Playing with Relaxed Technique on the Drum Set

[@williamkleitsch1153]

This lesson video should be required viewing before anyone is allowed to pickup a drum stick. Your free You Tube videos are a treasure to the drumming community.

[@JA-io8nx]

Can we all just take a moment to recognize this dude's technique, as well as that ride cymbal tone? Holy smokes....

[@wayneclark3020]

It's never too late to straighten out your technique. Last year at 59 I was still a hopeless wrist player and was having big problems with hands going numb. Then I saw Rick's video where he mentioned snapping the stick back into the hand to get an accent on the second note and how he would do just that for an hour straight. (How to play up tempo jazz 2:35) I also learned drop catch ala Tony Williams. It took 18 months but now at 60 I play super relaxed and have more power speed control and endurance than ever. Thanks Rick!

[@InnocentAbyssinianCat-eb7ge]

This is probably the best video on this particular subject and especially mentioning which are the best drummers to watch

[@Chiroman527]

He Rick, Now this is my League of Aged Drummers... I'm a 70 year old male, retired now, and became a Resurrected player in 2019, after a 50 Year Hiatus (1969 - last year of a garage band of HS Buddies that never got out of the Garage). I took maybe 8 lessons or so in 1966 when I first took up drums. But none of what you are displaying here was ever taught. I've watched many drum videos in the past year, some talk about this approach, But Not Like this. I love this approach !!! Your mixed toms rolls are Spectacular. They make the Drums SING !! I am sooo glad I stumbled upon this Video. I subscribed immediately. I notice one thing also , right off the bat: You have terrific Posture. Buddy Rich had Terrible posture and it finally finished him with a distorted spine and which affected his heart . People don't realize that off the cuff. But I do. I have numerous spinal issues that I contend with especially in the Neck which affect the shoulders and hands. Your left hand speed is a marvel. I lack that and arthritis in the wrists and thumbs doesn't help. My Pain Management doctor told me "Don't play Drums....it will make it worse". Screw that!! I love it. If I could play 1/4 of what you do here , I would be a Very Happy Camper. I play to My Music : CCR, Petty, Clapton, Stones, Beatles, Steely Dan (that is stepping it up! - so is Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears), Cars, Talking Heads, and more.... even Linda Ronstadt & Bonnie Rait - about 1 hour a day. I enjoyed this video Immensely ... Thanks Rick.

[@rickdior]

Thanks so much Aldo Your thoughtful comment made my day. Stay well Rick

[@harrysmart6236]

I love 'resurrected player'. You've got a few more years on me (just 5) and my layoff was a mere 40 years. Have to say, it's a real fight to stay relaxed and loose and this vid, along with the legato vid, are very helpful (shout out also to Stephen Clark's channel). Rick, I have a question. When I'm getting tight there's a kind of panic sets in, and it feels like the toms and crash cymbals moved about two feet further away from me, and it's suddenly a real effort to reach them@ everything gets more tense still. I guess that's mainly about not being relaxed, but I can't help feeling ergonomis play a part. I can't believe how little you have to move to take your left from the snare over to the floor tom. Have you any thoughts on how kit ergonomics relate to playing loose?

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

This guy is so right. For years I played really tight until wrist problems and the connective tissues in my elbow were calcifying and I had to stop playing and go through physical rehab. One of the guys who did my rehab was a chiropractor who was like a 5th degree black belt and he told me that my injuries were from playing too tight. He told me to learn to relax and play lighter when I play or I’m gonna eventually not be able to play. I took his advice and revamped my entire style and actually gained more speed and power than I even had in my life. I’m 58 years old and I’m better with waaay more facility than I’ve ever had….ever. And it was all really about playing with my fingers.

[@tomelizalde7838]

Sir it's pure joy watching you play !!

[@tomcarr4630]

One of my favorite things about the great Jeff Hamilton. His touch and flow are always so smooooooth.

[@rickdior]

Me Too!

[@jaapvandenheuvel1997]

Great lesson Rick. Thanks.

