How To Hold Drum Sticks

Hi, I'm Rick from the Music Workshop Company. I'm going to show you some tips on how to drum. So now, I'm going to explain two different methods of holding the drum sticks.

The first method is called the match grips. Basically this means that both your hands are identical. Let's start with the right hand, the index finger and the thumb acts as the hinge.

For the stick, like that, with the index finger, you hold with the first joint. You can't hold with your second joint like that, thumb in the same place. But for the purpose of accuracy, I tend to use the first joint.

The other three fingers act as a caution or cradle so when you hit, the other three fingers are supporting the stick. If they are not like that, the stick will move around. So the other three fingers tend to stay underneath like that.

The other hand is exactly the same. So you hold the thumb on the side, index finger, first joint and the three fingers supporting underneath like that, so this is what you get. Now, the way you strike the drum with the matched grip, you have to imagine that you are knocking the door with the knuckles hitting the door.

You can put the stick back in your hand and do the same thing. It's the same thing. So you're basically, the main point of energy is coming from your knuckles and your index finger and at the same time, your other three fingers supporting the stick so that they don't go all over the place.

Now, the other method of playing is the traditional method which is very common with marching bands. The right hand is much the same as the matching grip, there is nothing to worry about that. The left hand however is a little bit different, the energy where the energy in your right hand comes from the knuckle, index finger's knuckle, the energy, the main source of energy on your left hand comes from the thumb, like that.

So basically to start off, you take the stick between your thumb and your index finger grip, you have to learn to do that. That's where the energy comes from. That's the striking motion.

Right hand is always, now like the other three fingers on the right hand going underneath for that support, it is the same with your left hand. It is a different technique. There are two fingers going underneath and the other two fingers going on the top like that.

So basically, the stick lies in between the index and the middle finger and your little finger and your marriage finger, isn't it? Now, the energy is still coming from your thumb. Put up both together, match grip with the right hand, traditional way with the left hand, match grip, first grip, identical hands. .