How to Hold Drumsticks

• Also try: How to Play Drums

Guide Note: Before you dive into learning drums, you must learn how to hold drumsticks. It may seem like a minor detail, but without the proper technique, your playing will never reach its full potential; you could even be causing undue stress on your wrists and arms.

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.

1. Keep your hands loose as you play. You'll want the sticks to have some bounce when they hit the drumhead.
2. Drum with your wrists rather than with your arms. Your wrists should be loose as well.
3. 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.
4. Choosing a grip style comes down to personal preference and playing style.

Matched Grip

Matched Grip (Photo by Mahalo)

• 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Your thumb should be placed lightly along the stick, pointing in the same direction.
4. Wrap your other fingers gently around the bottom of the stick. Don't squeeze!
5. 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).

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.

1. Take your weak hand and hold it with your palm facing upward.
2. Place the stick in the groove between your thumb and index finger, right at the base of your thumb.
3. Now place the stick between your middle and ring fingers
4. Wrap your index and middle fingers lightly over the stick. Your index finger should touch your thumb.

• 

  Traditional Grip (Photo by Mahalo)

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

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