The New Fulcrum Grip

An unconventional stick grip (fulcrum) technique used by many of the greatest drummers ever (Tony Williams, Marcus Gilmore, etc.). I have been experimenting with this grip, and am really starting to see strong benefits from it.

[sPi]

I learned from the Carl E. Gardner drum method to hold the stick between the thumb and the first joint of the middle finger. From that point it was easy to use the ring and little fingers and pretty much take the index finger out of it. After that, I didn't really have to hold the stick very firmly with any finger. The whole hand was at work, with the majority of the practice time playing pianissimo.

[scroxydrums]

I started doing this too (unknowingly) when I was working on my technique. Actually one of my teachers always drew my attention to that gap between the index finger and the thumb as a mark that your hand is relaxed while playing.
And my other teacher told me to play with my pinky tight on the stick for a little while so that there were no rebound. He told me to look closer at drummers like Anika Nilles and Shariq Ticker, Mike Mitchell, Larnell Lewis - basically pros. Their pinky is always (except for fast doubles) on the stick. Mine wasnt. When I lifted the stick my fingers always opened for whatever reason and he pointed that out. So I started doing this, and first - it really helped. I am a better drummer now). It helped to feel and to control the stick so much, and when the stick is about to fall out of my hand (we all know sometimes it just happens somehow) it really doesn't - the pinky keeps holding it real tight (although Id been a tight holder only for that little amount of time when working on that).
And second - my fulcrum is sometimes on the middle finger but sometimes (or at the same time) is on the pinky! It is a pretty peculiar feeling.

[themole]

This is fascinating. Cant wait to practice this technique. Thank you

[mat]

In Steve Gadd’s GADDIMENTS, I saw Steve clearly use it as, of course, Tony Williams. I have to say personally it is comfortable and it DOES let the stick vibration flow more freely and breath.
Thank you for posting this video… more need to see it.

[jcushon]

Great tutorial. Well explained! Thanks!

[buddylove]

I use the middle and ring finger fulcrum. Vinnie, weckl and smith

[businessconsultant]

Great video thanks. I saw Tony Williams 1985 video about three years ago. He first mentioned this technique in response to the question how to play fast doubles. Every note he said had to be "intentional". That is he intended to play said notes with control and not rely on bounce. Later on in another video he said this was crucial playing fast doubles on the floor tom.

For me i love this grip but have to play it with my palms facing down. But i find i change grips depending on what i feel. This grip for instance does not work for me on the classic jazz ride pattern where i use a lot of fingers.

Such is the beauty of the diversity of our instrument. Cheers. Bill.

[AruiwaYamada]

Very informative video! I appreciate it. Subscribed!

[binkwood]

Actually moving the fulcrum to the pinky and ring finger has been discussed for years and has been covered in Jim Chapin's video (released in '92) on the Moeller technique and Steve Smith's video on matched grip. Despite what Tony Williams says about not using rebound, the "ring and pinky" finger technique works very well with the Moeller technique which does indeed involve rebound. I've found the louder I play the more I move the fulcrum back in my hand because it allow a bigger stroke and there is less shock to my hand the farther back my fulcrum is. I do still use index finger fulcrum for quiet, more delicate playing, but for a majority of my playing I use middle finger, or middle finger and ring finger fulcrum. Like everything in drumming, explore it and see if it works for you instead of taking someone's else's word for it.

[delablobbo]

Check out the Modern drummer cover feature on cindy blackman. She said, "I use the Tony Technique. She explained it that the fulcrum rests on the first joint of the ring finger, and all the other figures are on the stick as well. That strange left hand grip, where Tony and Cindy are pointing the stick almost straight forward, is the opposite of how I was taught. Again it's a firm grip. But I have seen Tony using his fingers opening and closing on the ride cymbal. Tony utilizes bounce, but does not rely on it.

[robertopaglieri]

Thank you, very, very much! Beautiful. I love this new fulcrum grip, (in swing and even eights), after your video I only use that one!!
(but over 300bpm I use the fulcrum between forefinger and thumb and exploit the rebound..😉)

[uriamjmader]

Hi man!
If you will research a little bit about jim chapin and old drumming grips, you are going to find out that holding from the pinky is actually older (strube, rudimental author from 19th century)
So tony didn’t invent the wheel this time!
Jim chapin, moeller’s student who was a known rudimental expert, talked about the three grips for matched grip:
First finger folcrum, second finger folcrum and pinky grip.

Cool stick grip ( and lesson) thanks !!

[businessconsultant]

Julian second Comment. I think Tony Williams reference to a "willy nilly" technique was to the fulcrum at the forefinger and thumb where the drummer relies on bounce. So i think you reversed his observation. Thanks for posting this important conversation. Some Commenters have said the fulcrum in the last two fingers is not new. But i think every generation of drummers should have this conversation. Cheers. Bill.

[jaakkot]

I some how developed this technique naturally in my right hand, and after 7 years of playing electrical drums then switching to acoustic drums I was stunned by how much better my right hand control was, because it wasn't so dependent on rebound! Now I'm practicing this grip on left hand too, it's a certain for me. Also you can get some really powerful rimshots with this grip using the Moeller!

[maxdangnguyen]

jees thank you!! definitely gonna try this

[bakerg_]

Thanks Julian for this video! So interesting. I played for 10 years using tradicional grip until I decided to start using match grip. After a couple of years I realized that I was feeling much better with my left hand rather than with my right, but I couldn't understand why. Yeap, naturally, I was holding my stick with my second finger more than with my first and using a last two fingers kinda fulcrum when needed for power strokes or for playing rolls over the kit. Now after hearing your video, it all makes sense. So yeah, I just need now my right "strong hand" to learn the same thing lol

[John-pog]

Tony Williams was Alan Dawsons first student. Dawson and Williams dad were in Korean war together, and his dad convinced Alan to give young Tony lessons.

[CooperDrums]

This was a pretty cool video. Interesting about the different fulcrum. I’m currently switching from index finger fulcrum to middle finger fulcrum. Working on using the back two fingers more to control the stick.

[kcampbell]

In old concert footage I first observed Ringo rotating his fulcrum between front fulcrum, to middle, to back fingers depending on what he was doing. Sometimes having two different fulcrums going at the same time. That got me looking at a lot of other seasoned drummers who were mostly self taught and saw they were doing the same thing. My take away is that shifting fulcrums is natural and has solid biomechanical reasons. Everyone else was indoctrinated into the front fulcrum orthodoxy by formal percussion instructors.