What are basic skills playing drums?

Answer 1

I'm assuming you mean for snare drum.

If that is true there are two basic grips. There is a traditional grip(older) and matched grip(newer).

A basic matched grip is made by extending your hand like you are about to shake hands with someone and then just "shaking hands with the stick". Your thumb should be on the side of the stick pointing towards the bead(the small tip that you hit on the drum). Then you just close the four remaining fingers around the stick comfortably. You should have white knuckles from gripping it to tightly but it also shouldn't feel like the stick is going to fall out of your hand. With a standard snare stick the butt end(the end you don't hit on the drum) should be sticking out about 1 inch from your closed hand.

If you are standing, the snare drum should be at about belt height with the snare lever(how you turn the snares on and off) directly in front of you on the closest side.

To make a basic stroke put the tips of both sticks on the center of the drum head. They should make the shape of a piece of pie(about a 70 degree angle but it's fairly variable from player to player). Then using the wrist and some propulsion from the fore-arm strike the bead of the stick on the center of the snare drum.

Answer 2

Ambidexterity, and a natural feel for the back beat in music. (back beat.. can you clap your hands in time with music?)

Patience and dedication help a lot too.