How to spin a drumstick - basic tricks. Anatomy of drumsticks

Exclusive items always evoke the admiration of others and the pride of the owner. If you are playing on drum kit, self-made drums sticks will become your unique highlight.

Instructions

Go to any music store and look at the models they sell. drumsticks. Pay attention to the markings. The numerical designation indicates the thickness sticks, and the letter one - about its purpose. If you are a beginner drummer, ask the dealer for a stick marked 2B and note its diameter and weight. Models with this marking are intended for playing in brass and symphony orchestras. They are very convenient and popular among beginning drummers developing their technique and production.
Buy from the construction market wooden block. In principle, American walnut, maple or oak will do, but it’s better to buy a block of maple. This wood is light and sticks These are ideal for fast and quiet playing. When you become a superstar or a professional drumstick maker, make sticks from exotic woods such as bubinga or rosewood.
Remember the 2B model you were looking at in the music store and cut out sticks approximately the same length and thickness. To do this, make the bottom sticks thickened - it will be a counterweight to the end sticks with head. Opposite thin end sticks, which is used to strike the drum, is called a "shoulder". The length and shape of this section affect the sound. Cut the stick so that it gradually becomes thinner towards the head. Then its sound will be more refined.
head sticks make it Pointed or triangle-tipped. This is the most popular option and guarantees mid-focused sound.
Process the cut out sticks sanding paper to remove roughness and protect your hands from possible splinters.
If you want to hold more confidently and firmly sticks, buy special anti-slip tapes and wrap them around the bases of the sticks.

Which suit your play style. Why is this so important? The wrong devices can break quite quickly, and the sound produced with their help will differ from the desired one. There is a huge range of drumsticks on the music market. They are designed for playing in certain musical styles, for example, marching, jazz, rock. They also differ in material, shape, weight, coating, brand, so it is very important for a beginner to be able to navigate all this diversity. So, let's start in order.

Structure of drumsticks

The butt is the balance part (thick tip). To increase the impact force and volume, the butt can be used as a striking tip.
The body is the main and the most of, which serves as a grip point, as well as a striking part when playing a rim shot.
The shoulder is the area of the stick located just behind the tip that many drummers use to hit the cymbal with crashes, rimshots, and kickbacks. Alternating the tip and shoulder strikes of the hi-hat creates the basis of the rhythm.
The neck is the part of the stick that plays the role of transition between the shoulder and the tip.
The tip of the drumsticks has different shape and dimensions, which determine the intensity, volume and duration of the resulting sound.

Material for making drumsticks

The material for making drumsticks is usually wood. American walnut, maple or oak are most often used. Many drummers play with sticks made from other types of wood. For example, from rosewood or bubinga. Let's consider the properties of the most popular breeds.

American walnut (Hickory) is the most popular material. Durable and hard wood absorbs impact well and effectively dampens vibrations transmitted from impacts. It has average weight, little susceptible to bending. Has greater strength, weight, and density than maple.

Maple is the lightest and most flexible tree with a soft structure. Although maple is not as hard or durable as American walnut or oak, it is an ideal choice for quick response. Maple sticks are considered "docile" with excellent recoil absorption. Due to their flexibility and good rebound, they are used primarily for quiet or fast playing, obtaining a light “airy” sound, especially when playing cymbals. Maple is good for energetic playing, as it absorbs the energy of impacts well. With it you will feel less blows from your hands. But the maple is quite loose and soft material, sticks made from it quickly wear out or break.

Oak is a very durable tree, weighs more than maple and walnut and is more durable. Oak sticks are the heaviest, densest, and rarely break, but when playing you will feel vibration much more due to their low ability to absorb impact energy. Oak is a very moisture-resistant tree.

European Beech has a straight-grained wood structure and is flexible. The hardness and density of the base varies depending on where the trees grow. By mechanical properties the material is similar to oak. Beech also reacts quickly and strongly to changes in humidity.

Hornbeam is a tree with a medium-density structure, good recoil absorption, average between walnut and maple, and high wear resistance. The weight of the wood ranges from very light to medium-heavy. The flexibility of hornbeam is slightly lower than that of beech and oak. Devices made from it are resistant to shock loads and do not tolerate high humidity.

