French Grip Explained (with 120fps slo-mo)

French grip finger strokes, the basis of the 'flying fingers' blast beat technique, explained in detail with close-ups and 120 fps slow motion at 1/8 normal speed (skip to 1:01). Includes exercises to practice the french grip correctly.

[@morte_dave]

I've seen hundreds of videos trying to show this accurately and this is the only one that ever helped.

[@djevisceration2733]

I asked and I received! Thanks a million. Hands down the best vid for french grip mechanics; I def have plenty to work with now. Thanks again!

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

No problem, in retrospect the last video wasn't thorough enough at all.

[@jaydakeyz829]

By far the only video that really helped me get close to understanding it. The angles is what really did it for me and the mentioning of what part of the palm it should or shouldn't hit

[@roxnroll8050]

OMG - this was so freaking awesome!!! Everyone has a terrible way of describing how to do this - wish everyone taught like this. I FINALLY get it. Keep rockin!

[@chrisbooth128]

Well explained and angles, close-ups etc. Keep it up!

[@ericgoodman9876]

Ryan, there are a lot of french grip tutorials out there. This is by far the best!!

[@ScuffyTheDog]

Best video I've found about french grip hands down.

[@Rifle56]

Thanks for breaking down this grip with finger positioning as your point of emphasis.... it was driving me nuts trying to figure out just the right positioning.

[@favourfb]

Short video without stories and very correct. Well done. Happy New Year.

[@atlante4368]

Thanks, now I can desk drum along my favorite death metal tracks!

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

In modern times here, death metal blast beats are pretty much the only reason to use these straight french strokes like this. You can play french on the ride in other styles, but usually you accompany it with some moeller arm motion or some kind of extra sauce for feel. So desk drum away!

[@soapwater_tastesfine]

Once I noticed that you’re placing the tip of your thumb on the stick for the single vertical stroke exercise, I finally felt comfortable practicing it. Using the flat part of my thumb blocks the stick from moving downward.

[@vincentbuonora8477]

This is an excellent video. Great visuals, just excellent instruction

[@welderressutti5364]

Amazing explanation, thanks!!

[@augustourbinibateria]

Excellent explanation, as usual, Ryan. Best for you. Happy new year.

[@LaurenceBichon]

Very nice ecplanaition. Thank you.

[@nettek8470]

someone explain to me, why my stick keeps moving sideways :/ cant get the thumb straight on top of it

[@wheeljack0]

Thanks again for a great video. Would love to see your heel, toe lesson next for double bass pedals.

[@sunsetpond]

Wow! Nice teaching! 😃

[@TheFinalGamerRN]

Great explanation! Thanks!!

[@LukeTang-t8l]

Yes!

[@nutterkid200]

Thanks, this helped alot😃

[@TheFinalGamerRN]

Very useful!! Thanks!

[@gregkelland]

First video I’ve seen that tells you about the thumb being up

[@LukeTang-t8l]

Yes!😊

[@LukeTang-t8l]

It’s a great video. Most videos just mention the fingers or something unlike this one!😊

[@JustinGauvin]

I’m a little confused, my hand does not move like that a 1:55 lol. I can’t get my thumb in that position

[@emreakincii]

Justin Gauvin Me too man. I can never get it. I think this issue is related to the human hand anatomy and ethnology. Maybe? 😄

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Not everyone’s thumb bends as much as mine but it is possible for people with a different thumb-flexibility-range to do this exact motion. Your hand will just look slightly different. I think it’s actually harder for me than a lot of other people because of how my thumb moves.

[@lucasdrummingdrums6948]

Hello there! A bit a new reply but i had a question about the thumb. I tried it myself and wanted to learn the french grip for playing faster blast beats but i noticed that my thumb was facing like more 45 degrees to the left side on right hand.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Yeah that suboptimal. Usually you don’t get as much control of your fingers with the stick at that angle.

[@lucasdrummingdrums6948]

@@RyanAlexanderBloom how can I change that? Because I've tried it with forward thumb but literally my whole wrist would move

[@camerondarnell3399]

Thank you so much man!

