How to set up your hihats (for the absolute BEGINNER) Stephen Clark 2024-10-25 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free BEGINNER’S step-by-step guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf you’re a beginner who’s just bought a drumset with a hihat, I don’t want you to make the same adjustment mistakes I made 15 years ago. : ) Not properly setting up your hats could actually result in certain things being more difficult to play - even years down the road - as I experienced for myself.So let me help you avoid this! Let’s get your hihats instantly sounding better, so that you’re feeling like the pro-drummer you’re capable of becoming.It all starts with adjusting the “5 optimization points ” of your hats so they’re immediately easier to play and sounding more professional. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The simplest way to add KICK into your fills Stephen Clark 2025-10-03 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:12 - STEP 1: How to play our “RLRF” pattern4:02 - STEP 2: How to creatively orchestrate the pattern around the kit7:15 - STEP 3: How to solve trouble-spots and play this smoothly13:50 - STEP 4: Other variations… what happens when we shift the beat!22:29 - How all of this sounds in a musical context…What if you could simply & predictably mix your kick into fills to make them sound way more difficult than they are… and way more musical?Maybe you’ve wanted to be able to do this, but it all seems too complex and not straightforward.You’re wanting to make your fills more interesting, but you can’t do it cleanly. This leaves you feeling uncreative - like you’re not even a real drummer.I get it and I’ve been there, but it’s time to solve this today!You see, most beginner drummers think you have to play complex, difficult patterns in order to effectively mix the kick into your fills. But the truth is, all you need to get started is one pattern: RLRF.Today we’re breaking down how this works, how to use it, and how to practice it to massively expand your fill-creation abilities. By the end of today you’ll be mixing your kick into your fills, which will have you feeling capable, empowered, and like a real rock drummer.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Effortlessly flow from GROOVE to FILL and back Stephen Clark 2025-09-19 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice1:16 - 2 reasons I wasn’t flowing smoothly through songs (maybe you can relate!)2:19 - The exercise that will give you so much confidence in your song-playing3:22 - 5 steps to smoother transitions on the drums (with the “flexibility exercise”)4:13 - Step 1: Creating two grooves…6:41 - Step 2: Learning to FEEL time…8:32 - Step 3: Adding a fill…10:52 - Step 4: Putting it together…13:12 - Step 5: Predicting the song form with ABABCB20:20 - Question for you as we wrap up…Are you ever playing a song, and you're constantly having these panic moments where you're like - "OH NO - What's coming next???"Maybe you feel choppy and disjointed in your playing, like you're always just hanging in there trying to remember the next part in the song... the next fill... the next correct thing to play. If this is you, you're in for a super practical lesson today.What if you could smoothly flow through a song, going from part to part and groove to fill and back again effortlessly?I'll be honest with you - This is not a skill we're all born with.But the cool thing is you can use the “Flexibility Exercise” to improvise a made-up song on the fly, getting more confident and smooth transitioning between drum parts in a song.Today we're diving into 2 big reasons why effortless flow is not happening, then we'll break down 5 steps to smoother transitions on the drums.This will be highly practical and actionable, so let's dive in! YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Why you feel out of BALANCE on the drums Stephen Clark 2025-09-12 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice1:15 - The key to feeling stable & balanced2:07 - 3 steps to sitting more comfortably on the drums2:30 - Step 1: “The Shin Rule”7:11 - Step 2: “The power of the ankle”14:57 - Step 3: What I personally do to balance17:56 - How to sit correctly if you’re HEEL-DOWN20:48 - Question for you as we wrap up…If you feel out of balance while playing heel up on the drums, and you feel like your core & back are working too hard to keep you stable, then today's lesson is for you!Maybe you’re getting way too tired, and maybe even your back is hurting after a long practice session or gig. Either way, this hurdle is holding you back.What if you could feel so comfortable and stable while playing that you could just jam and think about the music instead of worrying about your posture?I recently helped a student solve this...He was in pretty good shape fitness-wise, yet his back & core were fatigued after playing.He felt out of balance, and he was constantly thinking about staying balanced - rather than focusing on the music!But here's the crazy thing:We made just a couple little changes to how he was sitting, and he immediately felt much more comfortable.It turns out...How you sit is critical to your stability on the drums, so even tiny throne height & placement shifts can make a huge difference.Today we're diving into what these shifts are as we get you feeling in-balance and comfortable behind your drums. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The #1 Rule of learning anything QUICKLY Stephen Clark 2025-09-05 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:33 - The #1 rule of learning anything quickly on the drums4:34 - Breaking down the groove we’re learning today5:16 - 3 steps to learning anything quickly & thoroughly5:54 - Step 1: The critical first thing you gotta do9:30 - Step 2: This one’s a game-changer for so many of my students!11:37 - Step 3: Using the 20x rule to make sure you’ve mastered the groove18:48 - How to more thoroughly & deeply master the thing you’re practicing25:41 - Question for you before you go…What if you could feel comfortable and confident on the drums, truly mastering the instrument simply by making one shift in how you practice anything?The problem is… most drummers are stuck in a spot where they’re practicing a bunch - but just not getting GOOD.- You practice a bunch of coordination things but you don't feel coordinated- You spend a lot of hours playing but you don’t feel relaxed & comfortable behind the drums- You don’t feel confident, and you feel like you’re always on the edge of a train wreckIf you can relate to any of that, today’s lesson is for you!We’re breaking down how to learn things much more quickly, really getting good at the drums and feeling good at the drums where you're comfortable and where the drums become an extension of you.I’ll share with you what the #1 rule is for learning anything quickly on the drums and for truly mastering the instrument, and I'll break down for you the three steps to learning anything thoroughly and deeply.We’ll put all this into practice with a fun groove you may have heard before, because it comes from the most iconic rock drumming method book of all time. : ) So, let's dive in. This is gonna be a whole bunch of fun today. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How you hit your drums will make or break your playing Stephen Clark 2025-08-30 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice1:33 - The strange thing I noticed that night with my single strokes…3:23 - Why “how you hit” is so crucial4:35 - Step #1 for your playing sounding & feeling more professional7:43 - Step #2 for your playing sounding & feeling more professional10:47 - Step #3 for your playing sounding & feeling more professional13:58 - Step #4 for your playing sounding & feeling more professional19:47 - Question for you as we wrap up…Most drummers are getting a mediocre sound & feel, and they’re sounding more amateur than they should......simply because of how they’re hitting their drums.Here's the question today: What if one simple technical shift could take your playing from choppy & stiff… to smooth, fluid, and effortless?The truth is, it absolutely can! I experienced this myself years ago.I dealt with choppy, amateur-sounding and feeling playing for years even as I became a more advanced drummer in college. But then one night practicing in the band room at my school watching my reflection in the window I noticed something odd with my single strokes.This discovery completely changed the way I hit my drums forever, and it will change the way you play too.Today we're breaking down the 4 simple steps to your playing sounding & feeling more professional, which all starts with one simple