How to Build Hand Speed on Drums – Beginner Practice Routine (Part 10)

Building speed on the drums isn’t just about moving faster — it’s about playing faster without losing control.

This post is Part 10 of our Drum Practice Routine Series and focuses on helping beginner and intermediate students improve their hand speed gradually — while avoiding common mistakes like tension or sloppy form.

At In-Home Drum Lessons by David Montoya, I emphasize technique first — because speed built on bad habits always breaks down.

✅ Why Hand Speed Matters

Faster hands help you:

• Play more expressive fills

• Perform quick accents and ghost notes

• Execute more advanced patterns

• Stay relaxed while playing at higher tempos

But speed means nothing without control. So let's build both.

🥁 30-Minute Hand Speed Practice Routine for Beginners

1. Wrist Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Start slow, focus on relaxed motion and even strokes:

• Single strokes (R L R L…)

• Double strokes (RR LL…)

• With metronome at 60 bpm, work up to 80 bpm gradually

🎯 Use a practice pad or snare with rebound.

2. Speed Ladder Drill (10 minutes)

Play single strokes in bursts:

• 8 slow strokes → 8 fast strokes → repeat

• Gradually increase fast speed while keeping slow strokes steady

• Focus on even volume and stroke height

This trains your acceleration and recovery.

3. Groove Integration (10 minutes)

Alternate between grooves and speed drills:

• Play a simple beat at medium tempo

• Add bursts of 16th notes on the snare or toms

• Try this with our Basic 4/4 Rock Beat post to practice in context

This connects your speed drills to real playing situations.

4. Speed + Control Combo (5 minutes)

Alternate:

• 1 bar of fast 16th notes

• 1 bar of slow quarter notes

• Try on snare only, then move across the kit

End with a short freestyle burst using everything you worked on.

💡 Pro Tip:

Don’t grip too tight. Tension is the #1 speed killer. Use the rebound and keep your wrists loose.

🧠 What I Teach My Students

Speed is built over weeks of small, consistent reps — not one explosive session.
In my in-home lessons, I help students develop proper form before pushing tempo — so they build habits that actually last.

📍 Drum Lessons Available In:

• Redondo Beach

• Torrance

• Gardena

• Manhattan Beach

• Palos Verdes

Contact me today to start building speed with personalized instruction that fits your goals and level.

📞 Contact Info:

In-Home Drum Lessons by David Montoya
📞 310-502-4413
🌐 www.drumlessonsinhome.com