Down: Good - Up/Down: BAD!
How do you make your drum stroke? Grab a stick and try it. Play a single stroke. Now play another one but this time watch the tip of your stick both before and after the stroke. Can you coordinate your stroke with the words "up" and "down?" In other words, do you find yourself pulling the stick "up" slightly before making the "down" stroke? Or, do you find yourself making the "down" stroke and then pulling the stick back "up" to prepare for the next stroke? If so, you are NOT playing the Gladstone way, and you are working twice as hard as you should be.
Think about it. Every time you play you are making two distinct motions: up and down. With the Gladstone technique, there is only one motion: Down. The natural motion of the stick wanting to bounce back up is what pulls your hand back up with it. The key is to train your hands to follow your sticks. Once you learn that, you'll be well on your way to developing real monster chops.
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.