Taking up drums at 41.

I'm 41 and I've wanted drums since I was little. Well, ok I forgot about it after a while, but I really, really wanted drums when I was a kid. I would ask for them year after year after year. My mother wasn't the type to discourage me from playing drums just because I was a girl, so I assume it was because my parents didn't want to deal with the noise. So no drums ever appeared. Santa brought a guitar every few years instead and due to the fact that I have hands the size of an infant, I never got far on the guitar. I liked it but didn't love it. My hands are 5" from base of palm to tip of middle finger. So, yeah.

In the meantime I made drums (when I was a kid). I would put pennies in empty coffee cans and use pencils as sticks. I just wanted a drum set so badly.

Ok time goes on and I was also very into art, so I decided that was my calling and that turned into my career.

I have friends who are musicians, and the other day at their house I finally ended up sitting behind their drums, and after 1 brief lesson, I decided I'm in love with playing drums and am saving for an electric kit (because I live in an apartment).

I can't wait! I'm so excited. I don't plan on doing anything more with it than having it as a really fun hobby and probably screwing around with my friends when they play their guitars & bass. I got a promotion about 6 months ago and I hate my new job, truly can't stand a job that I used to love, so I love the idea of coming home and quietly pounding the crap out of something too. And maybe get a little tone in these arms...

I want the Roland TD 9SX. It's a lot of money for something I just suddenly decided I can't live without. But I'm waiting a few weeks to make sure it's not an impulse buy and then selling some crap I have that I don't use anymore to finance it if I'm still jonesing for the thing.

This part got to me:

"I got a promotion about 6 months ago and I hate my new job, truly can't stand a job that I used to love..."

I heard that. I took a promotion two months back, went from a job I loved to a job I hate...for a couple of bucks an hour.

And when I get home, I fire up the Les Paul and try to remember why I needed that couple bucks an hour.

I didn't pick up a guitar until I was 21 and now I make a living at it. So I can definitely relate.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEART705C31

http://www.pearldrum.com/Products/Drumsets/Rhythm-Traveler.aspx


please consider these instead. they have interchangeable heads so you can use mesh for silence and they are cheaper and they are real drums. when you're ready to actually make noise and/or play with other people, you can get real heads and voila! instant drum set! Oh yeah, and they are CHEAPER TOO!

I have a DW acoustic drum kit, a vintage sixties Camco kit, Roland electronic drum kit, and Alesis electronic drum module w/additional pads and triggers for the acoustics.

Yeah, the acoustic drums are generally preferred, but I like the Rolands A LOT. For practicing, either just working on rudiments, or for jamming to a cd or mp3 player, I do not care much for muffled acoustic drums. The electronic drums sound great through headphones. It's very easy to set up a nice balanced mix between the music you're playing to and the e-drums.

I've used the Rolands for recording a few drum parts where the "electronic" nature of the other-than-acoustic-sounding-settings were perfect for the tune on which I was working. I've also used them as enhancements to the acoustics, and used a hybrid/acoustic/electronic kit (the DWs, with an Alesis electronic drum module, and triggers on the snare, toms and kick).

I've also used the Rolands live a few times, and again, while I would have rather used the acoustics, the e-drums worked out fine for the gigs/rooms/situations (they are WAY, almost infinitely, easier to transport/lug between vehicle and venue/set up and tear down, than my DW kit). There are halfway decent amplification rigs available for under $500 that are probably adequate for personal use and small venues, however, even without, the drum module signal may be plugged into a P.A. system such as most commercial venues would be using.

SO, I would not necessarily dismiss the electronic option for the application which the OP currently has in mind.

Another thing about the electronics: the rubber/and or mesh pads are very responsive to the sticks, and with a good level in your headphones, you can hear, very clearly, the nuances of your stick work.

ON EDIT: The most significant e-drums negative is, in my opinion, the cymbals. I have also used the e-drums live - snare, toms and kick only, with actual Zildjian cymbals instead of e-drum hi-hat and cymbal pads. Zildjians sound exponentially better than any known electronic cymbal simulation. I know, I'm a hypocrite...sorry.

I started at 39, and my only regret is not having enough time to play as much as I want. The variety of sound which is available to you in the TD9 is astounding. Plus, you have a volume control and you can plug your mp3 player right into it and play along. The rhythm tool display is useful too. If at some point you decide you want to try gigging, you can then either pack them all up or buy an acoustic kit.

E-drums seriously lagged acoustics in the past, but the latest Rolands are almost indistinguishable from acoustic drums in sound quality. There's no more machine-gunning if you play too fast. You likely won't know what you're missing, and the mesh heads feel enough like real drum heads that you forget whether you're "real" drums.

