Instant results with every video that I watch. I still have a long ways to go before I would consider myself a decent drummer, but these tutorials have been the most helpful. Thanks!
Beautiful. The Moeller Book is (IMO) an essential addition to any drummer’s library. What seems so easy really isn’t when you try to adapt it to your kit. Great stuff here Sir!
I had a lesson with a teacher in person today and we worked on the Moeller method, and he pointed me (back) to this very video! But yeah, it’s good to have someone who can give you feedback and give you personalised teaching…
Wrist snap technique is how it all comes together. Anyone notice how his speech became rhythmic while he was playing? Great vid. I'll be bringing this up with my students. Thanks, Bruce!
Great video, I've just started playing. It appears I have been trying to do this the hard way. I let it bounce more or less properly when I'm playing fast, but just play harder when I'm slower to get the same effect. Instead of letting the stick bounce I'm doing all the work. Can't wait to try this on my drums. Thanks.
Even though I am a wooden kick beater, half-time hi-hat, tom-thumping, rim-shot neanderthal, this is good stuff. When I practice something like this and it starts to make me feel nauseous, I know I am making progress and it will definitely help me with my ghost notes and perhaps that very occasional dazzling jazzy fill I like to throw in, both of which most people seem to ignore anyway. I guess I will need to set up a bucket next to my snare drum. Thank you!
I would usually skip the intro and get straight to the main thing but the way he explained it just got my attention! Nice! I like how relax your arm. My arm is in so much stress after playing. will try this later. - I'm new in playing drums but been my dream for so long.
Beautiful explanation and example! Very beneficial method! Takes a while to get down but go slow and burn it in and you'll really recognize the difference in efficiency, power, speed and control!
Awesome this is where I’ve been going wrong. Thanks for the clear understanding. I know my playing will improve with this technique in my practice. Thank you for posting
Apparently I have Jim Chapins old leather stick bag. When I was told that's who it belonged to, it meant nothing to me at the time. Now I think it's pretty neat.
I played along with you and practicing the quarter notes made me notice the difference on the upstoke and gave me a better feel for the Moeller technique altogether.
I find this man's voice and subsequent vocal delivery exceptionally soothing. And Steve Jobs? Nah dude, clearly we should be honored to receive grip technique from the former captain of the Federation flagship U.S.S. enterprise, Captain Jean Luc Picard (aka bearded Patrick Stewart). My technique is what's gonna live long and prosper after this advice.
Damn, after three years of playing I'm just learning of this? lol... This is awesome... Just what I need to take my technique to levels unknown... Bruce is a GREAT teacher...
Great vid. The most important lesson here is that he didn’t touch that drum kit once. So many beginners start by diving into the deep-end behind a kit. Start with the basics and learn proper stick technique before trying to boil the ocean.
I've always thought that the upstroke was caused by the downward stroke (rebounding of the stick striking the pad.) This explanation/video shows that I've had it backwards which is why I never spent much time on it. At least the videos I've watched in the past explained it that way. Basically that you start with the hand/stick striking down first causing the rebound to "lift" the stick and repeat. Of course, I could just be an idiot and interpreted it way wrong. This is great! Thank you for posting, I think I might have actually learned this FINALLY!!
I love you elaborating on the history of the technique you just shared. I'm very new to drumming, or rather not new, but unexperienced sofar. And I am am certain this will be more than helpful and guiding in my renewed aquaintance
Certainly an informative vid and quite applicable if you're drumming on a single surface, i.e. rudimental or concert snare dtumming. However, the technique doesn't work once you start moving around the kit. Leigh Howard Stevens's Method of Movement (actually written for marimba but is so well adapted to drum set), is a much better adapted technique for motion and movement around the drum kit. Moeller has its place but has its limits as well.
If you don't have the proper technique you can end up damaging yourself- then you won't be able to 'enjoy' anything because you won't be able to play! Sure everyone's body is different, but there are certain things which do apply to us all, so please don't start trying to diss educational clips like the above- whether you like it or not this man has more knowledge than most of us. Plus, if you weren't curious at all- why were you watching it in the first place?
More important than this technique will be the decision and or preference to be a light or heavy hitter on the kit, that will then determine more or less your technique path.
As you went through your 'upper body anatomy checklist', I think I may have finally discovered why I'm having difficulties with drumming... I don't appear to have these things you referred to as "elbows". I just have one 3.5 foot long bone between my shoulders and hands, with none of those so-called "hinges" in between! Lol. Just kidding. Seriously though, not having elbows would actually give me a more justifiable excuse for not getting my bounces down with consistency and timing....
during his 16th note at 60 bpm example, it doesnt appear feasible to even out the dynamics of the three hits following his initial strike. I am very new to drumming and have been practicing double strokes with rebound. I am learning that to have even volume on the rebound stroke of the double, you snap the stick back down with your fingers. So, Is even volume 16ths possible with this technique? or can it only be accented? does anyone know? Cheers everyone!
Becker's a great technician but if anybody else is falling asleep to this, go look at Tommy Igoe's lessons. He's a better teacher for more active (read: ADHD) learners 😅 Re: Moeller - "Everybody knows what a whip is."
Thanks. Very clear teached. Trying to get comfortable with such a loose grip ! Playing the sixteenth's , i think the 3rd is a rebound , which leads to the upstroke before repeat ...
I have a question that a lot of you can probably answer. I'm a guitarist, and I understand perfect pitch. I don't have it, but I understand it. I'm wondering if there are drummers who have . . . I don' t know what you'd call it - maybe "perfect pacing." Meaning, can some drummers know exactly how fast a given beat is? Like if I told a drummer to play a basic 4/4 beat at 155 beats per minute - could some drummers go right into that at exactly that pace and be right on or very close to a metronome at 155 bpm? Maybe every good drummer can, I don't know. That's why I'm asking you. I appreciate any answers you guys can give me.
Many including myself defaulted to Moeller method by nature. Soon after 32,s one must kinda flick wrist, articulating point turns into extra hit. It's what happens by naturally speeding up. Control gets little lost. And try taking the band out by using forfingwt
First of all, loved the video and explanation of Moeller. Thanks for the information! I had a question though about the grip. Is there a difference in control by having the pivotal rotation at the middle finger vs. the pointer finger? My lesson teacher in college always had me use the pointer for the rotation point and I've been playing that way ever since. I studied more of a classical route, so would Moeller be applied more for a drum set grip these days, or did I just learn a different approach? Thanks in advance for the input!
Excellent explanation and demonstration. It already makes sense to me, but it will take some time for me to get this into my muscle memory. Don’t agree that you decided to never show the left hand though, or both at once. It would not have added much time.
QUESTION: do you have to use a real practice pad, or is a mouse pad on a piece of plywood be ok, or is that bad for a beginner's technique??? Or does it matter at all?
Is this applicable to every genre of music for instance playing hard rock music it seems that technique comes natural although I'm using my thumb on the right hand to get power on the stroke drama the technique appears to be basically the same with all due respect. Thank you for your videos.
My first instructor wanted me to bounce my sticks. My current instructor does not want to see a bounce when the sticks make contact with the head. He is all for the shoulder and elbow movement, but not the wrists.
As Morello frequently pointed out, Moeller works best if you don’t have to play multiple accents in a row with the same hand. I’m not knocking it, just saying it has some limitations.
