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Thread: Am I going to have to quit playing drums?

  1. #1

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    Default Am I going to have to quit playing drums?

    For maybe about two months now I've noticed that on both hands the ring and little finger and the outer side is starting to have a numb feeling. I've also noticed when hitting the rack toms with my hands in a certain position (palms facing inward) I get a zing of pain similar to an electric shock in my wrists. What is this? Improper form? Kit not set up properly? Or do I just need to adjust my ways because if I have to quit playing drums It'll break my heart.

  2. #2

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    You should have the back of your hands facing upwards, palms down.

  3. #3

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    Definitely something you should get checked out. Sounds like the wrist pain could possibly be carpel tunnel, not sure about the numbness. But numbness is NOT normal when playing. I'd get your technique checked out by a drum instructor, and also consult a doctor to see if it is something caused by drumming, or other lifestyle factors. The last thing you want to do here is ignore the problem and make it worse.
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  4. #4

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    Which drum grip do you use? This might help get you some advice:

    Traditional



    American



    French



    German


  5. #5

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    little fingers and outside of palm(sometimes ring fingers) could be Ulnar nerve. I sometimes have problems with mine. talked to my doc and nurse .. wrist braces when I sleep or type .. went away in a few days. now I have the braces around and have to put them on for a couple nights once or twice a year. ..

    this was my story of talking to someone about it. turned out with a happy ending I hope yours is as easy.
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  6. #6
    dave0549jv Guest

    Default Re: Am I going to have to quit playing drums?

    it sounds like you might be holding on to the sticks a bit too tightly. they should be really loose in your hands.

    If you can, i'd reccomend getting a few lessons from a professional. a good one will start from the very beginning with 'how to hold a stick.' I know it sounds silly, and i was perfectly willing to roll my eyes at the guy when he said it, but in the end it really did help me.

  7. #7

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    Improper technique. I went through the same exact thing when I got back into a metal band after not playing for a while and I was cheating my technique to play up to speed. It actually manifested more when I swam. Stopped playing for a little, then built back up using proper technique. All good now.
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  8. #8

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    I would suggest maybe thinking about getting one lesson just on stick technique

  9. #9

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    I agree with what the posters have said, except I would have a doctor look at it first to make sure there is no serious damage done.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by dave0549jv View Post
    it sounds like you might be holding on to the sticks a bit too tightly. they should be really loose in your hands.
    +1.... Note how relaxed Neil's grip is in this pic:


  11. #11

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    (^^in thought) "watch out cymbal I'm coming for ya"

  12. #12

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    Please go to the doctor. Aside from all the technique issues correctly identified above, these symptoms could also be due to anything from nerve issues in your upper extremities to cervical spine problems. Go see an ortho or neurological specialist.

  13. #13

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    I've had this same problem that started about 8 mo. ago. It's my left pinky and ring finger that were getting a numb feeling and it went up to my inside elbow. Very much like when you hit your funny bone but much milder. I've been to a doctor, was given some steroid meds. It didn't do anything and now it's like I've got used to it and I don't really notice it until someone brings up this subject again...lol

  14. #14

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    everyone is correct about the techniqe aspect, but you need to go to a doctor. i have had shoulder problems since i was kid due to an old football injury from high school. back then it was nothing but a dislocated shoulder. through the years it popped out a little here and there but never severly. in my mid to late 20's i started getting some numbness here and there in my right hand (it's my right shoulder) and i never paid any attention. a few moths ago i woke up in the middle of the night to the worst pain i have ever felt in my right shoulder blade radiating up and down my back and through my arm. the shoulder had come out in my sleep and was pressing on a nerve. my fingertips were completely numb.
    moral of that long rant. if i had gone to the doctor 10 or 15 years ago they may have seen the potential for nerve damage and done something. now i have periodic pain and numbness and there is not much they can do - at least not with my current state of no insurance or about 30 grand cash. now....stop reading and book two apointments one with a doc and one with a drum teacher

  15. #15

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    As far a my grip goes I use match grip, and I try to keep that grip while playing and I do hold the sticks as loose as I can and use the rebound of the heads. I think I do play a little too hard sometimes but I try to keep my grip loose with match grip. And I didnt know about the German or French grips, that was interesting. Thanks for the input fella's and keep it coming.

