Snare Drumming: Get the Grip

Snare Drumming Technique #1: Tips for proper grip and maximum stick control from Wayne Oien, pipe band drummer and DCA champion.

[sgtJA]

so easy to watch, good explanation, felt like it was my dad teaching me!

[StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

Fantastic drumming, first class technique. However, and I am speaking from experience here, your point about the balance/fulcrum is spot on, the first thing that a drummer should be shown. However, I only ever took one lesson and I was alienated by the teacher trying to make me play Trad Grip. I already knew at age 10 that Match Grip was where I wanted to go. He also tried to make me use Heavier sticks. I never went back....however, I played my first paid gig at age 12 and made my living from playing drums for over forty years. Go with your heart, it will never lead you astray!

[gotnadoslol]

I like the whole thing about the thumb location on the left hand, i just implemented that and it really does feel like alot more control! thanks! Its slightly harder though at first, i'm sure its just the lack of muscle memory for this new technique lol.

[JohnPreston]

This is not adverse criticism, but if I may quote from Snarescience "If you watch a few of the top snarelines you will see that they are all using slightly different techniques. None of them are 'correct', and none of them are incorrect. They have all found an approach to playing the drum that allows them to perform their shows at very high levels."
I used to be a beginner and worried that I could not exactly replicate advisory videos. What works for Wayne may need adjusting for someone else.

[xxsayabetoxx]

How in the world did you do those sixteen notes on your right hand?

[JulianFernandez]

You´re that dude from the video, right? Killer!

[brenmangood]

I am trying to figure out exactly what you mean by thumb on top. It was a big hard to tell with the wide camera angle. Are you placing your thumb on your pointer finger or directly on the stick?

[CipherSerpico]

Isn't it almost impossible to play a really hard single stoke with your left hand - without using your thumb? I'm just starting to play with traditional grip, so I'm used to playing a lot of big rim shots with my left hand, and I can't really do that with traditional unless I use my thumb.
Any suggestions, anyone?

[pipebandrudiments]

that's not a grip you would typically see in highland drumming. pipe band drummers usually use the thumb in the left hand and a the middle finger in the right hand. the index and thumb in the right hand form a "triangle" with the middle finger.

[graeme]

Does anyone know which pipe band Wayne played/plays for?

[washedup]

Wayne is an excellent DCI style snare drummer, but he is not a pipe band drummer. His technique is excellent, but not completely compatible with the unique aspects of pipe band drumming. A pipe band drum stick is lighter and shorter than other drum corps sticks, and has a continual taper at the butt end. Buzz roll accenting as well as dead stick grace notes for drags require a different technique, which is facilitated by a bit of an angle of the bead of the stick with the drum head. This helps keep buzzes and dead sticks down while playing.