man you are a genius, i just stumbled on your videos by accident, i am only just starting out and also watched other videos on these topics but your insight, understanding and explanations are unmatched. i just watched the first two videos so far and holding the sticks like you explained, literally took my sticking technique to another level within 5 minutes. i can play with little to no effort and also much faster and easier, with little tension. thank you so much for putting this stuff online. your lessons are worth their weight in gold for anyone especially people starting out. i look forward to going through the rest of your videos and will also look out for any of your other instructional material in the future! you are an awesome teacher and i am lucky i found this stuff so early in my journey to learn to play the drums! thanks again
At 59, and with more than four decades of bad habits, I have decided to try and get back to basics and really sort my hands out. These videos are very good - thank you.
I've played for 30 years. Your breakdown of the physics of the lever has taken my playing to a new level. Thank you! The maximum efficiency of stroke with the least amount of effort was exactly what I was looking for.
Mechanical choices depend on type of feel, tempo, and volume level. Multi-note strokes can not reach the volume levels that singles can, but reciprocating movements do help your groove. For R & R sometimes I use a sweeping "Ringo" back and forth to make all HH notes equal volume. Shuffles must accent the quarter pulse to "shuffle". Moeller works for slow to medium tempos, while open/close works for faster tempos. Open/close can also be used for slower tempos, but it won't be as loud as moeller.
Excellent. I've been using the American grip for a while but held the stick in the wrong part of the finger. I learned something about the American grip now. Thanks Gordy.
This has unlocked the mystery of my slow singles. I understood the push/pull concept, but couldn't make it work - until now. Your explanation has created instant progress and I can't thank you enough!
I have no doubt that you are the best teacher in all over the net .i saw many lessons (free and online course ) about drums but you are absolutely in diffrent level It's helpful for me even in elementary level. Thanks for your great job. (Only one problem: I think your descriptions have not enough key words and unfortunatly YT and google don't show your stuffs very well! )
You can use the pinky in conjunction with the middle and ring finger to bounce the stick, but it's not a requirement. I find I tend to use it in louder volume situations, to get more leverage and control of the stick.
Great tips! I started last week with drumming again after 8 years or so and these videos are helping me a lot, thanks very much! About the grip, don't be afraid to losen everything up as if you would lose the stick while playing because of the loose grip. You will notice that the surface you're playing on will give you an indication how lose, rather than tight, your grip has to be to keep you as relaxed as possible. Furthermore I think it's real important if you are new to this concept to practice only in the 'balanced region' of the stick. This will give you the proper information to control every aspect of the technique but also of body's reaction so that you can prevent any pain, aches and or possible trauma for that matter. As a guitar player I can't stress enough how important it is to let the instrument work as much as possible for you and how power is a result of relaxation rather than force. Anyways, thanks again.
Thank you very much for the tip about putting a stick/marker between the index finger and the held stick! I am having a lot of trouble with releasing tension and developing finger control with my left hand and I can feel this simple strategy already helping me to retrain the fingers - something I've been trying to do for months now!
Yes, American grip requires moving the fulcrum farther back on the stick to avoid the butt end hitting your wrist. But this fulcrum location is really driven by the louder volume levels required when playing amplified music. I believe you should use what ever grip/technique works best for you and the type of music you play.
Gordy, I really appreciate your videos. Thank you so much for making them. One small request. With your expertise, can you please make a video just on the proper way to hold a drum stick. That's sorta what I was looking for maybe however I did learn some things from this that are very useful. More so if you were teaching a beginner how to properly hold and grip a stick. Much respect thank you so much.
Tommy Chong "Proper" grip varies depending on WHAT you are trying to play, as well as HOW LOUD you are trying to play it. Louder volumes require more fingers on the stick. Middle, ring, and sometimes even the pinky may be necessary to control it. When it gets REAL loud, the fulcrum will move closer to the butt end as well. Softer volumes reverse this, up to a minimum of the middle finger on the stick. The key is to always keep the middle finger (ring & pinky too, if in use) in contact with the stick whether hand is open or closed.
Thank you so much for this vid! The most helpful video so far for me. Help me get better stroke in just 1 day after years of struggling for grip. I'm just wondering if u can make a tutorial on traditional grip ? I'd really love to learn that and hopefully u can help. Cheers
The problem I run into with using the "american" grip is that the back of the stick hits my wrists. My fulcrum is just a bit behind the balance point, which leaves (in german grip) an inch or two of stick protruding passed the back of my hand. If I rotate into american grip that length bumps my wrist, especially with a moeller type stroke. I'm watching your hand placement and it's further back on the stick than mine. I recently went for a more Gruber, Spivack style of grip. Any thoughts?
