Free Online Drum Lessons

Often the best and most efficient way to learn drums is to draw on the wisdom of others. With this collection of free online drum lessons, YOU get just that opportunity!

All of the free drum lessons you find on this page stem from the well of drumming knowledge that is my father--professional drummer of over 40 years James Morton. He has loads of experience in teaching drums--in private lessons, in his instructional book publications, and even at the local college here in San Diego--and now I'm happy to bring his experience online, to you!

So check out all the free online drum lessons below and enjoy!

Drum Lesson Videos (See only Drum Lesson Videos)

Paradiddles & The Big 5 Patterns	Countdown and Mix & Match	How To Play A Shuffle Beat
Steve Gadd Beat - Two Ride Surfaces	How To Play The Bossa Nova - Clave Rim Clicks and Brushes	Double Bass Drum Simulation

Drum Lesson Articles (See only Articles)

Reading and Playing Drum Charts

• Reading Drum Music
  Try to capture the feel and style of each individual chart. Whether a chart is simple or complex, be true to the musical context...


• Using Drum Charts To Get Over The Hump To Success
  Michael was a solid drummer and a veteran of the Top-40 band circuit. When he came to me for lessons, I was a bit surprised...

Inspiration

• The Night My Career Changed -- Mental Attitude & Playing Focused
  Let's go back three decades to an Italian restaurant/club called Lorenzo's. I'm a young energetic drummer, and I'm playing a nice cushy job six nights a week. The gig lasted over three years....


• Self-Analysis at Lorenzo's -- Playing Relaxed
  It was a Saturday night, and the place was jumping: lots of dancing, the room was full of smoke (this was the '70s), and drinking and carousing.... Honest self-analysis is one of the best things you can do your yourself, and when I was a young drummer, my way of doing that was...


• Hone Your Skills -- Minimizing Weaknesses and Maximizing Strengths
  ...if you're at all serious about drumming, your goal should quite obviously be to minimize your weaknesses and have as many strengths as possible. If your goal is to play professionally, then that is what gets you the job...


• Drumming Is Dancing -- Inspiration from a Martiniquen Shirt
  My wife and I were on the island of Martinique (where the merengue dance originated) more than 25 years ago, when we came upon this shirt...I asked the shopowner what the inscription (tambou ka dansˇ) meant...

Sound

• The Properties Of Sound
  It was a dark and stormy night. Suppose you heard a sound in the middle of the night that was later connected to a crime. A detective comes to interview you...


• The Importance Of Vocalizing -- Engaging Multiple Senses
  In 1979, the great violinist Isaac Stern visited China, to perform and give master classes. A young violinist was struggling through a musical passage...