One of the most important techniques a drummer must know is how to hold the drumsticks properly. Most drummers fail to realize the importance of drum stick grip; ultimately hindering their learning curve. When you play the drums with the correct stick grip, you will get the maximum bounce and control out of your drumsticks. You will be able to play the drums with much more efficiency and power with the proper grips. The quicker you learn how to hold the drum sticks, the quicker you will learn how to play the drums. If you are practicing the wrong way, it will take you that much longer to increase your skills. So let me explain the correct ways you can hold your drumsticks below. If you would like a video lesson on this concept, feel free to check out Mike Michalkow’s lesson on
how to hold your drumsticks.
How to use Matched Grip
The main type of stick grip is the Matched Grip style. This has become the standard grip for most styles of music. Matched grip is basically having both hands the same when holding the sticks – meaning both left and right hands are matched. There are a few ways to hold the sticks with matched grip, let me explain them. Germanian Grip — The Germanian grip is very common for rock drumming and corps drumming. It involves you holding your stick at the fulcrum point (balance point) with your thumb and index finger, placing your other fingers on the bottom of the stick. What makes this grip different is the angle in which you play your sticks. Place your sticks on the snare drum, and try to make a 90 degree angle with them. When you find this angle, you will notice your elbows may stick out a little, which is normal. 
American Grip — The American grip is the same as the Germanian grip; however you are changing the angle ofyour sticks. Instead of having your elbows out and your sticks at a 90 degree angle, relax a little, and let your arms fall. You will notice your sticks come in a little, cutting your angle down to 45 degrees or so. This is the mostcommon style of drumming, mainly because it feels the most comfortable. French Grip — The French grip is different to both American and Germanian. Let your arms relax even more, and bring your sticks together. You will notice your sticks come together so they are almost parallel. The French grip is unique because the way you are holding your sticks changes from palms down, to palms up. This means you can get a lot more speed by using your fingers. The only down side to this is the lack of power you will get from your strokes.
How to use Traditional Grip
The other style of stick grip is the traditional grip. This is very common in
jazz drumming and corps drumming. This grip was designed by drummers in army corps who had their snare drum resting on their hips. The angle of their snare drum made it hard for them to play with matched grip. Therefore, they created a new method of holding their hand underneath the stick. This has been more recently been name the traditional grip. To achieve this, you want to hold the stick with your hand upside down, (or palms up). Find the balance point of the stick, and place it in the pocket of your thumb and index finger. Rest the stick on the last two fingers of your hand, (the ring and pinky fingers). Now you just have to simply rest your index and
middle finger on the top of the stick. Traditional grip is not as popular for
rock drumming and other heavy styles of drumming. Because you are playing with your hand underneath the stick, you can’t get as much power out of your strokes. This is why so many drummers use this grip for jazz and other softer styles. The traditional grip must be played correctly or you will end up hurting yourself in the long run. So make sure that if you decide to learn this grip, you learn it the proper way!
Stick Grip Conclusion
No matter what style of drumming you play, it is always good to learn all the stick grips. Learning both matched grip and traditional grip will only further your control and feel for the drum sticks. Once you have these basic grips down, you can start out on learning how to play the drums! Just make sure before you go back to your drum set, make sure you know the correct way to hold your sticks! A great way to practice these different stick grips, is by incorporating them into your
drum rudiment practice. Learn more about
how to hold drumsticks with Mike Michalkow and the
Drumming System! Not many people know that there are several techniques for holding drum sticks. These different grips are useful to learn since one may work better for you than the rest.
The world of drumming has seen various holding styles come on the scene, including the American, German, French, and Traditional grips. It’s useful to try out each of these styles to determine what works best for you and the type of music you play.
The quicker you learn the proper stick grip, the quicker you will master how to play the drums. Read this guide to learn both the matched and traditional grip. When you discover the proper way to hold your sticks, you’ll improve your progress as a drummer.