Rosewood is a very durable and hard wood. It is preferred because of its wonderful tone and feel, but it is not suitable for cymbal playing and is quite expensive.

Synthetic poles. Manufacturers of products made from synthetic materials use various methods processing. These options provide greater strength than wooden poles and offer additional capabilities that cannot be achieved with wooden poles. For example, AHEAD poles have an aluminum body with a polyurethane coating that can be replaced as it wears out. They are also additionally equipped with screw-on tips, such as beaters, to create various sound effects.

Steel. For training, you can also use steel sticks, the weight of which significantly exceeds the weight of wooden ones. They cannot be played on a drum kit, but they are indispensable for practicing technique.

Classification of tips

Drumstick tips can be divided into different groups based on shape and material.

According to their shape, the tips are divided into four main groups:

With round tip.

The small round tip produces a bright, highly focused sound and is especially gentle on cymbals.

Large – produces a fuller sound.

The barrel-shaped tip has a larger contact area and therefore produces a medium-filled sound with a wider focus.

The pointed tip produces a medium focused sound.

The teardrop or olive tip produces a full, low sound. This type is a good choice for those who play hard.

Based on the material, tips are divided into wooden and nylon.

Wooden tips from hard rocks woods provide a brighter sound than soft ones. But over time, the wood wears out, becomes loose, and the sound becomes blurry and dark with less focus.

Nylon tips are stronger and harder and therefore produce more bright shades sound with more attack and projection. The most important advantage of nylon tips is their durability; they do not lose their density and do not chip like wooden ones.

Marking and size of drumsticks

Looking at any drumstick, you will definitely see that there are numbers and letters on it. Let's figure out what they mean.

Previously, the letter designations indicated the scope of application of this model, but now they have almost completely lost their meaning. Different manufacturers have one letter designation is interpreted differently.

The “A” symbol is placed on sticks that have thinner necks and relatively small heads, which allows the drummer to produce a quieter and softer sound. Typically, they are used in “light” music, such as jazz or blues.
Symbol "B". The sticks of this model have a larger (compared to “A”) shoulder and head size for louder playing. Often used in heavy music. Their movements are easy to control, so they are recommended for beginner drummers. The Model 2B is especially recommended by drum teachers as the ideal stick to start with.
Letter "S". This is how products of the largest size are marked; they were previously used in street and marching bands. Nowadays they are almost never used for playing the drum kit.
The symbol "N" stands for Nylon. This letter is added to the end of the marking (for example, “5A N”) and indicates that the stick has a nylon tip.

The numbers indicate the diameter (thickness) of the stick, which affects the sound. The numbers indicate thickness: the higher the number, the narrower the stick. All brands use the same numbering system. For example, a 2B stick is thicker than a 5B.

So, there are 3 main categories of drumsticks:

7A is the thinnest and lightest for a soft sound. They give the drums a more orchestral sound, but they are rarely used for playing rudiments, as thicker sticks are suitable for this. This format is great for jazz music and young drummers.
5A is the most common medium thickness. Allows you to play loud or quiet. Universal and suitable for any style, especially rock music.
2B/5B – thicker than previous ones, produces loud sound from drums. They are ideal for playing metal and hard rock.

Choosing the right drumsticks

The choice of sticks largely depends on what kind of music you will play, but the material, size, shape and tip depend on personal preferences.

Like any instrument, the stick should feel comfortable in your hand and be suitable for producing the sound you want to achieve, and be the right size for your hand, both in diameter and length. The appropriate length can be determined by the distance from the inner bend of the elbow to the tip of the ring finger.

Parameters to consider when choosing drumsticks:

Diameter. Choose the thickness of your sticks based on how they fit comfortably in your hands and suit your playing style. Larger diameter sticks are heavier and can produce greater volume.

Length. The longer the stick, the more difficult it is to control, but the sound will be more powerful.
Weight. Weight affects sound, force, and your ability to control it. Typically, heavy sticks sound louder, while lighter ones sound softer. A beginner drummer will appreciate that thick sticks are easier to control, making them good for learning. In addition, playing heavier drums develops the drummer's endurance.
Density and strength. For wooden sticks, density is an indicator of strength: the heavier the wood, the greater its density, and therefore strength. All wood species differ in these indicators, but even among two different trees One breed cannot be completely similar in density. Therefore, it is tedious to hold the sticks in your hand and feel their weight with my own hand. Instances from the same manufacturer and with the same markings may differ slightly. Synthetic poles have good density and strength, but they cost more and feel different than wooden togo same size.