[@mattchris7788]

I had the chance to see the "so young" David Garibaldi in concert in France this summer, with the legendary Tower Of Power. It's incredible to see how he plays : relaxed, minimised effortless movements, and it sounds so powerfull, with many dynamics. I wondered how to manage this. Thanks a lot for sharing with us the way to relaxed playing. Your video are just perfect. Keep on doing these videos, it's a pure nectar. Greetings from France ;-)

[@Ben-Jamminalot]

Absolutely. Playing Jazz,swing or Orchestrated music requires touch and feel in order to make dynamics in musical phrasing. This creates personality and finesse which naturally should make you play relaxed. Great video topic!

[@mrjohnstgeorge]

You have a great MUSICAL touch. Many drummers bang noise. You actually play the instrument. Musical Rebound.

[@PaulDrums]

Awesome lesson, love the cymbal flick right at the very end, very cool :)

[@Thajet2]

I love this solo. I enjoy watching great drummers.

[@richspicer7818]

Hi Rick, Great lesson! I started playing at age 5 and I am now 74 years young. I have never had any injuries from drumming and I contribute this to using good technique. However, I am always looking for ways to play easier as I get older. I am now working on the push / pull technique you use as one way to play easier. Thanks for all your youtube lessons, they are great! Your a great player! Also, I would love to try your sticks one day. Most of the time I use the VF Buddy Rich model sticks which seem to work well for me. Thanks again Rick. :)

[@rickdior]

Thanks Rich

[@constantkiffer7924]

Rick, to me this video is one of the most inspiring of your drum-video’s I ever watched ! 🤗

[@nicoladibara1936]

Just brilliant. Very, very enjoyable video.

[@OFLHLGZ28]

What a beautiful touch…..beautiful playing and technique

[@rickdior]

Thank You

[@nicoladibara1936]

Extremely entertaining. Great to watch. EXCELLENT! 👍👏👏

[@artbytar1]

I am just getting back into playing again after about 11 years of my drums stored in cases. About 20 years ago I was playing all the time and always felt SO limited and could never figure out how the pros played so fast with no effort. How I wish I had the opportunity to learn this back then! I've only been browsing some of your videos over the past week and they are phenomenal! Watching you play has breathed new life into my playing. I'm feeling the need to go back to basics and start from scratch! Thanks so much for making these videos available!

[@marcushaines8533]

Thank you. I will pass this knowledge forward! Great drumming!

[@ruffbiz]

My former teacher in the late 70s/80s studied under Joe Morello as well and had very similar style and technique. I look forward to watching more of your lessons. They are excellent! And you rip, obviously! 🥁🔥🔊

[@bobosch]

Rick, such a smooth solo! Your channel is my favorite:)

[@murielglass5333]

I've been playing 33 years and I still just go BOOM DAP BOOM DAP DAP BOOM. And I like it.

[@Jaythedrummer352]

Great man.i love jazz

[@paulstix1]

Thanks for the inspiration Rick . Love your videos over here in London .

[@mistermael2008]

Love your tuition, thanks 🙏🏽

[@jimbarcelona1078]

Hi Rick saw this video quite awhile ago and it had a great influence on my playing. Im abit seasoned aged wise ....now 67 and my body has gotten stiff but when playing im at my relaxed mode compliments of this video. Ive played since 1962 with various teachers. First being rudimental and then rock and then worked my true love JAZZ. Thank you Rick I enjoy all your videos. 40 rudiments is a favorite of mind. The Jazz videos are obviously are my favorite. Thanks again. Jim

[@rickdior]

Thank you Jim and thanks for watching Stay well

[@Lumpis1979]

Wonderful lesson, wonderful playing ❤ thank you Rick

[@dennisthate5787]

Legato and Staccato strokes ! Thankyou

[@brandonxu1262]

Wow...I just knew your drum teacher was Joe Morello. COOL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[@kevindorn]

I couldn't agree with you more about the great Jo Jones! Thank you for all of your wonderful videos!

