How To Hold Drum Sticks (Matched Grip) - Free Drum Lesson

[jfriesen39]

Your channel name is hilarious, considering you're British.

[TheDrummergurl3]

do you have any drum stick spinning lessons? because i only have my drum sticks and i havent bought my drum set yet...but i will i hope by this month :)

[DrumsTheWord]

@TheDrummergurl3 Haha, straight onto the stick tricks, eh? Well, I don;'t have any lessons myself but there are plenty of other videos online you could check out. Might I suggest that you also look at some videos detailing hand strengthening exercises and rudiments? This might be a bit more useful to you in the long run than how to spin a stick at 200mph! Good luck and happy drumming to you! Rob :)

[takecarefairy]

okay, last question (I promise)--How do you prevent you stick from rolling back into the 2nd crease of your pointer finger? I feel like I have to be really consciously aware of it staying at that first crease.

I think i'm making this harder than it is. sorry! and thank you^^

[DrumsTheWord]

@takecarefairy The stick doesn't have to stay in the first crease. In fact, when the hand relaxes the first finger can simply drape over the side of the stick as high up as it feels comfortable. As long as the fulcrum is maintained between it and the thumb then the first finger can sit on the stick where it likes. Vinnie Colaiuta often has first finger draped right down the stick when playing on his ride cymbal, I've just recently noticed, so if it's good enough for him... :)

[takecarefairy]

@DrumsTheWord

Thanks a lot for replying!

That makes a lot of sense~ When you start playing it just sorta moves~

Thanks again and keep up the great vids~ they're really helpful :)

[takecarefairy]

ah! I realize my mistake~ the thumb should be on the side of the stick~ i was slightly placing mine on top. now the space is easier to maintain.

Thanks!

[takecarefairy]

thanks a lot for your video~ it was really helpful =)

I just took my first lesson yesterday and as always, whenever I take up something new, I get really obsessed with trying to get the basics down (i actually kept thinking too much about how to hold my stick correctly and it was really messing me up. especially my weaker left hand..) so i'm hoping to master this until it just becomes so internal.

QUESTION: that space or "cave", should it always remain? mine seems to close when I play..

thanks~

[xmt24o]

lol sorry but when I first saw this vid I was being skeptical and thinking you were going to send out the wrong info like most of the other tutorials. But you put out the right and most injure-free way to hold it. I didnt even know about the wrist part. lol and i also do look people's grip and most kids my age hold it really tight on the index and their pinkies shooting up to the stars! Thanks for the info btw.

[FAFALCON86]

Hey i am new and i am going to try out for winterline and i am starting new and trying out for either snare or tenor drums and i wanted to ask if i hold the same for both hands i really need help.

[DrumsTheWord]

@FAFALCON86 If you're joining a marching band of some kind then you will probably use the matched grip in your right hand and traditional grip in your left. Otherwise, I recommend you use matched grip for both hands. That's what I teach in this video. Hope that helps and happy drumming to you! Rob

[Aimismyname]

So the only fingers holding the sticks are really the index and thumb? pinching it, like.

[DrumsTheWord]

@Aimismyname Yes, the thumb and index pinch the stick lightly but the other fingers are also in contact with the stick in order for full control. Hope that helps! Rob

[Aimismyname]

@DrumsTheWord Thanks a lot! Working on my drumming grip now, this video helps a ton

[neilpeartrocks2112]

I've heard that in match grip you have to keep a space in the crease between your thumb and pointer finger, but when ever i try to play a blast beat, or start playing fast at all, that space like automatically closes up and my hands strain and tire out faster. what can I do to work on this??? any tips?

[DrumsTheWord]

@neilpeartrocks2112 I think you've worked it out for yourself mate. You have to try and keep the grip looser when playing faster by staying relaxed. It's as as simple (and as hard) as that. Sorry I can't offer you a magic solution and best of luck with your practice. Happy drumming! Rob :)

[DanielleT192]

Hey I've got 5A drumsticks as these were recommended to me for starting up. As a beginner, I don't know how to grip the drumstick properly on the left hand but it comes naturally with the right and don't know what the number or letter mean. Also, I'm finding it really difficult to do double strokes even though the grip feels comfortable. Does this just require practise?