Material. If the stick does not indicate what wood it is made of, then leave it in the store, let it lie on the display. In this case, there is no need to talk about compliance with quality standards.
Tip selection. There are two main types of tips: nylon and wood. Wooden tips are more common and are suitable for many types of games. The main disadvantage of a wooden tip is rapid wear and tear with frequent use. Nylon tips last longer and are essential for producing bright cymbal sounds and good bounce. Unfortunately, it also happens that during a performance the nylon tips fly off. When playing electronic drums, it is recommended to use drumsticks with nylon tips, as wooden drumsticks may break and seriously damage the mesh on the pad. Cymbals sound amazing with plastic tips. They give the drums a more pronounced sound. Wooden tips (the most common) give drums a deeper, more traditional sound, in the style of jazz or old rock.

Size selection. We talked about labeling above. All parameters should be taken into account.
Coating. The sticks can be polished or varnished. The varnish protects the wood from moisture and dust, gives the surface a beautiful, intense, even shine and contrasts the texture. The surface becomes more durable. Polished sticks look much better. It is worth noting that some drummers do not like varnished and polished sticks, as they can slip out of sweaty hands when playing.
Brand. Choosing a brand is a matter of experience. If you cannot boast of having it yet, then rely on the advice of friends, professionals, and advertising.

Originality. Nowadays in music stores you can find unusual drumsticks of different colors and shapes. For example, rubber ones are gaining popularity, promising to be “eternal”, although they are quite expensive, get damaged on the edges of cymbals, and are inconvenient for playing a rim shot on a snare drum. Colored ones attract attention, but they are not very practical, as over time they leave marks on the plates.

Armed with the above information, you can safely go to a reliable music store to choose drumsticks. This is a very personal activity, almost a ritual. Choose products that are comfortable specifically for your hands and playing style, and not those recommended by your consultant. Take the stick in your hand, feel it. Compare several models. With experience, you will already select a certain brand. So don't be afraid to experiment with different sizes and styles.

The process begins at the sawmill, where the logs are cut into squares and then dried for further stabilization. The squares are then cut into pins and graded according to quality for different models. During this process, parts of poor quality are removed. The pins are then machined a second time to the exact specifications of that manufacturer's models. The sticks are sanded, tips are put on them, and they are ready for further packaging. Today, most pairs of poles match each other in weight and density. Below in the article I will explain how to choose your own poles.

Wood

90% of drumsticks are made from wood and 90% of wood drumsticks are made from American walnut. Walnut is the most popular because it absorbs impact well and is very durable (hammer and ax handles are made from walnut). The remaining 10% are sticks made from Japanese oak, maple, birch, beech or even more exotic wood types like ebony, rosewood and bubinga for increased tonal possibilities and increased durability. Maple is the most light wood, used in the manufacture of drumsticks. Although maple is not as hard or durable as walnut or oak, maple poles are an ideal choice if you prefer a lightweight feel and quick response. Japanese oak is a very strong wood and therefore weighs more than maple and walnut and is much more durable. Rosewood is a very strong and very hard wood, and sticks made from it are especially durable. They are preferred because of their wonderful shade and feel, but they are quite expensive.

Synthetic sticks. Manufacturers of poles made from synthetic materials use a variety of materials and processing methods. Structurally, they are composed of various alloys, cast or machined into the shape desired by the manufacturer. Synthetic poles provide greater strength than wood poles and offer some capabilities that cannot be achieved with wooden poles. For example, Easton's Ahead poles have an aluminum body with a polyurethane coating that can be replaced as it wears out. Additionally, there are various screw-on tips, such as beaters, for different sound effects.

