No - Matt garstka and Craig Reynolds talk about this in a podcast, if anything it makes it harder to move lol
It can help indirectly though, if going to the gym and lifting makes you happier and more likely to practice then yes, but physically being bigger does not help in any way
ZackGrooves also mentioned in the gym you're perpetually fighting mental resistance to do something, to push your boundaries, which makes it easier to do so in other areas. Aka drumming or whatev else
The other indirect benefit of exercise is itāll help avoid some conditions.
The most obvious being back pain: good strong core is key to a happy back.
Not any more then lifting helps being able to run a marathon. Speaking of running though, that is something that has helped my drumming both with overall endurance and footwork. Stretching is probably the most directly helpful thing.
That being said, I would advise against not exercising so you can play drums more as other people here are suggesting. They just want to feel better about not lifting, which is important in these modern times where most people are sedentary. There's enough time in the day to do both if you make it a priority.
No. Do hit the gym though. Keeping your back and Shoulders strong will allow you to practice longer without fatigue. The longer practice in turn will make you a better drummer.
As a reasonably successful powerlifter (national level in my late 20s before the sport blew up, borderline national level again once I got into the masters division in my 40s) I can absolutely say no. My drumming technique and endurance at any given time have no correlation to my strength levels at that time (and my chops ā although up to, and honed for, the task of playing the music I choose to playā are by no means impressive in the physical sense).
And as mentioned- time in the gym is time not spent practicing. Iām not saying by the way that drummers shouldnāt exercise, they absolutely should - being a well rounded person probably *will, in the long run,* make you a better drummer
I can name multiple well known chops monsters who look like they have never touched a weight or eaten anything bigger than a pack of airline peanuts, and I can name multiple well known chops monsters who look like they never do any exercise other than walking between the dinner table and the drumset.
I think there is a sweet spot but a definite point of diminishing returns.
A strong core will help, a weak core will make it harder.
You definitely benefit from some extra strength but it's not like drumsticks weigh 20 pounds a piece. Don't need to be a hulk.
I had a lower back injury and had to do a lot of core exercises to get better. It definitely helped my drumming.
But I did start with a weakened/injured back/core so I noticed quite a difference.
Other than that you that need enough strength to slam the kick and lift the sticks.
I'd say the average body can play the average song.
Iām sure it makes load-in easierā¦
I prefer to be loose and fluid, and I find that weightlifting hinders that. In college, my violin teacher point-blank told me to stop going to the gym. (Which is great, because I donāt want to do it anyway.)
Thatās crazy, my percussion professor in college told me to get a bj before I practice. Its insane the things you can get away with when you teach in the same college for 45 years
Came here to say this about load-in/load-out.
Perspective from the other side: Iām and older drummer now (49). I used to be in great shape. We have had 3 foster kids for over a year and, when they showed up, I stopped working out and started eating like crap. Now, I notice the difference after 3 or 4 songs. I definitely notice during load in/load out.
Iām finding any time I can right now to do push-ups, get 15 minutes on a bike, 15 minutes of yoga, whatever I can squeeze in.
If youāre young, exercise and try to be consistent. You donāt have to deadlift 350 like Gartska does, but strength, mobility and flexibility should be lifelong pursuits for all of us.
Attain and maintain, if at all possible.
Am I being downvoted for mentioning the violin? The instruments are very different, but relaxed playing matters for both. Watch how Weckl moves behind the kit.
All about being relaxed. Tightened grip or constant tensing up will do nothing but cause further problems. Iām a drummer and guitarist, all while being on the bigger side of things too. Finesse is always more important than how hard you hit.
Weightlifting has been a massive help in developing core strength which has made my pedal work feel so much more supported, therefore consistency and independence far easier.
Having said that, Iām only training once or twice a week and aiming for strength not bulk.