[@whatisthis8690]

I think my technique is ok, but my hand keeps slipping up the stick, closer to the tip and the neck. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

It’s probably because your fingers are pulling the stick backward with each stroke? I’m just guessing here. But try making sure you’re pulling up and not back.

[@KeLPlays24]

I don't know if you'll reply to this or not but the stick kinda starts rolling around slowly when I start beating the pads with this french grip

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

That’s pretty normal.

[@KarlSheen]

having issues here...my fingers are quite long and to get it to sit in the 1st knuckles i have to have my thumb at a angle, its almost impossible to have my thumb directly in a line

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Karl Sheen interesting. I haven't really ever seen anyone who can't do the french grip the way I do it in the video... on the other hand I have also never seen anyone who thought the proper french grip technique was easy on the first try. You might be right, maybe your hands aren't suited for it, but the nice thing about drumming is that french grip isn't your only option.

[@jlamjustin9812]

What happens if it is leaving the first join of a the fingers I have trouble with that

[@RevulsionMusic]

Do you have any tips that how i could straighten my left hand to a french grip? Because it is really hard for me and i have to use the american grip then

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

You just have to practice with the correct motion and grip. At first it seems impossible but only because you aren’t used to it. Slow down, maintain form, and it will become more doable over time.

[@roxnroll8050]

After practicing this a few days, I need to ask LOL... Now, how do I keep the stick from flying from my hand? I keep dropping the stick and it keeps moving. If I grip the stick tighter with my thumb and pointer finger, the bounce isn't as good.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Mostly just keep practicing. I have another video on this same technique. Might help to watch that one too. Your hand just isn’t used to this motion. When you have done it enough you won’t need to grip hard at all.

[@roxnroll8050]

@@RyanAlexanderBloom - thanks for the tip and encouragement :)

[@babdeli5189]

Hi. Ty for the explanation. Wherr is your elbow during this kind of stroke? Because is I take my elbows beside my body I feel my wrists are getting stiffed and too angulared to get the right postion. Better if I have my elbows front of my body...

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Báb Déli my elbow is in normal playing position and has nothing to do with this stroke. This stroke feels unnatural to most people when they start. It takes a while to get used to it. Nothing you do with your elbow will make a difference anyway.

[@babdeli5189]

@@RyanAlexanderBloom Ty for the fast answer. My problem is if my thumb is straight than I have to compensate with my wrists. So my wrists get angulared. Sry I can't explain better this problem.

[@ajandas4178]

i couldnt get a proper balance while i play with my left hand regarding finger control...... the stick sometimes even falls and i get demotivated...... so what are the steps that i should follow..... right hand is very relaxed by d way and i can easily play at 100bpm.....

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Ajan Das first compare your hands. It’s probably that your left is doing something wrong. Use a mirror, a camera, or get a second opinion from another drummer. You can’t always see issues from the top. Then if you think your grip is good, play only a few strokes. Start with 2. If you can play doubles correctly without problems then move to triples. Then 4s, etc. at some point the problem will emerge. That’s when you should be able to tackle it. One likely problem is just grip strength. Your weak hand is weaker, obviously. Try to beef it up by eating, brushing teeth, opening doorknobs, using keys and doing other tasks lefty for a few weeks.

[@ajandas4178]

Ryan Alexander Bloom playing slowly is also the key rt?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Ajan Das sure, but only as slowly as you can maintain good rebound. Too slow and it might not work for a skill like this.

[@ajandas4178]

Ryan Alexander Bloom does practicing only with the grip works does it helps to build strength...... Actually I have a tendency to overlook or overanalyze things

[@terraniumstudio]

My thumb doesn't bend like that lol. Are you double jointed?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I’m not “double jointed” but your thumb doesn’t need to be this flexible. Plenty of people can do this with less flexible thumbs, and I think it might be easier if your thumb is more rigid, actually.

[@terraniumstudio]

@@RyanAlexanderBloom that makes total sense. The slow mo in your video really helped me, I found that I wasn’t putting enough pressure in my thumb. And yes keeping it rigid indeed helps.. thanks man!!!!