Length and weight

Almost all poles are longer than 385mm (15.1″) and shorter than 415mm (16.3″). By weight, sticks are available from 40 grams (1.4 ounces) to 70 grams (2.5 ounces). Longer poles have the advantage of greater reach and greater leverage, but are more difficult to control. If you want more power with the same diameter, choosing a longer stick is good decision. Weight affects the sound, force, and your ability to control the sticks. Generally, heavier sticks sound thicker and louder. If the sticks are lighter, they sound thinner and softer. Heavier poles have more inertia, so their trajectories are more consistent and they “plow out” most mistakes, making them easier to control for beginners. You will extract the full sound spectrum from low to high frequencies using heavy sticks.

When you play a drum with light sticks, the sound is terrible, no matter what swipe you wouldn't do it. By playing softly with heavier sticks, you will be able to extract a richer, clearer sound from the drum. Compare for yourself and you will see how different the sound is!! Using heavy sticks when playing cymbals will also give you the opportunity to extract many more frequencies than with a light stick. In addition, playing with heavier sticks develops the endurance and strength of the drummer himself, regardless of his natural abilities. So it's a good idea to have additionally heavier sticks in your arsenal to expand your sonic capabilities. You will notice that when you switch to lighter poles, they become more difficult to control.

Density and strength

For wooden sticks, density is the most important indicator of strength: heavier wood = more density and strength. For example, oak is denser than hickory, and this fact is reflected by measuring their density. Hickory: 51 pounds per cubic foot, while oak: 61 pounds per cubic foot. However, as we established earlier, hickory absorbs impact well and is therefore the drummer's choice.

No two trees are the same, therefore the density of a tree varies from log to log and even within the log itself. This explains why some poles feel solid and powerful while others feel hollow, even though they are the same make and model. Synthetic poles are developed by people, and therefore do not differ from model to model, have good density and strength. However, they cost more and feel different than wood poles of the same size.

Anatomy of a stick

The body is the largest part of the stick. In addition to being the grip area, it is also the striking part when playing a rim shot. Some manufacturers suggest tying the body of the stick with tape, making grooves, indentations and various devices to prevent the stick from slipping out. Johnny Rabb's RhythmSaw sticks have a grooved body to produce a rolling sound (especially good for jungle grooves) that is produced when the stick is pulled through the rim of the drum. If you get a chance to see Johnny Rabb play, check it out, he's good at this style.

The shoulder is the area of the stick just behind the tip that many drummers use to hit crash cymbals, rim shots, and backstrokes. By alternating the hi-hat with the end of the stick and your shoulder, you can easily create the popular "chit-chat" shoulder shape sound. The length and thickness of the taper affects the flexibility, feel and sound of the stick. Sticks with a short, thick taper feel more rigid, provide greater durability, and produce a stronger sound than sticks with a long, narrow taper, which tend to be more fragile and flexible but sound more delicate.

Tip shape

There are three basic shapes for drumstick tips:

Round form
Oval shape
Triangle Shape

Effect of head shape on sound

Triangular tip. Here we have the smallest contact point, hence higher frequencies and excellent sound we will extract. This tip produces a medium focused sound. Since all the forces acting on the stick during an impact are large (since the point of contact is very small), the wear of the stick is quite high! This can be avoided by choosing sticks with a high density.

Now we have changed the position of the stick so that the side of the triangle is in full contact with the plate. The sound changes are not in a positive direction.

A stick with a round tip always has the same contact area. Changing the position won't change anything. The small round tip produces a bright, highly focused sound and is especially gentle on cymbals. Larger size produces a fuller sound than a small one. A barrel tip has a larger contact area than a round tip, so it produces a medium-filled sound with a wider focus.

The oval tip has the largest contact area of the above and therefore a darker sound (despite being made from the same type of wood). Compared to a stick with a triangular head in the first position, its sound is duller, but brighter than in its second position. This tip produces a full low sound. It distributes energy over a wider area, thus extending the life of plastics, a good choice for those who play hard.

Nylon tips

Tips made from hard wood produce a brighter sound than those made from soft wood. However, as the wood wears, it becomes spongy and the sound is washed out and dark with less focus. To ensure consistent sound throughout the life of the stick, Regal Tip pioneered the use of nylon tips. The shape of nylon tips also affects the sound like wooden ones, but due to the hardness of nylon, they produce brighter tones with more attack and projection, which is why they are preferred by many. The most big advantage nylon tips - their durability, they simply do not loosen or chip like wooden ones. But despite these advantages, it is quite rare, but there are cases when the nylon tip simply flies out.