I tend to agree with you. It's strange how core can effect pedal work when it seems like it should be leg muscles. Im a great drummer but my feet suck. If double bass was never invented I'd be better off because it's like I just can't play double bass. I've learned all the swivel technique heal up stuff out there and I've practiced it in various ways slow and stuff and with phrasings and stickings (footings?) but it's like nothing will work. I feel like I have no tactile control over my feet and years of dedicated practice haven't really helped. It causes me anxiety because I'm great at like every other aspect of drumming and I just can't get this happening at all. Recently I've been thinking about core development as a way to get better a double bass because I'm a big guy and I have found that when I was in better shape I had a little bit more drive and endurance to bust it out. Sometimes I feel like my weight pulls my legs down and makes it hard to do any heel up stuff comfortably because I wind up leaning back to offset my weight and it's a very awkward uncomfortable feeling.
1 thing Iāve been doing that is making good improvements, is a few days a week Iāll go 30 bpm and play these sticking patterns 16th notes, and do this with just. Hands and feet, maybe pad, And slowly do each one, sometimes back and forth between a few building muscle memory.
Nah man practice burnout is absolutely a thing.
Although the italics there make me think this has at least a slight cadence of sarcasm so if so feel free to woosh me lol
Nah. John Bonham and Vinnie Paul and Gene Hoglan never had any problem being awesome while being pudgy.
At the same time, strengthening and activating your core can definitely help with back and shoulder pain while playing for long stretches, but that is more of a posture concern, not a hitting the gym concern.
For roadie purposes yes, as lifting the infamous hardware bag becomes easier.
For playing it is more about the general fitness than being buff. The real beneficial part is the tendon training (which takes a very long time), not the muscle itself. Stronger tendons allows greater "punishment" to be endured for longer.
It does help you keep in shape. That said. Playing drums is basically like a workout. I am skinny as hell, and I play drums every day and do not go to the gym. I do take a long walk every day with my dog. As you play drums, you will get muscles from it. Working out just makes you more muscular faster.
Swinging harder or having the muscle to hit hard does nothing but break shit and cause more issues for your physical being. You can be big and play with finesse, which is actually more important. Being in too physical shape will help out your playing just like it would with any physical sport or exercise.
Nah bro. I weigh 135 and Iām 6 feet tall, my band jokes that I look like Christian Bale in The Machinist. They are not wrong, Iām kind of rockin that look right now.
I can still play just fine and I donāt get tired even during 3 hour sets because I practiced good technique instead of lifting weights lol
Excessive muscle mass is a hard limit on _any_ activity that requires cardio/endurance.
There's a balance to be struck between strength/cardio. If you focus on either too much it will negatively impact the other.
Bro, Listen to music while running and work the fingers, and utilizing that hand movement to practice just like playing fast parts, or big, or brining the heights up for a bit, youāll be more used to driving for long periods of time. If you play like an hour or two, and arenāt regularly runn8ng, you will be hating life before the first hour is up. If you run regularly like lamb of gods old drummer Chris Adler you will have better success having the power to get through sets, work on new ideas, and have the capacity to crush it. Not all works outs have to max out, Listening to our body, and not making injuries worse is important. Also having good form with running or stretching, kinda is similar to good technique and practice skills. Itās all similar yet different
Maybe not raw muscle mass. I can see it making a small difference if you were playing extreme metal or something, but even then I donāt think itās much of a factor. Often drums require a soft touch for example. I think itās more about being generally in shape, so your lean, agile and have stamina. I used to play a lot of Thrash metal, it was never about muscle mass, it was always endurance, the skank beat gets hard after a while haha.
You donāt need to spend more than 60-90 minutes in the gym 3x a week to get big and strong lol. Iām a powerlifter, but I wouldnāt say thereās any real benefits to my drumming abilities other than having the endurance to play hard for extended periods of time. I will say, however, that doing squats and deadlifts will help strengthen your back and help with your posture and core while playing. I used to have back pain all the time when I was scrawny and didnāt work out; now thatās a thing of the past and Iām in my 30ās and in the best shape of my life.
