Thinking about playing the drums? A practice pad can get you started for dirt cheap! There's no need to rush out and buy an expensive drum kit before you even know if you enjoy playing the drums. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
What is a Practice Pad?
A practice pad is basically a small foam or rubber mat that is used to practice drum rudiments or patterns on. Advantages of practice pad's is that they are extremely light weight, portable and best of all, quiet. This let's you practice you technique anywhere and at any time of day. Including late at night.
Types of Pads
Most practice pads are made out of a high density rubber, similar to some computer mouse pads. These are usually mounted on a plastic or wooden base which you can put on a table, your lap or a stand. Some models can be flipped over for a more challenging surface to play on.
One manufacturer Sabian, actually makes a practice pad that is made from a real drum head and can be tuned.
Various Sizes
Pads are available in various sizes. It's recommended to buy the largest one that you can afford. This will let you move around a bit and give you slightly different sounds depending on if you play near the center of the pad or close to the edges. A larger practice pad will also make the shift to a real drum set easier in the future.
Where to Buy
You can purchase practice pads online or at most drum stores and music shops. Most stores have pads out for you to demo and you should be able to try out several different makes to find the one that you like the best.
How to use Your Pad
Drum pads are normally used for practicing drum rudiments. Rudiments are a particular set of drumming patterns used in music. They are great for learning stick control and rhythm. Rudiment patterns can be found for free from many sources online. Many video sites such as YouTube also have instructional videos showing how to play each pattern.

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