LEVER STROKE Lesson (PART 1 of 3)

Most drummers agree its important to have a solid foundation in good drum technique. But what is that foundation, and how do you get it? The three videos in this lesson answer this question. Most importantly, the lesson displays the simple arm motion that allows drummers to develop expert technique.

Part 2 of the Lesson will be uploaded sometime in early 2010, and I will try to get part 3 done ASAP. Thanks for watching!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• drumming fundamentals
• system of levers
• lever system
• drumming kinetics
• drumming physics
• beginning drumming
• matched grip
• Alex Luce
• moeller
• drumming mechanics
• canon hv30
• Pinnacle Studio Ultimate
• mechanics of drumming
• single stroke roll
• moeller stroke
• moeller technique
• drum technique
• drum lesson
• -physics
• -mechanics
• drum stroke
• -stroke

[mildlyconfundeled]

nice lesson and whatnot but you could have fit the whole video into about a minute or so

[leverstroke]

Thanks. Glad you grasped the concept so fast. Wish I could have made it shorter too, but I don't know how!!

[ryno6613]

No I believe there are more efficient ways to playing. If your videos are on drumset technique is not important as long as you do the same thing with the same sound and speed. Moeller is good for one Handed rythem playing. It also uses a "lever" but in his method fluidity puts less strain on the hand by spreading it out. Your technique is not fluid and requires strength in whole arm.

[leverstroke]

Yes, Moeller uses the arm as a lever. The main difference between the technique I am describing and Moeller is it uses a "whipping" motion--which is great for accents. I use Moeller all the time. Every accent and rimshot I play is Moeller. Also, the lever stroke is not a strength-based, but a MOTION-based technique. The same with Moeller. They both use the momentum of the whole arm to generate a drum stroke. Like Moeller, the lever stroke eliminates strain on the hand by "spreading it out".

[leverstroke]

Well I agree with Jim Chapin. This is aboslutely a pain and tension-free technique. If you try and "muscle" your way around the drums all you are going to do is create a pattern of pain and injuries. With this technique you don't just get a louder sound, you create precision, because the execution of every stroke is almost exactly the same. I don't understand why you view using the whole arm as a negative with the lever stroke, but a positive with Moeller. Appreciate your comments. -Alex

[ryno6613]

I bet he's deleting the bad comments too. P.S. I don't think that's the secret to being a professional drummer. I haven't once seen Steve smith or Thomas Lang play like flailing retards. Lever stroke. Haha!

[leverstroke]

So you don't believe the arm functions as a lever?

[BatmanDrummer07]

Moeller stroke is not supossed to use fingers for the mulitple bounces recieved from the motion. Moeller is all fluid motion based and the motion continues to flow to recieve multiple bounces.

To me, the technique presented in this video seems ridged because of the wrist rotates and looked fixed instead of a fluid lever. It lookes like the "levered stroke" is taken from the marching bass drum stroke and applying it to a horizontal surface.

[TooMuchTimeProducts]

@leverstroke The lever stroke is different from the moeller stroke because you use the same amount for every stroke and Moeller uses only arm for 1 stroke and the fingers for the other 2. I guess the lever stroke is what you do for open-close-open single and double stroke but don't pass it off as a break-through technique.

--Ryan

[TooMuchTimeProducts]

@leverstroke Well, it looks to me like your muscling yourself through that single stroke roll. I don't really see how your technique is any different from a regular drumset stroke that I play. Not as exaggerated, I wouldn't need to play that range of motion anyway. I always use a little wrist with regular notes and arm for accented notes.

[ryno6613]

And all you really get is a louder sound. In the words of Jim chapin "if they say pain Is good, shoot 'em"