Drum Gloves

[fooman]

I currently use Ahead drum gloves... they kick arse while they stay together. They tend to rip and shred after two months of use, if that. When I say shred, I mean the thumb part tears off, the palm opens, the rest of the fingers begin to poke out, and even the back of the glove begin to rip!!!!

I use Ahead stick grip tape as well. Tape for grip, gloves to save my hands from large calouses and also to keep the sticks from slipping when I sweat.

Anyways, what gloves will not break under the immense pressure drumming puts on the hands? I'd rather not shell out $40+ every other month for a pair of gloves that get torn apart by me playing 3 times per week...

[biggator6]

Callouses are cheaper than gloves, and only slightly less attractive..

as for grip - get some surfboard wax (roughly $1 at any surf shop) and rub it on your sticks..

[joeq]

Originally Posted by fooman

Anyways, what gloves will not break under the immense pressure drumming puts on the hands? I'd rather not shell out $40+ every other month for a pair of gloves that get torn apart by me playing 3 times per week...

I really can't offer glove purchase advice as I have never used them and don't know personally any drummers who do. Not a one. And I know a LOT of drummers!

I will offer this advice, worth at least what you paid for it: if drumming is putting "immense pressure" on your hands, you might want to consider seeing a qualified teacher about working on your technique. It is a truism that drumming is a masochistic endeavor - that when you hit the drums, they hit you back. But proper control of rebound can get you the same sound, better speed, and less shock to your hands.

perhaps you are ruining the gloves so quickly because you are letting them compensate for shock that you should be dealing with by allowing the sticks to rebound more naturally.

thousands of amazing drummers play every day without needing gloves, without dropping their sticks and without turning their hands to hamburger.

forgive me if I come off as "telling you how to play" or "messing with your style" I have been playing drums all my life and teaching for 20 years and my advice comes from a sincere belief that what I am suggesting is in your best interest, both physically and artistically.

[chetatkinsdiet]

You beat me to it. With better grip technique, you won't be killing your hands like that anymore. I'd look for an old school teacher that can work on a Moeller type stroke for you. You'll probably gain power and control while getting a better grip on things...so to speak.

later,

m

[Superdrumskills]

Originally Posted by joeq

I really can't offer glove purchase advice as I have never used them and don't know personally any drummers who do. Not a one. And I know a LOT of drummers!

I will offer this advice, worth at least what you paid for it: if drumming is putting "immense pressure" on your hands, you might want to consider seeing a qualified teacher about working on your technique. It is a truism that drumming is a masochistic endeavor - that when you hit the drums, they hit you back. But proper control of rebound can get you the same sound, better speed, and less shock to your hands.

perhaps you are ruining the gloves so quickly because you are letting them compensate for shock that you should be dealing with by allowing the sticks to rebound more naturally.

thousands of amazing drummers play every day without needing gloves, without dropping their sticks and without turning their hands to hamburger.

forgive me if I come off as "telling you how to play" or "messing with your style" I have been playing drums all my life and teaching for 20 years and my advice comes from a sincere belief that what I am suggesting is in your best interest, both physically and artistically.

I agree with some simple wax you will be able to get a better grip on your sticks, and maybe eliminate the need for gloves. I dont really see how gloves would absorb the shock though? I have the same problem and have be looking into some techniques that would reduce the stress on my body, so my advice would be to look into changing the way you play(though it sucks) it will help you in the long run

[fooman]

First, I agree. I need lessons. I'm self taught, 8 years and still learning as I go. I've got solid time and know when to not play... which is more than I can say about most drummers around here. But yes I do need lessons. =)

I think I mistyped my expression tho... I do not put immense pressure on my hands. They feel great, but I do get callouses on certain parts of my hands (thumb & forefinger). I mainly use the gloves to alleviate the stick slipping when I play long shows and I sweat a ton. I really like playing with both gloves and stick grip tape. When I said 'immense pressure' I was mainly saying that you'd think so by looking at my gloves.

I think I'll start budgetting myself for lessons and see if I can find a teacher who can help me out.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Unless I see a picture of Bonham wearing gloves, my mind won't change. How bout Elvin? Buddy? Ian Paice? Bozzio? Well, he might...bad example....
Seriously,
Gloves are just goofy. Have you tried wrist bands, a la 70s basketball players? I think Zog's makes a version of Sex Wax for sticks now. That might work. Anything but gloves...they're just so 80s/15 piece kit-looking. I know it's wrong to stereotype, but I just picture the guy drumming from Ratt or Twisted Sister wearing gloves playing a big kit with power toms and cymbals mounted from above....a pair of gong bass drums above his (always his) shoulders.

Again, the sweating causes you to loose the grip, so you start gripping harder, or funny. That's what causes the hand problems. Again....just find a teacher that can help you with some new grip techniques and you'll be fine. When I finally did that after years of playing, it was the best thing ever. I even think I even tried a pair of gloves...once...in 1981 though. So there....and yes, it probably was on a power tom kit. Probably Tama Superstars.....

haha...

m

[biggator6]

come on now, chet... a lot of the new-school metal guys use gloves, and they're some DAMN good drummers (Joey Jordison and Jason Bittner come to mind as glove-wearers)...

