Simple Steps To Successful Snare Drumming? The 7 Latest Answer

The snare drum is probably the most important sound behind the kit. It is certainly the best known. Catch five seconds of “Hurts So Good”, “St. Anger” or “Blank Space” over a lobby speaker and you’ll have an instant idea of ​​what decade and genre of music you’re listening to. This reinforces the points that you can’t overspend on quality when it comes to snare drums and variety is key to getting the right sound for a record.

Whether you’re a drummer looking for a sound you can’t get with your current snare or a recording engineer looking to outfit your studio for all kinds of musical styles, Sweetwater’s snare buying guide will help you through sometimes Navigate murky situations water the snare drum options – shell, hoops, hardware and more.

shell material

The key to building a wide collection of snare sounds

If you’ve ever wondered what defines the breadth of Sweetwater’s snare options, it’s the variety of shell materials we stock. That’s because shell construction plays a crucial role in the tone, performance and response of every snare drum we stock. From the dry, smoky pop of an oak snare to the hiss and sensitivity of a brass snare, shell type can play a big part in how the instrument speaks and responds in the player’s hands. Here are today’s top shell options; Note that this is not an exhaustive list.

wood

Dunnett Classic MonoPly Maple Snare Drum – 6.5″ x 14” – Natural Finish

Maple – When it comes to wood snares, North American Maple (also known as Hard Maple or Rock Maple) makes up the lion’s share of options on the market. Why? It is extremely balanced across the entire audible spectrum. It’s durable enough to withstand the occasional drop, kick, and tumble across a stage. As a tonewood, it can be manipulated to create a huge range of sounds. Besides rock maple, European and Asian maple are two other common choices you’ll find in snare shells. European maple shares many tonal characteristics with North American maple. Asian maple is a softer wood that tends to deliver a fatter, fuzzier tone.

— When it comes to wooden snares, North American Maple (also known as Hard Maple or Rock Maple) makes up the lion’s share of options on the market. Why? Mahogany — Fifty years ago, mahogany was the de facto material for snare shells. Today it’s still a solid contender for players who want a darker, warmer tone and more powerful mid-range punch from their snare drum.

— Fifty years ago, mahogany was the de facto material for snare shells. Today it’s still a solid contender for players who want a darker, warmer tone and more powerful mid-range punch from their snare drum. Birch – Compared to maple, birch is characterized by a brighter tone and a more focused attack. Its crisp, dry “pop” excels in the studio.

— Compared to maple, birch is characterized by a brighter tone and a more focused attack. Its crisp, dry “pop” excels in the studio. Poplar – Soft, affordable poplar wood has made a real comeback in snare shells in the last 10 years. This is due in part to its tough, broadband response and excitingly striped wood grain when used as a topcoat.

— Soft, affordable poplar has made a real comeback in snare shells in the last 10 years. This is due in part to its tough, broadband response and excitingly striped wood grain when used as a topcoat. Walnut – Walnut is a dense tonewood with a powerful bottom end, articulate snare sensitivity, and a leveling rimshot that can really make a room clear.

— Walnut is a dense tonewood with a powerful bottom end, an articulate snare sensitivity, and a leveling rimshot that can really make a room clear. Cherry – According to snare whisperer John Good of DW Drums (see our interview with John about tonewoods), cherry has a darker, more powerful sound than maple and a richer bottom end. Cherry is also said to have an extremely high dynamic range; While other shells can “punch through” if hit too hard, cherry tends to return more energy to the fff play zone.

metal

Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum – 8″ x 14″ – Black Nickel

Brass – When it comes to metal snare drums, few alloys are more valuable than brass. It’s warm when sprung, bright and aggressive when struck, and extremely articulate when fed ghost notes.

— When it comes to metal snare drums, few alloys are more valuable than brass. It’s warm when sprung, bright and aggressive when struck, and extremely articulate when fed ghost notes. Steel – What brass has in sensitivity, steel snares have in attitude. A good steel snare will be able to deliver the harsh bite and howling length of tone that wooden snares often cannot.

— What brass has in sensitivity, steel snares have in attitude. A good steel snare will be able to deliver the harsh bite and howling length of tone that wooden snares often cannot. Aluminum — This alloy is a popular sleeper among snare players. It’s sensitive and earthy when played softly, opening up to a polite bark with a fat bottom end when played.

