Strokes

The Rebound Stroke

A rebound stroke must be learned and should be the first thing a drummer learns to do. Simply flick your wrist down, and don't pull your wrist up again. The stick will bounce up, and your hand will go up responding to it. To make sure that you are not pulling up your sticks, Dom Famularo suggests taping two sticks together and holding it just above your stick. Then when you hit the snare or pad, if it makes a click sound before it makes the sound of a snare or pad, then you are lifting up your wrist.

The Full Stroke

Start the full stroke by putting your hands and sticks 90 degrees from the floor below you. Then, simply do a rebound stroke. Where ever you start your stroke, the stick will rebound back to that point.

Taps

Many drummers do a tap stroke. A tap stroke can be a ghost note, or a light note. It is a full stroke, but start your stroke only 2-3 inches above the snare. Then just drop your wrist down.

REMEMBER, NEVER LIFT YOUR WRIST UP!