Great information and analogies. As a general rule are you using the American grip when playing your hi hat...straight 8's or shuffles, slow or fast? And are you following the natural bounce by using a combination of wrist and fingers? I have a tendency to "fight" it (grab the stick with my fingers, including pinky) and muscle it rather than relaxing and allowing the natural rebound, especially at faster tempos. Thx!
Mr Knudtson is a very good teacher and it is easy to follow his speech and presentation even if you are a non-native English speaking person like me. Thank you very much for your efforts. On the American grip (or hybrid grip, how you wish to call it) and the index finger pointing downwards, does the fact mean that the actual pivot point is between the thumb and the middle finger? If it would be between the thumb and the downwards pointing index finger, I tend to think that then one should squeeze the grip a bit (meaning possibly that the grip would not be relaxed and loose anymore) in order to prevent the stick falling. Is this observation correct? I am talking about drumming with a light touch (like jazz or similar),
Hi Karo, I'm glad you find these vids helpful! There is a modest pinch at the fulcrum, it must be a real point. Just as the middle and ring fingers must be in contact with the stick to provide the other point. The third point is rebound. Remember there are many "right" technique answers when it comes to playing drums. For instance when playing really loud single hits, the fulcrum disappears as you grip the back of the stick and drive w/ wrist or wrist & arms. Technique choice is driven by speed and volume needs but all the good answers conform to these basic principles.
I feel completely and utterly lost about this technique. I started playing when I was 12 and stopped playing at 21. I then sold all my gear after becoming dissolutioned. However I recently started playing again after discovering my passion for it once more. I had never heard or tried this technique before and feel like I've lived under a stones whole life. Over night I'm a complete novice or at least feel like one. This video at least tries to simplify the technique and is the best one I've found so far.
Gordy, what is the contact point between the thumb and the index finger? Where do you hold the stick between these two digits? Also, will this point vary at all with the speed or delicacy of the type of playing, in other words, will the pinch point move along the index finger joints for more delicate or faster playing, or will it stay mostly at the same point, just more or less tension? I learned basic technique on the drum set, but spent most of my youth playing in drum corps which really didn't emphasize rebound. I found much later that I was very tight in my fingers and wrists, trying to control every stroke. I have been trying to change this for many years but lack of practice time really makes this difficult. I have found your videos to be extremely motivating and I would like to re-train my hands to play this way. Like most really good drummers, you make it look so easy, so relaxed. This has been missing from my playing and I would like to change that, if I can. Thanks for your videos.
Thanks, I'm glad you like the videos. Where you hold the stick depends upon how loud and what you are playing. If we did a few Skype or Apple FaceTime lessons I could help make sure your form is right so you get the most out of the limited practice time you have. Without this feedback it's easy to spend time practicing incorrectly, which can keep you from get the results you want. I see this happen quite often. However, once your mechanics and understanding of them is "correct", you CAN teach yourself and progress on your own.
Dear Gordy. Have you experimented with the adherence or the grip of the grip (sorry no hablo inglés)? I mean, do you have an opinion about holding the sticks and playing with your hands slightly moisture /sticky versus using some kind of talcum powder for having them completely dry? And by the way, you said "Europeans are calling it now American Grip", it has a different origin? Thanks a lot, I'm learning so much with your channel
Hi Diego, I'm glad you find the videos helpful! Regarding wet, sticky, or dry hands, I don't like sticky hands or really wet hands, but in the middle of a show we 'do what we gotta do' to get the job done. I think talc might make the sticks too slippery. I can't say for sure the American Grip originated in America, but it probably did develop here along with the drum set. I look at those descriptions - German, French, American - not as historically accurate, but more as commonly used descriptive terms.
man you are a genius, i just stumbled on your videos by accident, i am only just starting out and also watched other videos on these topics but your insight, understanding and explanations are unmatched. i just watched the first two videos so far and holding the sticks like you explained, literally took my sticking technique to another level within 5 minutes. i can play with little to no effort and also much faster and easier, with little tension. thank you so much for putting this stuff online. your lessons are worth their weight in gold for anyone especially people starting out. i look forward to going through the rest of your videos and will also look out for any of your other instructional material in the future! you are an awesome teacher and i am lucky i found this stuff so early in my journey to learn to play the drums! thanks again
Thanks Maaz, I appreciate it!