Before the purchase

For a smooth feel while playing, you should have sticks that are straight as an arrow and not warped. To check the evenness of the stick, roll it along flat surface. Separate the good from the bad and move on to the next step. You can have perfect technique but sound like a beginner (higher, lower, higher, lower) if your sticks are not equal in pitch. To select stick heights, hit the sticks on a flat surface as evenly as possible (so you can hear the differences in the sticks, not the technique). Once you find sticks that are equal in pitch, you can move on to the third and final step in the selection process, comparing weights. If you want to be really precise, use a scale; in the West, some drum shops have scales for this purpose. If there are no scales, use your senses and choose the pairs that are most similar in weight. They should be equal, since heavier sticks are stronger than lighter ones and produce a stronger sound.

Numbering of poles

Modern numbering is intended only to distinguish one manufacturer from another and does not overlap from company to company. For example, the 707 and 739 sticks are from ProMark, the Quantum 3000 is from Galato, and the Magnum Rocket is undoubtedly from Vic Firth. Traditional model numbering such as 3S, 2B, 5B, 5A, and 7A were the very first generally accepted drumstick numberings, with a number and letter designating the size of the stick and its purpose. The exact specifications of each model varied slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, especially in taper and tip (we'll discuss this below), however, the basic dimensions and shapes were standardized throughout the industry. The numerical position indicates the diameter of the stick. Basically, a smaller number means larger diameter, and a larger number means a smaller diameter. For example, a 7A stick is smaller in diameter than a 5A, which in turn is thinner than a 2B. The only exception is 3S, which is larger in diameter than 2B, despite the number. Letter

The letters "S", "B" and "A" indicate recommended use. The "S" model of sticks was designed for street use, that is, for drum bands and marching bands. Most large diameter today, their large masses develop the volume and power needed for these styles. The "B" model was designed for ensembles (Bands), such as brass bands and symphony orchestras. Smaller in diameter than the "S" models, they are easier to control and are especially popular with beginning drummers. Model 2B is especially recommended by practicing teachers as an ideal starting point. "A" is for Orchestra. "A" models were designed for large orchestras and dance orchestras. They are smaller in diameter than the "B" and are much better suited for playing softly.

Unfortunately, we have not yet come up with a system by which we could immediately obtain complete information about the sticks only by their indices. Moreover, the same series may differ from one manufacturer to another. But rest assured that all poles of the same series from any particular manufacturer will be as identical to each other as possible. In addition to the numeric indices, you can see a large number of other descriptions like “John Doe Jazz Model”, “Dolly Parton Swing Model”, “Band”, “General”, “Bolero”, “Steve Gadd” and a thousand others, which do not carry any specific information.

Pair matching

Good drumstick manufacturers try to select pairs of equal weight. But factors such as temperature and humidity have a huge impact on wood, so before buying, select a pair so that both sticks are the same in everything. Sticks are subject to deformation, so when choosing, roll them on glass or some other surface and immediately notice the presence or absence of defects in the stick. Probably the most important factor The thing that affects the longevity of your poles is the arrangement of the wood grain. More specifically: if the fibers run straight along the stick and end at the very end of the head, then your stick will last as long as possible. It will not break (depending on how you play), but will crumble. And if the fiber ends, for example, in the middle of the stick, then the highest probability that it will break is in this place.

Translated by Backs. Significant additions and comments to the article were sent by Drummen F

A wonderful idea, according to psychologists, is to teach a child to music from the very beginning. early age. You can either purchase a drum at a toy store or make it yourself. A simple tin can and a little imagination can help you easily implement your plans.

Benefit or noise?

Many adults believe that a children's drum is of no use. It is simply a source of noise and accompanies the appearance of a headache. Nevertheless, the drum is very often entrusted to parents and their children in kindergarten to make. However, this does not happen for the additional workload of the baby and the parent on the weekend. Most often, a loud attribute is intended for performing at a matinee. And you can’t do without this.