..then again, there's Michael Jackson.
"-)

[joeq]

Originally Posted by fooman

F
I think I mistyped my expression tho... I do not put immense pressure on my hands. They feel great, but I do get callouses on certain parts of my hands (thumb & forefinger). I mainly use the gloves to alleviate the stick slipping when I play long shows and I sweat a ton. I really like playing with both gloves and stick grip tape. When I said 'immense pressure' I was mainly saying that you'd think so by looking at my gloves.

excessive callouses, losing the grip, and wearing out the gloves are all signs that there may be more motion of your stick against your hands than is really necessary.

with a change in stroke technique it is possible that your hands can move 'with' the stick to a greater extent= causing less relative motion, less rubbing. It will also probably increase speed, power and all that good stuff.

[Nutmeg II.]

If they tell you "no pain no gain" shoot them!"

[joeq]

Jim Chapin is the man. He is clearly exceeding the frame rate of the video.

it's very interesting how this hundred year old knowledge developed by military drummers is so helpful to modern guys playing heavy music.

[nandoanalog]

Originally Posted by fooman

I currently use Ahead drum gloves... they kick arse while they stay together. They tend to rip and shred after two months of use, if that. When I say shred, I mean the thumb part tears off, the palm opens, the rest of the fingers begin to poke out, and even the back of the glove begin to rip!!!!

I use Ahead stick grip tape as well. Tape for grip, gloves to save my hands from large calouses and also to keep the sticks from slipping when I sweat.

Anyways, what gloves will not break under the immense pressure drumming puts on the hands? I'd rather not shell out $40+ every other month for a pair of gloves that get torn apart by me playing 3 times per week...

Learning how to handle a drumstick is the very first thing a drummer does.

[fooman]

Originally Posted by nandoanalog

Learning how to handle a drumstick is the very first thing a drummer does.

You'd think so... but not every 16 year old has the cash to pay $60/hr to learn to hold a stick and play 1&2&1&2&.... I know I didn't.
Now that I do, I'm too busy to commit.

Anyways, enough with the "learn to play properly" replies... I agree already. Sorry to sound peeved, just getting redundant. I simply asked a question because I like wearing gloves since my hands sweat a lot playing shows in hot venues... stick technique can't help that to a great degree.

[nandoanalog]

Originally Posted by fooman

You'd think so... but not every 16 year old has the cash to pay $60/hr to learn to hold a stick and play 1&2&1&2&.... I know I didn't.
Now that I do, I'm too busy to commit.

Anyways, enough with the "learn to play properly" replies... I agree already. Sorry to sound peeved, just getting redundant. I simply asked a question because I like wearing gloves since my hands sweat a lot playing shows in hot venues... stick technique can't help that to a great degree.

I have never in my life had a drum teacher. And still, first thing I did when I noticed that the stick was hurting me, was watching great players play and see how they handle the stick.

Your hand sweating problem is due to the effort you make to handle the stick. Once you learn how to handle it properly, you`ll notice that you won`t actually handle it. It will just hang around in your hand by it´s own.

Look... The time you spend earning money to buy gloves, use it to learn how to handle the stick.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by nandoanalog

Learning how to handle a drumstick is the very first thing a drummer does.

There are a ton of lessons on youtube and the net. I've only paid for a few lessons in my life, but playing and talking with other drummers...along with reading, I've got a sort of technique that works for me.

m

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by biggator6

come on now, chet... a lot of the new-school metal guys use gloves, and they're some DAMN good drummers (Joey Jordison and Jason Bittner come to mind as glove-wearers)...

..then again, there's Michael Jackson.
"-)

I know...it still looks goofy though.

m

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by fooman

You'd think so... but not every 16 year old has the cash to pay $60/hr to learn to hold a stick and play 1&2&1&2&.... I know I didn't.
Now that I do, I'm too busy to commit.

Anyways, enough with the "learn to play properly" replies... I agree already. Sorry to sound peeved, just getting redundant. I simply asked a question because I like wearing gloves since my hands sweat a lot playing shows in hot venues... stick technique can't help that to a great degree.

Again, have you tried wrist bands? That keeps the sweat from running down your arms.

m

[imloggedin]

forget wrist bands and gloves. learn proper stick grip and technique. you can play for hours without breaking a sweat. even when i played with the wrong grip i never had a calass.

[chetatkinsdiet]

As far as the sweating goes, maybe this guy is just a sweaty guy. I know folks that can break a sweat walking across the room. Or, as a lot of folks do...booze makes you sweat more. I know I drink a few pints when I'm playing gigs.
Also, stage lights, outdoor gigs, etc. There are many reasons why a drummer might be sweating. I think that might be part of the hand issues, but could be something else.

m

[Tibbon]

I've never thought once to use gloves while drumming. If I drop the sticks, i grab another pair. If the sticks breaks and make my hands bleed... then there's something to wipe off the drums later.