shift.YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How the internet KILLED song learning Stephen Clark 2025-08-16 | → Learn any song by ear in 60 minutes WITHOUT using drum tabs or video tutorials | Download my FREE, 23p. PDF guide, “5 Steps to Learning Any Song in Under an Hour.” the-non-glamorous-drummer.mykajabi.com/5-steps-to-learning-any-song-in-under-an-hour3:17 - How playing the “long game” with song learning is the key5:04 - The SECRET to learning songs fast8:45 - Step 1: How to hear things you’ve never heard before on a recording10:24 - Step 2: The “Song Form Cheat” (and how it helps you learn a song faster)12:21 - Step 3: How to avoid counting while playing a song by using “Length Prediction”14:45 - Step 4: Using “shorthand notation” to more easily replay & memorize drum parts17:50 - Step 5: How color-coding can make your chart more easy to read19:59 - Recap & review - What we’ve covered todayIf you’re a self-taught beginner who has struggled to learn, memorize, and perform songs on the drums, then today’s lesson is going to really help you out!Unfortunately, beginner drummers are struggling to learn songs well & quickly, and it’s not because of a lack of resources online.I believe that the internet has actually made it HARDER to learn songs, and I’ll break down for you why.If you’re feeling impatient & frustrated by how long it’s taking you to learn a song, and you feel untalented and like you lack the ability to be a “real drummer” and nail songs… This is not your fault, and you’re in the right place today.Back when I was 16 and I had to learn my very first setlist for my very first gig, I made a decision about learning songs that impacted every gig that followed - and that still affects me today (I’ll tell you all about it!).Today we’re breaking down how I believe the internet has “killed the art of song-learning,” and I’ll give you my 5 steps for learning, memorizing, and performing any song by ear… So that you can become the musical drummer others want in their band. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Why your hihat 16th Moeller isn’t smooth Stephen Clark 2025-08-08 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:00 - The struggle I had with the Moeller technique3:14 - You may have to do THIS before you can play quickly & smoothly…4:48 - Step 1 to a smooth Moeller pattern (The “Arm-Wrist”)11:55 - Step 2 to a smooth Moeller pattern (The Fingers)17:38 - Step 3 to a smooth Moeller pattern (Coordination)20:27 - Songs with one-handed hihat 16ths to check out24:45 - Recap / reviewIf you’re wanting to play a smooth, quick, one-handed hihat 16th pattern on the hats…But instead it’s sounding stiff, choppy, and anything but smooth…Then you’re in the right place today!If you’re a self-taught beginner drummer in need of a better feeling hihat 16th Moeller pattern, then let’s dive in.Most drummers believe you need a very loose, delicate kind of grip to play quick one-handed 16ths on the hihats. But I’ll argue today that instead you need a firmer, more controlled kind of grip.I’ll explain why I believe this as I break down for you my 3 steps to a smoother Moeller hihat pattern. You’ll discover why the “arm-wrist” motion is critical to doing this smoothly, and you’ll learn the powerful role your ring and pinkie fingers play in keeping this motion steady & smooth.Today you’ll go from frustrated with a sloppy Moeller pattern - To confident and capable as your groove begins feeling more professional and more effortless. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
This practice routine mistake will hold you back Stephen Clark 2025-08-01 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice1:59 - Your secret to fastest possible growth on the drums4:56 - The mistake stalling your growth 5:34 - Step 1 to faster progress6:44 - Step 2 to faster progress9:39 - Step 3 to faster progress10:42 - Example practice routine formats based on your level & personality 16:35 - The secret to maximum sustained growth in the long term…21:38 - What are the specific things we should practice daily?24:35 - My personal “biggest ONE THING” for my drumming growth 25:57 - My question for you as we wrap up…Did you know that it’s very possible that you could practice for 5 hours a day - yet make very little progress and still feel completely STUCK? Unfortunately this is reality for many self-taught drummers, and it’s all because of an innocent mistake that we’re going to correct TODAY.Have you ever found yourself in this spot, where you’re practicing a bunch - But you’re left feeling untalented and defeated because you’re just not growing? Well, this is not your fault. Let me help you here.It’s logical to assume that the more you practice, the faster you’ll grow. But the truth is, you can actually grow MORE by practicing LESS when you know the right 2 or 3 things to practice EVERY DAY.This isn’t rocket science, and it’s all about focusing in on what REALLY, TRULY helps you grow.Today I’m teaching you what your daily practice session should look like, whether you have 5 hours to practice or 15 minutes.My goal today is to get you from confused, stuck, and doubting your ability… To empowered and confident because of your newfound clarity & direction. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The foot mistake causing HEEL-UP drummers to RUSH Stephen Clark 2025-07-25 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:20 - What is your biggest bass drum foot challenge?2:52 - The big, key motion that HAS to happen here…6:39 - 3 steps to a faster foot6:49 - Step 1 (“The Ankle Hinge”)7:56 - Step 2 (“The Heel-Down Challenge”)9:57 - Step 3 (“Applying to the Pedal”)13:23 - How to find your pedal’s natural tempo16:32 - How to practice all of this daily19:28 - What you’ll be able to do with thisIf you play heel-up on the bass drum but your right foot tends to be clumsy and slow… and YET you’re constantly rushing and not in control of your time… Then today’s lesson is for you!You see, most drummers assume that heel-up is the way to immediately play faster on the bass drum. However, this doesn’t work at all if you make the mistake we’re talking about today. The truth is, you can get a lot of speed & precision with heel up OR heel down as long as you’re doing this one core motion correctly. Today I’m sharing with you what this “key motion” is for playing the bass drum quickly & fluidly, and we’ll break this down in 3 simple steps.You’ll be going from clumsy, slow, and rushing - To confidently hammering out quick singles or doubles like you hear in “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin no problem. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Build SPEED & PRECISION with this simple pad exercise Stephen Clark 2025-07-18 | → Grab today’s exercise notation + 2 more practical & helpful pad exercises that build actual drumset skills. “3 Daily Pad Exercises for Fast, Fluid Hands” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routine→ Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more free e-guides, premium courses, and coaching designed to fast-track your drumming progress!2:20 - What this exercise is, and why it’s so powerful3:46 - Be sure to do this FIRST, though5:14 - THE EXERCISE (Step 1)7:19 - THE EXERCISE (Step 2)7:56 - THE EXERCISE (Step 3)9:10 - The funny thing to watch out for here…9:59 - THE EXERCISE (Step 4)11:38 - Here’s something this will help you be able to play…14:27 - FULL EXERCISE DEMO (70bpm)15:53 - The “danger” to avoid with warmup routines & exercises17:08 - The big “BONUS STEP” for getting a ton out of this exercise (See what all you can do with this…)Check out these additional lessons to go more in depth with your grip, motion, and doubles...Eliminate STIFF HANDS for more speed with less effort:youtu.be/5CIDPkgT5rQBuild FASTER DOUBLES with these 2 grip changes:youtu.be/p_YdQivl2XQFinger speed for the absolute beginner:youtu.be/TEGBNq1etlIIf you’re dealing with sloppy hands that lack control & precision, you’re in the right place today!What if there was one simple exercise you could practice that would solve your sloppy hands, improve your speed & precision, and help you actually grow as a drummer in just 15 minutes a day?Well, there is! Most drummers believe they need to practice something fast & complex in order to build speed & precision, but the truth is all you need is one solid sticking to practice. This one helped me a ton when I was in college, and I still begin every practice session with it today.Today we’re breaking down how this simple exercise works (which you can practice anywhere, anytime on a practice pad), and we’ll get you from sloppy hands with no control - To playing precisely, comfortably, and quickly… with better hand to hand coordination and freedom. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,Stephen