  16. #16

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    Also I'm not a big guy but I have a big kit, I'm always trying to adjust things to make it more comfortable, I read that all the drums and cymbals should be within arms reach, no extra reaching or excessive bending to play and part of the kit, is that true.

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aviator42009 View Post
    You should have the back of your hands facing upwards, palms down.
    This I would only advocate if either playing concert snare, mallet percussion (especially with the smaller bars on xylophone and glockenspiel, where this face down 'German grip' is advantageous) or with any drumming and percussion playing where a precise yet medium dynamic is required.

    Late8 showed a number of grips in his posting which are what I would recommend to work on (yes, even traditional grip and I will tell you why in a moment, and no I'm not being an old 'jazz-fogey' about it either, lol).

    As stated earlier, German grip is a fine enough grip but it is not the be all and end of swinging a stick. I have spent time at various stages also working on the other three grips, 'French grip' (also known as the 'timpani grip') the 'American grip' and of course 'traditional grip' (or 'trad grip), partly for necessity working with different percussion instruments and partly for curiosity and using them in a warm up routine. Once you're familiar with German grip, spend a little time on French grip. See, whilst the up and down wrist and finger action is okay up to a certain point, the German grip has a certain stick height limitation (really, you need a competent teacher to show you this first hand, it's a little hard to describe what I mean via the 'Net). When playing French grip, really, the thumb and the index finger becomes a fulcrum or pivot point which allows the stick to travel a much wider arc. A wider stick arc also gives a greater dynamic range from very soft to quite loud, plus it also helps to rebound off a surface at a bigger height. If you ever had to do a piano to forte timpani roll with a mallet, and see how that type of mallet head does not have the same rebounding quality of a wood or plastic drumstick tip, you would understand why timpani players do this. However, one problem with French grip is that when a stick is in a thumb up position, the butt end where you grip it may develop a 'sideways' action which makes the stick (or mallet) sweep from side to side.

    So this is where learning the 'American grip' is also desirable. When you start palms down, rotate the hands a little on the sticks. Think of a clockface. Your right thumbnail should point roughly in the 10 o'clock position and your left thumbnail at 2 o'clock or so (when palms down in German grip, the right's at 9 and the left is at 3, for comparison). Now this is the beauty of American grip. Whip the right stick back and hopefully the stick should not only rotate between the thumb and the first and second joint of the index finger, but the wrist will naturally follow back as well, propelling the stick way back to a very large height, much larger than if you've been playing German grip. What does a large arc do? Very simply, bigger arc, bigger sweep, greater velocity, louder sound. Plus you can quickly change from a bigger stroke to a much lower, quieter stroke, just like the French grip. But the American grip also has the 'hand locked over' type of control that the German grip has, without being too restrictive. Again, this is where a good instructor versed in all grips comes into play.

    Finally, why also trad grip? Now, I'm not all of a sudden asking you to abandon all thought of being a loud rockin' drummer and all of a sudden go down the path of a completely differnt player such as a marching or jazz player. But one benefit that I feel is to not only try it with your left hand in a trad position, but swap the grips around so that the right hand goes into a trad position and the left hand back to match grip. No, don't try to roll around your kit like that (lol), just with a practice pad or snare drum. Just start off with single strokes, then move to simple triplets, doubles, flams, paradiddles, five strokes, drags and then work through some combinations. Been doing that for years to warm up my left and right thumb muscles. Ever since watching this guy really.....

