Learn how to hold the stick!

Matched grip

There are three types of Matched grips.

• German grip

  

  

• American grip

  

  

• French (Timpani) grip

  

  

Do you understand the differences? The back of the hand holding the stick is gradually open to the outside. The control of the wrist also becomes important. The German grip is the most widely used way to hold your wrist. Opening the elbow a little wider will make it easier to move. With the American grip, you can hold the stick in a more natural way. The last French grip, also known as the timpani grip, is characterized by a narrow wrist movement and easy finger control.

Regular (Traditional) ・ Grip

Regular grip is a grip that can be seen in jazz and so on, and it may be difficult for beginners to get stuck.

Here, let's learn about the most ambitious American grip among matched grips.

How to hold the stick in the American grip

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  Put the stick on the index finger.

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  Hold the fulcrum slightly below the center of the stick.

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  Find a balance. The fulcrum is where the thumb and forefinger support the stick. Look for a place where the stick does not fall even if you shake the stick.

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  Grasp the stick with the middle finger, ring finger and little finger in a way that follows the lifeline of the palm of your hand.
  This is the basic way of holding the sticks.

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  The way of swinging the stick is from the pose in the photo (triangle) shown above to swing straight down to the strike face.

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  It is desirable to be parallel to the strike face, slightly above the rim (iron ring around the snare drum), and in a straight line from the elbow to the end of the stick.

In the next section, learn about sitting and posture.

• Drum stick list