How to Hold Drum Sticks with Matched Grip
Often, many drummers will practice incorrectly, using informal methods that will ultimately result in wrist pain and other long term damage. Learning the right grip for you and your style involves breaking these bad habits and creating new ones that help you improve as a drummer.
One of the foundations of the proper hold is learning to play with a matched grip.
Using a matched grip style means that you hold your drum sticks the same way in both your right and left hands. This form has become the most common grip for most styles of music.
Within the broader category of «matched grips,» there are several variations. These styles include the American grip, German grip, and French grip.
American Grip
For many beginners, the American grip is the easiest and most common grip style. This matched grip style is relatively easy to learn. It offers both power and control while playing, and you can use it when performing most types of music.
Follow these steps to learn how to play with an American grip:
Step 1
Sit down at the drum set as if you were about to play the drums. Raise your left hand and turn your wrist, palm facing down, fingers pointed straight ahead and parallel to the floor.
Step 2
While maintaining this position, make sure your hands are no more than two inches above the snare drum head.
Step 3
Curl your index finger in towards yourself.
Step 4
Bend your index finger so that the tip of it aligns with the edge of your palm. This hold forms a «pocket» for your drum stick. This pocket will act as both the primary support of your drum stick and the balance point.
Step 5
Place the drum stick between your thumb and index finger, curling your index finger slightly, so it looks like you’re going to be pulling a trigger. The drumstick should rest on your first knuckle on your index finger.
Step 6
Next, you need to find the balance point. This balance is vital for playing the drums because it gives your sticks a «bounce» as they hit the head of the drum. When you do it properly, your sticks should bounce back from the drum, falling back down without any extra effort on the part of the drummer.
You can slide your drum stick up and down to figure out where the best balance point is; the best option should give you about seven bounces. For most people, this is about two-thirds of the way from the tip of the stick.
Step 7
Place your thumb along the top of the drumstick. Once you’ve found the best balance point, you’ll want to turn your wrist so that the palm of your hand is facing towards the floor once again.
Remember, your thumb shouldn’t apply pressure on the drum stick. Instead, it holds the stick in place while you play.
Step 8
Curl your other three fingers onto the drum stick, wrapping your ring, little, and middle digits underneath it. Much like with your thumb, these fingers shouldn’t grip too tightly. This hold enables advanced control of your drum sticks while letting them bounce back from the drum head.
Step 9
Repeat the same steps for your left hand for your right hand, since the American grip is one type of matching grip.
Step 10
Play! When you’re ready, strike the snare drum with a finger and wrist motion. You accomplish this by flexing your wrist to move your drum stick up and down. Make sure to keep your palms facing downward, almost parallel to the floor.
While playing, adjust the tightness of your supporting fingers and thumb to give more or less bounce. Remember to keep your forearms, shoulders, and elbows loose. The drumming motion should come from your wrists and fingers almost entirely.
German Grip
This grip is most common for musicians who play corps or rock. While similar to the American grip, the German style allows the drummer to have additional power while they play the drums.
Here’s how to play with a German grip:
Step 1
Begin the German hold in the same way as the American style. Sit down at the drum kit. Then, start with the left hand and slide the drumstick up and down until you find the balance point of your stick.
Step 2
Much like with the American grip, make sure that your palms are parallel to the drum surface. It’s most common for the drum surface to be parallel to the floor, so your hands should be as well.
However, if you have your drum positioned at an angle, the angle of your hands should be parallel to the drums, not the floor.
Step 3
Next, curl your index finger around the stick so that it is tight underneath your first knuckle.
Step 4
Curl your middle finger underneath the drum stick. Your stick should now be resting gently on this finger.
While your pinky and ring fingers still support your stick, they are less critical for this grip. For this reason, you can wrap them around the stick with your middle finger or fold them underneath.
Step 5
Hold the sticks with your elbows relaxed, letting them bend out from your torso. This position makes it easier to get the control and power necessary to play correctly.
Step 6
When utilizing the German style, you should strike with a wrist motion only. Try to avoid using your fingers, arms, and shoulders.