I agree the weakness seems to be cymbal sounds, but there is a good enough fix for that. There is an outfit called V-Expressions LTD, which, for about $30, will provide you with a backup file loaded with tweaked drums to match those of certain performers and brand/kit types. They go way beyond the original kits in depth, matching and variety and are worth every penny.

I have had so much enjoyment out of playing music over the years I can't comprehend what life would be like without it.

Recommend finding a youtube video of the Velvet Underground and check out Mo Tucker, their drummer for over 30 years - She is a grandmother, and she can really carry that band.

Good luck, enjoy yourself, and don't think twice about it - do it!!!!!

mark
(Guitar, bass, harmonica, voice)

I don't have the reach of many guitar players. I have arthritis from 30 years in construction.
What a joy to play and sing along.

so much, I won't stop.
Les Paul has terrible arthritis in both hands, still plays every Monday night at Iridium in NYC. He turned 94 last month. He has changed his style completely, but he said that at his age playing and going to the bathroom are all has has to look forward to.

markO8)

I took lessons when I was a kid but never pursued it.

Good luck and kudos to you for doing something you know you'll enjoy!

I started when i was 4. Gladly, i stuck with it. Then i taught myself guitar at around 20, but by then i knew theory, harmony, etc. So, it was just a matter of technique.

But, a guy i know who specializes in adult music teaching says that the general sense of feel never goes away. If an adult EVER played piano, the sensation of doing it is still in there.

So, if you go back to it, (and i'm assuming this guy is right, since he sure seems like a good teacher), it might go easier than you think.

Good Luck.
GAC

I used to noodle around with a bass years back but never actually learned a damned thing; eventually tossed it when the nut broke and it wasn't worth fixing. I was still fascinated with bass playing and basses, so a week ago I decided to get into bass playing properly at the age of forty.

I've purchased a used bass on ebay, picked up a cheap-ass practice amp from a pawn shop, found some instructional books, and I'm arranging lessons to keep myself motivated. Hopefully I can apply some adult focus to overcome the fact that I lack the natural ability to learn new things that comes with youth.

Wish us both luck!

My new (cheap and cheerful) baby:

How do you like it? I would imagine it's rather heavy, but very cool. I've got an Epi Firebird and an Epi Les Paul. Epi makes some great instruments for cheap. FWIW - I've never had natural ability with the guitar - it's always been a struggle for me, but I love playing and as infrequently as I practice, I still with it and I get a little better over time. I think people sometimes confuse natural ability with dedication. Just stick with it... that's all it takes.

You may want to check out ultimateguitar.com. they have a boatload of bass tablature there, one of the few remaining places willing to put up a fight for user-created tablature against the music copyright lords.

Requires basically non-stop left arm support, and it weighs like eighty billion all-mahogany pounds, but it looks great and has a nice tone. The cheesy pickguard came off within minutes of arrival, however. I'm ordering a matte black replacement.

Hopefully a relocation of the strap button can help alleviate the neck diving a little bit.

Ultimateguitar has been a fabulous source of tabs! I know I should be practicing scales and stuff, but learning Pixies songs is just too much fun. :evilgrin:

I'd always wanted to play bass.

I got a Laguna bass from Guitar Center for relatively cheap. I wasn't going to take lessons, but then I thought, "I won't be motivated to learn on my own."

Happy grove regulating!:D

go for it! but real drums only please.

get a small set - small bass drum, good snare, one tom maybe two at most (kind of jazz kit maybe) as far as the noise in the apt. you can get practice pads, or lay towels over the drums or something. build yourself a quiet room practice when the neighbors aren't home, but please don't do those electronic drums! :) you should be able to find something used for a reasonable price.

keep it simple

remember just laying down a solid groove is a thing of beauty. no need to have fancy fills, etc - be a groove-mistress and you friends will adore playing with you.
and laying down a solid groove isn't an easy thing!

Current e-drums are nothing like they used to be, particularly Rolands. They're expensive, but they have mesh heads which feel like real heads, numerous kits available at the turn of a dial, and surprisingly outstanding sound with no more machine-gunning effect. There are even after-market companies which program custom kits.

What have you got against e-drums?

with paper (?!) heads that immediately got destroyed. Anyways I love it, but I'll second the "not having enough time" thing. I also care what my neighbors think of me and don't play past 9pm which is difficult since I work 2nd shift so can't ever play after work, just before and on days off. Still, lots of fun.

I just started taking bass lessons last year at age 45. I'm in a band now and I love it!