American grip is a form of matched grip. The first aspect to focus on, to create this grip, is the fulcrum, which is also known as the balance point. As described in the dictionary, the fulcrum is ''the point or support about which a lever turns''. You could think of this in terms of the drumstick, as in the drumstick doing a see-saw-type motion. The point in the middle, where it tilts back and forth, is where the fulcrum goes. This is how the stick should move in your hand. To create a fulcrum in your hand, you have to first find the balance point of the stick. To do this, place the stick on the end of one of your fingers, moving your finger tip up and down the stick until you find a point where the stick balances. This is the centre of gravity on the stick. Now, move your finger tip down the stick, in the direction of the butt, so that the tip of the stick moves further away from you. This unbalances the centre of gravity slightly, so that there is more weight towards the tip end of the stick. You should move your finger tip down about 3-4 inches. The exact amount will vary, as different sticks have different sizes and weights, and also as everyone's hands will be slightly different. The extra weight you are adding to the tip end will help to give the stick more bounce. You will have to experiment with the exact spot, until it feels most natural for you.
Place the stick in your hand, so that this fulcrum (balance) point, is between your thumb and the first joints (past the joints at the base of your fingers) of your index and middle fingers. When you do this, don't put your thumb and finger tips together, this will restrain the movement of the stick. Try to keep these separated, or at least don't purposely press them together. The fulcrum point may move slightly between your index and middle fingers.
The next aspect to look at is the 'stop'. This is where the butt end of the stick stops moving, as it impacts your hand, whilst you play, as it is in the confinement of your hand. The 'stop' is at the back corner of your palm, next to your wrist and opposite your thumb. So the stick should be placed in your hand, so that it sits diagonally across your palm, the tip end of the stick pointing out away from you, from where your thumb and index finger are placed on the stick, to the other end of the stick (the but end) which should sit across the 'stop', the corner of your palm, with the actual butt possibly still sticking out from your hand.
Now, we should focus on the 'control' fingers. These fingers are the ones we haven't discussed yet, the ring finger and pinky finger, although the middle finger is still quite useful for doing this task too. The 'control' that I'm talking about, is how your fingers either pull the stick into the confinement of your hand, the butt end stopping moving as the stick impacts the corner of your palm, and the tip end moving downwards, to be able to hit the components of the drum kit, whilst you play, or to release more and open up the hold the fingers have on the stick, letting it bounce more and letting the tip move further upwards. So, from the position the stick is in at the moment, with the fulcrum point, the stop, and the stick laying diagonally across your hand, you should now wrap your remaining fingers, the ring finger and the pinky finger around the stick, so that they have physical contact with the stick. In this position, they will now be useful for finger control on the stick. Just remember not to wrap them around too tightly, try to keep them loose and relaxed without loosing your grip on the stick, otherwise this will restrict the movement of the stick, and over time, possibly even cause tension issues that could lead to injury. Your middle and ring fingers may touch the palm of your hand, but just remember not to press them together intentionally, and your pinky finger should not touch your palm at all.
Try not to press your thumb and index finger together. You may find you have a small gap between these fingers when you play, or you may find that they are in contact with one another. Either way is acceptable, just try to avoid forcing them together. If you press the thumb and index finger together with enough force, then this can restrain the movement of the stick, and even cause tension issues, that could maybe lead to injury.
Now that the stick, or other playing tool, is placed in your hand correctly, with your fingers in the right positions, so that you can play with the stick effectively, the next point of focus, is the angle of rotation of your wrist. This grip is basically a hybrid between the German and French grips, taking on characteristics of both, so as you play in German grip, with your hands horizontal and flat, and you play in French grip, with your hands vertical, your palms and the backs of your hands facing sideways, then in American grip, your hand should rotate round to be approximately on a 45 degree angle. Now you are holding the drumstick using American grip.
Some people don't consider American grip to be a specific style of grip, because it is probably the least used style of grip, but mainly, because it is basically a hybrid of the German and French grips, and the characteristics of American grip are in between those of the French and German grips. But this means that you can use the qualities of both the French and German styles to your advantage when using American grip. So, as German grip focuses mainly on the use of wrist technique, and French grip focuses mainly on the use of finger technique, you can use and focus on both types of technique when playing in American grip.
No comments:
Post a Comment