German Grip

In drumming, there are specific methods for how to hold the drumsticks, or other playing tools (like brushes, mallets, etc) which is the basis of your hand technique. Generally, these different methods fall into two kinds of hand grip. These are matched grip and traditional grip. In matched grip, both hands hold the stick in the same way, using the same motions and mechanics, but in traditional grip, each hand holds the stick in a different way, with one hand holding the stick in the same style of the grips used in matched grip, and the other hand holding the stick in a completely different way, which is used only in traditional grip.

German 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, but generally, try to focus the fulcrum point on the middle finger.

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 probably 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 all the fingers share this role to some extent, its just the ring and pinky fingers which are most important and useful in doing this. 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 finger tips should not be touching the palms of your hand.

Another aspect to look at is 'space' in the hand. Try not to press your thumb and index finger together. There should be a gap between these, from your knuckles, to where the thumb and index finger contact the stick. You should be able to fit at least one finger in this gap. If you press the thumb and index finger together, 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. In this specific grip, your hand should stay horizontal, so that your palm is flat, facing downwards towards the ground/floor, where you can't actually see it, and the back of your hand faces upwards, where it is very visible to you. Now, you are holding the drum stick using German grip.



Wrist motion is a key use of this grip, and there is an advantage here over other grips, as more wrist motion can be used in this grip than compared to the others. The predominant wrist motion of this grip, is moving the wrist up and down, with some rotation of the wrist, and barely, if none at all side to side motion of the wrist. The combined use of wrist, finger, and inner forearm muscles gives this grip a significant advantage in terms of power, compared to other styles of hand grip used in drumming.