Why Your Drumstick Grip Is So Important
Grip is important. Source: beeto456
Drums are a weird instrument
With most other instruments you have to hold them or at least touch them in order to play them eg. guitar, saxophone, trumpet, harp, violin etc. But with drums (and percussion instruments in general) you don't actually touch them. On a drum kit you're either hitting things with sticks or pushing pedals with your feet. But you never come into contact with the drums or cymbals themselves.
So the main point of contact that you have with your instrument is your sticks. If you have a bad grip on your sticks then you'll play badly. This is why so many drummers recommend that you practise for hours on a pad because once you get control over your sticks then playing drums becomes so much easier.
Nick (one of my Facebook friends) suggested that I make holding drumsticks a blog topic. He rightly pointed out that there are "...drummers who have played for over 10 years without correct grip and as soon as they've corrected this they are able to play much more faster and efficiently." So upon his request this is the first in a series of articles on drumstick grip.
Prepare yourself
Between now and the next article, take a bit of time while you are playing and focus your attention on how you are holding the sticks. How does it feel?
Does it feel natural? Awkward? Do you feel in control of your sticks? Is there any tension in your hands? Arms? Wrists? Fingers? Are you relaxed? Are the sticks rubbing against your hands? Do you hold them in a vice-like death grip? Do you drop your sticks a lot? How much vibration travels back into your arms?
After you've spent some time on this you may find that you are completely happy with your grip. If so, don't change it! You know the old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
But if you think that your grip could be improved then read the next few articles that I'll be putting out. Stick with them and you'll thank me for it later!
Alexander
How is your grip? Maybe you've never paid attention to it before. Maybe you've noticed that improving your grip has improved your playing? Is grip really important anyway?
Leave your thoughts and wisdom in the comments
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