It’s official: Finger drumming has entered the mainstream. It’s been a well-used art-form wielded by music producers in the Hip-Hop, Electronic, R&B and even Pop genres for a while now. But prominent artists like Fred Again & Charlie Puth, and leading musical figures with huge followings online, like Beats by Jblack and David “Finger” Haynes, have galvanised fresh respect and appreciation for this creative discipline. This reinvigorated movement has inspired a new generation of aspiring finger drummers.
If you’re one of those budding finger drummers, we’ve got you covered with this article covering the essential equipment you’ll need to get started, the core techniques to master, and guidance on how to start building your finger drumming chops.
To dive into the world of finger drumming, you'll need a few critical key pieces of equipment that will enhance your ability to produce and manipulate beats precisely. Here's a breakdown of the essential gear:
Let’s start with the device you’ll actually be finger drumming with! You have two main options here; a pad controller or a MIDI keyboard.
The pad controller is designed specifically for finger drumming, with responsive and durable pads that can withstand heavy use. They will typically feature more pads than MIDI keyboards and those pads are usually larger & therefore more easy to hit.
MIDI keyboards with pads offer you the option to use one device to lay down drum parts and layer over chords and melodies. You can also finger drum on the keys of a MIDI if that’s your preference. The pads on a MIDI keyboard are usually not as sensitive, are less hard wearing and there're typically less pads included than a pad controller.
The decision is down to personal preference. Purists will say go for the Pad Controller, but beginners could try the MIDI keyboard which will give you the option to learn other production skills such as chords, melodies, baselines while also getting to grips with the basics of finger drumming.
A DAW will enable you to lay down your beats, loop, quantize, and add filters & effects to the sound of your drums. It will also provide a visualisation of the beats you’ve played and help you identify where you’re out of time, or where rogue notes have been played.
You’ll also be able to layer beats and build up your drum tracks to create more complicated patterns.
We wrote this article on the best DAWs for beginners to provide more guidance.
We couldn’t resist the self-plug here. We’ve developed a series of lessons to help beginner finger drummers take their first steps towards mastery. By following our ‘Guided Path’ you’ll learn key concepts & techniques through our easy to follow lessons. Simply connect your controller or MIDI, load up the lessons and start playing along. We’ll provide live feedback on your performance and help you identify how you can improve as a finger drummer.
There’s nothing like getting hands-on with an instrument when first starting out. It will help you get a feel and instinct for how the pads work, and react to your finger taps. We are strong advocates for more structured learning, but on day one have some fun with your pads; Open up your DAW, load up a kit and start experimenting. Focus on the timing, velocity & arrangement of the pads. This will give you a more intuitive sense of how the pads are played when you start your learning journey.
Hand coordination is a fundamental aspect of finger drumming. An effective exercise to improve your control and dexterity involves practicing with different fingers on the fulcrum, such as switching from your first finger and thumb to your middle finger and thumb. This helps in isolating finger movements which are crucial for precise drumming. Additionally, engaging exercises like playing on your forearms with your sticks turned around can significantly boost your awareness of finger extension and retraction. For those looking to refine their technique, practicing rapid fire triggers where the stick bounces back up as your fingers push it down can be particularly beneficial.
When starting out, it's important to establish a strong foundation with simple patterns. One basic approach is to play a kick on every quarter note while muting other sounds, which helps in building timing and coordination. As you progress, incorporating both hands can add complexity and enrich your rhythms. For instance, playing pads simultaneously with different hands or sequentially can create dynamic beats. Furthermore, exploring rudiments like alternating hand patterns (right-left-right-left) and other combinations on the pad can lead to a more versatile playing style.
By integrating these techniques into your practice, you'll not only enhance your finger drumming skills but also prepare for more advanced performances. Remember, the key to mastery is consistency and gradual progression in the complexity of the patterns you play.
If you’re ready for a more guided and hands-on approach to mastering finger drumming then there are various online finger drumming courses available. At Melodics we’ve developed the fastest and most effective way to learn finger drumming. Learn basic timings to more advanced finger independence through our guided path & take on challenging techniques and song play-alongs. Learn more here.
There are endless videos on YouTube showcasing epic drummers like Stro Elliot, Jeremey Ellis, David “Fingers” Haynes & many more. Find the finger drummers that resonate with you from a style, sound and competency perspective. Look at their drum placements, techniques and timings. As a beginner you’ll want to keep things slow, start by understanding the sequences of the beats and then build up the tempo.
If you’re looking for more instructional videos, on the Melodics channel we publish simple breakdowns for classic & trending songs. Check out our lesson for ‘Million Dollar Baby’ by Tommy Richman:
Check out our full playlist of beat tutorials
For beginners wondering where to start, the blank canvas can be intimidating. We recommend breaking things down, starting with the basics and progressively introducing more challenging elements when you’re comfortable. Here are 5 techniques to help guide you through the first stages of your finger drumming journey.
Proper finger placement helps in executing patterns more efficiently. Correct positioning ensures minimal strain and maximizes control over the pads.
Practice Tip: Ensure your fingers are relaxed and positioned to easily reach multiple pads without excessive movement. Keep your wrists slightly elevated and your fingers curved to maintain comfort and agility during extended practice sessions.
Start with simple drum patterns such as the basic kick-snare-hat combination. Understanding the foundation of rhythm and timing is crucial. In the beginning, focusing on straightforward beats builds a solid base for more intricate patterns.
Practice Tip: Practice basic beats like a 4/4 rhythm, ensuring consistent timing with a metronome. This will help develop your sense of timing and rhythm, which is essential for all drumming techniques.
Develop the ability to use each hand independently to play different rhythms simultaneously. This skill allows for more complex and interesting patterns and is fundamental for advanced drumming.
Practice Tip: Work on exercises that separate hand roles, like playing a steady hi-hat pattern with one hand while alternating kicks and snares with the other. Start slow and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
These techniques add complexity and dynamics to your drumming. Flams involve hitting two pads nearly simultaneously to create a thicker sound, while rolls are rapid successive hits that produce a continuous sound.
Practice Tip: Start slowly to ensure even spacing and gradually increase your speed. Use a metronome to maintain consistent timing and practice different combinations of flams and rolls to integrate them smoothly into your patterns.
Add variety and interest to your beats by playing notes off the main beats. Syncopation breaks up the regularity of patterns, making them sound more dynamic and engaging.
Practice Tip: Practice syncopated rhythms by shifting notes slightly off the expected beat. Use a metronome to help you keep track of the main beats and experiment with different placements of syncopated notes to develop a feel for this technique.
Melodics is the best way to learn finger drumming and have fun. Build your skills with our finger drumming lessons, exercises and tutorials whilst learning vital rhythms from the music you love.
Your musical journey begins on a guided path. Learn the fundamentals as you progress through structured lessons & finger drumming exercises at your own pace.
As your skills increase, tackle more challenging pad techniques with intermediate and advanced lessons.
NEW LESSON DROP!
NEW LESSON DROP!
Doo Wop (That Thing)
As made famous by Lauryn Hill
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