Basic Hand Technique
Hand techniques are all about practicing different strokes, rolls, and patterns to improve your hand-eye coordination. By practicing these techniques, you’ll be able to build speed and develop your timing. Below are some basic hand techniques you can practice:
- Basic Hand Strokes: Hand strokes are the basic movements that all drummers use to play their instrument. There are several strokes you can use to play the drums. Learning one or two of these will help you to develop your drumming skills. - Basic Hand Rolls: Hand rolls are used to create rhythms and add a melody to your drumming. There are several hand rolls you can use to add interest to your drumming.
- Basic Foot Technique: Basic foot techniques are used to create a solid foundation for your drumming. You can use these techniques to play a variety of beats and riffs.
Intermediate Hand Technique
Although much of the advice you’ll find on the internet is either outdated or incorrect, there are a few resources that can provide beneficial insight. A good place to begin is with basic hand technique. From there, you can move on to intermediate hand technique and begin exploring rolls, hands-together variations, and various brushes. Basic hand strokes are a good place to start. Many drummers begin their drumming journey by practicing strokes that involve the fingers of the left hand. These basic strokes include the following:
- Sway Strokes: Sway strokes are used to create a variety of beats and patterns. You can use them to play simple rhythms, or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
- Scuff Strokes: Scuff strokes are used to create a variety of beats and patterns. You can use them to play simple rhythms, or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
- Brush Strokes: Brush strokes are used to create a variety of beats and patterns. You can use them to play simple rhythms, or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
Intermediate Foot Technique
The foot technique you use to play the drums is just as important as the hand technique. While you may start with basic foot techniques such as the following, you’ll want to move on to more advanced techniques as you progress as a drummer:
- Basic Foot Cymbal Techniques: Basic foot techniques you can use to play the cymbals of your drumset. You can play simple open notes, or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
- Basic Foot Hi-Hats: While you can use a stick to play the cymbals of your drumset, a foot pedal allows you to play the hi-hats with greater volume and intensity. You can use basic foot techniques to play the basic open notes of the hi-hats or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
- Basic Foot Crash Cymbal: The crash cymbal is one of the most versatile cymbals available. It’s used for many different effects, including crashing, glissandoing, and swishing sounds. You can use basic foot techniques to play simple open notes of the crash cymbal or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
Advanced Hand Technique
Moving on from the basic strokes and rolls of hand technique, you can now begin to practice advanced hand techniques. Some common advanced hand techniques you can use are:
- Variations: As your skill and musicality improve, you’ll want to try incorporating more advanced variations into your drumming. These include double-stroke rolls, double-stroke brushes, and hands-together variations.
- Brushes: Brushes are one of the most challenging hand techniques available. They involve using two hands at the same time, and they can be used to create an array of sounds, including crashes, sizzling glissandos, and swishes.
- Double-Stroke Rolls: Double-stroke rolls are used to create a variety of sounds, including sizzling glissandos and swishes. You can use them to play complex rhythms, or combine them with other strokes to create more advanced rhythms.
- Double-Stroke Brushes: Brushes are one of the most challenging hand techniques available. They involve using two hands at the same time, and they can be used to create an array of sounds, including crashes, sizzling glissandos, and swishes.
Advanced Foot Technique
Once you’ve mastered the strokes, rolls, and variations of hand technique, you can move on to advanced foot technique. Advanced foot technique focuses on three things: speed, independence, and rotation. Some common advanced foot techniques you can use are:
- Speed Grooves: This is one of the most challenging foot techniques, as it focuses on speed and independence. You can use it to play fast grooves using syncopation or combine it with other advanced foot techniques to create new sounds.
- Independent Foot Patterns: Independent foot patterns are one of the most challenging foot techniques, as they require speed and independence. You can use them to play fast patterns using syncopation or combine them with other advanced foot techniques to create new sounds.
- Rotational Turns: Rotational turns require independence, speed, and a steady hand. They allow you to use the pedal while turning the crank, which is a difficult balance to maintain. You can use them to play complex rhythms or combine them with other advanced foot techniques to create new sounds.
