How to Use Drum School App on Andriod Phone

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There's an app for everything, right? It turns out that this is true, even for us drummers.

Now many drumming apps available are marketed towards non-drummers and kids. How many of these apps areactually useful?

Today I'll be sharing with you the 10 best and useful drumming apps available.

Table of Contents

• 1) Drumeo (iOS/Android)
  • Drumeo Edge
• 2) Drumeo Kids (iOS/Android)
• 3) DrumKnee 3D (iOS)
  • Functionality
  • The sounds
• 2) Drumtune PRO (iOS / Android)
• 3) Soundbrenner Metronome (iOS / Android)
  • Functionality
• 4) TouchOSC (iOS / Android)
  • Functionality
• 5) Steve Reich's ClappingMusic (iOS)
• 6) Mike Johnston's Groove Freedom (iPad)
• 7) StagePlot Guru
• 8) Drum School (iOS and Android)

1) Drumeo (iOS/Android)

If you're a drummer and haven't heard of the learning platform Drumeo, you must be living under a rock. Drumeo is by far the biggest and best online lesson platform available to drummers, both new and experienced.

The Drumeo member's area

The Edge learning system features a step-by-step learning curriculum that includes 1,000+ songs and practice tools. Live support is also provided by some of our favorite drum heros. As I write this, legendary Drum Corps percussionist John Wooton is live and interacting in a members only format.

The Drumeo app syncs with the web version, allowing you to complete lessons either with your computer or your mobile device.

If you're just starting out on the drums and want a little structured guidance to learning, I can't recommend the app more. It is a rather hefty annual subscription cost ($290/yr), but if you're serious, you won't find anything better online.

Readers of Drumming Review get a free 30-day trial to Drumeo Edge, so be sure to give it a try if you're serious about learning drums and percussion. If you're not ready to commit to a subscription yet, be sure to check out their YouTube channel to see TONS of amazing, free content.

Drumeo Edge

The best online lesson app for learning drums and percussion taught by industry pros and drumming icons.

2) Drumeo Kids (iOS/Android)

Drumeo Kids, as the name implies, is an app perfect for introducing young ones to the world of drumming through entertaining shows. Drumeo Edge members have full access to Kids, so if you're already a member, you're all set.

Any parents reading—I assume a lot of you want to teach your children how to play the drums. This app provides a perfect way to get them excited about music and drumming in addition to your instruction.

Each video episode highlights a different genre of music—everything from hip hop to reggae, disco, rock, salsa, funk, and more.

3) DrumKnee 3D (iOS)

DrumKnee 3D is one of the only apps allowing you to play the bass drum with your foot.

Yes, I am starting the list off with a finger-drum app, but I promise this will be the only one.

DrumKnee 3D is unique and revolutionary for an app because it allows you toplay the bass drum with your foot.

I haven't seen any drumming app prior to this that had this functionality.

Functionality

By placing the phone on your knee, you're able to kick your foot (as if it was on a bass drum pedal) and the phone will register a kick sound.

I have no idea how this works, but it must have something to do with the shake functionality inside of new smartphones.

Every other drumming app I've used requires you to play the bass drum with your fingers. Not anymore.

Cymbals are also chokable by holding your finger on them when played: a very nice feature.

In the default kit configuration, you have a kick drum, snare drum, three toms, hi-hat, two crashes, a ride, a china, a cowbell, and a tambourine.

Now, it's not atotally useful drumming app, but it is pretty cool.

There is a full version you can download for $4.99 that includes all drum set packs, all skin packs, custom drum sets, and no ads.

With the free version of the app, you'll be served a video advertisement anytime you try to use menus or functions within the app, which is a little annoying

(I sincerely apologize for the ads on my site, there's hosting fees — I hope you understand).

The sounds

For a drumming app, the default kit sounds surprisingly good. The cymbals sound real and the tone of the drums is not bad at all.

Not a bad choice for a free drum app.

DK Music is another feature included in the app.

This service is a separate monthly fee that allows you to download drumless tracks directly to the app to play along with.

See it in action below:

DrumKnee3D is a perfect app for children who may be interested in playing the drums — for those who are, parents, don't miss my roundup of the best drum sets for kids.

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2) Drumtune PRO (iOS / Android)

The best drum tuning application available

Let's face it, tuning drums isn't everyone's favorite activity. While you may insist on using your ear exclusively, I wouldn't shy away from helpful tools.

Drumtune PRO is an application for iOS and Android that revolutionizes the way we tune our drums. The app can help you tune based off either the center overall tone or individual edge frequencies. Saving presets is no problem, either.

The user interface is sleek, clean, and very easy to use. The $8.99 spent on the app is well worth it, in my opinion, and you shouldn't struggle with tuning ever again.

Check out Drumtune PRO

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3) Soundbrenner Metronome (iOS / Android)

Soundbrenner's Metronome app is by far thebest metronome app I have ever used on my iPhone.

It has such a simple design and works so easy.

Every drummer needs to use a metronome when they practice (if they aren't already playing along to popular music).

Functionality

From the top, we have the 'Compose' section. This area is what I would consider to be your basic digital metronome, complete with tempo, time signatures, subdivision variation, song duration, and tap tempo.

