Can You Teach Yourself The Drums?
- alisdairjamesmason
- May 13
- 3 min read
It’s a question I get asked a lot: Can you teach yourself drums, or do you really need a teacher? The honest answer is yes, you can learn without a teacher — but I won't advise it (and not just because I'm a drum teacher!)
The Good News: The Internet Is Your (Loud, Chaotic) Classroom
We’re lucky to live in an age where every possible drum beat known to humankind has been uploaded to YouTube by someone in a sleeveless Metallica shirt. From beginner grooves to lightning-fast gospel chops, there’s a video for it.
Many self-taught drummers start this way — and some of them even manage to sound decent.
You’ve got freedom, flexibility, and best of all, it’s cheap. Want to practise at 11 p.m. in your socks and dressing gown? No one’s stopping you. Want to spend three weeks mastering We Will Rock You and nothing else? Go wild.
Can You Teach Yourself The Drums? Where To Be Careful!
Here’s where things get a bit... wonky. When you’re teaching yourself, you’re also your own coach, critic, cheerleader, and health and safety officer. And unfortunately, you don’t always know when you’re messing up.
That fancy fill you spent two hours learning? Yeah, it’s probably off time. That relaxed grip you’re so proud of? Might actually be a carpal tunnel case waiting to happen.
Teachers are annoying like that — they see things you don’t. They catch bad habits early. And they have this weird ability to stop you from turning into a human metronome that only plays 4/4 rock beats forever (they push your boundaries constantly).
Structure? What Structure?
Self-teaching often looks like this: Day 1 — learn basic rock beat. Day 2 — attempt jazz for no reason. Day 3 — spiral into 40-minute video titled “Top 10 Drum Intros That Will Melt Your Face.”
The internet is a buffet, and without a teacher guiding your plate, you’ll end up with jelly on pizza and call it progress.
A teacher gives you structure. A path. They might even tell you to practise slowly (disgusting, I know). But they help you actually improve instead of just play.
The Musicality Mystery
Drumming isn’t just about hitting stuff at the right time — though let’s be honest, that’s 90% of the appeal. It’s about groove, feel, dynamics, listening, adapting. These are things you usually develop with other musicians... or a teacher who can actually explain why your funk beat sounds like a cement mixer rolling downhill.
Incorporating a mix of practice routines, including playing along with your favourite songs, can also keep things interesting. This not only enhances your timing but allows you to explore different genres of music.
Accountability: Like the Gym, But With More Cowbell
Let’s be honest — learning drums without a teacher is a bit like going to the gym without a personal trainer. You start off strong, full of ambition, ready to conquer the world (or at least the 16th-note hi-hat).
But three weeks later, you’re on the sofa watching drum covers on YouTube, telling yourself that “visual learning” counts as practice. A teacher is like that slightly judgmental gym instructor who notices when you skip leg day — only in this case, it’s rudiments day, and they’ll absolutely call you out when your doubles sound like a goat falling down the stairs.
Having someone expecting you to show up (and not totally butcher the groove) does wonders for motivation. Left to our own devices? We’re all guilty of swapping practice time for snacks and Netflix.
So What’s the Verdict?
Yes, you can learn the drums without a teacher. If you’re motivated, patient, and willing to look silly for a while (trust me, you will), it’s totally doable. But if you want to sound great and avoid developing the posture of a gremlin, even occasional guidance from a real human can make all the difference.
Think of a teacher like GPS. Sure, you could get there on your own — eventually — but it’s nice to have someone say, “Recalculating,” before you end up in the musical equivalent of a ditch.
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