— This alloy is a favorite among snare players. It’s sensitive and earthy when played softly, opening up to a polite bark with a fat bottom end when played. Copper – Famous for everything from timpani to patio furniture, copper is a relative newcomer to the snare drum world. It features raw, dark overtones and a throaty articulation as you move from the edge to the center of its playing surface.

— Famous for everything from timpani to patio furniture, copper is a relative newcomer to the snare drum world. It features raw, dark overtones and a throaty articulation as you move from the edge to the center of its playing surface. Bronze – Some of the finest Turkish cymbals and orchestra gongs out there are made from B20 bronze (aka bell bronze). As a snare metal, bronze is expressive and dynamic, with enough range and versatility to take your music where you want to go.

Miscellaneous

DW Design Series Acrylic Snare Drum – 5.5″ x 14″ – Clear Acrylic

Acrylic — We have the Ludwig family to thank for paving the way for acrylic drum shells starting in the 1970s. As a snare material, acrylic is dry, throaty and full, with a backbeat that goes off like a bomb blast. As an added visual treat, acrylic loops can be designed to appear crystal clear, tinted transparent, or completely opaque.

What snares should I get if I’m just starting out?

If you’re a drummer or sound engineer just starting to build your snare drum collection, a maple snare, steel snare, and acrylic snare make a versatile tonal trio. These snares give you the tools you need for most styles of music.

shell diameter

Determines the tuning range

A snare drum’s diameter – how large its playing surface is – explains the range of tones it can produce. All things being equal, a smaller snare drum diameter (10 to 13 inches) will produce a brighter, higher pitched sound. A larger snare drum diameter (14 to 16 inches) gives a deeper, darker sound.

Note that these differences refer to shells of the same construction, thickness, tuning, etc. A low tuned 13″ copper snare might produce a lower fundamental tone than a cranked 15″ maple snare. But as a rule of thumb, bigger means deeper, smaller means higher.

shell depth

Responsible for speed and fullness

The depth of a snare drum, on the other hand, is most responsible for its body, bloom, and resonance. A snare like the A&F Pancake Snare (1.5″ deep and 14″ diameter) can potentially produce the same range of fundamental tones as the Ludwig Black Beauty (8″ deep and 14″ diameter). But where you’ll often notice the differences is in the response speed and richness of each snare. A deeper shell often features a fatter, slower attack. A thinner shell tends to be drier (less resonant), clearer, and more responsive.

shell thickness

Plays a role in pitch, power and resonance

Another consideration is the thickness of the snare shell. They are often expressed in the number of plies (“6-ply”, “20-ply”, etc.) for wood slings, or in millimeters (“1.2mm”, “5.0mm”, etc.) for metal and acrylic see snares. Thickness often contributes to both pitch (greater thickness = greater mass = higher tone) and projection (higher density = louder output). Thinner snares and snares with fewer layers, e.g. B. Vintage options are often associated with a darker, more resonant tone. Note that this is a generality. Some snares, like the space-age Dunnett Classic MonoPly, are crafted from a single plank of steam-bent maple to eliminate the imprecision of traditional plywood shell manufacture.

tires

Improves the sound of your conch

Counterhoops (or simply hoops) also play a big part in the overall tone and response of a snare. These rings of wood and metal act as tensioners between the drumhead and the bearing edge of the shell. And as the soundboard itself, hoops can be used to enhance and refine the harmonic content of your snare drum. Here’s a rundown of the main hoop types you’ll find on snares at Sweetwater, from most common to rarest.

Triple-Flanged Hoops — These triple-bend hoops are by far the most commonly used hoops on modern snare drums, and with good reason. Built to last and inexpensive to manufacture, milled triple-flanged hoops marked a major shift in counterhoop technology in the mid-20th century. Modern triple flanged tires are now available in gauges of 1.6mm, 2.3mm and 3.0mm. Thinner 1.6mm hoops are said to allow the heads to “breathe” more, which is why they are associated with vintage drums. Thicknesses of 2.3mm and 3.0mm are more durable and stiffer, which tends to reveal a drier, more focused sound.

