Drums for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful resource
Review: A member of my women's group discovered this book two weeks ago-and I swear that ten of the twelve of us have bought it by now. Why? Because this book has down to earth, clear, and simple instructions for hand drumming techniques. The frame drum rhythms are particularily beautiful-with rhythms from Brazil, the Middle East, and North Africa. I am so thrilled to have found this book (and a dummies book at that!)-because as my women's group learns these authentic rhythms, our meetings will be graced with the delicate detail and complexity of this wonderful music.

But don't assume this book is just for lightweights. When we want to really get down, there is plenty in the line of heavy hitters with rhythms for djembe and conga and doumbek, too. It goes from African to Brazilian to Cuban and beyond. Imagine what noise we can make! (The accompanying CD is a great help and the photos of playing positions are very useful, though a little dark...)

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am usually impressed with the Dummy series. There have been only a few exceptions. This is one of them. There is just a lot of stuff missing (which IS in books from the competition) and some of the stuff just goes on and on (enough already!).

Rating:
Summary: Drum Bible
Review: I would have given my eye teeth for a book like this when I was starting out. A student of mine brought it in during a lesson and my god was I impressed! This book and CD spell it all out-Jazz, Rock, R&B, Latin and Carribean, you name it. The author, Jeff Strong, can play and he can also teach it well.

The book covers set as well as hand/stick drums-which is where the eye teeth come in. Nearly every drum a drummer would want to play is covered in this book. He's got every little Brazilian thing from the Surdo to the Pandeiro, and goes on to Latin with the Clave (which confuses so many people), the Congas, and on and on-you name it it's all here.

It's easy to read, the instructions are clear, and the CD is a big help. It's gonna turn a lot of drummers out there into very good drummers. And for those drummers who want to explore beyond the set, this book's like a candy store of sweet, sweet options.

Rating:
Summary: Wake up the Rhythm in You!
Review: Jeff Strong has put together a wonderful book on drumming. "Drums for Dummies" is packed with good information, suggestions, and techniques to help you become the best drummer you can be. I initially got it for my son, who is moving from middle school band level to more advanced drumset skills. But listening to the accompanying CD inspired me to brush the dust off my hand drum and learn some new rhythms. I highly recommend this book for kids and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: This is great, but................
Review: This book is great and all, but you'll have to go another way if you really want to learn something:
I have seen many websites and reviewed many books such as this one, but I have come to one conclusion, and many people know that. Books and websites are not a replacement for good drumming lessons! Go to a concervatorion near you, or find a teacher on your own, but don't think that this book can teach you like a real, live teacher can!
Go to drumming lessons for about 2 months, then buy this book.
I'm sure it has great hand-excercises and techniques, but to teach you how to play the drums, it can not!

Rating:
Summary: A great all-around drumming book
Review: This book is great! Not only does it cover the drumset it also has instructions on how to play a bunch of other drums including congas and bongos and quite few that I'd never heard of before. It also has rhythms and techniques for playing cowbells and shakers and other percussion instruments.

I like that this book gives me so much great information on how to play more than just basic beats. I learned about song structure and how to use fills and licks and there's even a section on playing solos! The CD that comes with this book makes it really easy to learn the drum beats.

This is the best drumming book that I have.

Rating:
Summary: Drums for Dummies
Review: This book spends too much time on all different types of drums rathar than concentrating on what I, and a majority of people who buy this book want it for: To play your standard rock band drum set. Also, if you don't have any music foundation, such as reading music, forgot this book. It spends a very short time teaching you how to read sheet music and if you don't understand it then the rest of the book is useless. I came close to throwing it in the garbage several times but keep coming back to it, figuring I'm missing something but I've yet to figure this poorly organized and written book out. Maybe this is the 'Dummies' style as I've never read one before. I found more helpful and free information on the net.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This is an extremely indispensable book. I am a band instructor now, but it was from this book that I began learning drums! I thank the author for writing such a valuable book, especially because I am a dummy. Recommended.