Step 7
As the German style is another matched grip, you want to repeat these steps for your right hand.
French Grip
In contrast with the German hold, the French grip mainly uses the fingers to hit the drum rather than the wrists. This matched grip style is more suitable for music that needs extra control and dexterity.
Musicians who play the drums for jazz, technical rock, or drumline style pieces use this style of grip. On the other hand, those who prefer rock or heavy metal will find that this technique isn’t powerful enough to get the desired sound.
Here’s how to implement the technique of the French hold:
Step 1
Begin this technique as you would the other two holds. Start with your left hand and find your stick’s balance point with your thumb and index finger.
Step 2
Next, hold your drumsticks so that the flat parts of your palms are perpendicular to the floor. Keep in mind that while facing each other, your hands should still be about a foot apart.
Step 3
Curl your pinky, middle, and ring fingers underneath each drum stick for support.
Step 4
Tuck your elbows in towards your body so that they are about an inch from your torso.
Step 5
Repeat this process for your right hand to complete the matched grip technique.
How to Hold Drum Sticks with Traditional Grip
Unlike a matched grip, a traditional grip is mostly standard in jazz drumming rather than rock drumming. The reason for this is that because the drummer’s hand is underneath the stick, the strokes won’t be as powerful. These powerful strokes are more practical with rock drumming, which is why players in these genres don’t use a traditional grip. Both, however, are applicable for corps drumming.
Drummers in the army corps first designed the traditional grip. Their drums were resting on their hips while they played, meaning that using a matched grip was impossible to utilize due to the angle.
To achieve a traditional grip, follow these steps:
STEP 1
Hold the stick with your left hand upside down, palm up.
STEP 2
Next, find the balance point of the stick and place it in the pocket of your index finger and thumb.
STEP 3
Rest the stick on the ring and pinky fingers.
STEP 4
Place your index and middle finger on the top of the stick.
Conclusion
No matter what style of drumming you prefer, it’s beneficial to learn all techniques of drum stick grips. By practicing various matched and traditional grips, you can hone your skill and increase your control over the drum sticks, enabling you to play the drums with more expertise.
Always make sure that while practicing, you frequently check to make sure you’re still in the proper position. Practicing is very helpful, but only if you are practicing correctly. If you get too caught up in the music without paying attention to your form, you could potentially injure yourself in the long run. You also won’t have the proper muscle memory if you are practicing incorrectly.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a variety of styles to add to your repertoire. Let us know in the comments below how you enjoyed the matched grip and traditional grip! Whether you are new to drumming or just want to improve your technique, it’s important to learn to hold the drumsticks properly. There are two main ways how to hold drumsticks: traditional and matched grip, along with matched grip variations such as french, german, and american grip. In this article, we will explain how to use each grip and the advantages or disadvantages of different grips. You can try out and see which grip suits you the best or combine them regarding your needs. Let’s dig into the most common grips drummers use and the proper way to do it.
Traditional grip
In the traditional grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Let’s see how to play a traditional grip step by step.
Step 1
Position your left (or weaker) hand with your palm facing inward, as you would shake somebody’s hand. Place the drumstick between your thumb and index finger, and then bend your ring and pinky fingers down, placing the stick between your middle and ring finger. This kind of grip is called “underhand grip.”
Step 2
Put your right (or leading) hand with the palm facing inward, and take the drumstick. The thumb of the leading hand will go on top of the drumstick, while the rest of the fingers will support the stick from the bottom. This grip is also known as “overhand grip.”
Step 3
Try to get the stick’s rebound to find the best balance position where it bounces the most. Practice full strokes in this position by rotating your forearm like you are spinning a doorknob. When you find the balance point, you will be able to bounce the stick with control over a rebound without the stick sliding up or down.
Step 4
Once you get your stick moving, bounce it with your thumb without moving the forearm. Try bouncing the stick, playing quarter notes along with a metronome, slowly speeding up the tempo.