The inconvenient TRUTH about rudiments Stephen Clark 2025-07-02 | → Learn the 3 most effective things to practice daily for maximum growth! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:22 - The question that should drive WHAT you practice (whether or not it’s rudiments)3:03 - The Inconvenient Truth About Rudiments5:14 - Building Block #1 of productive practice9:13 - Building Block #2 of productive practice15:36 - Building Block #3 of productive practice20:50 - But when SHOULD we practice rudiments? Is there a place for them??If you’re a beginner drummer who has at some point felt the pressure to learn the 40 rudiments in order to master the drums…then today’s lesson is for you!The mainstream messaging seems to be that learning the rudiments is the secret to fast hands, tasty grooves, and overall drumming mastery…because after all - the rudiments are the building blocks of drumming, right?WRONG.Most drummers fall for the lie that rudiments are the must-learn, core building blocks of good drumming. But the truth is, they’re the last thing a beginner should be focusing on.This over-focus on rudiments often happens because new drummers (especially those arriving at the drums from another instrument) assume that rudiments are the drumming equivalent of scales. But this isn’t the case at all.Today we’re busting this whole “rudiment myth,” and I’m teaching you what I believe to be the 3 core building blocks of drumming that every beginner must focus on if they want to quickly learn the instrument.This will be a lot of fun, and by the end of today you’ll have so much clarity & direction in your practice sessions, and you’ll be making rapid progress and having more fun on the drums. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
8 must know KICK patterns for the absolute beginner Stephen Clark 2025-06-27 | 2:33 - The secret to understanding kick patterns…3:19 - Groove #16:08 - Groove #29:21 - Groove #311:20 - Groove #413:54 - Groove #5 17:11 - Groove #619:19 - Groove #721:22 - Groove #823:03 - The secret that ties all of these together (Understand this, and you’ll pick up new kick patterns more easily)→ Know what GROOVES & FILLS to play! Grab my “25 Practical Rock Grooves & Fills for the Beginner Drummer” free PDF e-guide:thenonglamorousdrummer.com/25groovesGrab today’s lesson notation PDF right here, as well as the Spotify playlist of all the song references in the lesson! (If you opt-in to download this, I’ll also send you the “25 practical rock grooves & fills” guide as well)thenonglamorousdrummer.com/8-kick-patternsIf you’re a beginner drummer wanting to play your favorite songs, but you’re overwhelmed by the number of grooves & kick patterns you’re gonna have to learn in order to do so, then today’s lesson is for you.At first glance, it feels like you need to learn hundreds of grooves & kick patterns in order to be able to play songs. But the truth is you actually only need 8 to get started. Learn these 8 kick patterns, and play 9 out of 10 songs you encounter.The reason why is because there’s a common thread running between all of these, which I’ll share with you at the end of the lesson.Today we’re breaking these down, and you can even download a free notation PDF with song references to follow along with me and take to your practice room.Let’s get you to where you know the basic kick pattern building blocks, so that you’re quickly picking up grooves in songs - AND you’re even able to create your own grooves. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The must-know snare tuning FORMULA for every drummer Stephen Clark 2025-06-20 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeCHAPTERS:2:44 - “What is the ideal snare size - 5” deep or 6 1/2” deep?”5:39 - The bizarre trick that helps a new head “fit well” on the shell7:19 - The controversial method for getting the head in tune with itself11:42 - The wacky move that helps the drum hold its tuning 18:44 - The SECRET to the drum actually sounding awesome in the end 26:37 - The drum will still sound like garbage if you don’t do THIS…29:41 - BONUS: What is my “jingly thing” for?If your snare drum sounds like total garbage, with no crack, attack, or punch (and it's ringing multiple clashing tones that make your ears hurt)...Instead of the focused, crisp, punchy attack you hear on your favorite record...Then you need to learn my “Must-know snare tuning formula for every drummer.”If you’ve been frustrated with a cheap, amateur snare sound that leaves you constantly shopping for a nicer, more expensive snare that you hope will solve your problems… Then today’s lesson is for you!Most beginner to intermediate drummers make the mistake of assuming that a better, nicer drum is the secret to a better sound (Hey I was totally guilty of this too!). But the truth is, you can make any cheap drum sound awesome if you put a fresh set of heads on it and you tune it right.Today you’ll learn my 5 step, complete formula for going from putting on a new head to getting the drum perfectly in tune with itself so that it sounds amazing….…So that you now have an awesome-sounding snare drum that inspires you (even if it’s cheap) and you have confidence in a repeatable tuning method you can actually use for any drum. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The bass drum SECRET to more impressive FILLS Stephen Clark 2025-06-13 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationCHAPTERS:2:48 - “What song has your favorite fill?”4:43 - STEP 1: The simplest rudiment you could play7:08 - STEP 2: Add this pattern to make any fill super interesting11:20 - STEP 3: Mix those first two together, and you get this:14:37 - STEP 4: Use this pattern to play the “IN THE AIR TONIGHT” FILL18:20 - STEP 5: None of this is any good without application26:22 - My favorite fill!Click here to grab the FREE step by step lesson notation PDF. Enjoy!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/adding-kick-to-fillsIf all of your fills sound boring, straight, and "vanilla" - with no interesting rhythm, melody, or impact...And you want to instead craft creative, unique, melodic fills that involve the bass drum too...…Then you’re in the right place today!If you’ve ever felt incapable or uncreative when crafting fills, and you feel like you play the same boring stuff over and over - AND you’re afraid you lack the coordination or creativity to change this… Then today’s lesson is for you.There’s a big “bass drum secret” to creating more impressive fills. Here it is:You can use the bass drum to make your fills more melodic, impactful, and creative.The problem is most drummers feel they lack the coordination to mix the kick into fills, or they’re afraid they lack the creativity to then know what ideas to play.This is what we’re diving into today!You’ll learn 4 simple patterns between your hands & right foot that even a beginner can accomplish, and you’ll be working these into your fills.By the end of the lesson, you’ll have the tools you need to play much more interesting fills that incorporate the bass drum, and you’ll have a newfound coordination, creativity, and confidence that wasn’t there before. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Play FASTER doubles with these 2 grip changes Stephen Clark 2025-06-06 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineCHAPTERS:2:13 - 2 beginner mistakes5:04 - The big secret to successful doubles5:35 - 3 steps to SPEED (Step 1) 8:05 - Step 2 12:21 - Step 316:07 - How I learned doubles WITHOUT practicing doubles17:43 - How to apply our fingers skills to our doublesIf your doubles are sounding uneven, choked-out, and "gallopy" - Instead of smooth, loud, and even...Then you may be making one or both of these 2 mistakes I see in countless drummers.We’ll break down exactly what these 2 pitfalls are, but then we’ll dive deeper into the bigger reason why beginners struggle with doubles - And I’ll share with you how I ended up learning doubles as a beginner… without actually practicing doubles.You see, there’s a big secret that has everything to do with how you’re practicing finger speed, and it will determine how quickly you gain speed & fluidity with your doubles.Today you’ll learn how to dodge our 2 pitfalls, plus you’ll learn the 3 steps to faster, smoother doubles you can actually use on the drumset. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
