So, you’re working on a new riff and can’t seem to catch the drift.
You may be wondering:
What is a good speed to start practicing drumming at?
While it depends on your level of expertise, here’s my POV when working with a new piece.
I like to start at a slow pace. A good gauge would be:
- 40 bpm if you’re working on a complex piece with many moving parts.
- 60 bpm if you’re practicing something that has repetitive parts.
And yes, you should be always be practicing with a metronome. It helps to keep you on time, and keeps you grounded especially when you’re working on a complicated riff or tend to get lost in the piece.
For your reference, here’s what 40 BPM feels like:
I know it can feel a tad too slow, but you’ll find it especially useful when you’re trying to break down crazy beats on your drum kit.
And here’s what 60 BPM feels like:
While you can find metronome beats on YouTube, you will find it very useful to own a metronome of your own. Even if you’re cash strapped, fret not because there are free metronome apps that you can use.
P.s. if you’re looking to improve your speed, read this guide!