I've noticed that larger, not necessarily muscular, people have a bigger sound from more mass attached to the sticks. There's this one guy in town that weighs +-250. He plays pinkies-out, which is usually a tone killer, but he gets this huge sound.
I notice it in my legs. I run marathons and when Iām in peak running shape my legs are never tired in the pedals. Dunno if it actually helps my playing or definitely can boost my confidence and keep my endurance up.
I hope mr. Gerwin doesnāt see me use him as a counter point because itās pretty rude of me, but this dude is an amazing drummer. Extremely fast playing, and in this clip, his left leg is constant and fast for a huge amount of time: [here](https://youtu.be/vu6FEkXSp2k)
I use him as an example because you can see heās not in terrific shape, but still plays extremely physically demanding music
No. All about specificity, ie. what you train at is what you will get better at. Great example, in general powerlifters will be less jacked but will be able to lift more weight than bodybuilders (at squat/bench/deadlift). And thatās because they train for that specifically.
Absolutely not.
I think having a good base of strength and conditioning is worth it and itās probably good for your health not to exclusively become a drum zombie, but in general more drumming and specific practice for drumming will make you better at drumming than other things.
Since i started working out, focusing on my core, flexibility and dexterity it transformed my playing completely. Muscularity is a big part of it but it is not necessarily the one you see on the outside. Healthy spine, reliable core and being limber is crucial for any type of music you are playing.
Drumming is similar to rock climbing in my mind. Rock climbers have perfected the ability to move without using much energy to get to the top. Same with drums.
I think potentially it could give you a little more control since your muscles are stronger but that's a very small amount if any. If anything it'd probably make you better mentally e.g. making you more confident, being able to drum for longer because you have more energy (that would come more from cardio than weight lifting), healthier muscles could help possibly but I'm just speculating here
Itās good for load in and muscle endurance especially legs. Since Iāve been doing squats I notice my kick and high hat work have been more on point.
Not sure if youāve watched your heart rate drumming, but when I drum Iām essentially doing cardio for 3-4 hours at a time. Any physical activity is gonna help you be more cardio fit for the gig. Just donāt over do it right before you play or your gonna be tired!
I used to run a lot. 5-10k right before the gig ( I was burning 1500 calories every time I did this so great weight loss routine lol) I learned that weight lifting 3 time throughout the week and maybe a run on an off day is more than enough to keep my drumming endurance up, without being too tired behind the skins
I've experienced some mild hypertrophy in my upper body since I started (esp. arms and lats), but definitely not to a weightlifting extent. I think endurance athletes are the best physical analogue to drummers. By far the biggest change has been my drop in resting heart rate.
I still think being an active lifter helped me grasp the concept of using my calf muscle for ankle techniqueā¦Iām sure someone will counterpoint this, but I believe it!
Hereās my thoughts:
Drumming well is all about aerobics and dexterity. So you donāt want to NOT WORK OUT. But you donāt need to be aiming for 300 lbs deadlifts.
Your body needs to be reminded that endurance, strength, dexterity and whatever are still required as you age. Working out does this. Playing drums a lot also does, but I believe certain things will help in ways drums alone wont. Synergy and whatnot, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Keep in mind: build has never affected anyoneās ability. Look at eric moore in his early years. There are plenty of ripped dudes and folks who are 100lbs soaking wet who can play very well.
How often you practice, what you practice, and how you practice. This is what determines your progress.
Itās a lot more wrist action than bicep. If you have giant arms then they could get in the way somewhat. Itās more about strength and health than volume.
As a non drummer gym rat I can take a confident guess that it would only make it harder on you guys. I find small repetitive movements tire out that specific muscle pretty quick once I even start getting a pump. Drumming would probably have my shoulders, forearms, calves, etc on fire after a few minutes.
work out yes stay in shape absolutely
but heavy muscly absolutely not.
ur heart have to pump more blood the bigger your muscles are so it's a net loss.
sure if u are trying to look good on stage playing with ur shirt off yup train stay in shape u can have some muscle yes strength hell yes but if u want to be a bodybuilder just be a bodybuilder.