3 Steps to playing in 6/8 in CHURCH Stephen Clark 2025-05-30 | → Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drumming2:43 - “What is 6/8??”6:44 - Step 1: Counting & feeling 6/88:05 - Step 2: Playing the “6/8 money beat”10:00 - Using the 3:2 polyrhythm to craft TOM GROOVES in 6/814:40 - Playing fills in 6/816:56 - Step 3: The biggest secret to 6/8 mastery… 18:11 - Playing 6/8 songs with a SWUNG feel…If you’re a new church drummer, then all of the 6/8 songs you’re faced with on a weekly basis (like Great Are You Lord, How He Loves, or Reckless Love) might be tripping you up more than you feel like they should. If you struggle to sound as smooth & natural in 6/8 as you do in 4/4, and you feel like an incomplete drummer with a big “hole” in your skill, then today’s lesson is for you!I get it! When I got started playing in church as a total beginner, I was scared to play fills in 6/8 because it was too easy to lose track of where the one was. I was terrified of not knowing when to end a fill… and therefore train-wrecking the band.BUT… It doesn’t have to be this way. We assume that the key to playing in 6/8 is playing a lot of 6/8 grooves and getting good at counting to 6 instead of 4. BUT if you’re having to count, you’re probably not sounding very good. The secret to mastering 6/8 starts before you even sit down at the kit.Today I’m teaching you 3 steps for getting comfortable with 6/8 so that you’re not counting, you’re feeling the groove, and you’re musically leading the band so that you all sound awesome leading your congregation in worship. YOU CAN DO THIS.Recent Church-Drumming Lessons:3 steps to playing in 3/4 without wrecking the bandyoutu.be/aDh8xdFz5OcHow to play softly in church - but still use sticks!youtu.be/Tu7QTM5r2oI7 things I wish I knew as a new church drummeryoutu.be/NEXM-BkLfCUI believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Do these 2 things to stop dropping sticks: Stephen Clark 2025-05-23 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routine2:42 - 4 quick tips for hanging on to your sticks5:40 - The 2 likely, deeper reasons you’re dropping sticks:6:23 - Big Action #1: The secret to smooth motion around the kit...10:51 - Big Action #2: How to avoid stick clash...13:22 - A cool fast-fill to learn to test this out15:36 - The "Intentionality Exercise" (orchestration paradiddles)If you’re dropping or throwing a stick at least once every gig or practice session, whether it be from grip issues & hand fatigue - or sticks running into each other and clashing… …Then today’s lesson is for you!If you’re tired of feeling like a clumsy amateur or a fraud who has no technique, then you’re in the right place. Let’s fix this.A great solution for eliminating “stick droppage” is to get your hands stickier or to use grippier sticks (and those are great tips!). But the truth is, there are 2 bigger actions you must take beyond the grip tactics in order to once-and-for-all stop dropping sticks while playing.Believe me, I’ve been there. I used to have to keep extra sticks attached to my snare for that very purpose. But after implementing what I’m teaching you today, I haven’t dropped a stick in years. You can do the same!Today I’m giving you 4 quick tips for getting you on the right track with this, then we’re going deeper into the 2 likely reasons why you’re actually losing sticks - And we’ll solve this together. YOU CAN DO THIS.ADDITIONAL LESSON to check out:Eliminate stiff hands for MORE SPEED with LESS EFFORTyoutu.be/5CIDPkgT5rQI believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
If you’re struggling to practice consistently, try this: Stephen Clark 2025-05-16 | → Learn the 3 most effective things to practice daily for maximum growth! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopractice2:22 - What is “Atomic Habits” and why is it important to us as musicians?3:28 - Effortless Practice STEP #1: “Habit stacking” 6:34 - Effortless Practice STEP #2: “How to make practicing easy”13:23 - Effortless Practice STEP #3: “The power of a plan”14:54 - 3 most important areas in which to be regularly growingIf you’re struggling to practice consistently… You aren’t practicing regularly or often… and you’re becoming more and more frustrated with your lack of “discipline” or “work ethic” on the drums and you’re afraid you might not have what it takes to master the instrument……Then today’s lesson is for you!It’s easy to be hard on yourself when months or years have gone by with little to no noticeable drumming progress, and it’s natural to assume that your problem here is a lack of discipline or motivation. But as James Clear of Atomic Habits would tell you, this isn’t the real problem. It’s something else, which we’re breaking down today.If you want to avoid stagnation and plateauing in order to grow quickly & naturally AUTOMATICALLY, then you must make these shifts we’re talking about in this lesson.I’m teaching you my “3 steps to effortless practice,” which will have you automatically practicing more consistently… So that you’re growing, feeling like a real drummer, and you’re finally seeing some results in your playing. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Sloppy KICK? Create tight syncopation in 5 steps Stephen Clark 2025-05-09 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationGrab the PDF of the "Jim Chapin-style exercise" right here:thenonglamorousdrummer.com/chapin-kick-exerciseChapters:3:14 - The simple rudiment that creates bass drum syncopation [BEGINNER]8:08 - How to quickly create a syncopated groove [BEGINNER]13:33 - How can we improvise interesting kick rhythms? [INTERMEDIATE]20:10 - What’s the best way to continue pushing your 4-way coordination? [INTERMEDIATE]26:03 - The practicing method (and the exercise) that really exploded my right foot abilities! [ADVANCED]If your kick drum foot can’t play syncopated patterns without getting sloppy or freezing up, then today’s lesson is for you.Maybe you feel like an amateur because you can’t get control over your right foot - and so everything you play feels clumsy… Leaving you frustrated and doubting your ability as a drummer.This is a rough spot to be, because how will you ever nail songs confidently when the foundation of your groove is holding you back??I get it! My right foot was definitely a mess as a beginner, but I’ll share with you two huge moments that transformed my right foot.It’s easy to believe that learning tight kick drum syncopation is complicated. But the truth is, all you need to know is ONE rudiment to get started and see a world of difference in your playing.Today I’m walking you through 5 steps to a tight, syncopated bass drum foot, and there will be something here for everyone no matter your level. We’ll start off simple, building to more advanced methods I’ve used over the years to fine-tune my bass drum foot.Let’s get you playing smoothly & tightly so you’re able to nail any syncopated pattern that comes your way. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
3 steps to playing in 3/4 time without wrecking the band Stephen Clark 2025-05-02 | → Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drummingChapters:2:42 - What’s the difference between 3/4 & 6/8 time?7:09 - How should we count & feel 3/4 time?9:27 - How can we play fills and tom grooves in 3/4?20:28 - The absolute biggest secret to mastering 3/4If you’re a church drummer who struggles with songs that are in 3/4 time (like “In Christ Alone” or “Jesus Paid it All”), then today’s lesson is for you!So many fellow church drummers have told me that 3/4 songs are a “nightmare,” that the band ends up all over the place, and that they can’t play anything interesting in 3 because they’re just struggling to keep the time and hold things together to avoid a train-wreck.YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I’VE BEEN THERE.Most drummers assume that in order to play in 3/4 time well, you just need to practice playing in 3 more! But the truth is, if you do that you’ll still feel awkward and uncomfortable. What you REALLY need to do starts before you even sit down at the kit.I’ll share with you what I did as a beginner drummer in church when I was 16 to get comfortable with all the 3/4 songs, and we’ll break down 3 simple steps you can take along with me today so you can: Start feeling confident in 3 Keep the band together in 3AND even branch out and be able to play interesting drum parts in a 3/4 song…So that you’re still having fun and not feeling like you’re on the edge of a train-wreck. