How to Hold a Drumstick Traditional

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Most people hold drumsticks match grip, but playing a marching snare drum is better done holding traditional since the snare drum is tilted.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-1.jpg\/aid130554-v4-728px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Hold a drumstick in your right hand like you would match grip. Your thumb on the left side and your other fingers wrapped around the stick.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-2.jpg\/aid130554-v4-728px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Put the back end of the stick between your middle and ring fingers.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-3.jpg\/aid130554-v4-728px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-4.jpg\/aid130554-v4-728px-Hold-a-Drumstick-Traditional-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Put your middle finger about 1/3 of the way down the stick, and your pointer about a centimeter and a half behind it. Your ring and pinky fingers should be underneath the stick, with your pinky under your ring finger.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Are there other types of drumstick grips?
    Bart Robley
    Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author
    Bart Robley is a Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author based in Ontario, California. Bart has been sharing his expertise in drumming knowledge through teaching for over 30 years. He makes his teachings globally accessible by offering lessons in an online format. Bart has authored three instructional books and created three instructional DVDs. He received a Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for his DVD "School Of Hard Rocks. Additionally, Bart has been the drummer for the Sam Morrison Band for over 25 years.
    Bart Robley
    Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author
    Expert Answer
    Aside from the traditional and match grips, there are also the French, American, and Germanic grips. The French grip is when you hold your hands in front of you, palms facing each other, and the fulcrum, or point where you hold the sticks, is between your thumb and the first knuckle of your index finger. You hold a pivot point a third of the way up the stick, like on a seesaw or a pendulum on a grandfather's clock. The Germanic and American grips are both palm-down, with the sticks held at a 45-degree angle, but your palms would be facing down.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
  • Question
    Is it still traditional if I flip it?
    Community Answer
    The traditional hold was often used in war by drummer boys. They would keep it uniform by using a normal matched grip on the right side and traditional on the left. However, it is still traditional if you switch it so that it fits your dominant hand.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 25
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Don't hold the sticks too tightly.
        Thanks
        Helpful 32 Not Helpful 13
      • The left hand should be more of a "twisting" motion. Before you hit, you should be able to see your palm and after you shouldn't. This is a common problem for beginners.
        Thanks
        Helpful 35 Not Helpful 16
      • Use your index finger to *throw down* the stick, and your middle finger to *bring up* the stick. While this should not be applied literally, thinking of the movement of the left hand like this really helps.
        Thanks
        Helpful 35 Not Helpful 24
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Hands
      • Two drumsticks

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Play Drums
      How to
      Double Kick Fast on Drums
      How to
      Make a Homemade Drum
      How to
      Hold a Drumstick
      How to
      Play Tabla
      How to
      Make a PVC Pipe Drum
      How to
      Make a Drum Kit
      How to
      Make an African Drum
      How to
      Play the Bongos
      How to
      Play a Kick Drum
      How to
      Twirl a Drumstick
      How to
      Amplify Electric Drums
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about playing music, check out our in-depth interview with Bart Robley .

      References

      1. Thanks to Uryah for taking the photos for this article. They came from Commons, here .

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 128,376 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement