Learn How to Play Drums Using the Matched Grip for Volume, Speed, and Accuracy

For even more power with not much added effort, release the pinkie, index, and ring fingers some more, and let the stick rise up to vertical, or almost vertical angle, as the wrist comes up before you hit the drum (Figure 2). As the stick goes down, again push it with the curled fingers. If you make the motion fast enough, you should hear a “whoosh” as the stick moves through the air. The tip of the stick is going supersonic… only kidding, but it’s going pretty fast, and this with just the wrist and fingers. Bringing the tip high up gives the hand a longer opportunity to apply force to the stick, resulting in a greater velocity, and therefore a louder sound as you play. Furthermore, the stick will bounce high and go back up. It’s almost as if the stick is playing itself and you are just helping it along a little. This makes playing fast drum rolls much easier, and because it’s easier, the roll strokes will be more even and accurate. Try it! LRLRLRLR… As you do the roll, also use your forearms a little in an up and down motion.