2nd finger fulcrum is awesome

I've been playing with the fulcrum switched to my middle finger for 3-4 years now and it's totally saved my live performance. I attack the drums pretty hard and was finding with the combination of stage anxiety (stage fright) and hard hitting, was cramping and blowing out my hands by the third song into a set. I've come to find a pretty nice balance now. There are some things where I need to revert to the old index finger fulcrum but on heavy bashing parts or just grooving, I can just let the stick flop a little looser and save my strength for more demanding playing. I've been working pretty consistently and hard for a few years now at it, but I feel that I still have a long way to go. Has anyone mastered it with in a short period of time or is it, (like most things), a life long journey to master it. When watching the Weckl video, he shows how to use it in the explanation part of the video but then when playing to the tracks, reverts back to his old technique. Anybody else notice that? Funny.
Anywayz, I'd recommend trying it if anyone's had trouble with cramping, live fatigue or just want a looser approach.
Peace, Sammy J

Same here Sammy....I switched about 3 years ago and really feel it has helped. My hands never get tired anymore. I don't feel as if I've mastered it by any means, but at the moment I don't think I could go back to using index finger, except for buzz rolls.

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Originally posted by Derek DeFields:
I agree Donu. Rebound and relaxation are the key, more than which fulcrum you use in my opinion.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ok so Why Dave seem to discover that on his DVD ?...

I agree with Palmerlouie what Dave and Smith employ suits what THEY DO, especially speaking of volume and dynamics. I have seen these guy's enough to know they play pretty the same way all the time even when branching out to other styles they still come across physically in the same manner. Having to play much more aggressive music in general, much more volume, different use of dynamics, more speed at times even certain physical concepts employed affects the grip one is using to a degree.

Dig

I thought I'd resurrect this post briefly just to point out that I'd always thought Vinnie Colaiuta was of the 2nd finger fulcrum technique. I was just going through some of the interviews at his website and he said (Drums & Drumming, '91), "I try to keep the fulcrum between the thumb and the first joint of my index finger and I cup my fingers around the stick". I also find myself switching between the two depending on song, attitude, lunar appearance, etc.

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Originally posted by piccupstix:
I thought I'd resurrect this post briefly just to point out that I'd always thought Vinnie Colaiuta was of the 2nd finger fulcrum technique. I was just going through some of the interviews at his website and he said (Drums & Drumming, '91), "I try to keep the fulcrum between the thumb and the first joint of my index finger and I cup my fingers around the stick". I also find myself switching between the two depending on song, attitude, lunar appearance, etc.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I remember saw him use second finger as fulcrum, particularly for ride

it's really scary for me making a reply on this kinds of thread... "technique"... being NOT formally trained drummer I just learned thru workshops and some PRO-Drummer friends...

I tried this technique when I got this Weckl evolution technique video... I've been using it for months now, it really feels different, looser on the hands while doing grooves but I can't use it yet for fill stuff... it feels like the stick is gonna fall off your hand [img]frown.gif[/img]

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Originally posted by tradfreak:
I tried this technique when I got this Weckl evolution technique video... I've been using it for months now, it really feels different, looser on the hands while doing grooves but I can't use it yet for fill stuff... it feels like the stick is gonna fall off your hand [img]frown.gif[/img]

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Did you see at the end of the DVD when he talk about where and how to place toms ?

If stick fall time to time again when you discover this grip it's a good sign, that mean you are loose enough, then with time and Practice you will find the right pression necessary to play loose but not loose you stick

What helped my for using this grip for tom's was to practice even more on pad, to more fell good with this grip, then it was more easy to use it for toms, don't go to fast trying using this grip on tom before you master enough this grip on snare [img]wink.gif[/img]

I also Highly recommend you the Gary Chaffee book: Sticking Patterns, once you master it on pad play accent on toms and ghost note on snare, it's like magical [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Like you i didn't learn with great teacher, it's just my experience and what work for me that i suggest to you [img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 12, 2005 07:55 AM: Message edited by: donu ]</font>

thanks donu... yeah i'll try to look for that book, what I have is Gary C's sticking, linear time feels & polyrythms video, doing his linear stuff making use of accents and ghostnotes etc.

he mentions VC there...