At 59, and with more than four decades of bad habits, I have decided to try and get back to basics and really sort my hands out. These videos are very good - thank you.
I've played for 30 years. Your breakdown of the physics of the lever has taken my playing to a new level. Thank you! The maximum efficiency of stroke with the least amount of effort was exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks Troy!
5:55-6:15 is like most important thing I never realized myself, thank you very much for showing and explaining that :)
Mechanical choices depend on type of feel, tempo, and volume level. Multi-note strokes can not reach the volume levels that singles can, but reciprocating movements do help your groove. For R & R sometimes I use a sweeping "Ringo" back and forth to make all HH notes equal volume. Shuffles must accent the quarter pulse to "shuffle". Moeller works for slow to medium tempos, while open/close works for faster tempos. Open/close can also be used for slower tempos, but it won't be as loud as moeller.
Excellent. I've been using the American grip for a while but held the stick in the wrong part of the finger. I learned something about the American grip now. Thanks Gordy.
This has unlocked the mystery of my slow singles. I understood the push/pull concept, but couldn't make it work - until now. Your explanation has created instant progress and I can't thank you enough!
Glad it helped!
I have no doubt that you are the best teacher in all over the net .i saw many lessons (free and online course ) about drums but you are absolutely in diffrent level
It's helpful for me even in elementary level.
Thanks for your great job.
(Only one problem: I think your descriptions have not enough key words and unfortunatly YT and google don't show your stuffs very well! )
These are the most detailed technical explanations I've seen. Thanks a lot for this encyclopaedia of drumming basics!
Hi Gordy, from the old PureCussion days! Wow, excellent information. Great to see you continuing in your supportive ways encouraging drummers
You can use the pinky in conjunction with the middle and ring finger to bounce the stick, but it's not a requirement. I find I tend to use it in louder volume situations, to get more leverage and control of the stick.
Great tips! I started last week with drumming again after 8 years or so and these videos are helping me a lot, thanks very much! About the grip, don't be afraid to losen everything up as if you would lose the stick while playing because of the loose grip. You will notice that the surface you're playing on will give you an indication how lose, rather than tight, your grip has to be to keep you as relaxed as possible.
Furthermore I think it's real important if you are new to this concept to practice only in the 'balanced region' of the stick. This will give you the proper information to control every aspect of the technique but also of body's reaction so that you can prevent any pain, aches and or possible trauma for that matter. As a guitar player I can't stress enough how important it is to let the instrument work as much as possible for you and how power is a result of relaxation rather than force.
Anyways, thanks again.
Thank you very much for the tip about putting a stick/marker between the index finger and the held stick! I am having a lot of trouble with releasing tension and developing finger control with my left hand and I can feel this simple strategy already helping me to retrain the fingers - something I've been trying to do for months now!
You are welcome. I'm glad it's helping you!
very nice videoes, Gordy!! thaks
This man is a genius seriously a great lesson !
Yes, American grip requires moving the fulcrum farther back on the stick to avoid the butt end hitting your wrist. But this fulcrum location is really driven by the louder volume levels required when playing amplified music. I believe you should use what ever grip/technique works best for you and the type of music you play.
Gordy, I really appreciate your videos. Thank you so much for making them.
One small request. With your expertise, can you please make a video just on the proper way to hold a drum stick. That's sorta what I was looking for maybe however I did learn some things from this that are very useful. More so if you were teaching a beginner how to properly hold and grip a stick. Much respect thank you so much.
Tommy Chong "Proper" grip varies depending on WHAT you are trying to play, as well as HOW LOUD you are trying to play it. Louder volumes require more fingers on the stick. Middle, ring, and sometimes even the pinky may be necessary to control it. When it gets REAL loud, the fulcrum will move closer to the butt end as well. Softer volumes reverse this, up to a minimum of the middle finger on the stick. The key is to always keep the middle finger (ring & pinky too, if in use) in contact with the stick whether hand is open or closed.
Thank you so much for this vid!
The most helpful video so far for me.
Help me get better stroke in just 1 day after years of struggling for grip.
I'm just wondering if u can make a tutorial on
traditional grip ?
I'd really love to learn that and hopefully u can help.
Cheers
loser
Great thanks, and thanks for the videos!
