing and you might think that

it makes sense but then if you go watch

a drummer play a drum kit you'll see oh

they're not actually doing that at all

they're isolating their limbs to play

different parts together and that's key

so the mirror layout is not the best

option for realistic drum kit style

finger drumming like I teach so if

you're wondering what is the best Pad

layout for realistic hand isolation drum

kit style finger drumming I have a full

pad layout breakdown and setup in my

free starter course which I mentioned at

the beginning of this video I'd highly

recommend if you want to learn realistic

finger drumming going and just getting

that it's free you just put in your

email and you'll get free access to the

course it has a bunch of different

lesson videos I think it's like an hour

and a half of lessons total But it

includes yeah like a full pad layout

setup walkthr free drum emulator

walkthrough so you get like the best

most realistic drum kit samples and

there's also introductory lessons on

actually starting to play drum grooves

with your hands and your fingers in this

style so the second most common finger

drumming mistake is changing your pad

layout too often so this kind of Builds

on the previous point which is you know

having the wrong pad layout to begin

with but in addition to having a pad

layout even if a finger drummer does

have a layout that works pretty well a

lot of times they'll switch it up a lot

or they'll they'll just try a little too

much experimentation in the beginning

when they're still learning and this is

a crucial mistake because when you're

learning a new instrument no matter what

it is you want to have a basic standard

in place so that you can develop muscle

memory so think of it like if you're

learning guitar now a guitar has

standard tuning right the six strings on

a guitar are standardized normally to

one preset tuning and of course you

could tune those strings to anything you

want there are all sorts of different

tunings that you can have on a guitar

but if you're just starting out to learn

it's a really good idea to keep it in

standard tuning and finger drumming is

no exception you want to have that nice

standardized pad layout that gives you

the most options possible which is the

hand isolation layout that I teach and

then from there you don't want to worry

about switching it up too much super

important to just get a solid pad layout

that works at the beginning and then

stick to it at least for a good while

before you experiment and explore other

layouts the third Super common mistake

that I see is using fixed velocity

sensitivity fixed velocity is basically

where you know these pad controllers

that we have when we hit them you know

we're hitting with a certain amount of

force and these pads are designed almost

all of them are are designed to register

how hard we're hitting the pad how much

pressure we're putting and so if you're

on like a drum kit and if I hit the drum

really hard it's going to make a loud

sound and if I hit the drum very soft

it's going to make a quiet sound right

now they've emulated this with these

electronic pad controllers so if you hit

a pad really hard the computer will give

you a loud output and if you hit the pad

really soft the computer will give you a

quiet output this is really good because

it's mimicking what actually happens in

an acoustic sense when you hit something

and the electronic term for this is

called velocity the amount of power that

you're putting into your hit so fixed

velocity sensitivity is when you put in

a setting in the computer or on the pad

controller that tells it no matter how

hard I hit just give me the same level

output every time so normally people

just crank this to a high setting so

even if I'm hitting softly um it's going

to give me a loud full output full

volume if you start playing and learning

how to play finger drums and you have

your velocity sensitivity fixed at

maximum then you're basically training

your muscles to ignore their power

because your ears are going to be

hearing a full volume output no matter

how hard you hit so you'll be sort of

subconsciously training your muscles to

not pay attention to how hard they're

hitting right so your your range of hits

your power is going to be all over the

place you will have no control over

what's called your Dynamics your your

hardness or your softness of your hits

and again at the beginning it's not

super important to worry about Dynamics

but if you're training your ear and your

muscles connected to not have any

awareness of them at all then in the

future when you do want to learn

Dynamics you're already you will have

trained yourself into a bad place into a

place of like oh I didn't realize my

muscles are this off if you turn off

that velocity sensitivity later because

you want to start playing ghost notes

for example then you might find like oh

oh man my my Dynamics are all over the

place and I have no control because I

trained myself to just not have any

control because I just had it on max

volume the whole time so that's a really

big one by the way I see a lot of people

doing that um having just maximum

velocity fixed and it's just a I think

it's a really bad habit because it again

it trains your fingers to just not even

pay attention to what they're

doing so the fourth biggest mistake that

I see a lot of finger drummers make is

inconsistent fingering so what is

fingering well fingering is basically

the placement or positioning of your

finger fers on your pads at when they're

resting so sort of if you imagine like a

a typing at a computer keyboard you your

fingers rest on that like home position

right your fingers are always rested on

those certain keys in the middle row and

from that home position you can easily

reach all the other Keys you know your

thumbs can tap the space bar Etc it's

pretty easy to type all the words that

you can type with your fingers resting

in that home position so that is a