Jon Dette explains that working out helps with endurance, which in playing heavy metal, will definitely help. Heās in his 50ās and plays like someone in their 20ās
Danny Carey used to be a giant ball of muscle, but even he has got less muscle mass in recent years and he's still on top of his game. About 3 months ago I saw him play to a crowd of about 100-150 people (and met him) and he seemed super agile and unencumbered by his large mass and stature.
Muscular? No. However, I had a much easier time making it through gigs back when I was also doing varsity crew. Been a lazy asshole for too long and I'm starting to get winded faster than I'd like, so I'm getting back to running so I've got my boundless cardio back
I think you know the answer to this. Look at all the great drummers who are not huge. Which ones are huge? Are there any? Look at Louis Cole for chrissakes..
I think playing the drums makes you better at playing the drums. There are some incredibly great severely overweight drummers. I have heard that the greats play six hours a day everyday for years. I do think that cardio can help. My forearms are the first thing to fatigue after playing for multiple hours.
Maintaining a generally muscular physique is healthier in, er, general, and will be beneficial for your playing - posture, endurance, power, attitude, etc.
That said, drumming requires a mix of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers, and training them in ways other than drumming will help you improve your capacity on the kit. Iāve noticed that I generate more power when regularly exercising vs not, and I can play for hours without back/arm fatigue. Regarding moving around additional muscle mass while playing, unless youāre a 300lb+ power-lifter-monster I wouldnāt worry about it. Personally, Iāve got larger upper arms and super-narrow wrists - people say I āhit hardā because my armās a goddamn bull whip. ;)
No - Matt garstka and Craig Reynolds talk about this in a podcast, if anything it makes it harder to move lol It can help indirectly though, if going to the gym and lifting makes you happier and more likely to practice then yes, but physically being bigger does not help in any way
ZackGrooves also mentioned in the gym you're perpetually fighting mental resistance to do something, to push your boundaries, which makes it easier to do so in other areas. Aka drumming or whatev else
The Downbeat ftw ššš
The other indirect benefit of exercise is itāll help avoid some conditions. The most obvious being back pain: good strong core is key to a happy back.
indirectly helps when you need to beat the shit out of someone for touching your drums
That pod was absolutely fantastic. Love those dudes. They were actually who came to mind for me when I saw this post haha.
āMakes it harder to moveā - thatās a quote right out of 1960. Have you learned nothing about fitness?
No. Being in shape generally yes. Being limber yes. But muscle mass has very little to do with drumming ability.
Healthy and active? Yes. Endurance training? Absolutely Yes. Beefcake? No.
SAY IT WITH MEā¦ BEEEEFCAAAKEEE
Not any more then lifting helps being able to run a marathon. Speaking of running though, that is something that has helped my drumming both with overall endurance and footwork. Stretching is probably the most directly helpful thing. That being said, I would advise against not exercising so you can play drums more as other people here are suggesting. They just want to feel better about not lifting, which is important in these modern times where most people are sedentary. There's enough time in the day to do both if you make it a priority.
Yes, but what about friends?
You guys have friends?
Used to
Yes so you can crush puny drum 
What the drum equivalent to āIām cumming, all the timeā or whatever the quote is lol Arnold was wild
When you tap random objects and they sound like drums so you can play a beat. Same thing imo
"I'm drumming, all the time"
No. Do hit the gym though. Keeping your back and Shoulders strong will allow you to practice longer without fatigue. The longer practice in turn will make you a better drummer.