Pros
- Traditional grip is beneficial to learn since it provides a sound ideal for performing rudimental drumming patterns like in jazz music.
- You can easily vary the angle of the drumstick’s hit on the drums.
- It’s easier to produce double or multiple bounces with the left hand since the weight of the hand is mostly under the stick, allowing the response to happen easily.
Cons
- It can take a long time to build equivalent strength and endurance in both hands.
- The left underhand grip uses fewer muscles than the right overhand grip, and this causes each muscle to do a larger percentage of the work.
- It’s harder to move around and play different drums.
Matched grip
Here is how you can play matched grip:
Step 1
Place your hands in front of you with palms facing down.
Step 2
Put the sticks in the middle of your hands, placing them between the ring finger, thumb, and middle finger.
Step 3
Both hands take the overhead position, with thumbs on top of the drumstick and the rest of the fingers supporting the stick from the bottom.
Pros
- It gives us more control over the stick and takes less power because you will use less effort from the fingers than with a traditional grip.
- Strokes are more powerful and efficient to move around the kit.
- The weaker hand can emulate what the dominant hand is doing because the sticks are held in a similar position in both hands.
Cons
- It’s less suited to jazz music than traditional drip.
- If you’re playing cross-handed on the hi-hat, it can prevent you from playing full strokes.
French grip
One of the variations of the matched grip is the french grip, and here is how you can do it:
- Place your drumsticks in the matched grip position, turn your palms upward, and ensure that your thumbs point up to the sky.
- The palms of the hands face directly toward each other, and the stick is moved primarily with the fingers rather than the wrist.
- The pressing point is between the thumb and index finger.
- Avoid wrist motion while playing to minimize muscular tension and keep all rotation in the elbow.
Purpose
French grip allows drummers to reach speeds that would be harder to reach with any other type of grip. You will be mastering finger control and taking full advantage of it.
German grip
If you wonder how to play german grip, here are the first steps:
- Start with holding your drumsticks at the balance point with your index finger and thumb and the rest of the fingers placed under the stick.
- Palms are facing down, parallel to the drumhead or other playing surface.
- You should form a 90-degree angle with the sticks when looking top-down and use outwards and inwards motion to hit a drum.
- The stick is moved primarily with the wrist.
Purpose
The german grip is the best grip for slow tempos because you wil have great wrist control. Compared to other variations of matched grips, it is the most powerful grip.
American grip
To play american grip, start with these steps:
- Place the stick between the thumb and the index finger’s first joint, and close the rest of the fingers loosely around the stick.
- Put your sticks on the snare drum with the back of your hand at a 45-degree angle.
- Instead of the outwards-inwards, you will use up-down movements when hitting the drum.
Purpose
In the american grip, the power goes from the whole arm instead of a wrist, so you have a lot more energy available. This grip utilizes the fingers, wrist, and arm in equal measure.
Conclusion
Drummers use two main grips: traditional and matched grip, or some of the variations of the matched grip such as french, german, or american. You can choose the way how to hold your drumsticks and combine different grips according to their purposes. And remember, the good grip is the foundation of your drumming. As famous drummer Thomas Lang jokingly says in this article: get a grip!
BY WALLY SCHNALLE
Develop a good grip early on, and it will serve you well for years to come. There are several ways to hold drum sticks, and they typically fall into two categories — matched and traditional. When in action, both of these grips allow you to employ the five parts of every drum stroke: arm, wrist, fingers, bounce, and gravity. You can find drummers in all styles of music that play one way or the other. So don’t let idiom be your deciding factor when you settle on a particular style. [EDITOR’S NOTE: See part 2 of the video lesson below.]
