How to Hold the Drumstick

When playing the drums, you need to start learning from the basics. In order to play the drums, it is very important to hold the stick correctly. However, you have a wide variety of grips to choose from, and the grip you choose can affect the force or degree of control you have when you play. Whether you’re learning to play with a common American grip, a German, French or a traditional grip, the correct grip shape and technique will make the difference between a perfect hit and an indistinct sound. and not to mention the wrist pain!).

Table of Contents

Play with American Grip

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Point your index finger out. For beginners, the easiest grip style to start with is usually the American grip. This style is very flexible, fairly easy to learn and allows you to have enough power and control. Therefore, this style is suitable for almost all drummers as well as music genres. Start by lifting one hand and rotating your wrist so that the palm is facing down and the index finger is pointing forward, parallel to the ground.

For this grip (and the others below), you need to keep your hands about 2.5 – 5 cm above the sides of the snare drums (if you’re playing a regular drum set). However, if you are not comfortable, move your hand to a suitable position.

Curl your index finger. Next, curl your index finger at the second and third knuckles so that the tip of the finger aligns with the edge of the palm. This pose will create a small “bag” that acts as a hinge for the drumstick as well as a main fulcrum.

Place the drumstick under the index finger. Insert the drumstick into the “holster” made by your bent index finger. Your index finger needs to comfortably surround the stick as if you were pulling the trigger.

Find the equilibrium point. When playing the drums, you need to give your club a “bounce” when it hits the face, the sticks have to bounce off the face and hit back a few times without you using any force. Experiment by pushing the stick up and down in the “bag” until you find the point that gives it the most bounce when hitting the snare drum. The correct balance will help the club bounce about 6-8 times.

Although each club has a slight difference in weight, typically the balance point will be about two-thirds of the clubhead’s length.

Place your thumb on one side of the drumstick. Once you have found a balance point, rotate your wrists so that they are parallel to the floor. Place your thumb along the side of the awl. Keeping the thumb on the side, remember not to rotate the palms together because the thumb will be on the club (this applies to the French grip as well).

You don’t need to press your thumb too hard; Its job is just to keep the stick in place and give you a little better control of the stick as you play.

Bend the remaining 3 fingers to grasp the drumstick. Grasp your middle, ring, and pinky fingers around and below the club. Don’t grip these fingers too tightly, they should support the club but shouldn’t prevent the club from bouncing back as you hit. Later, as you learn more advanced finger control techniques, you’ll learn to use these fingers delicately for a softer, more dexterous play.

Repeat the steps above with the other hand. You need to apply the same grip with both hands, and because the grip in each hand is proportional , this is called a proportional grip .

The American grip is not the only equivalent grip. You’ll learn a few more grips with their own pros and cons below.

Play with German Grip

Hold the club at the same level of balance as with the American grip. Today, the American-style grip described above is generally considered the most commonly used commensurate grip. However, that is not the only adequate grip. For example, the German grip is a common variation of the basic American grip, and it is often used to add power to the drummer (especially for bass drums and bass drums in classical music). ). To use the German grip, start finding and grasping the balance point on your club in the same way as above.

Adjust your palm so that it is parallel to the drum surface. After you have a firm grip on the drumstick, rotate your hand so that your palm is facing the face of the drum. Since most drums are usually installed with the drum side level with the floor, you need to rotate your hand so that the palm is facing down. However, with some drums installed vertically, such as bass drums, you need to rotate your hand to face the side of the drum.

Use your middle fingers for support. Curl your middle finger under the club and rest it comfortably on the club. The ring finger and little finger play a less important role in this German grip than in other grip styles. If desired, you can use these fingers to secure the club by placing them around the stick or simply gently folding it underneath.

Let your elbows point out. When using the German grip, if you are playing a conventional drum set installed horizontally (like most snare drums, snare drums, etc…) then your palm should be parallel to the floor. . When rotating the hand in this way, the drummer’s elbow will tend to rotate out slightly. If you notice your elbow is in this position, don’t close it. With a German grip, letting your elbows point out will give you more power and control when playing.

Hit with wrist movements. When you’re ready to play, hit the drums by bringing your wrists down to the beat. The sticks need to bounce really hard when they reach the drum surface, and if the club doesn’t bounce, you need to adjust your grip position up or down a bit. Keep the swing limited to your wrist and avoid using your arms, shoulders, and fingers.

The German grip mainly focuses on force. You get loud and resonant shots easily with this grip, so it’s a great grip for heavy rock music, marching bands or live classical music. However, you may have a bit of a hard time controlling your play when you have to play fast and complex pieces of music. Therefore, the German grip is not very suitable for jazz drums, technical rock and some other genres.

