Practice Plan

5‑Day Drum Routine (15–20 Minutes)

Short, focused sessions mixing worship songs and regular songs, using lessons from Drum Beats Online, Stephen Taylor, and Drumeo.

Beginner–Early Intermediate Worship + Rock/Pop Songs 15–20 minutes per session YouTube‑based lessons
Creators: Drum Beats Online (Gabe Helguera), Stephen Taylor, Drumeo
Structure: Warm‑up → Lesson video → Song play‑along
Goal: Build timing, worship skills, and song‑ready grooves.
Day 1
Foundations & Worship Groove
15–20 min
Warm‑up
  • 3–4 min
    Single strokes & basic coordination
    R L R L on a pad or snare, then add simple kick on beats 1 & 3.
Lesson video
  • 7–8 min
    Beginner drum beat & first worship groove
    Watch a basic beat lesson from Stephen Taylor (how to play your first drum beat), then apply it as a steady worship groove.
Song play‑along
  • 5–8 min
    Slow worship song groove
    Use a live or lyric version of: “Goodness of God” Focus on holding one simple beat the whole song.
Day 2
Technique & Regular Song Groove
15–20 min
Warm‑up
  • 3–4 min
    Soft hands & hi‑hat control
    Light taps on the hi‑hat with both hands, focusing on relaxed grip and even volume.
Lesson video
  • 7–8 min
    Basic rock/pop beat
    Watch a beginner rock beat lesson from Stephen Taylor (standard kick–snare–hi‑hat pattern used in most pop/rock songs).
Song play‑along
  • 5–8 min
    Simple regular song
    Play along with a steady song like “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson or “Clocks” – Coldplay using the basic rock beat.
Day 3
Worship Builds & Dynamics
15–20 min
Warm‑up
  • 3–4 min
    Quarter‑note click practice
    Play simple notes on the hi‑hat with a metronome around 70–75 BPM.
Lesson video
  • 7–8 min
    Worship builds & cymbal swells
    Watch a worship build lesson from Drum Beats Online (Gabe Helguera) focusing on tom builds, four‑on‑the‑floor, and cymbal swells.
Song play‑along
  • 5–8 min
    Dynamic worship song
    Practice builds in a song like “Build My Life” or “What a Beautiful Name” starting very soft and growing to a big chorus.
Day 4
Fills & Transitions
15–20 min
Warm‑up
  • 3–4 min
    Simple hand‑to‑foot coordination
    Play R L R L on the snare, then add the kick on beat 1 every bar.
Lesson video
  • 7–8 min
    Beginner drum fills that always work
    Use a simple fills lesson from Stephen Taylor (short, 1‑bar fills using straight eighth‑notes around the kit).
Song play‑along
  • 5–8 min
    Apply fills in a song
    Choose either a worship song or a regular song and add a small fill only at the end of every 4 or 8 bars.
Day 5
Full Song Play‑along Day
15–20 min
Warm‑up
  • 3–4 min
    Click & basic groove
    Play your main groove with a metronome around 80 BPM: kick on 1 & 3, snare on 2 & 4, eighths on the hi‑hat.
Play‑along set
  • 6–8 min
    Worship play‑along
    Use this beginner worship play‑along from