How to Do a Traditional Full Stroke on Snare Drum

The snare drum has been around for centuries and grew increasingly popular during colonial times in the United States. The snare drum is not only a fun instrument to play, but also an important symbol in history and on the battlefield. Practicing strokes such as the traditional full stroke can be a good way to learn a new instrument and stay in touch with history.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Drumsticks
• A practice surface or snare drum

1. Make sure the snare or practice surface are in a comfortable position relative to your body to practice your stroke. Usually this entails the drum being directly in front and center of your body at about waist level.
2. Correctly position the drumstick in your hand. Traditional in this case means the drumstick will be in your left hand. Your hand should be a third of the way from the butt end of the drumstick. Place the drumstick between your thumb and pointer finger placing the tip of the thumb on the pointer knuckle. The other end of the drumstick should be protruding from in between your middle and ring finger resting on your ring finger's cuticle.
3. Start off in the up position. This position is when the tip of the drumstick is at its highest point. Your wrist and the inside of your forearm will be facing the ceiling or upward.
4. Strike the center of the drum by rotating your wrist in towards your body. This will count as the stroke.
5. Quickly return to the starting or up position. This is also the end position when performing a traditional full stroke being that it starts where it ends like a circle.