— These triple bend hoops are by far the most commonly used hoops in modern snare drums, and with good reason. Built to last and inexpensive to manufacture, milled triple-flanged hoops marked a major shift in counterhoop technology in the mid-20th century. Modern triple flanged tires are now available in gauges of 1.6mm, 2.3mm and 3.0mm. Thinner 1.6mm hoops are said to allow the heads to “breathe” more, which is why they are associated with vintage drums. Thicknesses of 2.3mm and 3.0mm are more durable and stiffer, which tends to reveal a drier, more focused sound. Die-Cast Tires – While triple-flanged tires are formed and welded from flat stock and are therefore prone to bending, warping, and occasionally cracking, die-cast tires are made from liquid metal that is poured into a shaped cavity and cured. This creates a hoop that is not only impervious to bending and breaking, but can also enhance a shell’s definition, focus, purity and power. Read our feature on die cast tires for more information.

— While triple-flanged tires are formed and welded from flat stock and are therefore prone to bending, warping and occasionally cracking, die-cast tires are made from liquid metal that is poured into a shaped cavity and hardened. This creates a hoop that is not only impervious to bending and breaking, but can also enhance a shell’s definition, focus, purity and power. Read our feature on die cast tires for more information. S-Hoops – Think of these specialty steel hoops from Safehoop as a cross between traditional flanged and cast hoops. They deliver a dryness and power similar to cast hoops, but with a chunkier attack and without the harmonic sound of the “dinner bell” of flanged hoops.

— Think of these special steel hoops from Safehoop as a cross between traditional flanged and cast hoops. They deliver a dryness and power similar to cast hoops, but with a chunkier attack and without the harmonic sound of the “dinner bell” of flanged hoops. Double Flanged Hoops — These less common “stick choppers” played a key role in the classic Gretsch snare sound. They lack the top flange of modern triple-flanged designs. You can still find them on Gretsch snares and throwback styles today.

— These less common “stick choppers” played a key role in the classic Gretsch snare sound. They lack the top flange of modern triple-flanged designs. You can still find them on Gretsch snares and throwback styles today. Single-Flanged Hoops — Even less common are the field drum-style single-flanged hoops used on vintage-look drums like those used by A&F today.

— Even less common are the field drum-style single-flanged hoops used on vintage-look drums such as those used by A&F today. Wooden Hoops — Layered wooden hoops are occasionally found on Sweetwater snare drums. These hoops impart the unique visual and tonal characteristics of their respective tonewoods (maple, mahogany, etc.) to a snare drum.

While it’s true that hoops, like heads and snare wires, can be replaced over time, these parts can be expensive to source. You’re better off getting the right hoops for the sound you want at the time of purchase.

noose wires

Unsung heroes with great snare sound

The snare wires themselves can be a factor to consider when making your next snare drum purchase. Snare wires are easy to replace on your snare later, but you’ll get the most value by sticking with a sound you trust. Want to hear them in action? Read our article ‘Does Snare Wiring Really Change Your Sound? – with Sound Samples” snare wire shootout.

Liftoffs and Butt Plates Your connection to your snare sound The mechanisms that hold snare wires against the bottom head of a snare drum are liftoffs and butt plates. While any modern snare system does a serviceable job by simply snapping and tensioning snare wires, several factory snare drums today feature upgraded hardware designed for the discerning drummer. Take the Trick 007 Multi-Step Release and the DW 3P butt plate, for example. These options give you three different snare voltages in addition to their normal on/off functions. This makes it quick and easy to adjust note length and density mid-song – something to keep in mind if you’re particularly focused on snare performance!

Sweetwater: The Drummers’ Source for Snares!

Whether you’re looking to add a single drum to your snare family or an entire fleet, Sweetwater is the source for snare drums for drummers. Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 if you are looking to round out your snare collection.

Check out this article on “Creating Your Own Signature Snare Sound”.

Buy all snare drums

Many children are drawn to the snare drum when it comes to choosing a wind instrument. It’s a good starting point for the full drum kit, making it appealing to wannabe Dave Grohls. And yet it also looks easy. You just have to pop it, right? Well, yes… but also no. There’s a little more to it than that. So if you’ve rented a snare drum and/or bell set for your son or daughter, here are a few tips to help them master the art of playing.

Snare drum tips for beginners

Get busy with grades

Reading sheet music is often one of the biggest hurdles in learning an instrument. And the snare drum is no exception. Your music teacher will help you with this. But there are also some really good online resources that can help. The Ehow YouTube channel has a great little tutorial to get you started. But there are many others to choose from if you just look around online.

Use a metronome

The role of the drum in any type of music is to provide rhythm. Playing with a metronome is an easy way to get used to keeping the tempo accurate. There are many free apps if you don’t want to buy a real device.