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Eliminate stiff hands for MORE speed with LESS effort Stephen Clark 2025-04-25 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineChapters:2:37 - What kind of stretches are beneficial?6:12 - How much ARM versus WRIST should we be using?9:47 - How to avoid FLAILING, instead having complete control while still being relaxed…If you’re dealing with stiff hands that struggle to relax and play quickly & smoothly, then today’s lesson is for you.Maybe the stiff wrists are causing you to use too much arm… Which means not being able to play as fast or as effortlessly as you’d like, which leaves you frustrated with how long it’s taking to build speed - so you begin doubting your ability.Here’s the problem too many drummers stay stuck on:Usually the logical solution for a drumming issue is to “practice more” until the problem is solved (But when it comes to grip, this can actually make things worse!). Thankfully with grip & motion, the solution is actually much quicker than that.I see this issue in most beginners’ weak hand. They can’t get it to play fast enough, but they fail to target the core problem holding their hand back.Don’t worry, because that’s what we’re doing today as we break down 3 steps to eliminating stiff, clumsy hands - So that you can play quickly & smoothly and with LESS effort than before. YOU CAN DO THIS. I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How to play softly in church - but still use STICKS! Stephen Clark 2025-04-18 | → Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drummingTable of Contents:3:23 - What a sound guy told me one time (and the valuable lesson I learned!)5:45 - Switch to these sticks for a lighter sound & feel6:54 - The grip adjustment for more natural soft playing9:41 - How to use the “drop motion” for softer playing 17:00 - Tips for becoming more “mindful” of your volume18:43 - Determining how loud your “loud” will be20:24 - How KNOW exactly how loud you can be in the room you’re in21:20 - Additional tips for quieting your kit in a live settingHey Friend! If you play in church and you’ve been told “You’re too loud” - But you’ve struggled to play soft enough to keep everyone happy - Then you’re in the right place today!I get it! (And I’ll tell you in a bit what a sound man said to me one time that made me realize how bad my dynamics were!)It’s exhausting when band members, the sound guy, and even congregation members are telling you you need to quiet down. You try, but you end up getting louder throughout a song without realizing it… Not to mention you get sloppy and feel you can’t play well when you get quiet.So what gives? Well, it really is possible to play quietly on the drumset - while still using sticks, and you can learn how to do this.It’s easy to assume that in order to play softly, you just need to…well… play softly (or switch to brushes or rods). But the truth is there are several shifts you can make (including 2 big grip shifts) that make all of this much easier than just forcing yourself to play awkwardly quietly!Today we’re breaking down 4 steps to confidently playing softly while still sounding good & feeling good - So that you’re playing and leading in worship without worrying about volume, you’re playing for the room and sounding awesome, and you’re keeping the sound guy (and even the old folks) happy. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Free your right hand for SYNCOPATED ride patterns Stephen Clark 2025-04-11 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationTable of Contents:2:56 - What you’ll be able to do with this…3:41 - Step 1 (playing singles)5:16 - “What is syncopation?”7:23 - Step 2 (changing the leading hand)10:51 - Step 3 (listening / mental playback)11:58 - Step 4 (add the kick)15:37 - BONUS steps… “what else you can do with this…”Are you stuck in your groove-making abilities, where you can’t get your right hand to deviate from the standard straight-8th timekeeping it’s always done?I know the feeling: You want to break away and be creative and syncopated, but your right hand just won’t do it… which leaves you bored and frustrated with your inability to really be creative and play something cool.I felt the same way early on, until I discovered a cool trick that makes this all much easier.Here’s the deal: Most drummers assume that playing syncopated patterns on the ride during a groove is an advanced skill, but you can actually teach your right hand to improvise rhythms even as a beginner. This is a super achievable skill, and you can get started today!We’re breaking down in 4 steps how to use alternating singles to automatically create syncopated rhythms on the ride (maybe without you even realizing it!), then we’ll learn how to coordinate that with your other limbs so you can build ride syncopation into your groove.After today you’ll be branching out of the box, creating cool patterns, and you’ll be able to actually play the non-8th timekeeping patterns you hear in songs from time to time. YOU CAN DO THIS.Check out the recent lesson on IMPROVISATION right here…“5 steps to improvising musical, impactful FILLS”youtu.be/XhbGFJLjqqII believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Why your thumbs are SORE after playing loud & fast Stephen Clark 2025-04-04 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineHey Friend! If you find your thumbs getting sore after drumming - especially after playing loudly or quickly - Then you’re in the right place today!Man, can I relate to this struggle. You’re frustrated because you know something must be wrong, but you don’t know what to change to fix it… which leaves you feeling completely incapable on your instrument.I once had so much thumb pain after a gig that I knew I had to change something, and thankfully I discovered some big shifts you can make to avoid this struggle.Most drummers reach for “grippier” sticks in order to avoid squeezing too tight (and that DOES help for sure!), but the core solution here is changing the way you grip so that you don’t have to squeeze as hard to maintain control over the sticks.Today we’re breaking down 4 steps to solve this, and I’ll show you the exact “trouble-muscle” on my hand that “step no. 3” specifically solves.We’ll also check out an amazing drummer who is the perfect example of how to play fast & loud extraordinarily well. Let’s get you playing without pain and feeling more relaxed, so that you can have fun & focus on the music. YOU CAN DO THIS.Check out a great video of Chad Smith playing right here…youtu.be/HMBRjo33cUE?si=DMeKyDenhtL3V88HI believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
7 things I wish I knew as a new church drummer Stephen Clark 2025-03-28 | → Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drummingTable of Contents:1:38 - Brand new free resource for new church drummers!3:14 - “Thing I wish I knew 1”8:38 - “Thing I wish I knew 2”12:34 - “Thing I wish I knew 3”21:05 - “Thing I wish I knew 4”29:11 - “Thing I wish I knew 5”31:40 - “Thing I wish I knew 6”40:16 - “Thing I wish I knew 7” Hey Friend & fellow church drummer! If you’re a new church drummer playing modern worship music like I was when I was 16, then you’re in the right place today.If you’re struggling with having to learn new songs by ear week to week, you’re having a hard time playing all the tom patterns, you feel like your time is shaky, you’re constantly being told you’re “too loud” - and you just feel lost, overwhelmed, and not sure of what to focus on or practice week to week… Then this lesson is definitely for you!Unfortunately many new church drummers are focusing on the wrong things in their playing (I know I was years ago!). Thankfully as soon as you start shifting your focus to the RIGHT things, you automatically start sounding better and everything gets easier.Today we’re breaking down the 7 biggest things I wish I knew before my very first Sunday playing in church.I know it can feel like every Sunday is a trial by fire, so my goal today is to give you direction, clarity, encouragement - and most of all to remind you that YOU CAN DO THIS - even when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. : ) Let’s dive in.Check out these additional lessons to go deeper with some of the topics we covered today!Transform your FEEL with the “metronome weaning” exerciseyoutu.be/hmEoq9jps5Q2 Fixes to get your tom fills from FRANTIC to FLUIDyoutu.be/5z5iHIU7P0kThe critical song-learning step 90% of drummers skipyoutu.be/aUfEiY9znf0Memorize any pop song with these 3 thingsyoutu.be/GgDY1MDSsD0I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