Don't think that making this item is a waste of time. Who knows, maybe the child has acting skills, and already in kindergarten he will decide on his future profession. And such a craft will bring a lot of benefits, even if it is carried out at the request of a teacher from kindergarten.

What to make a tool from

In bulk necessary advice For making drums with your own hands at home, it is worth highlighting one not entirely serious recommendation. It is rather of a comic nature, but every joke has its own piece of truthful meaning. Homemade drum for a child it can be used not at all for a matinee. It all depends on the imagination of the parents.

One has only to look around oneself, each person can notice several tin cans or packaging that is unlikely to be useful. From these materials you can make a drum for playing with your hands or special sticks.

Reasons for creating crafts

This question probably worries all adults. Every parent wants to find out the reasons for such a pastime with their child. There can be several examples of reasons for such an activity:

Getting closer to your child through joint activities.
An exciting start to the evening for the whole family.
Development of coordination of movements and sense of rhythm in the baby. After all, with a craft that was invented and created with your own hands, you can participate in an impromptu march.
The baby may not easily hit the drum with sticks, but try to reproduce an interesting favorite melody from a children's song or cartoon.
Drums played with hands can be an excellent option for keeping your little ones busy for some time. summer cottage.
Finally, the drum can become a weapon of revenge annoying neighbors who constantly do repairs on Sunday mornings.

It is worth considering that an act of retaliation for neighboring apartments can occur without disturbing the peace of adults. To do this, residents of an apartment with a newly minted drummer need to buy earplugs or a pair of headphones in order to muffle the noise in the room.

Plastic bucket with lid

Not every adult knows how to make a drum with their own hands from a plastic country bucket. You can paint such a tool with simple paints; it can also be covered with ordinary colored paper. It all depends on your imagination little master. The lid on such a bucket should fit tightly. After all, the tool will be damaged if the upper part of the tool falls off at the most inopportune moment.

A drum made from a plastic bucket can simply be held in your hands, or you can hang it around your neck. This action is very simple to perform. The material has two holes from the handle on the sides. It is through them that you need to thread an improvised strap, securing it with knots.

Sticks for similar plastic tool can be selected from available materials. This role can easily be played by pencils or old felt-tip pens that are no longer used for drawing. So, things will be given a second life and the child will be satisfied. Kitchen brushes, which every housewife has, can also make interesting sounds.

A child can try out the sound of absolutely any object in the apartment and choose the most suitable one. There is no need to limit the imagination of a future musician or composer. Sometimes a child needs to be given freedom of action.

Paper product

A decorative drum for a little musician can be created from plain paper or cardboard. To do this, you need to cut out two circles of the same diameter. Their size can be any. Then cut out a strip of paper, which will become connecting element for the top and bottom of the instrument.

The paper structure can be glued together with glue or connected with tape. You can decorate the craft using paints or pencils, paste it with various paper illustrations, stickers, cover it with bright satin fabric and sew funny pom-poms on the sides. Thus, a children's craft with their own hands will acquire its own individuality. This part of the work, undoubtedly, can be done by mother’s little assistant himself.

Almost any idea of a little dreamer can and should be brought to life. And for this it is not at all necessary to go shopping and spend large sums. Do-it-yourself drums will not only look unusual and original, but will also not require much time to create.

Required tools and materials

In this case, the basis of a child’s craft will be a simple round tin jar. Among others necessary materials applies:

hole punch for leather fabric;
a small piece of brightly colored fabric (can be replaced with colored paper);
leather flap;
glue gun;
leatherette laces;
glue for fabric elements;
cotton wool

And also in the process of work it will be impossible to do without wooden sticks.

Making the tool step by step

First, you need to cut out a piece of suitable size from bright fabric and paste it over the jar. The fabric can be any. In its absence, the base is simply covered with colored paper, which is sold in any stationery store or supermarket.

A jar is placed on a piece of leather material and outlined. It is necessary to add 10 cm to the resulting diameter of the tool. Draw another circle.

Along the radius of the part, using a pencil, mark the areas where the holes will be located in the future. In any version of making a drum, make an indent of 1 cm from the edge with your own hands. Holes in the leather are made with a special hole punch.

