Grip Do's and Don'ts

DO:

• Use the grips and fulcrums discussed earlier
• Relax your arms, wrists, and hands
• Hold the stick so that it feels slightly weighted toward the tip

DON'T:

• Hold the sticks like a club
• Lock your arms, wrists, or fingers
• Extend your ring finger or pinkie finger outward
• Clench the stick

Grips

In drumming, there are two ways to grip the sticks: traditional and matched.
The Traditional Grip
It is also known as the Orthodox grip. Your hands hold the sticks differently. The right hand uses an overhand grip while the left hand uses an underhand grip. The stick on the left hand is placed between the drummer's left thumb and forefinger. Why is it called traditional? because it descends from military marching drummers who carried a snare drum on a sling hung from the neck or one shoulder, with the drum riding closer to one hip than the other and tilted slightly for easier reach. Jazz drummers enjoy this grip because they are required  to play a great deal of intricate rhythms with a soft touch.
The Matched Grip

L-R: Matched Grip, Traditional Grip

Here is the opposite of the traditional grip as your hands hold the sticks in the same way. Both hands use an overhand grip. The matched grip is performed by placing the stick between your thumb and forefinger and grasping or pinching the stick. This is the grip used by almost all drummers.

Sticks, Brushes, and Mallets

Sticks

This will be the main thing that you will use while drumming. There are many varieties and models available. Where to buy? The respected companies are Vic Firth and Regal Tip, but Promark, Zildjian, and Vater also make reputable sticks. A good pair of sticks should be pitch-matched. When each stick has the same pitch, the sound would be more consistent and equal.

Brushes

They also come in different shapes and sizes and are produced by several different companies. Make sure you buy retractable brushes, brushes that can be drawn back into the shaft. Brushes are rarely used.

Mallets

Similar to drum sticks, but the head is soft and rounded. They also come in many shapes and sizes. I refer Vic Firth and Musser to be the respected producer of quality mallets. Mallets are rarely used when playing drums like the brushes.

The Snare Drum

What is a Snare Drum?
The snare drum is the central instrument within the drum set. It is also referred to as the side drum. Two types of snare drums are essentially on the market: wooden-shelled and chrome-shelled drums. A basic snare drum measures 14" in diameter, which is where I based the blog title.
The snare drum contains:

• A shell or circular body
• A top "batter" head and a bottom ultra-thin clear head
• Chrome hoops (rims) that fasten the heads to the shell
• Tension rods that screw into lug casings (used to tighten the rim onto the shell)
• Snare wires
• A throw-off apparatus

Top View

Bottom View

Before I end this post, here's a fact. You will need to change your top or "batter" snare head every three to six months depending on your degree of activity. But don't worry about this yet, concentrate on learning to play first.

Cymbals

What are Cymbals?
Cymbals are tapered, circular brass plates that contain a small cup or bell that swells at the cymbal's center. Two cymbals stacked on top of each other and played both with the hands and with a foot pedal are called hi-hats.

Who to Buy From

Zildjian, Sabian, and Paiste are the three big cymbal manufacturers. Zildjian is marked as the oldest company in the world dating back to the 1600s; they also outsell any other cymbal manufacturer.

What is the Problem in Cymbals?
It would probably be their cost these days. Used cymbals would be your best bet. In fact, some professionals will only play on used cymbals because they have a warmer tone and don't need to be "broken in".

Buying the Right Drums and Cymbals

Some professionals contend that any drum can sound good, while others are extremely picky about what they will play on. For your purposes, just about any drum or cymbal that is in good condition will do. You can use your ears when deciding. If the drum or cymbal doesn't have a tone that is pleasing to you, try something else.


Who to Buy From
The most respected drum manufacturers today are Ludwig, Tama, Pearl, Yamaha, Drum Workshop (DW), Gretsch, Slingerland, Premier, Sonor, Noble & Cooley, and Remo. Ayotte and Peavey are growing companies, and there are vintage drums, such as Rogers and Leedy, still being sold today. You can't go wrong with any of these given companies.

Why Take Up Drumming?

I got this from a book that my dad bought me when I was a beginner in playing drums and I'm going to share it to you. Maybe these 10 reasons can persuade you that drumming is interesting.

Top 10 Reasons

to Take Up Drumming

1. No one can rock out like a drummer.
2. Schlepping your gear from gig to gig is cheaper then a membership to a gym, and it is and even better workout.
3. Percussion is a vital element of every music style-from rock and blues to R&B to Caribbean.
4. Good drumming has always been the hallmark of hit songs.
5. You have always had great rhythm and musical interest, and now you want to put it to some good use.
6. Drumming will sharpen your concentration and hone your listening skills.
7. You don't need a Ph.D. in music theory to play the drums.
8. Drumming relieves stress and allows you to explore creative expression.
9. Practicing the drums will help you to develop your sense of time and reflexes.
10. Drummers are the heartbeat of any band.