Play with French Grip

Hold the club at the balance point like an American grip. Another matching grip is the French grip. Among the corresponding grips, this style is unique because it mainly uses the fingers to increase power for each stroke instead of using the wrist. To hold a drumstick French-style, start in exactly the same way as an American or German grip: find and grasp the stick at the balance point, using your thumb and forefinger.

Place your palms facing each other. Then, point your palms inward so that the palms are facing each other. Your palm should be perpendicular to the floor.

Your palms should be facing each other, but they don’t have to be close to each other. Keep your hands as far apart as you feel comfortable enough. For most drummers this is about 30 cm.

Use your middle, ring, and pinky fingers for support. Curl your middle, ring, and pinky fingers underneath each drumstick. As you play, these fingers will support the club and help you control it. This is extremely important in the French grip because it utilizes the strength of the fingers more than other comparable grips.

Bring your elbows back. Since you’ve placed your palms facing each other, your elbows should naturally drop to your sides. If your elbow isn’t ready yet, close it a little and place it about an inch away from your upper body.

You don’t need to be too strict on this, as you play, you’ll find your elbows automatically put in a comfortable “rest” position near either side of your body. You just need to avoid letting the elbows bend outward because it can reduce your playing power.

Finger drums. Once you’ve found a comfortable position and you’re ready to start playing, bring your wrists down a little and use your fingers to grab the drumstick. You may not be able to avoid some wrist movements, but most of the power of the shot should come from the fingers holding the club, not from the rotation of the wrist or the movement of the forearms and shoulders.

Because the fingers are used to provide power to the shots, the French grip often increases the player’s control and dexterity more than other wrist styles. This feature makes the French grip extremely suitable for playing styles that require dexterity such as jazz, technical rock and avant-garde compositions. However, because the fingers do not have as much force as the wrist, the French grip is not suitable for the loud and powerful drumming styles that heavy rock (hard rock) or heavy metal (a genre of music). rock music with a strong beat) is often demanding.

Play with Traditional Grip

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Turn your non-dominant palm up. Amongst the styles of holding the club, the traditional grip is unique in that it is not an equal grip, which means that the grip is not the same in both hands. To use the traditional grip, start by raising your non-dominant hand in front of you and rotating it so that the palm is facing the ceiling.

Note : The traditional grip was originally used by military drummers when they found it difficult to apply a proper grip to the drums during a parade. ^{[1] X Research Source} To ensure synchronization, it is common to use the left hand to apply the table-side grip, regardless of which hand the drummer is. However, in the modern context, some left-handed drummers reverse this grip and use their right hand as their backhand.

Place the drumstick in the space between your thumb and index finger. Place the drumstick between your thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. Move the club up and down until you find its relative balance, then straighten the club so that your hand supports the club at this point.

Use your thumb and index finger around the club. Bend your thumb so it rests comfortably on top of the club, then lift your index finger and place it over the club so that the inside of your finger touches the club. It might seem a bit unnatural to curl your thumb around the club, but it’s important to have solid control over this traditional grip.

When held correctly, the pad on your thumb should rest on the first knuckle of your index finger (or as close to it as possible) while your index finger should be bent and placed on top of the club.

Place the end of the tip of the middle finger on the side of the awl. Bring the middle finger up along the outer edge of the club so that the inside of the second or third knuckle touches the club. You may find this position unnatural at first, but it doesn’t have to make you feel completely comfortable.

Curl the remaining fingers below the awl. Next, raise your ring finger and little finger under the club. Place the drumstick in the cuticle of the ring finger or at the knuckle of the middle finger and adjust the little finger below the ring finger to increase holding force. When held correctly, your ring finger and little finger should be curved like your index finger.

When your index, ring, and pinky fingers are curved and your middle finger is straightened, it looks like you’re “raising your middle finger.” Do not worry! This pose is perfectly fine, in fact it is a sign of the correct grip.

Advice

The secret lies in relaxation. Play as comfortably as possible, as if you were in a deep and relaxed sleep.
There are two things to consider. As for your hand, the trick is to learn how to hold the club and release it at the same time.
Make sure that the end of the club sticks out from the back of your hand, and that the drumstick is through the fleshy part of the palm. Many people let the drumstick pass through the “sink” part of the palm. This position is not correct as the awl needs to be in contact with the fleshy part of your hand!
Don’t forget your feet. If you play with a drum set, your feet are your pillars, like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is not strong, the house will fall.
Once you have a firm grip on the drumsticks, remember not to point at your fingers.
Holding a drumstick as described above is a good start. However, to play with force, to play delicately and most importantly, to play with CONTROL requires more technique than just holding the club. A lot of things have changed over the years and those things will change the way you hold the club, for example your physical appearance. Playing the drums actually requires a combination of fingers, wrists, forearms and shoulders.

Steps

Play with American Grip

Play with German Grip

Play with French Grip

Play with Traditional Grip

Advice

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