The problem I run into with using the "american" grip is that the back of the stick hits my wrists. My fulcrum is just a bit behind the balance point, which leaves (in german grip) an inch or two of stick protruding passed the back of my hand. If I rotate into american grip that length bumps my wrist, especially with a moeller type stroke. I'm watching your hand placement and it's further back on the stick than mine. I recently went for a more Gruber, Spivack style of grip. Any thoughts?
do you use your pinky in conjunction with your middle and ring finger to bounce the stick?
Thanks you so much sir
Great information and analogies. As a general rule are you using the American grip when playing your hi hat...straight 8's or shuffles, slow or fast? And are you following the natural bounce by using a combination of wrist and fingers? I have a tendency to "fight" it (grab the stick with my fingers, including pinky) and muscle it rather than relaxing and allowing the natural rebound, especially at faster tempos. Thx!
Mr Knudtson is a very good teacher and it is easy to follow his speech and presentation even if you are a non-native English speaking person like me. Thank you very much for your efforts.
On the American grip (or hybrid grip, how you wish to call it) and the index finger pointing downwards, does the fact mean that the actual pivot point is between the thumb and the middle finger? If it would be between the thumb and the downwards pointing index finger, I tend to think that then one should squeeze the grip a bit (meaning possibly that the grip would not be relaxed and loose anymore) in order to prevent the stick falling. Is this observation correct? I am talking about drumming with a light touch (like jazz or similar),
Hi Karo, I'm glad you find these vids helpful! There is a modest pinch at the fulcrum, it must be a real point. Just as the middle and ring fingers must be in contact with the stick to provide the other point. The third point is rebound. Remember there are many "right" technique answers when it comes to playing drums. For instance when playing really loud single hits, the fulcrum disappears as you grip the back of the stick and drive w/ wrist or wrist & arms. Technique choice is driven by speed and volume needs but all the good answers conform to these basic principles.
I feel completely and utterly lost about this technique.
I started playing when I was 12 and stopped playing at 21. I then sold all my gear after becoming dissolutioned. However I recently started playing again after discovering my passion for it once more.
I had never heard or tried this technique before and feel like I've lived under a stones whole life. Over night I'm a complete novice or at least feel like one. This video at least tries to simplify the technique and is the best one I've found so far.
is this the grip Bill Brufford uses?
I don't know.
Gordy, what is the contact point between the thumb and the index finger? Where do you hold the stick between these two digits?
Also, will this point vary at all with the speed or delicacy of the type of playing, in other words, will the pinch point move along the index finger joints for more delicate or faster playing, or will it stay mostly at the same point, just more or less tension?
I learned basic technique on the drum set, but spent most of my youth playing in drum corps which really didn't emphasize rebound. I found much later that I was very tight in my fingers and wrists, trying to control every stroke. I have been trying to change this for many years but lack of practice time really makes this difficult.
I have found your videos to be extremely motivating and I would like to re-train my hands to play this way. Like most really good drummers, you make it look so easy, so relaxed. This has been missing from my playing and I would like to change that, if I can.
Thanks for your videos.
Thanks, I'm glad you like the videos. Where you hold the stick depends upon how loud and what you are playing. If we did a few Skype or Apple FaceTime lessons I could help make sure your form is right so you get the most out of the limited practice time you have. Without this feedback it's easy to spend time practicing incorrectly, which can keep you from get the results you want. I see this happen quite often. However, once your mechanics and understanding of them is "correct", you CAN teach yourself and progress on your own.
Dear Gordy. Have you experimented with the adherence or the grip of the grip (sorry no hablo inglés)? I mean, do you have an opinion about holding the sticks and playing with your hands slightly moisture /sticky versus using some kind of talcum powder for having them completely dry? And by the way, you said "Europeans are calling it now American Grip", it has a different origin?
Thanks a lot, I'm learning so much with your channel
Hi Diego, I'm glad you find the videos helpful! Regarding wet, sticky, or dry hands, I don't like sticky hands or really wet hands, but in the middle of a show we 'do what we gotta do' to get the job done. I think talc might make the sticks too slippery. I can't say for sure the American Grip originated in America, but it probably did develop here along with the drum set. I look at those descriptions - German, French, American - not as historically accurate, but more as commonly used descriptive terms.
This GUY US THE DRUM STICK" HOLDER GURU 👾🎅🎉💫😏☕🍩COOL. ..