[DrumsTheWord]

@DanielleT192 Yes, all of this just requires practice. It did with me!! It took me ages to get comfortable with the correct grip when I changed over years ago but it was the best thing I ever did for my drumming! Thanks for your interest and good luck! Rob

[andoi9292]

Some people say you should pinch the drum stick with your middle finger and thumb. Because the muscles connected to your middle finger is stronger. But I'm quite used to this grip, what should i use?

[DrumsTheWord]

@andoi9292 Hey, I have never heard anyone suggest building a fulcrum between the middle finger and thumb. Indeed, none of the professional drummers I know of hold their sticks this way. I suggest you try and adopt the grip discussed in this video as it is by far the most effective and popular grip used. If however you're happy with your grip and what you can do with it then don't change. It's totally up to you of course. Thanks for your question and best of luck! Rob

[susrev88]

@andoi9292 you might want to check this video on thumb+index vs thumb+middlefinger

watch?v=oisX1nhhmeM&feature=re­lated

[Maxarcc]

you are very clear in your explenation. good job!

[allmetaliswelcome]

hey man, i actually hold my sticks differently, without the gap, and without the fingers hanging down. i also play below the fulcrum (got the fulcrum marked by the flag on my vic firths). i can play rebound doubles perfectly with this, but i feel like i need to change my grip, for learning techniques lique finger control etc.

should i? or should i stick with my grip?

[DrumsTheWord]

@allmetaliswelcome If you feel like you're current grip is holding you back and you have a passion to get better then yes, you should change your grip. Be warned that it does take a while to get used to anew grip and might involve a few months of playing using a grip you're not comfortable with. Stick with it though and it will happen...it did when I swapped my grip :) Good luck!

[GnxmAj]

hey a question. whats the difference between the wood tip and the tip you're using?

[DrumsTheWord]

@GnxmAj The difference is a slight weight difference in the end of the stick, the sound of nylon is slightly brighter and more defined when hitting cymbals and the stick bead head tend to break less. But really, each of these difference are very slight.

[LYJManchesterUnited]

I hold my sticks like Harry Potter.

[Alonso4684]

hi, i wanted know, what stick are better, Vic Firth 5A or 7A? In what ways are they different?.. which one is better for what?.. please help:)

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @Alonso4684, this is a good question and the answer is...neither is better. Try out a stick, if it feels comfortable then that is the stick for you. It's totally down to your own choice and every drummer is different. Generally, the 7A (thinner and lighter) is used for lighter forms of music whilst the 5A (slightly bigger and heavier) is used for heavier music. Saying that though, I've seen rock drummers using 7A and Jazz drummers using 5B's. Hope this helps you out! Rob :)

[Mrfreedom6642]

What if you hold it in the second crease of the finger as the fulcrum?

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @Mrfreedom6642, that's cool too. It doesn't matter which crease in the first finger you use as long as you're creating a fulcrum. Thanks for your interest! Rob

[DrumsTheWord]

@Mrfreedom6642 Sure, this works too. As long as there a fulcrum point somewhere between finger and thumb and it doesn't feel too tight then it's going to work!