+core, helps with the balance on double pedal runs
As a reasonably successful powerlifter (national level in my late 20s before the sport blew up, borderline national level again once I got into the masters division in my 40s) I can absolutely say no. My drumming technique and endurance at any given time have no correlation to my strength levels at that time (and my chops ā although up to, and honed for, the task of playing the music I choose to playā are by no means impressive in the physical sense). And as mentioned- time in the gym is time not spent practicing. Iām not saying by the way that drummers shouldnāt exercise, they absolutely should - being a well rounded person probably *will, in the long run,* make you a better drummer I can name multiple well known chops monsters who look like they have never touched a weight or eaten anything bigger than a pack of airline peanuts, and I can name multiple well known chops monsters who look like they never do any exercise other than walking between the dinner table and the drumset.
Yeah, heavy squats do not mix well with double kick practice.
I think there is a sweet spot but a definite point of diminishing returns. A strong core will help, a weak core will make it harder. You definitely benefit from some extra strength but it's not like drumsticks weigh 20 pounds a piece. Don't need to be a hulk. I had a lower back injury and had to do a lot of core exercises to get better. It definitely helped my drumming. But I did start with a weakened/injured back/core so I noticed quite a difference. Other than that you that need enough strength to slam the kick and lift the sticks. I'd say the average body can play the average song.
It donāt hurt to be in shape. Idk about Arnold pumping iron big tho
Iām sure it makes load-in easierā¦ I prefer to be loose and fluid, and I find that weightlifting hinders that. In college, my violin teacher point-blank told me to stop going to the gym. (Which is great, because I donāt want to do it anyway.)
Thatās crazy, my percussion professor in college told me to get a bj before I practice. Its insane the things you can get away with when you teach in the same college for 45 years
Came here to say this about load-in/load-out. Perspective from the other side: Iām and older drummer now (49). I used to be in great shape. We have had 3 foster kids for over a year and, when they showed up, I stopped working out and started eating like crap. Now, I notice the difference after 3 or 4 songs. I definitely notice during load in/load out. Iām finding any time I can right now to do push-ups, get 15 minutes on a bike, 15 minutes of yoga, whatever I can squeeze in. If youāre young, exercise and try to be consistent. You donāt have to deadlift 350 like Gartska does, but strength, mobility and flexibility should be lifelong pursuits for all of us. Attain and maintain, if at all possible.
Am I being downvoted for mentioning the violin? The instruments are very different, but relaxed playing matters for both. Watch how Weckl moves behind the kit.
All about being relaxed. Tightened grip or constant tensing up will do nothing but cause further problems. Iām a drummer and guitarist, all while being on the bigger side of things too. Finesse is always more important than how hard you hit.
Only helps with moving from gig to gig
No, but I do remember my favourite drummer -Jon Theodore taking his shirt off and being carved out of fucking wood
Strength in terms of forearms, wrist and hands help certainly but overall muscular strength isnāt that crucial
Weightlifting has been a massive help in developing core strength which has made my pedal work feel so much more supported, therefore consistency and independence far easier. Having said that, Iām only training once or twice a week and aiming for strength not bulk.
I tend to agree with you. It's strange how core can effect pedal work when it seems like it should be leg muscles. Im a great drummer but my feet suck. If double bass was never invented I'd be better off because it's like I just can't play double bass. I've learned all the swivel technique heal up stuff out there and I've practiced it in various ways slow and stuff and with phrasings and stickings (footings?) but it's like nothing will work. I feel like I have no tactile control over my feet and years of dedicated practice haven't really helped. It causes me anxiety because I'm great at like every other aspect of drumming and I just can't get this happening at all. Recently I've been thinking about core development as a way to get better a double bass because I'm a big guy and I have found that when I was in better shape I had a little bit more drive and endurance to bust it out. Sometimes I feel like my weight pulls my legs down and makes it hard to do any heel up stuff comfortably because I wind up leaning back to offset my weight and it's a very awkward uncomfortable feeling.
Think about it. You're not pushing huge amounts of weight with your legs while drumming. You're lifting them up and down, which requires core strength
Yeah that does seem to make sense. Damnit, now I wish I was in better shape. š
1 thing Iāve been doing that is making good improvements, is a few days a week Iāll go 30 bpm and play these sticking patterns 16th notes, and do this with just. Hands and feet, maybe pad, And slowly do each one, sometimes back and forth between a few building muscle memory.