[@Marauder623]

Is it bad technique to blast beat in german grip? I can't play french grip

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

It's not bad necessarily. The only thing I would say is that blasting with a finger stroke is always going to be faster in the long run than blasting with a wrist stroke. If you don't like French grip, you could try American grip finger strokes. I use those mostly. That would be from a nearly German position but much easier to go fast with.

[@Marauder623]

What does american grip look like?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I should probably do a video of that at some point, but its similar to the German grip but with the stick running more parallel to your arm rather than sticking out to the side of your palm. Usually people turn their wrist over a few degrees toward French grip but the thumb is still more on the side than the top.

[@Marauder623]

That sounds interesting, i may be doing that without realising it

[@xsundae]

Hy Ryan, good vid, thanks!! what about the height of the snare drum? where's the best spot?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

xsundae kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5OZhH-hq81qeNE

[@kevinturner5857]

Thanks for explaining this so clearly 🙃👍

[@eamonjosephus]

👍👍👍

[@stefbaay]

I always lose grip of my stick, how can I help that ?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Other than just practicing more, there are a few things you could look at. The first is to make sure that you are moving the stick up and down vertically with no lateral side-to-side component. If the stick strikes the drum at an angle instead of straight down, the rebound will be harder to control. The second is to make sure that you are contacting the stick with your thumb and first finger exactly opposite one another. If that fulcrum point gets disrupted, it is hard to control the stick. Another thing to consider is that arm or wrist movement makes this much more difficult. Make sure your arms are not moving around and that you only use your fingers .

[@stefbaay]

Wow thnxx

[@lukmanadila6543]

is this technique work for blast beat only?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Adil Lukman - 77Army no you can use this for all kinds of stuff. It is one of the most basic foundational techniques. People often blast with it, but that's not it's only function.

[@melaniefowler8841]

Why can't I get this??

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

It’s hard. I’ve never seen anyone do this well within the first few weeks or even months of trying. It took me a while and no matter how many times you watch someone else do it, it will still be hard when you try.

[@bazzboyy976]

The stick tends to fall out from my thumb :< And I have the same thumb flexibility as you

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

It's just a matter working on it.

[@wesgeorgeson7510]

do you use the index finger?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Wes Georgeson yes

[@analogjazzprojectmike3386]

Ryan Alexander Bloom great video. i think i learned the most on this technique in under 3 mins. can you put a video on using this around the kit?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I'll see what I can do.

[@davidbaak8121]

Ryan Alexander Bloom you should make a video about using it on the kit indeed!

[@DigitalDamnation]

My thumb can't bend back the way yours does. My hands are just not designed for the French grip.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I think honestly my thumb flexibility makes it harder. I’ve seen many people playing this grip with less range of motion in their thumb joints. It’s very possible. This is just the only way I can do it because of how my hands are structured. But you can certainly do it.

[@framebadger]

Great video, really helpful for this guitarist learning the drums. Very much need to work on the grip but was able to get some nice rebound strokes going thanks to this. Quick question. Do people do finger strokes in German grip as well? I find that with palms facing down and fingers wrapped round the sticks, I can get a decent rebound from just the fingers (without wrist involvement)

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Typically, no. People do not do finger strokes from a strictly German grip. You can easily do them from an American grip which is similar but with some slight alterations. I have a video on this on my channel if you want to check how I do it.

[@jarrodottinger3]

Who disliked this?????

[@I_ROT_WITHIN]

Jarrod Ottinger someone that couldn't play it lol

[@BayuAkbarK]

anybody with hitchhikers thumb got the problem while playing with french grip?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Bayu Akbar K I obviously have it and it doesn't bother me much. I think people with that kind of thumb flexibility do require more strength in their thumb to keep the position, but it's completely possible.

[@lucasdrummingdrums6948]

Do you maybe have an instagram so i can show you sir?

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

No, not in instagram.

[@lucasdrummingdrums6948]

@@RyanAlexanderBloom no problem, what can I do when I can't put my thumb on top like that but it's turned

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Slow down, focus on the right position. It’s hard for everyone who ever tried. You have to just work on it.

[@lucasdrummingdrums6948]

I understand the technique but every time i try using my fingers the thumb just moves sideways a bit​@RyanAlexanderBloom