5 steps to creating musical, impactful FILLS Stephen Clark 2025-03-21 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineTable of Contents:2:47 - What you've gotta do first to make all this work...5:04 - Action step 16:15 - Action step 29:52 - Action step 312:44 - Action step 416:30 - Action step 519:13 - BONUS step (where to go next...)Hey Friend! Do you feel like you lack creativity on the drums? Are you bored with everything you play, because you feel like you just regurgitate ideas, playing the same 3 or 4 things over and over? Are you wondering if you just don’t have the natural ability to craft unique parts like your favorite drummers? If that’s you, you’re in the right place today.Here’s something very cool and maybe even freeing for you:Most drummers assume that learning to improvise means having to figure out how to pull great ideas out of thin air. But the truth is, you don’t have to be able to do that. All you need is a simple framework to follow that will have you improvising automatically.Today you’ll learn this simple 5 step framework for creating unique, musical rhythms on the kit (which you can use for syncopated kick patterns & impactful, melodic fills!) - And best of all this is a FUN system that works even for a total beginner. Let’s transform your playing to a place where you can think of great rhythmic ideas on the fly, having tons of fun on your instrument as you create. YOU CAN DO THIS.Check out this recent lesson for more about using the "shifting accents" exercise to improve freedom & fluidity around the kit:youtu.be/a8mTA3KeqZ4I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
5 ways to make your bass drum pedal faster Stephen Clark 2025-03-14 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineHey Friend! If your bass drum foot is slow, getting tired easily, and is unable to execute driving grooves or quick 16th doubles - Then today’s lesson is for you.I know the frustration of feeling like your hands can play “just fine,” but your kick foot is just always an ongoing problem and frustration nagging at you and never improving. You’re left wondering… “Is my pedal the problem - Or am I the problem?”We’re going to solve this today and I’ll even show you how to quickly test how fast or slow your pedal actually is, but first I have to caution you: Most drummers reach for pedal adjustment hacks in order to play faster… (and these are great - I’ll share with you 4 of them that will transform your slow pedal into a quick machine TODAY!) However, my almost 2 decades of experience playing the drums has taught me that those things will only get you so far.There’s a 5th way to make your pedal faster that you might not like so much, but it’s absolutely guaranteed to work - no matter your pedal.Don’t deal with a sluggish kick pedal any longer that keeps you from playing the songs you want to play. Today we’ll fix this together. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
2 Fixes to get your tom fills from FRANTIC to FLUID Stephen Clark 2025-03-07 | → Know what GROOVES & FILLS to play! Grab my “25 Practical Rock Grooves & Fills for the Beginner Drummer” free PDF e-guide:thenonglamorousdrummer.com/25groovesIf you feel like your tom fills are frantic, panicked, and you’re out of control & flailing the whole time you try to play them… Then today’s lesson is for you.It’s easy to believe that practicing a bunch of tom fills is all you need to do to play smooth singles around the kit. But the truth is, there are 2 big fixes you must make (you saw ‘em in the thumbnail!) - Then everything else falls into place.Today we’re diving into those 2 critical factors to look at, as well as a few additional helpful tips, so that your tom fills go from FRANTIC to smooth, FLUID, effortless - and even FAST.Without making these 2 critical shifts I’m breaking down for you today, you might continue struggling with actually feeling in command behind your drums, which makes playing anything confidently a struggle. Let’s solve this today. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
8 biggest “AHA” moments I had learning the drums Stephen Clark 2025-02-28 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineIf you are a beginner drummer in need of some “AHA” moments today, I feel ya! It’s easy to feel in the dark, not knowing what you don’t know, and not yet having any pivotal moments to confirm that you’re doing something right.As you learn my 8 biggest “aha” moments from my last 18 years of playing, you’ll notice an interesting trend that I hope is encouraging to you.We’ll also break down the truth about “aha” moments, as you learn some “mile marker”-type expectations to have for your playing & your growth in the coming years.My hope is that you’ll be able to take a bunch of these tips & lessons and run with them, making progress even TODAY - so that you’re already ahead of where I was early on. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!Check out these additional lessons to go deeper with the various “aha moment” topics we hit today!Play jazz in 3 stepsyoutu.be/GPO6fYN39EIHow to play more impressive fills on the drumsyoutu.be/a8mTA3KeqZ4The grip secret for more speed & controlyoutu.be/914TD_sSqD0How to learn songs by ear (playlist)youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa_9IVPw7D_08YnnfLhRsgfi5_yDLyb0l5 tips for PRO-sounding rimshotsyoutu.be/A485SUwNyhgThe critical song-learning step 90% of drummers skipyoutu.be/aUfEiY9znf0The hihat speed trick I wish I knew as a beginneryoutu.be/Cy5s6iHYSi8
The ONLY ghost note pattern a beginner needs Stephen Clark 2025-02-21 | Grab the free Notation PDF from the lesson right here to practice along with me! Download it or print it: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/ghost-note-pattern(If you download this, I’ll also send you the 30 minute pad practice guide below - no need to “opt-in” twice)→ Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineIf you struggle to play ghost note grooves well (like you just don’t know what to play!) - Or you always feel like your ghosting is too busy or too clumsy… Then today’s lesson is for you.Playing an awesome-feeling ghost-note groove doesn’t have to be a complicated puzzle to be solved. Today I’m giving you a simple, universal, all-purpose pattern you can use in a bunch of songs, which will give you so much confidence - especially if you’re a total beginner.We’ll also hit the 2 big reasons your ghost note grooves aren’t working or are feeling sloppy.Let’s get you playing musical ghosting grooves that sound & feel awesome. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The hihat FOOT technique I wish I knew as a beginner Stephen Clark 2025-01-31 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf you are unable to keep left foot time on the hihat - or you can pull it off… but it’s really cumbersome, heavy-feeling, and anything but effortless… than today’s lesson is for you!Without this essential skill of keeping autopilot left foot time, you’ll end up very limited with what all you can do on the drums in the future - I certainly wish I knew to work on this when I was a beginner.But thankfully there’s a simple foot technique that makes this effortless, allowing you to keep better time, build deeper 4-way independence, glue your grooves together (and make them more interesting), AND play better with a band. That means jamming well with others and nailing songs, which is awesome. I’ll show you exactly how to do all of this in 3 simple steps. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with. Stay Non Glamorous,StephenCheck out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The Coordination TEST | The secret to mastering anything Stephen Clark 2025-01-17 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationDo you ever feel like you’ve never fully mastered anything on the drums? Like you rarely actually feel comfortable and confident in what you’re playing?Have you practiced dozens of “coordination exercises,” but you still don’t feel like you can actually play the ideas in your head?Hey, I’ve been there! I practiced coordination exercises for years, and I even worked through Realistic Rock when I was in high school. But it wasn’t until years later that I actually FELT coordinated and confident in my abilities to play what I heard in my head.I’ll share with you how that happened, and you’ll learn the 4-Step “Coordination Test” - which truly is the secret to mastering anything.Stick with me today, and you’ll finally feel like you’re playing with command, purpose, and intentionality, able to play the ideas in your head. