Dumming for Drummies

By Mike Harper

Mike Harper is a Cincinnati native and Texas transplant with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. A happy husband, proud dad, and goofy grandpa, Mike got his first used drum pad in 1967 at age nine.

Since then, he’s been in dozens of bands. And now, after a half century of fact-finding and introspection, he reveals the secret of drumming most drummers won’t tell you: it’s not rocket science.

In Dumming for Drummies, Mike shares everything from stick selection (select two) to explosive rock show endings. His understanding of the intimate dynamics of band life is surpassed by few.

We’re confident you’ll enjoy Dumming for Drummies. And if properly utilized, you can be playing in a band within a year!

So whether it’s a rock band, a country band, a band of gypsies, or a “band on the run,” everybody loves the drummer!

Be that guy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984551252

Mike Harper

Mike Harper began studying drums when Ringo hit the Ed Sullivan stage in 1964. Under strict tutelage at Colerain schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, and after years of misbehavior, he somehow earned the prestigious “John Phillip Sousa Award” in 1976. He went on to major in music performance at Miami University in Ohio. He’s performed in multitudes of rock bands, wedding bands, and church bands. Today, he’s a drummer in the Tyler, Texas classic rock cover band The Tuxedo Cats, and at Keller United Methodist Church in Keller, Texas. He also teaches drums and molds young minds at Mundt Music in Tyler, Texas. This book is dedicated to these students, past and present. Mike resides in Forney, Texas with his Lovely Wife and Life Partner Lois, and works in Tyler, Texas as the Vice President and morning show host on Christian radio station 89.5 KVNE. Living the dream.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Mike Harper.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2018910430

ISBN:              Hardcover                978-1-9845-5123-8

                        Softcover                  978-1-9845-5124-5

                        eBook                       978-1-9845-5125-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/06/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

784261

CONTENTS

Introduction

The Drummer In You Is Begging To Come Out

1. Beat #1

Sit Down At Your Drums

Count To Four

A Metronome

The Bass Drum

Put The Sticks In Your Hands

The High Hat Cymbal

The Snare Drum

Congratulations! You Are Now Officially Playing Beat #1!

2: Beat #2 - We Will Rock You

3. Love Your Guitar Player

4. Less Is More

5. Fills. Finally

6 – Advanced Drumming On The Snare (For The Extra-Miler, The Over-Achiever, And Often The First-Born)

I. The Single Stroke Roll

II. The Double Stroke Roll

III. The Multiple Bounce Roll

IV. The Paradiddle

V. The Flam

7. My