[DodehM3]

i still can't hold it properly.. specially on my left hand.. it keeps sliding up my fingers even though im holding it hard.. :(

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @DodehM3, don't worry, you'll get it eventually. This used to happen to me too! Rob :)

[reggie11850]

is this just for double stroking or do you use all these steps for playin regular beats

[DrumsTheWord]

Hi @reggie11850, I use this grip for all strokes - both double stroke and single stroke. Thanks for your interest! Rob :)

[Pzonian]

JOHN LENNON IS ALIVE AND PLAYING DRUMS :DDDDDDDDDD

[Mechanamer16]

Wow This is informative but for some reason when ever I see a how to video u Guys are Brittish Korean ETC.... ( No Offencse I like foreign people xD) but any wayyy SUBSCRIBE

[DrumsTheWord]

Thanks for your ongoing support @the2000breakdown, I'm really pleased you like my videos so much! Happy drumming with "Holiday" :D

[DrumsTheWord]

Hi @the2000breakdown, no this is just me using my little camera instead of the big one. I fancied a change :)

[jesusfollower12]

So rest the stick on the first crease of each finger or just the index finger? Do you also have to grip the stick tight, loose, or medium tight? Thanks for answering by the way.

jesusfollower12

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @jesusfollower12. The stick sits in the first crease of the index finger only, not the rest of the fingers. I would say that the grip is of medium tightness. Not too tight and not too loose. Hope this helps. Rob

[jesusfollower12]

@DrumsTheWord Thank you Rob! God Bless!

[jesusfollower12]

So when you hold the sticks, do you rest the stick in the first fulcrum or your first crease?

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @jesusfollower12, the fulcrum is created by holding the stick in the first crease. Hope this helps. Rob

[jesusfollower12]

So when you hold the sticks, do you rest the stick in the first fulcrum or your first crease?

[xky03]

very, very helpful tutorial. thanks! :-D

[StricklandPropane1]

Hey man, great video, really helped! I just have one question. I've noticed when I'm playing that my pinkie is constantly slipping off the stick. How will this affect my grip and what can i do to fix it? Thanks a lot!

[DrumsTheWord]

Hey @StricklandPropane1, now that you're aware that your little finger keeps coming off you can fix the problem. Check your grip to be correct whilst practising on a regular basis, the more often you check the more often you will teach your hands to use the correct technique. It just takes time and regular practice with the new grip. No short cuts I'm afraid...wasn't when I learnt it anyway. Stick with it though (no pun intended!) :D

[x0druid0x]

my friend told me that he started watching ur lessons, so i decided to see whats what. I myself been playing for 9 yrs now, and I gotta say that u seem to be a fine instructor. Matched style is always what i have used and i used to have the same problem with the thumb sliding up lol. IMO, I would of also told people about the different sticks out there as well. Size and weight.  Like 5A or 5B etc ...

good work tho, better than most i seen on Internet :)

[DrumsTheWord]

Thanks for the feedback and compliments, @x0druid0x!

[killer231233]

i got those same drum sticks now

[choppyspaulding9]

we want to see some butt butt butt!!! :D

[supernickynick]

so when you hold your sticks in this way is the index finger used as a guide for the stick? the actual fulcrum is made with the middle finger?

[DrumsTheWord]

Hi @supernickynick. The middle finger, although in contact with the stick, doesn't actually do much. The fulcrum is supposed to be between the index and thumb and this is certainly how I hold them. Hope this helps!

[supernickynick]

@DrumsTheWord Thanks very much, I've been gripping the sticks this way over the past few days, it felt really strange at first, but i'm slowly getting more used to it, its starting to feel good, thanks a lot!

[arctic333monkey]

hey john lennon show me more

[cappy557]

how do you know when to get new sticks?

[DrumsTheWord]

Hi @cappy557, I get new sticks when the area used for rim shots (half way) starts to break and crack. If you've been playing for years you can usually feel when a stick is close to breaking because it starts to bend on impact ever so slightly. Unfortunately, most drummers don't no about it till it actually breaks...on stage! :O

[cappy557]

@DrumsTheWord, Yes i figured that out when i was practicing and i hit my crash symbol, then i saw a piece of my drum stick fly across my face...

[supernickynick]

This has helped a lot, thank you. Wondering if you could maybe do a video of technique for double strokes aswell? thanks a lot :)

[Keiran178]

Dude your hairs like mine!!!! How Cool =)

[Fabricinator]

Thanks! I was holding my sticks like a caveman. XD