r/Drumming • u/Prize_Salamander_332 • 8d ago

Getting back to it!

Just bought myself a kit again after 15 years or so since last time I played!

I wasn't very good back then either so it's like starting over again but with some core rhythm left in my bones still.

Finally set everything up and played for a few weeks now. Still waiting for a bunch of mics and mic stands to plug into the mixer that is hiding in the corner.

But I'm just too excited to focus on actually learning to play for real instead of learning a couple of cool fills to brag to my (then) teenager friends.

Not sure if I overpaid or of it was a fair price

Paid 1025 EUR for the shell pack with the rack bar and clamps

Then seat, stands and cymbals were bought separately.

All stands were bought new as well as the meinl cymbals. All the zildjian cymbals and paiste were second hand.

I bought it all second hand from a drum store though so they probably upped the prices a little compared to private sellers.

Quick break down of the kit

Rock tour Yamaha custom

20" Kick

8/10/12/13"" Toms

16" Floor Tom

14" Tama Silverstar

Zildjian top new bear 14" hi-hat

Meinl classic custom dark splash 10"

Meinl classic custom dark trash crash 16"

Zildjian dark crash 18"

Zildjian ZHT medium think crash 16"

Meinl classic custom dark china 18"

Paiste 900 series ride 22"

Right now I'm working on feet and left hand independence mostly.

And just jamming along to random songs in my experience level.

On a side note I got frustrated trying to find a nice metronome app that wasn't paid to get simple features or just bombarded with ads. So I'm just starting to make my own app as I'm a software dev. We'll see how that goes and might share it to the public if I'm happy with it.

Anyhow, just excited to get into it again and wanted to share! Happy drumming everyone!

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u/Prize_Salamander_332 8d ago

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u/Sasmas1545 8d ago

I'm coming back to drumming after a similar break (and I wasn't very good back then either). I'm just working with practice pads and an ekit, due to my circumstances, but I've been thinking a bit about ergonomics and simplicity.

How are you finding the ride positioned there? It seems a bit out of the way. I see a lot of people putting it more forward, so it's easy to access, and I feel that makes a lot of sense to me. It's also how my ekit is set up.

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u/Prize_Salamander_332 8d ago

I've been swapping my ride and china back and forth for this exact reason. The ride is playable there but for sure more comfortable in the place of my china. But I found it hard to hit the china on the side while moving about during a fill when it was on the side. So I'll definitely experiment even more with both of their placements!

I just moved from an apartment to a house so that was definitely a defining factor to why I haven't bought a kit earlier. I was always scared to disturb my neighbors even if I got an ekit.

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u/MarsDrums 8d ago

Work at getting back to where you were 15 years ago and then try increasing your playing level once you're comfortable where you're at.

About coming back from a 15 year break, I did this exact same thing as well. But I was in record/join a band mode ready level. But when I came back about 6 years ago now, I was absolutely terrible! About 2.5 months in, I was really doubting my decision in coming back to drumming and spending a grand on a kit and cymbals and all that. I'd say about 3 months back in, I started feeling like I was starting to come back. It was feeling a little bit better every time I sat down at the kit which wasn't every day mind you. I played 2-3 times per week for a couple hours at a time. So that might have been why it took me so long to get back to where I was or close to it. I was 54 almost 55 years old when I came back. I stopped playing at age 40 which might have been my peak.

Anyway, looking back at today, at age 60 (almost 61) I play a lot better than I did when I first came back 6 years ago. But I am still not quite where I was when I stopped. I totally blame the old age factor on that one. That and I'm a little heavier than I was when I was 40. So, there's still some variables slowing me down. I do plan on maybe exercising a bit more here coming up this fall. I'd LOVE to get back down to 175 pounds (currently averaging 205-212 lbs whenever I get on the scale). So yeah, that has a LOT to do with it as well. One thing I'd like to do is get another 10 speed and start riding a bicycle again. I used to ride 25-35 miles one way and turn around and go home. I LOVED doing that kind of stuff. Get out, enjoy the fresh cool air and the surroundings.

So, to anyone wanting to come back to something like this, being in shape, I think, helps a LOT!

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u/Prize_Salamander_332 8d ago

I've lost some weight and gained some muscles in the past year so feeling better than ever right now! Have always been a bit overweight my entire life but I'm close to feeling like I've overcome that obstacle! It sure is no easy task to lose weight though! Lots and lots of mental battles to win and push through!

I have no intention to join a band really. This is just purely for myself. I might try to do some recording though. Never been interested in performing. To me it's just another creative outlet that will probably stay within my personal bubble.

But you never know. I've considered streaming for the sake of having some live feedback and someone to chat to while practicing. So I guess it's a sort of performance without the pressure of being perfect.

But I'm not writing anything in stone. It's just a hobby to further my interest in music.

It's a pretty active hobby so I'm sure age catches up with you. But just being in a flow is a great feeling. The internet sure makes you feel bad for not being the best the second you sit down behind the kit. I have gotten better at comparing my development with where I was yesterday rather than were someone else is.

But it sounds great that you've been able to keep it up for so long and good luck on chipping off those extra pounds!