fingering position and on finger drums

it's the same way so you have your pad

layout which is set up to easily play

drums and then on that pad layout you

rest your fingers in a certain home

position in my system of teaching there

are three home positions these home

positions are really important because

again same with having a standard pad

layout they give you this sort of

standardized Central position from where

you can play drums much more effectively

so just like the computer keyboard if

your fingers are resting on that natural

home position it's really easy it's a

lot easier to just type all your words

and so fingering positions on the pads

are the same way so this also kind of

goes hand in hand with finger drummers

who change their pad layout when you

change your pad layout you also end up

kind of changing your home fingering

position you know some finger drummers

will have you know certain fingers

resting on certain pads at one point and

then when they add a different sound or

they change a sound around they'll

they'll kind of switch which fingers

they're using and again this inhibits

the development of your muscle memory

because you want your muscles to be

resting in the same place hitting the

same pads for a long time as you're

learning so that you can really develop

your skills in each of your fingers so

this is a super important one and

fingering positions are not something

that I've seen any other finger drummer

cover or talk about really so if you

want to learn all three of my primary

fingering positions and how to use them

on the finger drums that's taught in my

finger drumming Foundation course so I'd

recommend starting with the free starter

course cuz that's like covers all your

setup and everything that you'll need to

start playing finger drums and you don't

need to worry about fingering positions

at the very beginning but then if you

want to keep building your skills and

get like a complete finger drumming

skill set all of that stuff is covered

in my Foundation course so that's

basically like a deep dive into

realistic finger drumming for anyone who

H is brand new or has a little bit of

finger drumming experience it's like

basically my ultimate all-in-one course

so again start with the free starter

course but then if you want to continue

and really develop a full set of finger

drumming skills I would highly recommend

checking out the foundation course and

I'll link that down in the description

as well so you can check that

out okay so the Fifth and final mistake

that I see a lot of finger drummers

making is trying to learn too many

things at once and this happens to

almost everybody who learns a musical

instrument actually they they get really

excited because usually we get inspired

by musicians that we see online or in

concert or whatever and we're like I

want to do that you know and and that's

awesome that's a great reason to learn

an instrument but then we kind of try to

jump in and learn too many things at

once so at the beginning you just want

to learn simple straightforward

foundational stuff and you want to keep

the whole process fun also you don't

want to like overwhelm yourself with a

bunch of complex techniques or like

music theory and all that stuff all of

that is makes it very easy to get

discouraged or sidetracked or just to

give up on music entirely start with the

basics and just do them one at a time

learning drumming is like playing with

building blocks you start with one

simple building block and then you get

another one and you stack it on top and

the more you can do like that you'll

build a really strong uh Foundation a

base for yourself to where then learning

advanced techniques is a lot easier

because you already have a stable

foundation and going back to the course

I mentioned earlier my Foundation course

that's literally what it does that's the

whole purpose of that course is it gives

you all of the essential principles and

building blocks of finger drumming in

the right order so that you don't have

anything to worry about basically you're

not overwhelmed or confused about what

to learn next it just lays it all out

for you step by step you know you start

with hand isolation playing the basic

principles of all drum grooves and then

you extend that a little bit with finger

isolation you know you start with just

your index fingers and then you add your

middle fingers you know just taking it

one little step at a time and then once

you have your middle fingers you know

playing basic drum grooves um making

them a little bit more complex just one

little piece at a time and then adding

drum fills you know it's like it's a

very stepbystep process and that

actually just makes it faster and easier

when you do it that way instead of just

learning something here or something

there or watching a bunch of random

tutorials from different people who

teach differently it's important to just

pick one thing one path like a proven

path that people have used to learn and

just go with it for a little while and

then once you have that Foundation no

matter who you learn it from then it's a

lot easier to Branch out and learn more

stuff so those are the five mistakes

that I see a lot of finger drummers

making obviously they're all super easy

to correct it's not a big deal if you're

making these mistakes but if you correct

them now then your progress will be

faster and you won't have to come back

and undo do anything in the future you

know learning good habits now and

understanding why to do each of these

things will just help you so much more

in the future so I hope this video

helped leave a comment if you think of

any other mistakes that finger drummers

make that you see I I could probably

think of a couple more Beyond just these

five but these are the ones that really

stand out to me but if you think of

anything else definitely leave it in the

comment so that other people can see

thank you so much for watching and I'll

see you in the next one