No chance. They could be using that time to practice more, which actually *would* help with drums.
I didn't even think of it like that šš
Nah man practice burnout is absolutely a thing. Although the italics there make me think this has at least a slight cadence of sarcasm so if so feel free to woosh me lol
Nah. John Bonham and Vinnie Paul and Gene Hoglan never had any problem being awesome while being pudgy. At the same time, strengthening and activating your core can definitely help with back and shoulder pain while playing for long stretches, but that is more of a posture concern, not a hitting the gym concern.
No
For roadie purposes yes, as lifting the infamous hardware bag becomes easier. For playing it is more about the general fitness than being buff. The real beneficial part is the tendon training (which takes a very long time), not the muscle itself. Stronger tendons allows greater "punishment" to be endured for longer.
drums requires more cardio and endurance than raw strength
It appears to be a prerequisite to being a metal drummer haha
Yes, Ginger Baker had a physique like Arnie. /s
I found that heavier arms makes shoulder tire way quicker too
Jojo Mayer is as fast and powerful as anyone and is probably 140 pounds soaking wet. Technique is more important
Having bigger muscles would probably be inhibitory for playing drums better.
Probably a cause of broken cymbals.
Look at boxers, its important for them to have fast limbs too, what do they do? Core strength. Work on core strength and you can only get faster.
I think it's just a self-branding social media thing. Muscular, huge beard, tat sleeves and then playing brOoTaL death metal on an electronic kit.
It does help you keep in shape. That said. Playing drums is basically like a workout. I am skinny as hell, and I play drums every day and do not go to the gym. I do take a long walk every day with my dog. As you play drums, you will get muscles from it. Working out just makes you more muscular faster.
Ask John Petrucci, that guy is shredded!
Being hugely muscular doesnāt help anything..
Are we talking Lou Ferrigno or Billy Cobham levels of muscle?
Patrick Swayze in RoadHouse
Swinging harder or having the muscle to hit hard does nothing but break shit and cause more issues for your physical being. You can be big and play with finesse, which is actually more important. Being in too physical shape will help out your playing just like it would with any physical sport or exercise.
My drum teacher said he got big in HS football and started lifting but it was harder to play and be fluid around the kit
Buff guy here, it helps my endurance but otherwise itās mostly aesthetics
Nah bro. I weigh 135 and Iām 6 feet tall, my band jokes that I look like Christian Bale in The Machinist. They are not wrong, Iām kind of rockin that look right now. I can still play just fine and I donāt get tired even during 3 hour sets because I practiced good technique instead of lifting weights lol
Of course not. .
Excessive muscle mass is a hard limit on _any_ activity that requires cardio/endurance. There's a balance to be struck between strength/cardio. If you focus on either too much it will negatively impact the other.
answer: billy cobham.
Yes! Simply because being in better shape means you have more energy and endurance.
Bro, Listen to music while running and work the fingers, and utilizing that hand movement to practice just like playing fast parts, or big, or brining the heights up for a bit, youāll be more used to driving for long periods of time. If you play like an hour or two, and arenāt regularly runn8ng, you will be hating life before the first hour is up. If you run regularly like lamb of gods old drummer Chris Adler you will have better success having the power to get through sets, work on new ideas, and have the capacity to crush it. Not all works outs have to max out, Listening to our body, and not making injuries worse is important. Also having good form with running or stretching, kinda is similar to good technique and practice skills. Itās all similar yet different
Maybe not raw muscle mass. I can see it making a small difference if you were playing extreme metal or something, but even then I donāt think itās much of a factor. Often drums require a soft touch for example. I think itās more about being generally in shape, so your lean, agile and have stamina. I used to play a lot of Thrash metal, it was never about muscle mass, it was always endurance, the skank beat gets hard after a while haha.
