This is simple: Hand to hand or right-left. Starting slow then accelerate. Start slow. We will start with match grip. For real keeners, you might work with traditional grip and French grip as well. As always: 1. Start slow, over time you will be able to speed up with minimal tension. 2. Let the sticks rebound, or bounce freely off the head. If the stick is buried in the head, the drum will not speak. 3. Keep the hands and arms relaxed, it comes primarily from the wrists. No "Death Grips". David
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Great hands!
How do you get great hands?
See my last blog post for more information, then call me. David There are drum books for technique, styles, and advanced concepts. I own more than a 100. But let's start simple, the basics.
So, why a book? Books lay out a roadmap, give a sense of accomplishment, develop reading skills, and impart important drum culture attitudes in students among other things. Below are a few favs of mine.
Classics for a reason... RockPopJazzBluesMake it easier to succeed. With the following steps in order, success and fun will be so much closer.
David “Musicians live to practice, and practice to live” ![]()
Now, there are other ways to allocate your time, I tend to flip it 70% drill/time/feel etudes, technique and 30% repertoire. But, I'm not a beginner. Best, David Can changing drumheads make a cheap set sound better? Yes, and yes. Drumheads make a big difference. Coated/clear, single ply/double ply. Ported bass drum/non-ported. Then how you tune them. I’ve played many kits found on bandstands around town. They are uniformly cheap, heavily dampened, and wildly tuned. Played well, out front in the audience, they usually sound fine or even great. The only comments I’ve ever gotten are remarks on my Paiste cymbals I’d brought to the show. I still love my pro level kits. But it took many years before I purchased them. On early recordings the cheaper, well tuned, with coated drumheads, my Gretsch Catalina 20” sounded good, sometimes really good. When I moved into classic rock bands, I used clear drumheads, tuned them lower and voila: Rock and roll baby! Moral of the story? I use: Remo drum heads Aquarian drum heads It’s the drummer. It’s the room. It’s the band. It's the tuning. It’s the music. David
There are lots of thoughts out there on this subject. Should I sit high/low, sideways?(just kidding). Should my cymbals be high/low? I won't settle that here, but I invite you to check out https://drummagazine.com/how-to-set-up-your-drum-kit-for-comfort-and-efficiency/ Last night I dreamed I met Billy Cobham on the bus. He was living in Toronto, we struck up a conversation, hit it off right away. Two musicians sharing stories: journeyman/master. He sets up like this: HIgh. Travis Barker of the rock band Blink -182 sets up like this: Low So, please have a look at the article through the link above. Today, I will be exploring some alternative set-ups on my kits. myself.
The goal is comfort and and ergonomically healthy set up. David |
AuthorDavid Story, drummer, pianist, qualified online music teacher Archives
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