Not a personal attack, but they always seemed to be something worn by ****** drummers without soul but just with speed and kits too big for a tourbus.

[fooman]

Originally Posted by chetatkinsdiet

As far as the sweating goes, maybe this guy is just a sweaty guy. I know folks that can break a sweat walking across the room. Or, as a lot of folks do...booze makes you sweat more. I know I drink a few pints when I'm playing gigs.
Also, stage lights, outdoor gigs, etc. There are many reasons why a drummer might be sweating. I think that might be part of the hand issues, but could be something else.

m

Thank you!
I do not build up a sweat as easily as simply walking across a room, but I do play hard on the skins and lighter on the cymbals. I really hit the drums. I also play in a lot of smaller gigs with hot lights, cramped stages, many people in a small place... and I don't really play easy listening jazz with a great monitoring environment. Quite the opposite, meaning I probably play harder than I should since I can't exactly feel my drums.

Anyways, yea I need some grip lessons. Anyone who has some good links to some vids online by all means show me the way. Or teach me here, I can read.

Enough with the glove-bashing. I've actually had more ppl tell me I look more "professional" with them than anyone telling me they thinK I look like a wank. Whatever tho, if you don't like a drummer cause he has gloves get ur head outta ur ass. How did this turn into a "better than thou" thread?

[Nu-tra]

Warning!

If you wear drum gloves you will grow a mullet over night!

[fooman]

Neil Pert's hat is stupid. He sucks.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by fooman

Thank you!
I do not build up a sweat as easily as simply walking across a room, but I do play hard on the skins and lighter on the cymbals. I really hit the drums. I also play in a lot of smaller gigs with hot lights, cramped stages, many people in a small place... and I don't really play easy listening jazz with a great monitoring environment. Quite the opposite, meaning I probably play harder than I should since I can't exactly feel my drums.

Anyways, yea I need some grip lessons. Anyone who has some good links to some vids online by all means show me the way. Or teach me here, I can read.

Enough with the glove-bashing. I've actually had more ppl tell me I look more "professional" with them than anyone telling me they thinK I look like a wank. Whatever tho, if you don't like a drummer cause he has gloves get ur head outta ur ass. How did this turn into a "better than thou" thread?

Search youtube for "moeller technique" and you'll probably get some good stuff. The Jim Chapin books, vids are great as well. I also saw something recently, but I can't remember where, that talks about the actual grip on the stick and where to hold it to create a perfect folcrum, etc. Sort of nerdy stuff, but really good info. I stand in Guitar Center a lot and stare at the videos playing without actually purchasing anything. Maybe that's where I saw this. Maybe someone else will chime in.

m

[chetatkinsdiet]

The first thing that pops up is a great one that explains the origins as well as a few other points.

YouTube - Dave Weckl - Moeller Technique

good luck,

m

[chetatkinsdiet]

Here's another on actual stick grip.

YouTube - Dave Weckl - A Natural Evolution: Stick Gripping

It looks like this is ripped off of Dave's dvd, so it'd probably be cool to all involved, mainly dave, to just purchase the dvd to work on this. I'm sure the $1-2 in his pocket would help out.

m

[fooman]

cool beans!
I'm always concerned about buying drums DVDs. I was over at a buddy's place who had a Thomas Lang DVD about 'Control'. This is how his DVDs are:
(Crazy accent)
"Oh-k.... you watch me play now!"
Does crazy triplets with one hand on the snare while the other does a disco beat on the hats, and the two feet are playing 5 different pedals...
"Oh-k... now you play! I play it faster!!"

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by fooman

cool beans!
I'm always concerned about buying drums DVDs. I was over at a buddy's place who had a Thomas Lang DVD about 'Control'. This is how his DVDs are:
(Crazy accent)
"Oh-k.... you watch me play now!"
Does crazy triplets with one hand on the snare while the other does a disco beat on the hats, and the two feet are playing 5 different pedals...
"Oh-k... now you play! I play it faster!!"

Or they're so basic for the first 30 minutes you're bored to death. Yeah, then there's the "solo section" of every drum video. Some guy wanking along on a melodic syncopated solo that no one would ever do in the real world of playing rock and roll clubs. Wanking in general is pretty boring anyway, other than for other musicians. It's cool to watch those guys do that impossible stuff, but I've got little interest. Maybe if I was playing with Zappa or Dream Theater or something....

later,

m

[fooman]

Maybe it's cause I'm just not that good (as can be seen from the rest of this thread), but I always get told to do drum solos at my band's shows. I hate them! I hate watching local drummers do solos because they are filled with double kick, simple rolls, and more double kick.

I'd rather play a song. If I was in a band that could pull off a proper 10 min percussion solo it'd be different, but crowds in a rock bar usually end up bored by then.

[imloggedin]

u blow off the glove subject? lol.. gloves are so unnecessary

the video i like for the moeller technique is the tony royster video
YouTube - Tony Royster's Moeller SKills
he explains it well