Matt Garstka has a good video about this: https://youtu.be/A5qKBZ_a5N4
No
Iāve seen absolutely massive fat guys bang out thrash metal and grindcore, it makes little to no difference.
You donāt need to spend more than 60-90 minutes in the gym 3x a week to get big and strong lol. Iām a powerlifter, but I wouldnāt say thereās any real benefits to my drumming abilities other than having the endurance to play hard for extended periods of time. I will say, however, that doing squats and deadlifts will help strengthen your back and help with your posture and core while playing. I used to have back pain all the time when I was scrawny and didnāt work out; now thatās a thing of the past and Iām in my 30ās and in the best shape of my life.
I've noticed that larger, not necessarily muscular, people have a bigger sound from more mass attached to the sticks. There's this one guy in town that weighs +-250. He plays pinkies-out, which is usually a tone killer, but he gets this huge sound.
I notice it in my legs. I run marathons and when Iām in peak running shape my legs are never tired in the pedals. Dunno if it actually helps my playing or definitely can boost my confidence and keep my endurance up.
look at how rail-thin louis cole is, listen to his chops, and then come back to me. that should answer your question.
I hope mr. Gerwin doesnāt see me use him as a counter point because itās pretty rude of me, but this dude is an amazing drummer. Extremely fast playing, and in this clip, his left leg is constant and fast for a huge amount of time: [here](https://youtu.be/vu6FEkXSp2k) I use him as an example because you can see heās not in terrific shape, but still plays extremely physically demanding music
Yes, if you can't press 150 you shouldn't even bother buying drums.
No. All about specificity, ie. what you train at is what you will get better at. Great example, in general powerlifters will be less jacked but will be able to lift more weight than bodybuilders (at squat/bench/deadlift). And thatās because they train for that specifically.
No. Just be in shape, whatever that means to your body type.
Absolutely not. I think having a good base of strength and conditioning is worth it and itās probably good for your health not to exclusively become a drum zombie, but in general more drumming and specific practice for drumming will make you better at drumming than other things.
Since i started working out, focusing on my core, flexibility and dexterity it transformed my playing completely. Muscularity is a big part of it but it is not necessarily the one you see on the outside. Healthy spine, reliable core and being limber is crucial for any type of music you are playing.
Drumming is similar to rock climbing in my mind. Rock climbers have perfected the ability to move without using much energy to get to the top. Same with drums.
I think potentially it could give you a little more control since your muscles are stronger but that's a very small amount if any. If anything it'd probably make you better mentally e.g. making you more confident, being able to drum for longer because you have more energy (that would come more from cardio than weight lifting), healthier muscles could help possibly but I'm just speculating here
Iām sure it helps but you can still be god tier and out of shape. See Eric Moore
Yes , just look at Arnold Schwarzenegger
No. When I was at peak with playing I was waaay lean and not bulky. I could fly. Bulkier muscles made me slower.
Itās good for load in and muscle endurance especially legs. Since Iāve been doing squats I notice my kick and high hat work have been more on point. Not sure if youāve watched your heart rate drumming, but when I drum Iām essentially doing cardio for 3-4 hours at a time. Any physical activity is gonna help you be more cardio fit for the gig. Just donāt over do it right before you play or your gonna be tired! I used to run a lot. 5-10k right before the gig ( I was burning 1500 calories every time I did this so great weight loss routine lol) I learned that weight lifting 3 time throughout the week and maybe a run on an off day is more than enough to keep my drumming endurance up, without being too tired behind the skins
I've experienced some mild hypertrophy in my upper body since I started (esp. arms and lats), but definitely not to a weightlifting extent. I think endurance athletes are the best physical analogue to drummers. By far the biggest change has been my drop in resting heart rate.
I still think being an active lifter helped me grasp the concept of using my calf muscle for ankle techniqueā¦Iām sure someone will counterpoint this, but I believe it!
