How Hard is it REALLY to play Drums and Sing?

Drumming and Singing Together? 

Whether you started learning drums or singing first, you’ve probably thought, “how hard is it to play drums and sing at the same time?” The fact is, you are not alone, especially considering all the great bands who have singing drummers. 

I remember when I first started learning how to do them both at the same time. It is definitely a rush and something worth pursuing if you’re passionate enough. 

The Key to Becoming a Drummer Who Sings

Playing drums and singing at the same time can be difficult, but the more familiar you become with the individual parts and syncopation, the easier it will be. 

It’s worth noting that practicing both drumming/singing separately, as well as together, will only be more beneficial for you in the long-run. 

Breaking down each individual drum part and singing along can help you if you’re stuck. You have to become comfortable enough with each one in order to successfully drum and sing. 

Further Expanding On Ideas  

There is more to how you can comfortably navigate the two together. It comes down to a few different things that I want to share with you.

The following tips may vary, but they could be extremely beneficial for you!

Breaking Down Each Individual Drum Part

I mentioned when I had started learning the two together that it was a rush. I didn’t mention that it took me some heavy practice to get to that point. As a drummer, you have to be comfortable with both rhythm and multiple-limb coordination. 

Well, singing has a rhythm too, so you’re adding that into the already maddening list of things a drummer has to juggle.

Most of the time the singing rhythm is something completely different from the rhythm of the drum part. 

A plus-side of this is that a lot of drummers simplify their drum parts when they have to sing. It’s obviously a lot easier to drum when you are doing less fancy work and just a simpler beat. 

So, this makes it easier to sing because you can focus more on both parts. There is a method for breaking down the drum part while singing and building it back up. 

Start with doing quarter notes on the bass drum to the pulse of the song you want to sing along to. This should be the easiest to do because it’s just one drum part so far. 

Try to sing while you are doing these quarter notes. If you’re struggling (which is fine), it may help to slow down the tempo of the song. We can always come back and increase the speed.

If the quarter notes are too much, try either half notes or whole notes on the bass drum. The trick is to half the notes/decrease the tempo you’re playing on the drums until it’s manageable for you. 

After you get comfortable enough with the full tempo of the song (doing quarter notes on the bass drum), try adding a snare backbeat on 2 and 4. 

After you’ve become comfortable with quarter notes on the bass and the snare backbeat, see if you are still able to sing along without hesitation to your drumming or singing.

Next, we’ll be doing eighth notes on the hi-hats along with the bass drum quarter notes and that snare backbeat we added. 

If this is too much, try to half the hi-hat strokes and do quarter notes along to the bass drum. Once you’ve got the eighth notes down, try singing along with this beat. 

It may feel like you’re not making any progress, but this dissecting of the drum part will help you to learn it effectively. 

I also wanted to note that it doesn’t matter if this is not the drum part as of now. We’re just getting comfortable with the concept of playing drums and singing at the same time. 

You’ll have a standard drum beat at this point, so you should feel accomplished! If you’re singing along to it, you are officially playing the drums and singing. 

To become more comfortable with playing drums and singing, try to change up the beat as much as possible. 

Maybe try doing some eighth notes on the bass drum and changing up where you want them to be. Also, change up your snare backbeat some and see what kind of crazy sounding beats you can come up with. 

This method will honestly get you as comfortable as you can with singing and playing drums at the same time. 

You may have already had all of that down and are just struggling with the actual drum beat of the song. The same method applies with the actual drum beat, but instead you’ll just isolate each part individually. 

Try just taking the bass drum part and sing along to that. Add in the snare and the hi-hat/crash part as you feel comfortable, but isolate each individual part and sing to it. 

Doing fills and coming back to the drum part while singing may be the hardest thing to do. It will take a little more time, but the isolation technique will help you. 

Fully understanding the entirety of the drum part will only make it that much simpler for you to combine the two. 

I do want to add that I didn’t start trying to sing while drumming until I had been playing drums for several years. 

If you are a singer who is trying to learn the drums, the first approach we talked about will be your guiding force in combining the two. 

On another note, you’ll really want to work on your breathing and posture. You’ll be drawing in a lot of breath because both drumming and singing require a lot.

It’s a good idea to practice breathing in deeply and exhaling out for a few seconds. I would definitely recommend looking into Diaphragmatic breathing tips as they are super beneficial.

Also, make sure you are sitting up straight on your drum throne. Slouching will not provide you with the stability you need. 

Practicing for long periods of time will build up your endurance, but be sure to listen to what your body tells you. If you are tired, take breaks!

Practice Makes Perfect

This can all be pretty intimidating, but I promise if you put in the practice, you’ll start to see results. 

To reiterate, start by breaking down each individual drum part. Sing along to each one until you’re comfortable enough to move on. 

Add each drum part in as needed or combine them all when you’ve mastered singing to each individual part. 

Check your posture and your breathing and don’t overexert yourself. 

Take and Build Off These Tips

So, how hard is it to play drums and sing? With enough practice, you will begin to see results and won’t think about that question anymore. 

All the things we’ve discussed have made it easier for me and I hope that they have helped you in some way as well! 

Leave a comment if you or someone you know is a drummer who sings (or a singer who drums)!

If you want to know the gear that has made my life easier as a drummer, check it out here. 

Until next time! 

– Evan C.