Late Drummers

I’m 57 and just picked the sticks up a couple of months ago. Loving it!!

I started at 58 and am kicking ass at 62.

I started drumming at 34. Don’t sweat it dude…

admittedly I had a leg up from playing guitar since 16 but still that’s barely younger than you are now.

Go play drums and stop worrying :)

I started at 46. Been about 18 months now. I did have quite a bit of music experience in high school, though.

It’s super rewarding. Easy to see improvement. Pick up an Alesis nitro or similar and a Drumeo subscription and you can try it out rather inexpensively.

I'm 35. I have no musucal experience and I started lessons last October. I've got a cheap electric kit at home and I play on an acoustic kit for my lesson.

I'm still pretty terrible but I'm loving it.

Just wish I started when I was younger !

I'm 54 and 3 months into it. Definitely worth giving it a go. You may find talent you didn't think you had 👍

I started a year ago when I was 27. It's so much fun. Dint ket age get you done. Get on drumeo or songster. Learn how tk read sheet music and just start playing. Enjoy playing and worry about speed and precision and other parts later

I play hand drums, middle eastern darbuka, and didn't start until I was in my late 30s. Now I teach, write and play paid gigs and shows.

Started last year, never played any instrument. I'm very much a beginner but it's so much fun. Got drumeo membership and they have abundance of lessons, songs, practices, challenges.

It’s never to early and it’s never to late

I started at 16 which I've always felt was late as many of my peers have been playing for several years longer than me. I'm now 21.

In my experience, consistent practice and playing in bands trumps any questions of time. I sincerely believe that most people could reach my level in a fraction of the time I've put in, simply because I'm lazy with practicing technique.

I play in bands and I'm constantly aware of how my bandmates are progressing and what I need to keep up with, that will make you improve faster than anything else. I also often interact with drummers who are more technically skilled than me after just one year of playing. On the other hand I also often meet drummers who are nowhere near my level, despite a similar input of time.

If you want to improve, you will. Don't stress it.

Gadd started at 18. I started at 16. I'm not quite as good as him yet even with a 2 year headstart 😉.

But I always hated the "how long have you been playing" measuring stick for ability. It's utterly meaningless, some 60 year old hobbyist that has technically been playing for 50 years but only plays in a local classic rock cover band for fun on the weekends ain't the same as someone who started as a teenager but is studying jazz performance at Julliard.

In short, it's all about how much efficient structured practice you've put in, not the total amount of years that have passed since you first picked up a stick. If you want to be good, and do it the right way, you'll make it happen.

I also started at 18, playing in unlistenable punk bands after high school. It took me a long time to come to study it as an instrument other than something to hit the hell out of. In fact it I was in my 20s before I took a lesson and 26 before I felt I was stable enough have a drum kit that I could play in my house and take it seriously. But time flies, I am 39 and I practice everyday. This year I went and found a tutor to teach jazz, now I feel like a brand new learner again and I love that. Keep the sticks in your hands mate it's never to late to learn

No such thing, friend! Plus, 19…. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, filled with drums. It’s pretty much the best thing ever. Welcome to the club!!!

I started at 41 🤷🏻

When I was 17, I got Rock Band as a video game. It was fun, as I had already been playing guitar for 5 years.

Let me tell you, that silly video game has translated into being a semi-professional drummer at the ripe old age of 33.

Kudos, Rock Band!

I started at 29 when I met my songwriting buddy and been playing them ever since —- age 47 now and love playing drums more and more every day.

Bought the cheapest acoustic set I could find at 18 with no musical experience, played for 2 years and then gave it away before moving out. Just snagged an electric kit last year at 30 and picked it right back up in a few hours. Thankfully YouTube is full of lessons now and great resources, I just had to wing it then.

I started at 49. Been doing it for about 8 months. Loving it. If you wanna do it, just do it.

Started when I turned 50, and am now 72. I play along to all kinds of music I like. Took lessons 4 years ago for 18 months from a great guy that's been playing since he was a kid, he's dad was a drummer, and they had a drum shop in Portland. Arthritis hinders me, but I play every day and I feel I can play most stuff, and really starting to feel being in the grove better.

I was 20 when I started drumming, 1.5 years ago. Go for it! Is f-ing fun. I had zero musical talent or background, nor did my family. I think it was as easy and as hard to get into drums line for everyone else. Its a realy rewarding journey!

I started on drums at 38 and played my first band gig at 44! Still practicing hard though…

I started at 37 a year ago it's never too late to start

Drumming is great! 19 is a fine time to start. Have fun! Manage your expectations. Drumeo is a great resource , look it up and join for tons of content.

Buy cheap and second hand! Almost any 5 piece kit or electronic kit will suffice to begin.

Drumming is great! Go have fun.

age is nothing but a number. It’s not what age you are, but how much you practice. Say someone’s been playing for 10 years, but they only practice an hour a week, someone’s been playing for 5 years but they practice for two hours a week, someone’s been playing for 2.5 years but they practice for 3 hours a week (and so on so forth), all these people are on the same playing field.

It’s not about time passed, but rather, time used.

I started playing drums at 17, though I played other instruments since the age of 11. I have a degree in jazz drumming and was making a lot of my income from drumming before the pandemic.

19 is not late.

I’m 40 and just picked up an electric kit at a yard sale last week. I’ve dabbled but never stuck with a multitude of instruments in my life and I have no desire to quit. What are your goals? Cause honestly even if you never perform a day in your life, learning to play an instrument is one of the best things you can do for your brain and body no matter what level you get to.

So if you wanna pick up drums at any age pick up drums. And play for yourself and the journey of learning.