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FM6F_e2L8k"]Billy Cobham Warm-Up - YouTube[/ame]

    Another great warm up routine is described by Chad Wackerman, who was not only taught by a great teacher, Murray Spivak, but also comes from a family of great drummers. So it's good to hear what he has to say.
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_9o5XM0e9w"]Chad Wackerman Backstage Warm-Up - YouTube[/ame]

    Also check this out. Even though the emphasis is on German matched grip, as the focus is on Army Band percussion, there is some very good information for all of us on here.[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES3QpDN2AyY"]Snare Drum Lesson #1 - YouTube[/ame]

    Billy demonstrating open handed playing, which he helped to pioneer.....check out how he rolls with timp grip on the snare then changes his wrist position around as he goes from place to place on his kit. Always with speed and precision.
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v13P7e2EsRQ"]Stratus - YouTube[/ame]

    Hopefully this might answer your question regarding proper grip technique. Now, if you are still somewhat experiencing pain where you said that you're getting, like others have said, I would seek medical advice first. And get a second opinion, remember GP's are not necessarily well versed in hand problems. Specialist advice should be sought. And if they do advise laying off a bit, then you will have to follow that. I know what it's like when you're itching to play but shouldn't......I've had a dislocated right thumb, appendix operation and Achilles tendon treatment before, and it just plain sucks hanging around not doing much. Still, do follow their advice. A short period of rest won't harm your drumming career, but long term muscle and nerve injury is no joke.
    Last edited by Drumbledore; 08-16-2011 at 10:40 AM.
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  18. #18

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    I agree with everything the guys said so far. Go see a doctor, but before you start taking medication I recommend seeing a massage therapist that can work on your arms and hands specifically. Theres a chance you have a tight muscle and its pinching a nerve when you play. Medication will only numb this and not actually fix the root cause.

    I have a severe pain I get in my shoulder. The doctor told me that they would need to do xrays, probably surgery, and meds. (even though I have full range of motion, but based on my slightly deformed collar bone) the pain i found to be something that is due to a muscle I damaged that gets really tight, the therapist told me this in 1 visit. I've seen a massage therapist a few times and she has helped it tremendously.
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  19. #19

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    Dude, go see a doc. It's the first step. Just giving yourself time off may not do much good if you continue and cause permanent damage to the nerves. If you fingers are going numb, its nerve related. At the least, they can give you stretching techniques for your hands and wrists. You should be stretching these before playing anyways to help prevent tendonitous. I get alittle tendonitous in my wrists but its decreasing the more I stretch.

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  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by FIDDLEHEADSTEW View Post
    Also I'm not a big guy but I have a big kit, I'm always trying to adjust things to make it more comfortable, I read that all the drums and cymbals should be within arms reach, no extra reaching or excessive bending to play and part of the kit, is that true.

    If your arm has to go to full extension to hit anything, that "anything" is too far away.

  21. #21

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    I get the same thing every once in awhile, in fact having it right now as I type. I do tend to notice it more when on sitting on the computer. It doesnt bother my playing at all.
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  22. #22

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    I havent played for a couple of weeks now and the areas I mentioned are still numb. I AM NOT going to risk further damage by playing, if I'm lucky and smart hopefully this will end well and thanks so much for all the input guys and please anyone with other input please tell me..I could use it. Thanks guys.

  23. #23

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    Did you quit playing drums, we haven't heard from you in awhile.

  24. #24

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    Sorry to read about your pain but agree that you should seea doctor first. Some time away from the set would be helpful and in the mean time investigate your grip and technique.

    L8 has posted some real good info and pics. Keep us posted on what happens next and good luck.
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  25. #25

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    This could be carpel tunnel. A LOT of drummers get it at older age. If youre young, it could be something else because carpel tunnel is not THAT common in young people (although still possible.) You should definately get it checked out. And if it IS that, you can definately still play drums. Just wear a splint while not drumming to keep you bone structure more stable. Dont sweat it TOO much, just see whats wrong.

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