How to Hold a Drumstick

There are many incorrect ways to do this, and I am constantly surprised at the number of drummers I see doing it wrong. You will benefit from holding the stick properly by having my control, and more powerful strokes.

First, place your thumb and first finger on the stick about a third of the way up, like so:











(You're going to want about a half an inch to an inch of the stick protruding from the back of your hand)





Next, wrap the rest of your fingers around the stick, making sure there are no spaces between the stick and your fingers.


The Number One Bad Habit:

Lifting your pinky while playing.






This is a kind of cheating that helps to fake the sound of a roll. Besides looking silly, taking your finger away from the stick like this will weaken your grip, and you will play worse, not better.

The ways in which your playing suffer by using such a grip:
You cannot (or is a lot harder to) play fast and complex beats. This weak grip will also increase the chances of the drummer dropping a stick.

Practice:

There is no real method to practicing this grip. If you have a habit of doing this, you will have to pay attention when you play, concentrating on keeping all of your fingers wrapped around the stick.

I would suggest playing on a practice pad (or suitable substitution) in front of a mirror, so you can constantly watch your form.

Good:

Bad:

***
So remember, you want all of your fingers to be touching the stick at all times, with no space at all between your fingers and the drum stick.