Arm Pain with Traditional Grip

[Alesi]

Hey All, I´m experiencing a terrible pain while i´m doing the endurance exercise on Gary Chaffe´s Technique Patterns.
When I´m on a tempo like 90bpm and repeating the 32nds my bicep seems to be on fire!!!
I think that without any doubt i´m doing something really bad... please could you tell me some advices about speed endurance with the left hand using traditional grip?

[LanderDrummer]

Try looking at the Moeller technique. Dom Famularo has some videos about it on Vic Firth's website. He demonstrates them with matched grip, but the same principles are true for Traditional grip. I guess it really takes a lot of stress off of the muscles. It might also be helpful in developing your speed too!

[Alesi]

Ok, I´ll check em up

[Alex Luce]

Try looking at the Moeller technique. Dom Famularo has some videos about it on Vic Firth's website. He demonstrates them with matched grip, but the same principles are true for Traditional grip. I guess it really takes a lot of stress off of the muscles. It might also be helpful in developing your speed too!


I believe one of the major misconceptions about the Moeller technique is that with enough practice, drummers can easily integrate it into their existing playing technique and/or style.

This would only be true if the drummer already has a solid fundamental stroke based on the natural movement of the arm. Otherwise, telling a drummer to learn Moeller could be akin to asking a right handed guitar player to turn the guitar around and play it left handed from now on. In other words, you are probably going to have to learn how to hit the drums all over again if you really want to learn the Moeller stroke.

This is possible, and well worth the effort, but you better be a serious player, because it is a long road and there are no shortcuts to learning this technique.

Good luck,

Alex

[amba]

Hello...
I've been playing trad grip all my life...over 35 year...yes, I am an old turtle...
never experienced what you describe...
The teachers I've had told me about relaxation...duh...like you don't know that already...but just a reminder...
also how long have you been playing trad and is this movement with Chaffe's books something new....a new movement no matter how small, will work the muscle fibers...all the different types...slow twitch, fast twitch, endurance twitch and heavy lifting twitch...

The old saying of no pain no gain, in my opinion, should not and does not apply to drumming...I have heard of too many cases of carpal Tunnel syndrome...pain? STOP for a while...pain again when starting back up? Yes...something in your technique might need to be revisited... the internet has lots of pages on proper technique...seek them out...!

Are doing the Moeller technique?

Peace,
keep us posted as I don't think anyone here wants to see you injure yourself...

Michael

www.ambadextro.com

[mind_drummer]

I believe one of the major misconceptions about the Moeller technique is that with enough practice, drummers can easily integrate it into their existing playing technique and/or style.

This would only be true if the drummer already has a solid fundamental stroke based on the natural movement of the arm. Otherwise, telling a drummer to learn Moeller could be akin to asking a right handed guitar player to turn the guitar around and play it left handed from now on. In other words, you are probably going to have to learn how to hit the drums all over again if you really want to learn the Moeller stroke.

This is possible, and well worth the effort, but you better be a serious player, because it is a long road and there are no shortcuts to learning this technique.

Good luck,

Alex

Not completely true.

Moeller is a technique which can be learn anytime, from noob to advanced. In fact, take any sticks control & drums techniques books and the first thing you've got to learn is the free stroke then the moeller for rebound control. Actually the moeller is just adding the whipping motion to the free stroke.

[Alex Luce]

Not completely true.

Moeller is a technique which can be learn anytime, from noob to advanced. In fact, take any sticks control & drums techniques books and the first thing you've got to learn is the free stroke then the moeller for rebound control. Actually the moeller is just adding the whipping motion to the free stroke.

Hi MD:

Let me address one of your points:

I don't believe the free stroke or rebound stroke is a good method for the beginner to start with, because the motion in the grip may be confused with the motion of the arm.

In The Moeller Book, first the grips are explained, then the motion of the single stroke. Moeller recommends practicing the single stroke for two weeks before moving on to any following exercises. Also, in the instructions for the right hand single stroke he says, "keep this fanlike motion going steadily but not rapidly, holding the stick firmly with the little finger, the other fingers only lightly closed around it, and avoid rigidity." If you're holding the stick firmly with your little finger, there isn't going to be any rebound or motion in the grip when performing the single stroke.

That rebound is somehow integral to the Moeller motion is a misconception. What is known as the Moeller Stroke (the whip with rebound) is exercise 3 in The Moeller Book. You can't just add the Moeller whip to your playing, the Moeller motion is a way of playing in itself, based on the foundation of all drumming, the single stroke.

Don't take it from me, you can read it in The Moeller Book for yourself!

Regards,

Alex

[Michael G]

Personally, I would stay away from straight up Moeller and do the "modified" Moeller like you see Joe Morello do. I think he explains it on his first DVD.

But then again I am no pro drummer!