As with many other instruments, picking up the drums and playing it like a professional is no small feat. Add that and singing; the task seems impossible. The prospect of having to sing and play the drums simultaneously is seemingly unthinkable, but that’s hardly true! Roger Taylor from the legendary band, Queen, would say otherwise.
The Difficulty of Merging Skillsets
To play the drums and sing simultaneously, you’d need to invest a lot of time and effort into your practice sessions. It is worth to note that most professional drummers took a lot of time honing their drum skills, as drumming itself call for a good sense of rhythm, coordination and athleticism to boot. If playing the drums demand a lot from its drummer, what more if you combine two skill sets together?
While most singers will take the lead when performing, it is not out of the ordinary for the singing drummers to lead for certain songs. Don Henley from The Eagles has taken the spotlight in several of their songs such as “Witchy Woman” and “Desperado”. To take over the lead singer, even if it were just a few moments, you’d need to have at least, the basic vocal ability. It will not be a stretch to assume these singing drummers have taken vocal lessons to develop and maintain their vocal skills.
Tips for Aspiring Singing Drummers
One method to sharpen your skills is to compose songs for your performances. By establishing the rhythm, you can slowly incorporate lyrics that will go well with the beat. You will need to learn how to compartmentalise the song and your skills since drumming and singing are two separate skillsets. But by creating your songs, you have the liberty to mould the entire music piece to suit your comfort levels.
Another aspect that you will need to pay special attention to is your breathing. Breathing is essential in singing, but also in drumming since the latter is a form of rigorous exercise. Gain full control of your breath by engaging in simple but powerful breathing exercises. Concentrate on your belly while you breathe in and out as slowly as you can. It’s the first thing potential singers will learn if they enrol in vocal lessons for beginners.
On that note, your posture is just as vital! You cannot breathe properly when you’re slouching as you hit your drums. You will need to have enough air in your lungs to hit those notes and those drums. So relax your neck and shoulders!
Training With An Expert
Typically, those that try to combine both vocals and drum playing will start by humming to a familiar song. With practice, those hums will slowly turn into proper enunciated words that will ride on the beat of the drum. By then, they will learn how to compartmentalise those skills and have them so ingrained that it will easily be second nature.
Undoubtedly, you may pick up these skills on your own time without the help of an expert. However, if you have serious ambitions of being a singing drummer in a short time, perhaps it is time to look into employ the guidance of an expert. They will give you advice on how to seamlessly bring both skills together. Explore your hidden potential when you enrol in drum lessons for adults and chase your dreams of becoming a singing drummer today!