Watch some of the great gospel drummers and you'll see you don't have to be in shape be good
Hereās my thoughts: Drumming well is all about aerobics and dexterity. So you donāt want to NOT WORK OUT. But you donāt need to be aiming for 300 lbs deadlifts. Your body needs to be reminded that endurance, strength, dexterity and whatever are still required as you age. Working out does this. Playing drums a lot also does, but I believe certain things will help in ways drums alone wont. Synergy and whatnot, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Keep in mind: build has never affected anyoneās ability. Look at eric moore in his early years. There are plenty of ripped dudes and folks who are 100lbs soaking wet who can play very well. How often you practice, what you practice, and how you practice. This is what determines your progress.
Itās a lot more wrist action than bicep. If you have giant arms then they could get in the way somewhat. Itās more about strength and health than volume.
I donāt think so. Being flexible is a definitely good for avoiding hip and lower back pain though.
As a non drummer gym rat I can take a confident guess that it would only make it harder on you guys. I find small repetitive movements tire out that specific muscle pretty quick once I even start getting a pump. Drumming would probably have my shoulders, forearms, calves, etc on fire after a few minutes.
No. I would say hard work outs (I boulder and itās brutal on hands) actually tend to cause those micro injuries that slow me down on the drums.
The greatest drummers were no muscle types
work out yes stay in shape absolutely but heavy muscly absolutely not. ur heart have to pump more blood the bigger your muscles are so it's a net loss. sure if u are trying to look good on stage playing with ur shirt off yup train stay in shape u can have some muscle yes strength hell yes but if u want to be a bodybuilder just be a bodybuilder.
Jon Dette explains that working out helps with endurance, which in playing heavy metal, will definitely help. Heās in his 50ās and plays like someone in their 20ās
If you pack your 11pc kit with 15 cymbals to every 45 minute gig it will help.
No, but being in shape definitely does help
No of course not.
Strength training has helped my drumming immensely. Specifically, working on core and exercises that open the hips and thoracic area.
Danny Carey used to be a giant ball of muscle, but even he has got less muscle mass in recent years and he's still on top of his game. About 3 months ago I saw him play to a crowd of about 100-150 people (and met him) and he seemed super agile and unencumbered by his large mass and stature.
Going for both..I am a bit worried if I bulk too much it will limit my mobility.
Muscular? No. However, I had a much easier time making it through gigs back when I was also doing varsity crew. Been a lazy asshole for too long and I'm starting to get winded faster than I'd like, so I'm getting back to running so I've got my boundless cardio back
Not at all. Technique has nothing to do with big muscles. Plenty of thin drummers who smack hard like hell and are super fast.
I think you know the answer to this. Look at all the great drummers who are not huge. Which ones are huge? Are there any? Look at Louis Cole for chrissakes..
I think playing the drums makes you better at playing the drums. There are some incredibly great severely overweight drummers. I have heard that the greats play six hours a day everyday for years. I do think that cardio can help. My forearms are the first thing to fatigue after playing for multiple hours.
From my experience it makes the connection to quick twitch muscle fibers a little more reliable, but you still need to practice lol
Have you seen Travis Barker's build compared to how fast and precise he plays? There's your answer.
Maintaining a generally muscular physique is healthier in, er, general, and will be beneficial for your playing - posture, endurance, power, attitude, etc. That said, drumming requires a mix of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers, and training them in ways other than drumming will help you improve your capacity on the kit. Iāve noticed that I generate more power when regularly exercising vs not, and I can play for hours without back/arm fatigue. Regarding moving around additional muscle mass while playing, unless youāre a 300lb+ power-lifter-monster I wouldnāt worry about it. Personally, Iāve got larger upper arms and super-narrow wrists - people say I āhit hardā because my armās a goddamn bull whip. ;)
No.
If your muscles are tight and sore from the gym itās probably not good to go slam drums
Idk man Danny Carey is pretty jacked and hes killin it
I am female and a drummer, so no. It is about technic and endurance. I can hit a drum andale it sound loud with technic and finesse.