Matched Grip
Most people start with matched grip. The obvious benefit for the beginner is that you have to deal with only one set of rules because both hands grip the stick identically. There are two basic flavors of match grip. They are called German Timpani grip and French Timpani grip. Some claim that there is an “American” grip, but it is basically a hybrid of the German and French grips with the hands at about a 45-degree angle. There are four features to this grip, and all should appear in both hands no matter what position they are in. They are the fulcrum, the stop, the control fingers, and space. As described in the dictionary, the fulcrum is “the point or support about which a lever turns.” Those of you still wondering what a fulcrum is can think of a seesaw or teeter-totter. The point in the middle where it tilts back and forth is the fulcrum. The stick should work like that in your hand. To create a fulcrum in your hand, you first have to find the balance point of the stick by balancing the stick horizontally on the end of your finger. Now that you’ve found the center of gravity, move the stick tip slightly further away from your hand to create a little more weight towards the tip of your stick. This distance will vary, as not all sticks are created equal, but it’s usually about 1/2″ to 3/4″. The extra weight will help create bounce. Too much weight will kill the bounce. Too little and the stick doesn’t want to return back to the drumhead after rebounding. So play around with this a bit and find just the right spot. Place the sweet spot between the thumb and first joints of the first two fingers so that you can see wood on the top and bottom of the stick. The biggest trap inexperienced drummers fall into is wrapping the index finger around the stick and locking it in with the thumb. The problem this creates is that, while it may feel safe and secure, you’ve bound up the stick. It’s kind of like shock mounting the stick in a way that absorbs all the bounce that the stick is trying to give you. And believe me — you want that bounce for both speed and tone. The fulcrum will move between the index finger and second finger depending on how you approach the drum. Typically, the fulcrum is at the index finger in French Grip and at the second finger in German Grip. And so it stands to reason that in the American style it’s a bit of both fingers. The “Stop” is at the back corner of the palm, next to the wrist, which is where the stick should come back to rest after each stroke. This is called the “bye-bye motion”—imagine waiving bye-bye like a little kid. The “Control Fingers” are the rest of the fingers we haven’t discussed up until now, which include the pinky, ring finger, and the second finger. The second finger actually has split duties between fulcrum and control finger. The stick should lie on the first pad or first knuckle of each of these fingers. If the stick starts to lie next to the second knuckle, you wind up with the same problem that occurs when you wrap your index finger around the stick. So, don’t go there. And finally, “The Space.” This appears between the thumb and index finger and actually runs all the way into the back of the hand along the length of the stick. Whether you’re playing or at rest, you should be able to stick two fingers from your other hand in this space. This serves a couple of purposes. It keeps us from binding up the stick with a tight grip, which would kill all the rebound the stick is trying to give us when it contacts the drumhead. And as the stick is maneuvered with the first pad of our fingers (the furthest knuckle from our hand), we wind up with longer levers to work the stick, which gives our fingers more power.
Traditional Grip
I’ve heard traditional grip referred to as the “jazz grip,” but it actually has more to do with marching traditions. Traditional grip was developed many years ago to accommodate the steep angle a parade drum must assume since it’s slung over one shoulder with a strap. With the left stick held this way, you can play the drum comfortably at that angle. There are several advantages and disadvantages to using this grip at a drum set, but those are a topic for another article. The stick is held in the right hand exactly the same as matched grip, but the left hand is a whole different story. This left-hand grip also employs a fulcrum, so you should first identify the balance point of the stick just as we did with matched grip. Place that spot in the webbed space between your thumb and index finger. The thumb should gently grip the stick but will also be employed as a control finger at times to use the bounce. Curl your ring finger under the stick to become a “stop” as well as a support that can lift the stick, which should rest between the first knuckle and tip of the ring finger. Some players rest the stick between the first and second knuckle, but if you keep the stick further out on the finger you have a longer lever, which can do more work for you. The index finger comes over the top of the stick and connects with the stick at the first knuckle. The index and ring fingers work as “control fingers” traveling in tandem in and out along the length of the stick. The middle finger usually just goes along for the ride, except when the hand rotates in to an almost palm down position. And here it, too, can become a control finger.
Practice, Practice, Practice
It might be uncomfortable at first to make your hands conform to these positions, but it’s a good start. You must then develop the muscles and muscle memory to use them. So put some time in every day with a focus on technique. Practice in front of a mirror from time to time, since bad habits can creep up on you. These grips will serve you well in gaining dexterity and fluidity as you develop your voice and vocabulary on the instrument.