Learn the basics

The basics of drumming are similar to the ABCs of learning to read. There are more than 40 officially recognized rudiments, but there are seven that are generally recognized as essential for newcomers:

Single Stroke Roll Multiple Bounce Roll (Buzz/Press) Double Stroke Open Roll Five Stroke Roll Single Paradiddle Flam Drag

Watch other players

If you want to learn the best playing techniques, it can be helpful to see how other players are doing it. Especially when you’re learning to be part of the school marching band. Not only precision and timing are important here, but you have to play just like your band mates. So watch how the more experienced artists play – and ask them for tips on what helped them when they were just starting out.

Continue to play

And of course, if you want to learn to play the snare drum well, the very best thing you can do is practice. The more you play and the more you study your notes, the better your technique will become. So keep playing!

The snare drum can be a really fun instrument to learn. And it’s a lot more challenging than many parents expect and offers a real learning opportunity for kids. But the most important thing is not to start thinking that you just need a little hammering to master the art. It takes time and practice. But it’s worth it in the end.

Would you like to rent a snare drum for your daughter or son? Find out how Rent From Home can help.

If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing I would like to do is… – Jim Croce, Time in a Bottle

Don’t we all wish to save time for the things we want to do, to prolong the moments with our loved ones and just sugarcoat school, work, doctor appointments and traffic jams?

A kind of fast forward through the mundane parts of life so we can enjoy the delicious aspects of our existence?

Unfortunately, time, like money, has its own priorities and spends it relentlessly and relentlessly, in measured steps, with no regard for our desires.

For example, the desire to make music by playing the drums!

Knowing that time is finite, urgent, and in ever-decreasing quantity—in more ways than one, it’s natural to wonder how long it would take to learn a skill.

Now let’s look at other facets that determine the time it takes to learn the drums through and through.

Look here for drum lessons for children.

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Wobbly wobble time

People assume that time is a strictly linear progression, from cause to effect… Doctor Who

If the principle of cause and effect were imprecise – as our good Doctor posits – you might assume that no matter how much time you practice drum rudders, paradiddles and grooves, you may never improve.

That means if the laws of cause and effect are in place – you practice and you become more proficient – then the only other variables in this equation are time and you.

Have you ever anticipated an event with fear? A check-up, a dentist appointment… maybe losing your job or moving?

You still racked your brains to study and you got your teeth done, didn’t you?

But was this study period pleasant? Have you been searching for the light of understanding to grasp the fundamentals of whatever subject you were trying to test yourself in?

Or has the time you spent reading the books dragged on, with only the smallest chunks of information filtered through your disdain for the subject?

There actually seems to be something so true about this quote from Doctor Who…

Time flies sadistically as your dentist appointment approaches!

What if your parents wanted you to take drum lessons but you didn’t feel like playing the drums? What if, by some odd coincidence, you were absolutely arrhythmic?

Every drum lesson feels like an eternity!

Of course, that’s just a thought; Most drum lessons for children are attended with enthusiasm!

Conversely, if you just plan to bang the drum all day like Todd Rundgren does, everyday chores like meetings and sales pitches can feel like eons will pass before you can pick up your drumsticks again.

It is a very human trait to quantify everything through measurement.

This, in turn, fits well with trait theory, which posits that if we’re likely to do something, it’s most likely because we’re made to do it.

And here we are again, back to cause and effect!

So: Do ​​you like playing the drums because you have an innate affinity for music?

Or do you measure every drumbeat against the clock instead of your metronome or the pages of your drum book because you’d rather be anywhere, even in the dentist’s chair, than behind a drum kit?

And what does all this have to do with the time it takes to learn drums?

Well all of it! Continue reading…

Find and take online drum lessons here.

The ten thousand hour rule

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers we are confronted with the premise that in order to master any task one must spend 10,000 hours practicing the right way.

Readers and reviewers of this tome particularly appreciated the perspective presented in this study: Individual potential is often overlooked in the search for competence.

Put simply, the basic theory is that if you commit to a task, hobby, or occupation for that particular amount of time, you won’t necessarily master it.

What really matters is whether you have an aptitude for the learning you set out to do.

Find out what is the best age to learn drums!

Let’s say you’ve got a talent for drumming and want to learn how to do it well: chances are you’ll get there if you work hard at it – more on that in a moment.