[@ralfbursch4462]

Great Video Rick 🍀🥁……thank you 👏🏽🎼👏🏻👏🏿

[@russ6541]

rick i think your chops may be some of the smoothest on the planet

[@rickdior]

Thanks Russ

[@webstercat]

Great insight… Thanks

[@ThePisellin]

Thank you so much,Rick...

[@carstenbergmann8464]

Sounds amazing!

[@maximpopov199]

So Great touch and nice and precise, feathering feeling of the instrument!

[@schesser]

OK, what is that 5-sided cymbal thingy on Rick’s right-hand side that sounds so awesome? I think I need one!

[@christianboddum8783]

Man that Zildjan ride sounds sweet!! Great video (I'm a guitar player).

[@robertmessina6962]

Fantastic learning video When I first ever took drum lessons as a kid, stick grip was taught and bouncing and controlling the bounce. You are dead on buddy Great chops great vid!

[@Bebopin-69]

WHAT A GREAT INTRO…

[@janetremsing6988]

👍🙂 Super-nice!

[@lucienne66]

Thank you so much Rick for your answer to my previous question. Two more questions: -When you do push-pull for fast cymbal ostinato grooves, are you always doing push-pull-push-pull regardless of the rhythm (so for example triplets would be push-pull-push pull-push-pull and sixteenths would be push-pull-push-pull) or do you do use fingers sometimes for more than one note after a push (such as push-pull-pull-pull for sixteenths and push-pull-pull for triplets)? If you do both, how do you decide which to use? -To develop finger technique, do you recommend working on each finger separately as in the exercises in Gary Chafee's Technique Patterns book or just working all the fingers together? Thanks again and best regards, with much gratitude and appreciation for what you share on this channel.

[@toddheeter9075]

Rick, that was amazing. I'm a 50yr old, self taught, hard rock drummer and I wish you were my next door neighbor. I could learn a lot! I have a band called Bloody Loud Blues. We only have one (shitty) youtube of ourselves rehearsing. But I wanna be graceful, like you and Bill Bruford, Dave Weckl, etc. I'll continue watching!

[@rickdior]

Hi Todd Love the name of your blues band.

[@boomerguy9935]

Joe Morello always emphasized the "relaxed technique" which lets the stick do the work ("stick control"). When you relax and let the MUSIC flow, you will be surprised at how many more and different sounds will come out of the heads and the cymbals at all volumes. When you discover this, it is like a form of meditation.

[@jimmycooke1361]

fantastic playing

[@paulh.boissard5237]

I still can't wrap my head around the fact that your teacher was Joe Morello...

[@rickdior]

Joe had hundreds of students over the last 30 years of his career. He dedicated himself to teaching for the better part of his life and we all owe him a huge amount of gratitude for that.

[@gustavoborchert]

@@rickdior Absolutely.

[@midinerd]

such a pleasure to watch... thanks so much for posting this

[@glennracoma7481]

Great tutorial. Would the tension on the batter heads make a difference on the rebound (bounce)? Being that drums are usually tuned higher (tighter) with jazz so my thoughts are that it may help on the drop of the sticks then reciprocates on the rebound. Thank you. I always find your videos very helpful and inspiring. You're obviously a well seasoned drummer and I've learned a lot from your videos. I also just started teaching so this will help me a lot in regards to technique.

[@arthorvonblomberg1624]

Great lesson Rick, very insightful....

[@briandommel6179]

Subbed!! Excited to check out your video library!

[@barrydrocknrail2231]

I tend to play into the drums as if they are proppng me up. Need to heed this video.

[@patrickberkery8854]

As always, awesome, Rick!

[@danman1243]

Love the top down view!

[@SightNSoundBand]

Great playing and video...

[@darkou1980]

Thanks ❤

[@romanchaplinskyy5887]

Amazing lesson. Thank's a lot!

[@garytalbot3573]

Brilliant content Rick, thanks. The push/pull technique for fast one-handed 16ths has bugged me for ages, just couldn't get it. Watched this video & have spent 1.5hrs on it...& finally it's happening (albeit bit shuffly atm). Thanks from the UK 🙏

[@rickdior]

Hi Gary So glad the vid helped you. Stay Well Rick

[@timekeep3r]

Beautyful

[@MonacoRocha]

Very Nice Rick..!