Matched Grip
Matched Grip is a stick grip where your hands hold the stick in the same way — your hands match. In recent years, this method of holding sticks has become more and more universally taught as the standard grip, especially because it’s the grip used for all other percussion instruments that are played with a stick or mallet. The first image you see below is probably the more common of the matched grips (Fig. 1). This is the Germanic Style or German grip. It’s characterized by the back of the hand facing upward. This is opposed to the French Grip (Fig. 2), which focuses on finger control by turning the hand so the thumb is on top and the fingers are below the stick. Meanwhile the back of the hand faces outward. French Grip is often taught as a Timpani playing grip for it’s finger control. 
Fig. 1 Matched Grip — Germanic or American Style Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 2 Matched Grip — French Style Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com You might notice that the backs of my hands are facing out at a slight angle as opposed to being straight up. I’ve seen this position called the American Grip. It’s sort of a hybrid between German and French. In reality, no single grip is “the rule” and having the ability to switch between the various styles of the grip will give you more freedom of expression, and better endurance as you will be able to give your hands some much needed rest while playing.
Building Matched Grip
You start by creating a fulcrum. A fulcrum is a pivot point in a lever. Think of a see-saw at the playground (Fig. 3). Two people sit at either end of the board and alternate taking turns pushing off the ground. Jumping up on one side causes the other side to go down. 
Fig. 3 Illustration of a see-saw pointing out the Fulcrum or pivot point. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com In the center of the see-saw is a pivot. It’s usually a metal pole or something like that and it’s the whole reason why a see-saw works. You’ll create your fulcrum about 4 inches from the butt of the stick. Pinch the stick between the thumb and the first finger (Fig. 4). Watch the video above to see exactly where you should hold the stick. 
Fig. 4 Create a Fulcrum Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com Your thumb should be flat against the side of the stick and holding it against the first knuckle of the index finger. You can imagine a pin going through your thumbnail and into the first finger. Be sure that you are not squeezing the stick too hard. You just need enough pressure to create some friction between the stick and the fingers, but it should be loose enough that you can move the stick around with your other hand. The butt of the stick should touch the thick pad of your palm, which acts like a shock absorber. You fingers loosely fall around the rest of the stick and provide control when rebounding and playing rolls (Fig. 5). They do not squeeze the stick! 
Fig. 5 The stick touches the thick pad of your palm. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com If you create a fulcrum correctly, the stick will move in your hand like the see-saw (Figs. 6 — 9). As Tommy Igoe says, space in the back creates sound up front. Let that stick move! 
Fig. 6 Loosening the fingers allows the stick to come up. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 7 At full height, the butt of the stick is no longer touching the palm. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 8 Closing the fingers will help you throw the stick down. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 9 The force of the downward motion will create more or less volume, depending on how fast the stick moves. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com If you’re playing matched grip, you’re all set! Both of your hands will hold the stick in the same way (Fig. 10). 
Fig. 10 Bird’s Eye View: Matched Grip at the drum set. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com If you’re playing traditional grip, read on.
Traditional Grip
Traditional grip isn’t used as much by new drummers anymore because it was developed for a specific purpose. The grip is a hold-over from older times, prior to the development of the modern drum set. The drums that were used for marching and the military were held up with a shoulder sling or rope thrown over the shoulder. The result was that the drum wasn’t flat it front of the player, it was at an angle, over the left knee. 
