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Most people hold drumsticks match grip, but playing a marching snare drum is better done holding traditional since the snare drum is tilted.
Steps
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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. -
Open your left hand, palm up. Put the back end of the stick between your middle and ring fingers.Advertisement -
Slide the stick into the "L" shape that is made between your thumb and pointer finger. -
Close your hand, not very tightly. 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.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionAre there other types of drumstick grips?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.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.
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QuestionIs it still traditional if I flip it?Community AnswerThe 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.
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Tips
- Don't hold the sticks too tightly.Thanks
- 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
- 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
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Things You'll Need
- Hands
- Two drumsticks
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 .
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