A lot of drummers will often have an issue with their cymbal arm or tom tilting whilst they’re playing. Our top tip to combat this issue is to check your kit and make sure all your wing nuts are tight before you start playing. They can come loose whilst playing too so best to keep checking whenever you can.
Ever get that sinking feeling? We hope this one isn’t just us… if you've ever experienced this issue, we recommend making sure the stool is completely locked in with a sturdy holding mechanism, otherwise you might find yourself sinking whilst playing!
Sometimes your bass drum may move whilst playing. To overcome this issue you need to make sure you have a solid drum rug under the bass drum with the bass drum spikes gripping fully.
When trying to play something complex people will often try to force it too much and as a result find that their upper body gets quite tight. If you notice this happening to you, make sure you stay loose so you can focus on your technique.
Making sure you’re as comfortable as possible is always a high priority. By ensuring you’re as comfortable as you can be, you’ll find that your playing may improve and playing for longer periods of time isn’t such a strain anymore. Making sure your pedals are positioned correctly and you're maintaining a good position is also essential. You need to make sure that the hi hat pedal and bass drum pedal are positioned exactly where your feet fall naturally whilst sitting down. Check out our Natal Workshop video on Posture & Positioning to learn more.
One issue we see repeatedly, usually when players are starting out, is drummers not hitting the middle of the drum. Not hitting the drum in the centre will instantly highlight any mistakes in your playing and create inconsistencies that are noticeable throughout. The best way to overcome this one is through practice… practice makes perfect!