Traditional grip pains

[Doc]

I officially can't play matched that well anymore... I'm a traditional player without choice (I like it though! It's completely changed my playing).

However, I keep getting pain in the joint that connects my thumb to the rest of the hand.

I try to relax, but sometimes I feel like the stick moves TOO freely and is rubbing up against that knuckle.

Suggestions, anyone?

[Wavelength]

Try spending a few days working on the grip with just your thumb -- keep your digits off the stick while playing relaxed full (free) strokes. Use just enough force to keep the stick from falling off your hand.

[GrooveSlave]

Get the Jo Jo Mayer Secret Weapons DVD and do what he says.

I feel like a shill for him, but this DVD totally opened my eyes. I can't recommend it enough. It's the equivalent of Stick Control for technique.

[vince]

Watch Dave Weckl's "How to develop technique". Great video for learning trad grip !

[Ian Ballard]

There are some free clips on YouTube, in fact it's laughable at the GAZILLIONS of people doing "drum lessons" and "solos" of all kinds. Derrick Pope's YouTube video are good and he's got great technique.

But it seems like you're using too much thumb movement or pressure, if you are getting pain there. It would be best to try working on the palm muscle of your thumb, or "crotch", as the primary initiator of the stick to gain strength there. Just (as the guy below mentioned) use the crotch of the thumb with no fingers and isolate that palm muscle. This area is the pivot-point, or fulcrum of the stick. Do the same warmups (singles, doubles, flam stuff, etc) you would normally do but s-l-o-w-l-y and make sure the movements are precise and efficient. Work up speed until you can match your right hand. I can play pretty much do anything without fingers, but I've also developed the fingers to work alone or in tandem with the thumb crotch. Try not to use the thumb itself (this is key) to initiate stick movement. Some drum corps guys use the thumb over the stick and use it to move the stick. I find this to be extremely inefficient and, like you, leads to pain and fatigue.

The point here, is to be able to use the pivot-point (thumb crotch) and the fingers together so none of those areas get fatigued. If your fingers are a little tired, you can lean on your pivot muscles to do the work and visa-versa.

Maybe you can find Jack DeJohnette's video demonstration on YouTube. If I find it, I'll post it. He had the best demonstration I've seen of a fulcrum workout.