FREE music lessons from

Berklee College of Music

Instant Drum Set

Ron Savage

Lesson 1
The Basic Stroke

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INSTANT DRUMS 11/21/01 2:12 PM Page 1

Lesson One The Basic Stroke

Holding Drumsticks
Hold your sticks between your thumbs and index fingers about a third up from the butt end. This
point is called the fulcrum, and it is your main point for controlling the stick. Rest your other fingers
loosely on the stick without applying any pressure.

Fulcrum

Get ready to play the snare drum!

1. Hold your right arm at a 90-degree angle.
2. Raise your arm a bit and then snap your wrist down to strike. The tip should hit the middle of the
drum head. Let the stick rebound (bounce) back to its starting point. Practice this until you can
do it comfortably.
3. Slowly, do the same thing with your left hand.
4. When you can play the basic stroke with either hand, practice changing hands every stroke. This
is called alternate sticking. Play at the center of the drum head. If you find yourself stretching or
turning, change the drum’s or cymbal’s height or move it closer to you.

1
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You’ve been playing using the matched grip—the most common way to hold the sticks. The sticks
are gripped the same way in both hands. Now, let’s play!

“Fulcrum Rock”
1 1. Listen
If you can hold a stick, you can play this tune. Listen to the drum set on the CD. All you hear is the
snare drum.

2 2. Play
Now, play the snare drum on “Fulcrum Rock” along with the band on the CD. Change hands on
every stroke, and follow your ear. Play loud or soft—just pick up your sticks and ROCK!

Play along with the same track, but this time, change hands every stroke: R (right hand),
L (left hand), R, L (keep going!).
• Then every two strokes: R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L…
• Then every four strokes: R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L…
• Then every eight strokes: R R R R R R R R L L L L L L L L…

Fulcrum Rock
Rock

.. Play the snare drum

whenever you want.
..
Follow your ear.

Having a good grip is the most fundamental and

vital part of being a good drummer.