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The method for good TIMING nobody talks about Stephen Clark 2025-01-10 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineMost people think that in order to play with great time, you just need to practice to a metronome more. But the truth is that great timing is ultimately found somewhere else.If you’re playing with a band and you’ve struggled with rushing, dragging, and always being afraid that you’re speeding up and ruining the song… then today’s lesson is for you.When I was a young drummer in Highschool getting started playing with people, my biggest fear was rushing. I was constantly afraid that I was speeding up (because most of the time I WAS!). But years later I learned something that made keeping good time so much easier and more reliable.Today we’re breaking down “The Timing Paradox” (how great time doesn’t start with metronome practice), and you’ll learn 2 practical & simple ways to improve your time TODAY so that you’re playing confidently without fear of constant speeding up. YOU CAN DO THIS.Check out these additional lessons to go deeper:Transform your FEEL with this challenging exercise (metronome weaning)youtu.be/hmEoq9jps5QThe grip secret for more SPEED & CONTROLyoutu.be/914TD_sSqD0I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The Ringy Snare MYTH | How to tune your snare Stephen Clark 2025-01-03 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeMyth: Ringiness from a snare drum is bad, annoying, and needs to be gotten rid of.Truth: Ringiness can actually give a snare more body and fullness, and there’s a trick you can do that keeps it from being annoying!Hey if you’ve struggled with snare tuning (especially with ringiness), and your snare just sounds BAD to your ear, then today’s lesson will challenge your thinking on this and provide you with a bunch of practical solutions.I was playing at church a couple of weeks ago, and I felt like I got my snare sounding awesome. Then 2 songs into the set, it suddenly had this awful ring I couldn’t get rid of. I’ll show you why this happened and how we can avoid this, as we break down the “Ringy Snare Myth” and the 5 steps you can take today to get the snare sound of your dreams. YOU CAN DO THIS!Check out these additional lessons to go deeper:“Don’t fix a ringy snare with moon gel. Here’s why…”youtu.be/uvpAAUasJxw“5 tips for PRO-sounding rimshots”youtu.be/A485SUwNyhgI believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Is it WRONG to grip each stick differently? Stephen Clark 2024-12-27 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeHow you answer the question in the title will determine your potential for speed, fluidity, and consistency on the drums.Maybe today your grip just doesn’t feel comfortable… Maybe playing quickly & smoothly just isn’t natural, and your default result is a clumsy or choppy sound.There was a time in my playing when I struggled with any kind of fast RH timekeeping, and I was also having difficulty getting a high quality, professional snare sound. But strangely enough I was able to fix both of these issues at the same time by doing what I’m teaching you today…Today you’ll learn what this is all about as we answer the question of “can we grip each stick differently?” - So that you’re playing more consistently, fluidly, and professionally no matter your level. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
3 creative ways to use TOMS in your next song Stephen Clark 2024-12-20 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf playing your toms is an uncomfortable, scary thing for you - causing you to tend to avoid them - then today’s lesson is for you!Don’t worry - This is a super common issue many of my students come to me dealing with, and we’re able to fix it in a few steps.Today you’ll learn 3 simple but creative ways to use toms in music: 1. “The Beginner’s Cheat”2. “The U2”3. “The Church Drummer”By the end of today you won’t fear tom grooves, and you’ll have the freedom & creativity to even fake your way through a tom-heavy song. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How to make a slow pedal FASTER Stephen Clark 2024-12-13 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf you have a slow, sluggish, and even cheap kick drum pedal, and you’d like to get more speed & fluidity out of it, then today’s lesson is for you.Make these 3 big adjustments we’re breaking down today, and your pedal will feel more high-end, operate more quickly, and you’ll be able to play faster as a result. You’ll also learn how to quickly test your pedal’s speed so you can find out where you stand on this.As a matter of fact, a student of mine was recently dealing with a sluggish pedal, and we made one of these quick adjustments while on a Zoom call, and he immediately felt a huge difference.Let’s get you playing faster and sounding more professional, so you can have fun playing the songs you want to play. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Finger speed for the absolute beginner Stephen Clark 2024-12-06 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineYour wrists will only get you so far in terms of speed, fluidity, and intricacy - especially when it comes to doubles, ghosting, and quick timekeeping.If you’re a beginner wanting to strengthen your doubles, play quicker timekeeping patterns like you hear in jazz or Latin, or just become an all-around more technically-versed drummer, then today’s lesson is for you.As a beginner, my doubles were sloppy & slow, my Moeller patterns on the hats weren’t great, and my singles weren’t fast. But I followed the exact process I’m teaching you today, and everything changed.Today we’re diving into “4 steps to activating your fingers” so that you’re much more able to play what you want to play on the drums. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How to play more impressive fills on the drums Stephen Clark 2024-11-27 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf your fills are boring, repetitive, and uninteresting, and creating rhythms & syncopation within them is tough, then today’s lesson is for you.Hey I’ve been there! When I was a beginner in high school, I was always afraid of crashing and burning and train-wrecking the band if I tried to play anything interesting……Until I found a really fun “cheat” that allows you to really hack the process of creating much more impressive, musical fills!Today I’m teaching you “The Skeleton Rhythm Cheat”, a very simple and highly achievable fill-creation method that will work for you even if you’re a total beginner. YOU CAN DO THIS.Go further with this with these recent lessons:“The DRUM SOLO formula for beginners”youtu.be/k7rXxxdnS_A?si=EbZZH5YaquK1sGRb“The TOM FILL formula for ‘Uncreative’ drummers”youtu.be/eBvebswgr40?si=oc_OvVw1-l5OqsAy“The single best thing to make your fills more interesting”youtu.be/Qj37y-5CGdo?si=dRy7oOiMd5QYZxztI believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The hihat SPEED trick I wish I knew as a beginner Stephen Clark 2024-11-22 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free, 30-mins-a-day beginner’s PDF guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeMost drummers are trying harder than they need to in order to play quickly & smoothly on their hats - especially when playing a one-handed 16th pattern like you hear in “Africa” or “Rosanna.” And the result is a clumsy, cumbersome feel that just doesn’t work.But the solution to this is simple…I was stuck on this too at one time, until I discovered something that all the pros were doing with their hihats that I WASN’T.Today I’m teaching you “The 2-point hihat adjustment that makes the biggest difference in your sound”, so that your hihat playing will sound better even in the next 15 minutes. The feel Jeff Porcaro creates in “Africa” will become much more achievable for you after today. YOU CAN DO THIS.Check out these recent lessons to go deeper:“The Beginner mistake making your HIHAT 16ths choppy”youtu.be/XcHRM8z3Vb4?si=ZgbDzKX6eJ8EkkEn“How to set up your hihats (for the absolute BEGINNER)”youtu.be/6HjPHHTEKF4?si=iMCjuVtM98FhdN3f“Play hihat barks AT WILL with this triplet exercise”youtu.be/1C01XmjfnNg?si=x4Kpf-p_Kb7s8xNcI believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Why your 16th doubles choke out at 120bpm Stephen Clark 2024-11-15 | → Solve your WEAK HAND, and build FAST FLUID chops you can apply to the full drum set with 3 daily pad exercises. Grab the free e-guide for the 30 minute daily practice routine!thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-minute-pad-routineAre your doubles choking out, becoming softer and more muddled when you reach 120bpm?If your doubles get quieter and sloppier as you get faster, and more specifically your 16th doubles completely choke out into oblivion at 120bpm, leaving you frustrated with your lack of technical prowess… Then today’s lesson is for you.There’s a reason why many drummers’ doubles fall apart at 120, and we’re going to target that weak spot today… So that your doubles are strong, clean, and actually applying to the drumset for faster timekeeping & more intricate playing.The secret lies in making sure you’re doing this one thing BEFORE working in the fingers. I’ll show you how today. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
