Miller-The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums-Second Edition (W/CD)

You're no idiot, of course. You know that there's more to percussion than just hitting the drums and cymbals in a wild frenzy. The drummer is a crucial part of a band's rhythm section, keeping time for other musicians.

Stay with the tempo! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums, 2nd Edition, will show you exactly how to buy, set up, tune, and play your drums -- and even take a few solos!

Part 1, "Let There Be Drums!," describes what it means to be a drummer, how to buy your first drums, and how to tune and take care of your drums.

Part 2, "Bang the Drum Slowly: Snare Drum Basics," shows you how to read music, how to hold your sticks, and how to play basic patterns on snare drum. You'll progress from quarter notes to rolls to the rudiments, using a series of exercises and drum solos to hone your skills.

Part 3, "You Got the Beat: Drumset Basics," puts you behind the kit and teaches you how to play all those drums and cymbals at the same time. You'll learn all sorts of different beats that you can use on your own gigs, including rock, country, soul, jazz, Latin, and odd-time grooves.

Part 4, "Wipe Out: Advanced Drumset Techniques," goes beyond basic beats into fills and solos. You'll even learn how to play with brushes and mallets, and when not to play on a song.

Part 5, "Drummers Rule! Drummers Speak!" talks about some of the more influential drummers in history, and includes interviews with drum legends Hal Blaine, Kenny Aronoff, and Terri Lyne Carrrington

And don't forget the accompanying audio CD, which includes all the exercises and solos in the book -- as well as two songs you can play along with!