The aspects of how to hold drumsticks are an integral part of understanding drumming. Beginning your first drum lesson is quite thrilling, but at the same time nerve-wracking. For a novice drummer, it is important to learn the correct way of holding the drumsticks. If you do not follow the correct approach, it will result in much lower standards of technique, poor habits, and an increase in the time required to learn the instrument.
Playing with proper grip allows you to play with control and efficiency, achieving maximum rebound as well. The longer you put off learning how to hold the sticks, the longer it will take to grow as a drummer. Basic knowledge on “how to properly hold drumsticks” is taught to all drummers and enthusiasts in their lessons with a good instructor, but here’s our breakdown of “How to hold a Drumstick” to get you started.
The Importance Of Holding Drumsticks Properly
It’s important to hold your sticks in a way that feels natural and free-flowing. If you grip too tightly or force your hands into an awkward position, you might cause an injury, or develop bad habits that can lead to injury. A good stick grip will give you more freedom and fluidity around the drum set – and will help your drumming sound even better. The nuance on how to hold a drumstick is complicated.
How to Hold Drum Sticks for Beginners: Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Find your natural hand position
Begin by finding your natural hand position. This can include starting with both hands crossed over your front, both arms pointing down from the shoulder, or just having them rest by the side of the body without movement.
Step 2: Bring up your hands
With your elbows bent at around a 90-degree angle, move your arms up comfortably in front of you. With your dominant hand, hold one of your drumsticks and give it to the other hand that is hanging.
Step 3: Find the stick’s fulcrum
Once you are ready to move on to using the drumsticks, the next vital step is that we need to find the stick’s fulcrum which is the part where the stick rests in your hand.
Step 4: Choose your preferred fulcrum
You can choose between different fulcrums depending on your personal preference. This includes using a middle finger fulcrum while your index finger acts as a guide, a combination fulcrum using both your index and middle finger equally, or an index finger-only fulcrum. On Vic Firth sticks, it’s usually where the little flag is painted on the drumstick.
Step 5: Adjust your grip
Hold the stick firmly, but not too tightly. Your grip should be loose enough to allow for some movement and flexibility. Some teachers suggest leaving enough space between the stick and your hand to slide another drumstick through, however, playing the drums is very physical, and the stick is going to move around as you play. We suggest simply lining the stick up with the fleshy part of your hand while making sure there is at least some space between the stick and the rest of your palm.
Step 6: Repeat with your other hand
Make this a matched grip by repeating the process with your other hand.
Step 7: Try it out
Practice playing around with the kit and experiment with different positions until you find the grip that feels the most natural and comfortable for you.
Different Drumstick Grips
The ways on how to hold a drumstick and the different drumstick grips are equally important The different types of drumstick grips are highlighted below:
Matched Grip
The matched grip takes its name from the fact that both hands hold the drumsticks in the same way. This grip style works best when you hold each stick close to its midpoint, which allows the stick to bounce off the drum head or cymbal. Most of today’s drummers use a matched grip; it may be the primary technique you learn at your very first drum lesson. There are three variations on the matched grip: French, German, and American.
German Grip
The distinguishing characteristic of the German grip is the power it produces. Classic rock and classical music often benefit from the German grip, but it lacks the nimbleness needed for jazz drumming, funk rock, or speed metal. To hold drumsticks with a German-matched grip, follow the following steps:
1. Hold your hand out with your palm facing down.
2. The next step is to dress the index finger so that it can take the lower end of the drumstick.
3. Try to get a position of the stick in your grip, by adjusting the angle of the grip until the balance of the stick is achieved within the constraining hold of your thumb and forefinger.
4. Curl your other fingers over the stick, and let your middle finger give most of the support.
5. Keep your palms parallel to the drumhead. Angle your elbows outward, and lead with your wrists.
French Grip
The French grip is somewhat looser than the American grip and significantly looser than the German grip, and it requires immense finger control and strength. While it does not provide as much power as the American or German grip, it is the most agile of all the matched grips, which is why it’s often preferred by jazz or funky musicians. To achieve a French-matched grip while holding drumsticks, do the following:
- Extend your arm out in front of you with the palm orientated downwards as illustrated
- Into the palm, curl in your index finger and position the thumb against the index finger along with the stick, into the drumstick
- In your grip whichever way the stick is moved, a gripping area will be discovered whereby the point of balancing the stick is reached. Those positions will be the thumb and forefingers acting as the pivot and the stick in the middle area.
- Other fingers wrap around the shaft of the stick however do not squeeze the stick too tight as at no point when playing will the fingers be prevented from snapping back toward the palm.
- Bring your hands in front of you so the palms are facing each other and this motion will bring the elbows.
- Bring in your biceps to your ribs.
- Use your fingers, not the wrist to initiate your drumstick strokes.
American Grip
The American grip is said to be in between the German grip and the French grip in the sense that it gives some degree of comfort as well as moderate power. If one wishes to manage drumsticks in an American grip, 3 steps are required as follows:
- Extend your arm so that your hand is parallel to the ground so that the palm is looking downwards.
- Draw on the index finger, and hold the drumstick between the index finger and the thumb.
- Adjust the position of the stick in your grip in such a way that you can feel the weight evenly distributed.
- Curl your middle finger, ring finger, and pinky under the drumstick to help your index finger grip it.
- Keep your palm tilted at about a 45-degree angle, and use your wrist to propel your drum beats.
Traditional Grip
The traditional grip comes from military bands. Military marching band drummers typically wear their snare drum on the side of their body, and accordingly refer to the drum as a “side drum.”
The traditional grip—with the left-hand drumstick gripped between the thumb and index finger—was developed to make playing the side drum easier, but it also works on a traditional drum kit.
To hold drumsticks with the traditional grip, follow the following steps:
1. Hold your left hand in front of you as though you were reaching out for a left-handed handshake.
2. Place the drumstick in the webbing of your hand between your thumb and index finger.
3. Reach over the stick with your thumb, resting it on the first joint of your index finger.
4. Hold the stick this way and let your left forearm rotate when playing as if you were turning a doorknob. This type of grip hinges on strong left-hand finger control and finesse. You effectively guide your left stick with your fingertip, and you use your pinky to steady the stick from below.
5. Hold your right-hand sticks the same way you would in an American-matched grip. This effectively gives you an underhand grip in your left hand (which regularly strikes the snare drum) and an overhand grip in your right hand (which regularly keeps time on the hi-hat and the ride cymbal).
FAQ’s
Is there a right or wrong way to hold drumsticks?
Every drummer has a technique that works best for them. Every drummer uses their grip and will teach you how to hold drumsticks in slightly different ways.
Why are drumsticks held differently in each hand?
Many drummers change their grips in each hand to different fingering formats to put in more power, movement schemes, or softer strokes.
Why do the drummers tape their sticks?
Drumstick grip tape provides several benefits that allow drummers to feel more comfortable, more in control, and more safe. It is intended to enhance the performance and the experience of the user by improving grip, decreasing exertion, and offering cushioning.