3 steps to FASTER fills around the kit Stephen Clark 2024-11-08 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free BEGINNER’S step-by-step guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf you’re not able to play fast fills, your around-the-kit navigation is slow, and you find yourself running into too many “fill roadblocks” and not feeling like a “real drummer” as a result…Then today’s lesson is for you!Today I’ll show you how Your hands may NOT be the biggest culprit holding you back from faster, smoother fills. Instead, the answer is up here [tapping head]. But don’t worry, because I’ll give you two really fun exercises to help you solve this: “The Timeline Exercise,” and “The Fast Fills Exercise.”You’ll be playing faster fills, you’ll be thinking more clearly while playing, and you’ll even be having more fun on the drums when we’re done. YOU CAN DO THIS. I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
What every beginners practice session should be Stephen Clark 2024-10-18 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the free BEGINNER’S step-by-step guide for automatic & quick growth: thenonglamorousdrummer.com/knowwhattopracticeIf you’re a beginner feeling overwhelmed about what to practice in order to master the drums (or you just have no clue where to start!), then today’s lesson is for you.The most common self-taught beginner mistake is trying to practice bits and pieces of EVERYTHING. The result is overwhelm, inconsistency, and eventually stalling and burning out.But this isn’t going to be you. : ) Here’s what I want to do for you today:We’re going to build a “core practice session” of just a handful of critical things to do each and every day to guarantee that you grow - So that you’re avoiding overwhelm, confusion, or stalled progress. Let’s get you mastering the drums so you can play whatever you want to play.And to make this super easy, it’s also all in PDF form in the description below - Literally your free cheatsheet to faster growth. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The foot placement adjustment for more SPEED Stephen Clark 2024-10-11 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationIf your right foot is struggling to play fast enough and in time, and you feel like you might be “working harder than you need to” (because your foot’s running into the chain and your knee’s hurting and you’re getting that annoying “flutter” sound when you play)…Then today’s lesson is for you!Without adjusting your foot to your pedal’s “sweet spot,” you’ll struggle to play as loud, fast, or as smoothly as you are actually capable of playing. But there’s a catch to this - one thing you have to do to make all of this work.I’ll show you exactly how today by breaking down my 3 steps to a more comfortable, powerful bass drum foot - So that you’re able to play any kick pattern that comes your way. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
How to know if your snare is the right HEIGHT Stephen Clark 2024-10-04 | → How weak is YOUR weak hand on the drums? Take the test to find out - Then fix it fast for even singles and fluid fills around the kit.thenonglamorousdrummer.com/weakhandtestDid you know that the number one cause of a bad snare sound isn’t the way the drum’s tuned or the drum itself? It’s how you the drummer are hitting it. And that all starts with snare height, position, and angle.Hey if you ever feel like you’re struggling to hit your snare in the center, play consistent rimshots, or just feel comfortable and confident behind your drums (like they’re an extension of your body), then today’s lesson is for you!The snare drum is where you’ll play the most notes - probably even more than on the kick - so this is a pretty important component to get right.If you get your snare height, placement, and angle just right for YOUR body and YOUR playing style, you’ll feel at home and comfortable on the drums - Which means being relaxed and feeling confident, both of which are critical for sounding professional!So today I’m breaking down my 5 step process for finding your perfect snare height, angle, and position. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
5 tips for beginner drummers playing with a band Stephen Clark 2024-09-27 | → How weak is YOUR weak hand on the drums? Take the test to find out - Then fix it fast for even singles and fluid fills around the kit.thenonglamorousdrummer.com/weakhandtestHey if you’re a beginner drummer who’s starting to gig with a band for the first time… OR you’re just starting out and would love to one day jam with people and sound awesome with a band… Then today’s lesson is for you!AND… If you feel like you lack confidence and are actually scared out of your mind at the thought of playing in front of people… then you should really hang out with me today for this discussion. : ) You see, one of your biggest struggles as a beginner is that “you don’t know what you don’t know,” and sometimes you just have to figure it all out by trial and error. But what if you could know the 3 biggest, most helpful strategies for getting rid of stage fright, building confidence, and actually FEELING ready to be the commanding drummer you know you can be?You CAN, and we’re going to break these simple tips down for you today, so that you’re empowered to go have fun making music. YOU CAN DO THIS!I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The Beginner mistake making your HIHAT 16ths choppy Stephen Clark 2024-09-20 | → How weak is YOUR weak hand on the drums? Take the test to find out - Then fix it fast for even singles and fluid fills around the kit.thenonglamorousdrummer.com/weakhandtestAre your one-handed hihat 16th patterns stiff, choppy, and difficult to play? Do you keep practicing more and more, but your hand keeps getting tired and your 16ths don’t get any smoother?Well, if this is you - Today’s lesson is for you!I’ve been there too, and I remember listening to my favorite drummers and just wondering - “How do their hihat grooves sound so much better than mine?”The truth is, Moeller-motion 16th hihat patterns don’t come naturally to most folks, myself included. Yet this is an essential drumming skill we all HAVE to master in order to play the songs we want to play.So how do we fix this?Today I’m sharing with you my story of the 2 little changes that made a huge difference in my hihat 16th grooves, and I’m breaking down for you the “4 steps to a smoother, more effortless Moeller 16th hihat pattern.” This will be a lot of fun! YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
The critical song-learning step 90% of drummers skip Stephen Clark 2024-09-13 | → Grow faster by KNOWING WHAT TO PRACTICE! Download the “3-Part Practice Routine” guide for busy drummers:www.thenonglamorousdrummer.com/the-3-part-daily-practice-routineIs learning songs a daunting, difficult, time-consuming process for you? Then once you’ve gotten through it, you still feel like you don’t REALLY know the song?This leaves you with no confidence, and you can’t sound even semi-professional if you try - AND you’re always on the edge of a train-wreck as you’re playing.Well, what if there was a way you could deeply KNOW the song and even memorize it without trying? Wouldn’t this give you the confidence that you CAN play it, and wouldn’t you sound WAY better in the process?If you’re resonating with all this, today’s lesson is most definitely for you!Let me help you learn songs faster, sound more professional, and gain tons of confidence, simply by doing this critical song-learning step that 90% (or maybe more than 90%) of drummers sadly skip. This is SO simple… it’s just a matter of doing it. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
Avoid playing the same boring stuff over & over. Heres how: Stephen Clark 2024-09-06 | → Play what’s in your head! Grab my FREE guide, “30 Days to 4-Way Rock Coordination” thenonglamorousdrummer.com/30-day-coordinationHave you ever been playing along to a song or jamming with friends, and you’ve pretty much got the groove down. But there’s a problem:You realize you’re stuck playing that exact pattern, because if you make even the slightest change, you might fall apart, lose the timing, and never settle back into it.In other words, you’re stuck in a rut: You can’t create variations or improvise a kick pattern.If you can relate to this, today’s lesson is for you! You MUST avoid this frustrating scenario - otherwise you won’t be able to be that free, creative, improvising drummer you know you’re capable of becoming.Let me help you get there today with a deceivingly simple exercise that totally changed the game for me years ago - and will transform your drumming too, even if you’re a total beginner. YOU CAN DO THIS.I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
