This blog is a detailed approach towards how to hold the drumsticks the right way. While there are several rule books that show us how to hold the drumstick, it is really based on our convenience and what feels comfortable. Let's get started!

Gripping the Drumstick

Now, which is the right way to grip your drumstick? Though there are several ways to hold your drumstick, the grip is fundamental. Holding or gripping your drumstick at the end or too far near the tip is an incorrect way to grip your stick. The secret is to find the perfect balance where the stick balances with minimal effort. Ideally, it’s about three-fourths from the top.

This is called the Fulcrum (the point where you can feel the stick balance and bounce on the snare drum perfectly). So, when you place the drumstick on your index finger on the fulcrum point, you will notice the stick will naturally balance and when you tilt the stick a little bit, it has a perfect bounce or a rebound effect from the snare drum.

Pressure on Drumsticks

Next, let’s delve into how much pressure to exert on your drumsticks. Holding the drumsticks too tight can affect the bounce on the snare drum. On the other hand, hold the drum sticks too loose, and you’ll risk it falling over. The ideal way to go about it is to grip your sticks slightly loose, so you are on top of how you want to play. That is, if you grip your drumsticks correctly, you can control the bounce and control the sound when you hit it on any part of the kit.

The main goal is to make the sticks do the work for you. If you are gripping it too tight, other than choking the sound, you are putting the entire force on the stick, which can make your playing sound unnecessarily loud and sloppy.

Gripping your Drum Stick

There are several ways to grip your drumstick based on your convenience. Let’s have a look at all of them.

1. Traditional Grip: The traditional grip involves holding the left stick between your ring finger and middle finger (while the bottom part of the stick rests between your thumb and index finger), and controlling the stick with your index finger. A lot of drummers use this grip as their preferred style, especially jazz drummers. Also, if you have noticed a marching band, they use the traditional grip. However, over the years, easier ways to grip a drumstick have evolved.
2. Matched Grip: The matched grip is the most commonly used grip. As the name suggests, the grip on both the hands matches. In this style, you grip the fulcrum of the stick with your thumb and the index finger. Keep in mind that keeping your fingers close to each other while gripping the stick can affect or choke the sound. Therefore, while on a matched grip, ensure there is a little gap between the thumb and the index finger. Once you have perfected this, just place your other fingers gripping the stick gently. Not too tight.
3. German Grip: Next comes the German grip. In this style of holding your drum stick, you grip the stick so your palm is parallel to the floor. Great for playing the snare drum, the German grip is also one of the most commonly used styles of gripping the drumstick.
4. American Grip: While the German grip is completely parallel to the floor, the American grip is slightly angled.
5. French Grip: In the French grip, you grip the stick in a way that your thumb is on top of the stick while the other fingers are gripping the stick below to control the bounce. While the other grips are great to master, the French grip is the most appropriate grip when you want to play the ride.

To sum it all up, you can choose any of these grips that match your style or the genre that you follow. So, based on the music you play, you can alternate with grips. For example, if you are playing something heavy or really want to dig into the groove, the American grip is the perfect choice. On the other hand, if you want to play jazz, sticking to the French grip makes things easier.

In the next post, we look at the basic rudiments in drums – these are fundamentals that every drummer needs to start with. Keep reading to know more.