The first question I am asked by most of my students is: “how to hold a drum stick?” The player holds the stick between the index (and middle finger, depending on the grip) and the thumb, somewhere between the middle and the lower third of the stick. The point where the stick is held forms the fulcrum, or pivot point. Holding the stick to tightly will prevent the stick from bouncing and result in fatigue and tense muscles. Approaching the grip with control, yet loose, is a good idea. The two most common ways to hold a drum stick are the German and the French grip. Roughly, the German grip gives the player more power, and the French grip more control.
When playing not only the snare drum, but the whole drum set, these grips are both used in a fluid manner. When playing the ride cymbal, for example, the French grip seems more fitting, while the snare drum often is more effectively played when using the German grip. These drum set techniques are explained well by Steve Houghton, for instance, in a video by Vic Firth, the stick company, which I am also endorsed by.
After getting to grips with the drum sticks, students are often eager to jump right in and learn basic drum beats. Many current and classic pop/rock hits are based on the most basic drum beats, which makes figuring out fun for the beginner. To learn a basic drum beat and to be able to play along with some of the most well-known songs after only a few lessons is a great confidence-booster and aids the learning process. Tracks like “7 Nation Army”, “21 Guns” and “Highway To Hell”, for example, use three simple, yet different beats, which can be learned within the first two months.
How To Read Drum Music
Memorizing drum beats and exercises is an important step in building a drum vocabulary, but reading music plays a big part in moving forward. Although sight-reading is not essential, to be able to read drum music quite fluently will make it easier to learn new beats and exercises, which also keeps the learning process fresh and allows the student to be independent and to find new material. Reading drum notation is not very different from reading other music notation, and, in many people’s opinion, is actually a little easier, while also preparing the student for other instruments. This is one of the many reasons why the drums work well as a first instrument.
Playing drums in a band is a goal for many students, especially drummers in their teens and older. Making music with friends can be one of the most fulfilling and fun experiences one can have, if in front of an audience or in a rehearsal room. Being in a band builds team spirit, helps self-esteem and can have positive side-effects, such as kick-starting an entrepreneurial streak.
Advanced Drum Techniques
After mastering the basic snare drum exercises (rudiments) and having worked through an array of drum beats and different songs, many students have build up a basic understanding and certain comfort level on the drums. Then, it is often time to move the focus on the various pieces of the drum set and hone in on more advanced techniques. The hi hat, for instance, is played mostly in a closed position in many basic beats and songs, though it is able to produce a wide variety of sounds, depending if it is played with the tip or the shoulder of the stick, if it is open or closed, or half-open, if it is “splashed”, etc. The other individual pieces of a drum set can also be played in various ways, which makes moving on challenging and fun.