A leatherette cord is threaded through the holes. It must subsequently be tightened tightly on one side of the jar. The same steps must be repeated when creating the bottom for making a drum with your own hands. The lace is also used for additional fixation of products diagonally. In this case, the element is threaded under the lacing, which is located at the top and bottom of the drum.

The final stage is making drum sticks by hand at home. To do this, a wooden stick is connected to a bead-knob. Glue a small cotton ball on top of the beads, wrap it with threads so that they do not remain empty seats. This is how a drumstick is made.

Instead of a total

It's so easy to create your own drums. Without a doubt this exciting activity The baby will like it. After all, a child can act as an apprentice at work. A creative activities the whole family will not only contribute to the development of the child’s imagination, but will also have a beneficial effect on the imagination and thinking of the baby. If a child strives to create things with his own hands, then this activity should be encouraged by adults, because spending time like this contributes to the development of children, strengthening various household skills, and simply brings joy.

Every drummer, from beginner to experienced, has wondered how to learn how to twirl drumsticks. As with anything else, learning tricks is not difficult if you have enough determination and time to practice.

The main thing to remember when starting such exercises is that only regular training will help you achieve excellent results. First, feel the sticks, their weight, structure, how comfortable they lie in your hand. A sense of balance is an important factor both when playing and when demonstrating tricks.

False rotation

One of the most common tricks. This is a good start to learning how to spin drumsticks on your fingers. The main attraction is that at high rotation speeds it feels like there is a small propeller built into the player's hand, looking really cool and professional. Although the stick itself remains in one position.

To perform, you need to hold the stick between the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers. The fulcrum is in the center of the stick, i.e. it should be balanced between your fingers and not fall in different directions. Your task is to minimize the intervention of the hand and start moving only with your fingers. “Wiggle” the stick from side to side, feel the weight, do not lose it from your hand. At high speed, this threatens to accidentally attack someone else's property or health - the tree can fly far.

When you get the hang of it and understand how the wand behaves approximately in this position, try to give it forward momentum so that the tips “draw” not a line, but a circle, feel how the wand moves by inertia. Take your time, listen to your feelings, watch how the wand behaves. As soon as you get better, increase the pace.

Roll between fingers

How to really spin a drumstick? Start by placing the stick between the second phalanges of your index and middle fingers. As in the previous rotation, the stick should be balanced and rest in the center.

Gently rock the stick up and down, this should not cause much tension in the hand and fingers. Next, roll the stick over your middle finger with a forward impulse, without helping with your hands or hand, hold it between your middle and ring fingers. Continue rocking and getting used to this position. Perfect the transition through the middle finger, achieve freedom in this movement. The next step is to roll over the ring finger and fix the stick between the little and ring fingers. Continue rocking in this position, and if necessary, practice rolling over your ring finger.

Reverse roll

Once you have mastered the transition from the index to the little finger, you need to master how to twist the drumstick in the opposite direction. To do this, hold it between the index and middle fingers, cross over the middle finger, wait a little, feel the balance and return the stick back by rolling over the middle finger in the other direction. This way the wand will be at the index finger again, and you can repeat the maneuver. The next step is the transition from second to third position. Those. to the location of the stick between the ring and little fingers, rolling over the ring finger - and the reverse movement.

Having mastered the downward and upward movements separately, combine them, gradually rolling the stick from the first position to the third and back. Later, when you get used to it, you will be able to make turns in this way. different directions for a different number of times. Everything will depend only on your imagination.

360 degree rotation

To perform this trick, you can simply throw the stick in your palm, let it make 1 - 2, or even more full turns, catch it and continue the game. This element of the show is also quite common and looks impressive, but another version of the full rotation will be considered here.

You need to take the stick so that it lies on the little finger, ring and middle fingers, and on the other hand it is held by the index finger. By sharply pushing the stick with three fingers, you give it the necessary impulse. Forefinger here serves as the axis of rotation. You need to push hard so that the stick makes a 360-degree turn and returns to your palm. Don't be afraid to let her go, this is necessary for the trick to happen. The more you practice, the less noticeable the movements will be, and therefore, the more effective the rotation itself will be.

Remember that all exercises should be performed with both hands, developing them equally.

Once you master these three stick spinning tricks, you can surprise your friends and add some fire to your rig game.