Still, doesn’t the idea of ​​dedicating ten thousand hours to the pursuit of excellence in drumming seem a little daunting?

Especially if you have other commitments like work, school, family and friends and other hobbies?

And what does this expression “practice properly” mean?

There are a few ways to practice the drums wrong:

Play without warming up: Before the first shot, hands, wrists and grip should be trained

Without a metronome: Without a timer, it can happen that the tempo slows down when you get tired – a critical mistake!

Don’t use a practice pad: You should spend as much time on the drum pad as you do on the drum kit

not sticking to a regular exercise schedule – remember: you’re not only learning to paradiddle, you’re also training your arms and hands!

holding the sticks incorrectly: This can make playing 16th notes difficult and possibly lead to injury!

holding a bad posture

Favor your weak hand by primarily using your dominant hand

Set your goals too high; ignore basics

Any of these variables can make any time you spend learning to play the drums ineffective, increasing the time it takes you to master drum patterns and drum notation.

First, because you need to unlearn all those bad habits and then learn effective drumming skills.

Another relevant factor in the time it takes to learn drums is who you learn from.

Discover resources to learn to play the drums!

There are plenty of materials online to help you learn drums, and you could invest in books to learn how to play drums, but learning in a vacuum is rarely a good idea.

At the very least, you should sign up for beginner drum lessons, if only to understand the basics of drumming and have someone show you the more complicated drum grooves.

Forget Googling Drum Lessons Edinburgh; Superprof has the right drum teacher for you!

what is your intention

Are you planning to build your life around drums? Do you see yourself playing in a rock band and touring around the world?

Are you hoping to compete internationally by showing off your skills in a corps and winning prizes?

Would you like to audition for the Highland Drum Corps?

Each of these requires different skills and abilities. Solid technique on a full set of drums is required for the rock or jazz drummer.

As a member of a marching band, you only need to bang a bass drum or snare drum, but you must be able to walk in intricate patterns while keeping time.

Whether you intend to play drums as a side hustle or drumming is your life, your intent will have a major impact on the time it takes you to learn to play the drums.

Laying on the drumbeats

Anyone’s ability to learn to play the drums depends on three factors, the least important of which is time.

Of paramount importance is your commitment to learning to play the drums.

Unless you have the coordination, heart, patience, and desire to learn syncopation or read percussion sheet music, it will take you forever to master percussion instruments, even if you take drum lessons twice a week.

The next important factor is how you learn.

Are you looking for a drum teacher? Or opt for online drum lessons; ones where you get instructions but don’t get immediate feedback or correction?

You’re in for a lot of feedback if you’ve taken drum lessons in Manchester or in Birmingham from a Superprof tutor!

At least early on in your drumming learning, you should have a music teacher who will brief you on all safety aspects of drumming and teach you how to set up and properly care for your drum kit.

Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has been called a bad drummer because he doesn’t practice and is generally careless with his drums.

In fact, he doesn’t like practicing drum fills and beats alone. He argues that his instrument supports the band and should therefore not be played without a band. Logical!

Whether you’re a fan of his or not, please don’t emulate that attitude.

For every hour you spend in drum lessons, you should practice twice on your drum pad.

With dedication, skill and work you will be able to learn the drums fairly quickly – say 10 to 12 months to master and around 18 months to 2 years to get really good.

And you don’t have to save time on any bottle!

How ironic that the song opening this article has no drums at all…

Read more FAQs on learning to play the drums…

From finding gigs and knowing what to ask for to the importance of understanding electronics, here are the basics you need if you want to become a professional drummer.

Every drummer has their heroes, and it’s likely that session luminaries Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd and Jeff Porcaro are somewhere on your list. At the height of the music industry, producers and artists were looking for the best musicians to spend their massive budgets on — it was serious living, even for hired guns like Porcaro and Co. Now, in these lean times, artists are resorting to programmed drums back in the studio and backing tracks on stage to stay on budget.

Regardless of how well you play, there’s less demand for real musicians than ever before. But don’t hang up your sticks just yet – if you develop the following key skills and learn how the industry works today, you’ll have a better chance of making a living as a professional drummer.

