Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about DrumShed — what it does, how it differs from other practice apps, and how to use it.
What is DrumShed?
DrumShed is a drum practice app for serious drummers. It combines a metronome, nine structured metronome drills, beat and fill builders, hands-free practice sessions, and a community of drummers sharing patterns. The goal is to remove the friction from disciplined practice so you stop jamming and start shedding.
Is DrumShed free?
Yes, DrumShed has a free tier that includes the metronome, a basic metronome drill, and browsing the Explore community. Paid tiers unlock all nine drills, hands-free sessions, the beat and fill builders, sharing, and the AI co-pilot. Free is enough to get value before deciding to upgrade.
What devices does DrumShed run on?
DrumShed is available on iPhone and iPad as a single App Store app. Android support is planned but not dated yet.
Do I need a drum kit to use DrumShed?
No. DrumShed works with a practice pad or no kit at all. Many of its drills (sticking, rudiments, dynamics, tempo building) are designed for pad practice, and audio playback lets you hear what you are working on without playing it yourself.
How is DrumShed different from a regular metronome app?
A metronome only ticks. DrumShed builds structured drills around the click — feel transitions, tempo builder, internal clock, accent placement, click displacement, polyrhythm, dynamic control, and time-signature builder — so each session has a clear focus and a measurable outcome instead of just clicking endlessly.
How is DrumShed different from Drumeo or Melodics?
Drumeo and Melodics are video-lesson platforms; you watch a teacher and follow along. DrumShed is a practice tool, not a course. It assumes you already know how to play and gives you the structure (drills, sessions, builders, community) to actually practice consistently. The two are complementary rather than direct alternatives.
What are the nine metronome drills?
Basic Metronome, Feel Transitions, Tempo Builder, Internal Clock, Accent Placement, Time Signature Builder, Click Displacement, Polyrhythm, and Dynamic Control. Each drill targets a specific aspect of timing or feel and runs through structured reps with the click.
What is the AI co-pilot?
The AI co-pilot generates drum beats, fills, and full practice sessions on demand using the same logic as the manual builders. You can ask it for a half-time shuffle in 6/8 at 92 BPM, or a 16-bar fill exercise in linear style, and it will produce something playable that drops directly into a session.
Can I share my own beats and fills?
Yes. On the Create tier and above you can publish beats and fills to the Explore community. Each shared pattern gets a stable URL that opens directly inside the app, and other drummers can star, clone, or fork your work as a starting point for their own.
Can I practice without touching my phone?
Yes. Hands-free sessions stack drills end-to-end and use voice cues to announce transitions. Put the phone on a stand or use an iPad on your rig and you never need to tap during a session — useful when you have sticks in both hands.
What genres does DrumShed cover?
The built-in beat and fill libraries span rock, jazz, funk, Latin, metal, hip-hop, gospel, R&B, country, blues, reggae, afrobeat, worship, pop, electronic, punk, fusion, and more. The community library expands genre coverage further as drummers publish their own patterns.
Can left-handed drummers use DrumShed?
Yes. DrumShed treats sticking-pattern hands as left or right rather than dominant or non-dominant, so left-handed drummers see notation, sticking, and feedback that matches how they actually play.