subject: Drumming Tips - How To Hold Drumsticks [print this page] In this article we'll talk about how to properly hold your drumsticks. At first glance this may seem very trivial, but it's actually extremely important. Most beginners think that there is nothing special about holding the drumsticks. They are, of course, mistaking. This kind of thinking definitely won't get them very far. I'll try to explain why.
You are probably aware that playing drums doesn't mean just hitting something with a stick. Drums are a complex instrument and one of the most overlooked parts of learning how to play them is understanding how to properly hold the sticks.
Yes, it does matter, quite a lot actually, and if you don't learn this, you will be handicapped in a way. What can a correct grip give you? A lot. Here are just a few things: better sound, more control, more speed, flexibility, endurance, and so on. It's also a prerequisite, if you want to learn more advance techniques. As you can see, it can help you tremendously.
It's also important to learn this as soon as possible, preferably the first thing you learn. It will ease your learning process and you will have less chance to develop bad habits which can be very difficult to unlearn. Also bear in mind that improper grip can do actual damage to your wrists and hands.
How to know that you are not doing it correctly? If you have problems with speed and control and if you tire quickly, you're probably not doing it right.
There are certain ways to hold your drumsticks. We won't go into many details here, we'll just mention the two most commonly used techniques. The first is the so called matched grip. This is the easiest technique to learn and most drummers use it. Both hands hold the stick in the same way - that is why it is called the matched grip. Palms are facing downward.
The second technique, also very common, is a traditional grip which is mostly used by Jazz musicians and in marching bands. Here your palms are facing up.