KNOW YOUR DRUMING STYLES AND GENRES

Playing live has become so technology driven that knowledge of electronics is paramount

If you have your sights set on the session world, you need to be able to adapt to whatever style the work demands. Modern pop alone encompasses everything from R’n’B and rock to grime and dubstep to Latin. Study popular tracks in these styles, learn the distinctive rhythms and feel, and you’ll be primed to deliver whatever is asked of you. You may also need to pull in alternate arrangements or remixes on the fly, so be prepared to quickly reinterpret the music—remember, the studio clock is always ticking. Knowing how to read music isn’t that important these days, but learn to write simple cheat sheets and you’ll have quick and easy references for song structures.

You’ll also be expected to deliver the sound the artist wants, so invest in a supply of workhorse gear, especially snare drums and cymbals, and spend time learning how to tune properly. If budget limits what you can buy, use part of your fee to rent what’s needed.

SWITCH ON TO ELECTRONIC PERCUSSION

Playing live has become so technology-driven that a knowledge of electronics is paramount – whether it’s understanding how to trigger samples or backing tracks from a sampling pad like Roland’s SPD-SX, or using triggers to set your enhance or overlay acoustic drums with additional sounds. This combination of electronic and acoustic drums makes your kit sound fuller and more consistent, meaning you can deliver a wider range of sounds.

Artists and music directors expect you to have a basic knowledge of electronic devices [Don’t know where to start? Sign up to receive Roland’s Hybrid Drums Guide]. In fact, it’s become such an important skill for modern drummers, especially if they play electronic genres, that session drummer and electronic ace Andy Gangadeen – who plays with Chase And Status and Sigma – now consults with drummers on their hybrid setups and electronic systems. The bottom line is, if you plan to go pro, you need to get into the electronics game. Right. Now.

GUIDANCE FROM BACK

Drummers are rightly considered the backbone of the band. This makes her a natural fit for the role of musical director. So what does that entail? Being an MD includes everything from putting together musicians and managing rehearsals for a tour, to working closely with the artist to bring their creative vision to life. It takes impeccable organization, strong communication skills and exceptional musicianship to pull it all together, but the added responsibility also means a tidy income boost.

And what if you aspire to a career as a recording drummer? As professional studios dwindle and label budgets tighten, veteran drummers like Kenny Aronoff and John “JR” Robinson have made rooms at home. Remote sessions mean producers and artists anywhere in the world can inexpensively hire studio musicians to play their music, with audio files shared via email or the cloud. This trend is only going to get bigger, so start exploring your home recording setup today.

ON THE MONEY

Bringing additional skills to a gig is a surefire way to negotiate a higher rate

Ok, let’s talk turkey. It can be tempting to undercut the competition or agree to work for a reduced rate to get your foot in the door with a new artist or producer, especially when your schedule is empty. However, such undercutting devalues ​​the hard work you’ve put into honing your skills. And it ultimately means the base rate goes lower, impacting future earning potential for you and other drummers.

Study the latest musicians’ union tariffs, calculate your worth, and be persistent when discussing money with an employer—unless it’s an unmissable opportunity. As long as you don’t charge the earth and are fit for the gig, the outcome should be positive. If not, keep going or you will refuse to do the job.

Bringing additional skills to a gig is a surefire way to negotiate a higher rate. do you have a decent voice Big! You can sing backing vocals behind the kit. Play the drums? You have just landed this acoustic artist’s radio promo tour. What else can you bring to the table?

PASSING THE PROFESSIONAL DRUMMER PERSONALITY TEST

Since the launch of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the way drummers market themselves has changed massively. Social media is a fantastic networking tool, and posting playback videos on your YouTube channel (with decent sound, of course) is like a digital business card. Instead of auditioning to countless drummers, MDs can instantly experience the breadth of your skill, your feeling, your time, and your looks (so make sure you’ve at least brushed your hair). Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck discovered his new drummer, Veronica Bellino, via YouTube, so it’s definitely working. However, unless you aspire to be a YouTube star, don’t get too bogged down in your online profile, as that time could be better spent meeting musicians or dabbling in electronics.

Aside from obvious musical talent, a guaranteed way to get a job is to be a decent person who’s easy to work with. Whether it’s in a pressurized studio environment or on a tour bus, you need to be respectful, hardworking and making a positive impact on everyone around you or you’ll be on the first flight home. Take Ellie Goulding drummer Joe Clegg, for example. Joe contacted Ellie when she was releasing early demos on MySpace, made a positive first impression, and helped her out. This year he has directed Lollapalooza and Madison Square Garden as their musical director.

Regardless of the challenges that a job in the music industry poses, the only person who can build the career you want is you. So what are you waiting for? Do it!