The Spirit of ‘76 Archibald Willard The underhand traditional grip was developed to allow the drummers to play on these tilted drums. Nowadays, drums are flat or tilted toward the player for the most part. Plus, so many other percussion instruments, like timpani and mallet instruments, are played with matched grip. It’s become a bit counterintuitive to use a different grip just for snare drum or drum set. That doesn’t mean that the grip has limitations. So many excellent players still use traditional grip to this day. Just check out Todd Sucherman, or better yet, this awesome trio of drummers: Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Gadd, all playing Traditional Grip. Fig. 11 — Drum Solo Featuring Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Gadd «,»raw»:false},»hSize»:null,»floatDir»:null,»html»:»\n»,»url»:»https://www.youtube.com/watch?ab_channel=khulanic&v=czOjnlvHrQU»,»width»:640,»height»:480,»providerName»:»YouTube»,»thumbnailUrl»:»https://i.ytimg.com/vi/czOjnlvHrQU/hqdefault.jpg»,»resolvedBy»:»youtube»}»> Fig. 11 — Drum Solo Featuring Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Gadd There are also visual reasons you may need to learn traditional grip. For example, drummers in my high school marching band all played traditional grip for a classic look.
Building The Traditional Grip
To create the grip, you start with a fulcrum, just like matched grip. Extend your hand with the palm facing inward. It’s a bit like shaking someone’s hand (Fig. 12). 
Fig. 12 Extend your hand like you’re meeting someone for the first time. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com Be sure to find the same balance point at about 4 inches from the butt of the stick and place it in the valley between your thumb and index finger (Fig. 13). Hold the stick in place with a slight pressure from the thumb, but DO NOT SQUEEZE. 
Fig. 13 The fulcrum is made by holding the stick in the valley between the thumb and first finger. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com The ring and pinky fingers curl underneath the stick and provide a platform for the stick to rest (Fig. 14). They play a small part in controlling the stick. 
Fig. 14 Curl the ring and pinky fingers under the stick. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com The middle and index fingers lay on top of the stick, but do not squeeze (Fig. 15)! They provide a lot of the control for rebounds and rolls in traditional grip. 
Fig. 15 Like in matched grip, the fingers provide extra control during and after a stick’s rebound. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com The thumb closes the gap and rests on the first finger, somewhere around the middle knuckle. The motion for playing comes from a wrist twist. It’s a little like shaking water from your hand. The fingers control the rebound of the stick and allow you to play intricate patterns. If you create the traditional grip correctly, the stick will move just like the see-saw (Figs. 16 — 19). 
Fig. 16 Rotating the wrist will start the movement of the stick tip upward. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 17 At full height, the butt of the stick is pointing downward. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 18 Rotating the wrist downward starts the movement of the stick tip toward the drum. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com 
Fig. 19 The volume of the hit is determined by the speed of the stroke. The fingers provide fine tuned control of the stick rebound. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com It’s important to note that the images make it look like the fulcrum is the wrist, but it’s not! In Fig. 20, you can see how the stick needs to move in the hand to create the see-saw, and requires little wrist movement. Fig. 20 Animated Gif Demonstrating the stick movement at the fulcrum with little wrist movement. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com In traditional grip, the other hand will use the same grip as Matched (Fig. 21). 
Fig. 21 Bird’s Eye View: Traditional Grip at the drum set. Source: www.ChristianJohnsonDrums.com It doesn’t matter which grip style you choose, but if you are planning to learn other percussion besides drums, being proficient at the Matched Grips will probably take you further. There are also those that say Traditional Grip is essential for drum set styles like Jazz. Do whatever works for you. To each their own. The main thing, and you might have noticed that I said this A LOT, is that you do not squeeze the sticks. The stick needs to move and breathe. If you are dropping the sticks a lot at first, that’s a good thing! Squeezing creates tension, and tension creates stiffness. If you are tense when you play, you’ll have the tendency to force the motion since you’re stiff and the result will be injury — sometimes long-lasting or career-ending injury. Learn good habits from the very beginning! Thanks for joining me for this lesson on how to hold the drum sticks. Be on the lookout for more quick reference articles like these in the future. You can get notified when I post new lessons by subscribing to my newsletter here or by subscribing to my YouTube channel. See you next time! Previous
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Lesson 8: Sixteenth Note Rests
Lessons Christian Johnson Rhythm and Reading Series, Reading, Rhythm, Intermediate, Beginner
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