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Managed Since: 08/20/2009
Views: 1,025
Money Earned: M$3.91
Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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Holding Drumsticks Properly
- Whether you're just learning to play drums or you've been sitting behind a kit for years, it is essential to know how to properly hold the sticks. Otherwise your sound and technique will suffer, not to mention you could be causing yourself some wrist pain. There are several variations for holding drumsticks... Gripping them in your fists is not one of them!
- There are a few general things to remember no matter what grip you decide to use.
- Keep your hands loose as you play. You'll want the sticks to have some bounce when they hit the drumhead.
- Drum with your wrists rather than with your arms. Your wrists should be loose as well.
- Grip the sticks about one third to one half of the way up from the bottom; this is usually the point at which you can get the maximum bounce and balance from them.
- Choosing a grip style comes down to personal preference and playing style.
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Matched Grip
- The most commonly used grip for drumsticks is called matched grip. Using this method, you will be holding the sticks the same way in each hand (hence the term "matched"). It provides drummers with maximum stick control.
- Your hand will be over top of the stick, so one way to start is by laying a stick on a table pointing away from you.
- Pick up the stick between your index finger and thumb. Curl your index finger instead of sticking it straight out so the drumstick rests in the first knuckle of the finger.
- Your thumb should be placed lightly along the stick, pointing in the same direction.
- Wrap your other fingers gently around the bottom of the stick. Don't squeeze!
- Keep your hands facing down, but not completely parallel to the floor. There should be a bit of an angle with your thumbs slightly higher (this is also called American grip).
How to Hold a Drumstick Traditional Grip
- Traditional grip is not as widely used, but some drummers swear by it (particularly some jazz players). Your stronger hand (the right hand for most people) holds the stick with matched grip, while your weaker hand has a slightly different underhand grip. This video has a very interesting history of how traditional grip originated.
- Take your weak hand and hold it with your palm facing upward.
- Place the stick in the groove between your thumb and index finger, right at the base of your thumb.
- Now place the stick between your middle and ring fingers
- Wrap your index and middle fingers lightly over the stick. Your index finger should touch your thumb.
Other Grips
- An alternative to matched and traditional grips is French grip, which involves completely controlling the sticks with your fingers instead of your wrists.
- German grip is like matched grip, only you keep your hands completely parallel to the drumhead instead of slightly angled.
- These methods are not as widespread as the first two, but you'll never know what you prefer until you give it a shot!
Resources for How to Hold Drumsticks
- Rock Drumming Underground: Learn How to Hold Drumsticks
- Drums and Drum Sets: Holding Drumsticks Using Matched Grip
- Wikihow: How to Hold a Drumstick Traditional
- YouTube: How to Hold a Drumstick (Time: 2:38)
- YouTube: Holding the Drumsticks (Time: 7:35)
- YouTube: Drum Technique - Traditional Grip (Time: 2:07)
- Easymusiclessons.com: Stick Control Part 1 (Time: 3:37)
- The Virtual Basement: Drumstick Grips
- Expert Village: Traditional Grip Introduction (Time: 3:12)
- Wikipedia: Matched Grip
- Wikipedia: Traditional Grip
How to Hold Drumsticks Blogs
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n00b Drummer Question - how to hold drumsticks? - Rock Band Forums
n00b Drummer Question - how to hold drumsticks? Rock Band. ... Which leads me back to my question; how do you drummers hold your sticks? Is there a 'proper' way to hold the drumsticks, or is it simply a matter of personal peference? ...rockband.com -
How To Hold Your Drum Stick To Produce The Best Sound - Enzo Blog
By Liz CooperThe way you hold your drumsticks plays a vital role on the quality of sound that you produce and the length of time that you will be able to play your drums. Unfortunately, the proper holding of the drumsticks is one of the ...27000article.cn (November 08, 2009) -
MADE: SYTYC Week ONE - Harvest Dress and Dinner for Two
(Usually my ratio of whipped cream to pie, however, is switched). Hold the whipped cream? No problem. Turkey Drumsticks: Grapes that pull apart in bunches as real grapes should: Homemade bread with Strawberry Jam or Butter: ...dana-made-it.com (November 09, 2009) -
Marinated Drumsticks
Not because I'm worried about increasing my utility bills or anything, but because that it means we're in the inevitable downward slope towards snow. Ugh, I hate snow. I'm hoping it'll hold off until at least after Thanksgiving. ...pharmfresh.wordpress.com (November 05, 2009)