I started the year I was to turn 40.

I got into it because I would get together with friends and we’d play rock band and I was the only one who wanted to play drums.

But I also scored really high. Would always end up drenched and started to make sure I wore a sleeveless tank top every time.

I decided to try classes. I trained on couch cushions for a few months, then my then husband bought me one of those super plasticky $150 drum sets.

After a few months of taking class with a real set at the school, I couldn’t take my plastic cymbals at home anymore and I bought a used kit.

I know play 1-3 shows with an amateur band and I have learned to notate beats so I can handle the speed with my skill.

I’m a single mom and have a super demanding job and even have some arthritis issues… but I still play and there is nothing more fun than to play with others.

My 2c: Just start.

You're 19. You're not old enough to be late to anything

19 is a fine age to start man! I did guitar from age 10-15, then drums from 15 on, was playing in bands by the time I was 17 and could drive!

Started at 49, 6 months ago. Absolutely love it.

i’m 23, i started at 22 and have been playing now for just over a year. i know 22 is still pretty young in the grand scheme of life but i totally get what you mean, it seems like everyone who’s hella good at an instrument started literally since birth.

after one year i still am very very much a beginner but it’s so fun. i have put in so many hours with a metronome and this one workbook that i’ve got and i have genuinely surprised myself with how much i’ve improved. i am already learning songs and playing at tempos i would have never thought i’d be able to do. i can’t wait to see where i’ll be at in a few years.

yes i wish i had started younger but as a kid i’d always quit things that i wasn’t immediately good at… violin, soccer, gymnastics, etc. so i am glad that i started learning drums at a point in my life where i am confident enough in myself to be okay with being bad at things !! and i am hella motivated to practice cause even tho i suck it is still so much fun ! :)

Lol at 19 being old 😭😭😭😭😭 you’ll be fine just enjoy ❤️

I started at 60 after my wife bought me a trial lesson. I loved it. 6 weeks later I bought a full kit. 3 years later I’m playing every day. Doing my Trinity Drum School exams. The last one I aced with a perfect score. Best advice if you enjoy drumming is just play and soak up the learning. There’s some great stuff on Drumeo or You Tube but at the end of the day just play

I'm 29 and started 2 months ago, no regrets and having a blast! Go for it! I had 6 months experience playing the Cello at age 14 🤣🤣 it didn't help.

Dude…. Social media is what is making you think it’s true that “usually musicians have been playing since the womb”…. You’re still young af and you’re a perfect age to pick it up!!

I started at 21 and it has been the most transformative experience of my life

Played guitar in high school, but quit at 18. Picked up guitar, drums, and singing lessons at 37. Started piano at 40. Now I drum for 4 bands. You're fine.

Bro- 42 here. My son (11) and I started learning together and that was 2 years ago. It’s the best freaking thing-learning drums will change the way you listen to music-start yesterday! Even if it’s just a practice pad, bucket, or slapping your hands on your knees. Then practice every day. Consistency is the key learning anything. It won’t always be fun-but I promise you, those’re the days that you can learn the most!

I started at 21.

I’m 59 and I started at 56

I’m really enjoying it.

All online with Drumeo/Musora

It really all depends on what your goals are. I’m fine with making drum covers and MAYBE a band someday.

my drum covers

I started two years ago at 38. No prior musical experience, couldn't even read sheet music. I still feel I could be better for how long I've been playing, but I can play along to music I like so I'm ok with that. May join a band eventually.

Doesn't matter when you start, if you really enjoy it that's all that matters.

I started at 12 and that’s considered late. It’s what you do with your time and your practice regiment that will help you learn. Also, listening to music will help you learn as well.

19 is young man, but I get it, I still say I started late and I was 16 when I started. But, I just say I started late because I wish I had started sooner. There is no problem, we were both young when we started and there is no issue at all with it.

That's not late, you're chillin. I'm 36 and just started a few years ago, and I've like, recorded an album and played some shows, it's been awesome!

I didn't start until 19. I can shred now

Man, I use a wristwatch and I’ve never been late

I started at 48ish I've been thumping away since. The only thing is I wish I'd stayed 40 years earlier.

I can play a few songs on the guitar but I am shitty enough on it.

*late boomer

I started playing drums & guitar when I was slightly younger than you but put the drums away to focus on guitar.

Now at 37, I've been playing guitar for 28ish years and just started re-learning drums again about 2 months ago. Never too late to pick it up and have fun!

27 here, I learned when I was young (12-13) and got lessons for a solid foundation, played a bit through middle school in jazz band, played percussion in band in high school. Went to college and never played a lick of drums until I graduated. Never went to music school. Joined a band and felt super behind all my other drumming peers who did go to music school. Now onto the second project and just now getting back into developing my chops and more 'technical' side. It's been tough always feeling like I'm behind but I just persevere. I love it to death and even when I feel like I'm behind.

You're still young, and your brain is still developing which is a good thing! Go practice a ton and enjoy the process, you'll be light years ahead if you stick to it. Most importantly have fun.

I'm at this point now. Total beginner.

I started playing drums in 1969 and I quit in 1972 I've been picking up various instruments ever since and nothing stuck but I rededicated myself to drums about 4 years ago I am 4 years into practicing 6 to 8 hours a day..,.reading music, playing with a metronome, performing when I can.

I really learned how to control my stick very early on They are very specific techniques that will make it much easier for you to progress quickly if you learn them early on. I can't overemphasize the importance of counting even though contrary to common conception it's actually quite difficult to count while you're playing It's really playing another instrument in fact more of that later good luck