NinjaDrummist.com Teaser: Finger Control Technique Tutorial / Lesson Part 1

[miketwo345]

I've gotten to point where each hand can play using just fingers, but when I try to combine them into a single stroke roll, it sounds terrible. The spacing between notes is not consistent. Any tips for overcoming this hurdle?

Great video btw.

[ninjadrummist]

@miketwo345 Thanks for watching mate. Check out part two of this video and also the "Single Stroke Roll Exercise (Finger Control)" video in the video responses section. I show a few methods to improve the even spacing of notes and avoid "flamming" etc. Aside from that, keep practicing and try to build up speed as gradually as possible in your practice sessions.

[ninjadrummist]

@miketwo345 Also, you may find that you CAN keep the notes even but at a slower tempo. I found that finding the tempo at which my notes became messy was very helpful for finding flaws in my technique. But everyone's notes become uneven when they reach their speed / control limit and it takes a while to gain the stick control and relaxation necessary to push past that speed limit without losing control of the note spacing and stick height etc. It drives me crazy too lol!

[darkangel12343]

im practising this alot but i just cant seem to get it without moving my wrist man i have no finger tech at all.

[ninjadrummist]

@darkangel12343 Keep practicing and it will come. Isolating the wrist and finger muscles is possibly the hardest part of mastering this technique.

[phantasos12]

Thank you very much for this video. Your instruction was very thorough yet easy to understand. Bravo!

[ninjadrummist]

Thanks for the kind words mate. I have a new camera now so I will be recording a better version of this tutorial soon. Stay tuned :)

[pyroseed13]

Well congratulations on making the first video on here that actually attempts to explain the finger technique for traditional grip. However, I'm still bit confused as to how you inhibit wrist movement when you use the fingers on the left hand.

[ninjadrummist]

Thanks man, my Traditional Grip is by no means my strongest grip but as Jojo Mayer says "the same principals apply" :).

As for inhibiting wrist movement, it took me a lot of practice and concentration on certain muscles to get to the level shown in the video. Although my wrist still misbehaves sometimes lol. But its probably the hardest part of mastering finger control for me, especially at faster tempi.

[ninjadrummist]

It's not really necessary for slow speeds but, when trying to push my finger control to go faster I found the wrist slowed the fingers down. I was taught to focus my practice on isolating the fingers and limiting wrist movement.

One I had mastered this to a degree, I found I was able to play faster, longer and with very little effort.

Thanks for watching :)

[seekonkray]

Very good demonstration, thanks. Could you provide some realistic expectations as far as improvement goes. How long before results are noticed, etc?

[ninjadrummist]

I guess that depends on how much / often you practice this technique. I've found that the key is to stay in the comfort zone, try to stay relaxed and push the speed a little faster every now and then. Try not to strain or tense up in order to play faster or for longer periods. The faster you want to go, the looser your grip needs to be.

[ninjadrummist]

That is half the battle with this technique, it's taken me many years to achieve the level of relaxation I have so far. I find, just when you think you are as loose as you can get, you become looser and realise you were not relaxed at all.

It's so easy to tense up when playing this technique and I've found it needs constant refinement.

[ninjadrummist]

My teacher always taught me to focus on being completely loose and relaxed when I practice any technique. Its very tempting to turn the focus of your efforts to playing faster or longer in an attempt to out do yourself. But if you focus on staying loose, you will be able to play faster and longer anyway but in a way that feels comfortable.

Check out part 2 of this tutorial if you have not already, I'm covering more of the basics to this technique than in the first part.

Thanks for watching!

[ninjadrummist]

I have posted the second part to this tutorial now. Enjoy!

[gauby1993]

hello... at first thank you very much for this vid... it helps very much!

i have one problem with the american grip: the faster i play the more my wrist is moving and the result is that I clench my whole arm... what can I do to avoid that?

[ninjadrummist]

Thanks for watching mate.

As I mentioned at 6:52 in the video, it is a case of isolating you wrist and fingers. When you play with the wrist, keep your fingers still and when you play with you fingers, keep your wrist still.

However, this does take quite a bit of practice to achieve the desired control and relaxation.

Good luck!

[gauby1993]

Thank You very much, I'm going to practice it ;)

keep on doing like this :)