How to Hold Drum Sticks: Learn the Proper Technique

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!