Soundbrenner's Metronome makes it easy to create custom metronome patterns.

Metronome pitch

There are four square icons that are fractioned into three parts. Depending on which level (0, 1, 2, or 3) is set determines what pitch the count will beep at.

For example, If you set them all to position 1, the click track will be one constant low tone. Here's the break down of each position:

• 0: no click will be played
• 1: a low-pitched click sound is played
• 2: a medium-pitched click sound is played
• 3: a high-pitched click sound is played

This feature is useful in situations where you only want the metronome on certain beats or if you want different accents throughout the bar.

Now, this feature is not only limited to 4/4, as you can change the time signature underneath the Soundbrenner logo in the middle.

Integration with the Soundbrenner Pulse

The vibrating watch metronome from Soundbrenner.

For those into futuristic tech, look no further than the Pulse.

It's a wearable metronome that vibrates (aka pulse) to the beat. The device also connects with the app, making it easy to change tempo,time signature, and more.

It reminds me of the Apple Watch, but round (I wonder if this thing has a clock, would be nice).

I don't have too much knowledge on it, other than the connectivity is supposed to be great.

Of course, you don't actually have to use the Pulse, the app works perfectly without the device.

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4) TouchOSC (iOS / Android)

TouchOSC is a fantastic app for anyone looking control a DAW remotely.

Many drummers these days play along to backing tracks with their respective bands.

One of the biggest issues of these setups is starting the show.

If the band happens to use a digital audio workstation (like Ableton Live) to run their tracks, the show can be started off-stage using a handy app known as TouchOSC.

TouchOSC is a MIDI control surface that connects to your digital audio workstation via WiFi.

I've been touring for about six years. In that time, we decided to add a playback system to help reinforce the music we play live.

Certain things like auxiliary percussion and extra synthesizer parts are just some of the things backing tracks can help with.

In that time, I haven't found any app that is more reliable than TouchOSC.

Not only does it control the start of the show, but it also is used by our keyboard player to change patches during the show.

Despite your thoughts on backing tracks, this is a great app to use if you are in this situation.

I can tell you from experience that if you're hired as a touring drummer for a pop or rock group these days, chances are you will be working with backing tracks.

TouchOSC is also great for those using drum VST software. The app functions as a wireless MIDI controller, allowing you to control any MIDI-compatible software.

While most will control virtual instruments, it is possible to control hardware instruments like drum machines with the correct routing.

Functionality

TouchOSC does many things, but the concept is simple: control a DAW remotely over WiFi.Here are some things you can do:

• Create a custom MIDI control surface
• Use pre-made templates to send MIDI data wirelessly
• Controlany MIDI parameter inside your DAW of choice

While this app isn't specific to drummers, I see the utility in using this app for many drummers as we are the ones primarily who control a playback setup.

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5) Steve Reich's ClappingMusic (iOS)

Play along with Reich's seminal work, "Clapping Music"

One of my favorite composers of all time happens to be Steve Reich. Whether it'sElectric Counterpoint orMusic For 18 Musicians, I can't get enough of it.

In fact, I'm listening toOctetas I write this right now. I recently saw there was a Steve Reich app, and I had to try it.

ClappingMusic is a very challenging and fun take on Reich's piece,Clapping Music.

This is one of his more well-known pieces and despite is familiarity, I don't think I canlisten to this piece for fun. That being said, playing it is a different story.

The idea behindClapping Musicis simple: two performers play the same pattern, while one player slowly offsets it one beat at a time. It's similar to Piano Phase, without the phasing.

The app teaches the player how toplay along to the piece. My best score was 6872. The app is not forgiving on hard mode.

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6) Mike Johnston's Groove Freedom (iPad)

Mike Johnston is one of my favorite drummers and his videos were some of the first resources I watched on YouTube.

His goal with Groove Freedom was to create an app that was very interactive for those learning drums, and it is.

Unfortunately, the app is only available for iPad but it still is an extremely valuable resource.

Mike created this resource not only for his students but for himself. It's a fantastic resource for drummers of all skill levels. Some groove topics covered include:

• Bass drum freedom chapter
• Snare drum freedom chapter
• Three-way ostinato patterns
• Bonus "dense" ostinato chapter

The app is very interactive, and you can slow down each phrase you're working on to internalize it and build up the necessary muscle memory to conquer it.

You can isolate each part of the groove, as well.

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7) StagePlot Guru

While, not necessarily an app targeted specifically at drummers, StagePlot Guru is useful for drummers in bands. The app lets you create a plot of your bands gear with ease.

Most venues will request a stage plot before you show up for a gig. Stage plots give the venue a basic layout of what your band needs, so they can be prepared before the show date.

8) Drum School (iOS and Android)

Drum School is an advanced drum learning app that walks you through the basics of drumming. Those who have less experience with reading music notation will have no problems adapting to using Drum School.

The app is just $9 and features tons of genres like rock, jazz, swing, bluegrass, heavy metal, blues, and more.

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What are your favorite drumming apps? Did we miss any of your go tos? Let us know in the comments down below. We'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading.

How to Use Drum School App on Andriod Phone

Source: https://drummingreview.com/drumming-apps/

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