[@georgemickel6608]

Hi Rick, what cameras are you using and how do you sync the video footage flawlessly? Thanks for the video too! Kind regards, George

[@artbytar1]

What is the percussion instrument next to the floor tom called? Looks like flat cowbell assortment. Adds a nice touch...

[@rickdior]

Hi Timothy Thats Called a Fredrico Percussion Pan Man Fan I did a video on it recently. You can find that here kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6PWmYWOgs6Fe7M

[@Joethedrummer]

Thanks for a beatiful video, Rick. I can not make the push pull work

[@rickdior]

Hi Make sure you are dropping the first stroke with your wrist and let it bounce up. After that grab the stick with your fingers for an upstroke. It should all feel very much bounced and not forced. Make sure you are not using your arm. Take your time and go slow at first. It is a perpetual motion technique so it does not require much effort at a slow tempo.

[@Joethedrummer]

@@rickdior Thanks so much for your in depth reply. I think I've been practicing the right way. I have good rebound and have been working on it for the last couple of years. Thinking about perpetual motion, that might help... :-D

[@josephbradetich1560]

Thanks

[@lucienne66]

Thank you for this helpful video Rick. In what situations on the cymbals would you use the push-pull vs fingers only? Towards the end when you talked about bouncing the stick on the cymbals to get that shaft-tip sound, we’re you using moeller?

[@rickdior]

No Moeller in this video. That is a shaft tip technique that many R & B players use. I use the push pull when I play many consecutive measures of a fast continuous rhythm such as 16ths in a row. The fingers will eventually get tired where the push pull is a perpetual motion technique that can continue forever.

[@stefanodalelio480]

Great work

[@ricklang_drummer]

At 9.22 I was convinced we were talking about a French timpani grip. Not a German? Else very informative (from one Rick to another)!

[@rickdior]

Hi Rick French timpani grip is thumb on top of the stick and all fingers. In the German timpani grip thumb would be slightly to the side with less fingers and more wrist. There are several timpani grips that are combinations of both these days. Thanks

[@ricklang_drummer]

@@rickdior Hi Rick! Appreciate a speedy reply:) I agree completely. I was just under the impression that your grip looked very French @ 9.22 while you say "of course, that's a German timpani grip". But then again, I am merely a drumset player.

[@morrisbag]

Thank you Master Dior….nobody told me this stuff 50 years ago

[@stereofidelic67]

I've gone from watching Drumeo to this!

[@corradomanganaro7150]

hi I follow you a lot. I wanted to know which model of ride cymbal you use thanks 👍 sorry for my English

[@rickdior]

Hi Corrado It depends on what video of mine you are watching. I have many ride cymbals. If you look in the description for each video it lists the drums and cymbals I am using.

[@AardvaarkTonto]

Growing up in the 1950s/60s England with legions of bands forming to try and emulate the stars of the day (Ringo is much better and more relaxed than he gets credit for, he got booked because he'd play everything right). Unfortunately both money and music teachers were thin on the ground and so we all taught ourselves. So we ended up playing with some very odd ideas. I'd have asked Ginger Baker for advice but he was always too drunk and bad tempered. That sort of thing put us off teachers. I ended up with some very loud bands doing approximate covers and original material. So after thirty years I could do what I did very well but to move on when I had time into the jazz end of music was a huge physical stress. I DID use "Rolling in Rhythm" (given to me by a very technical if eccentric jazz drummer who didn't know how he got such good technique so couldn't tell me) and I had learned odd times early on from the back notes of Take Five by Dave Brubeck. Basically I learned by watching all of the then unknown great British drummers and bands like John Hiseman and Aynsley Dunbar from about ten feet in those days. But now I have to relearn Rolling in Rhythm properly this time. You see Mr Dior is such a good and generous music instructor he's probably the only online teacher you can trust at that distance. Incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of hand and stick playing. He is generous with it too. Don't get me wrong though. I had a fantastic time and still will, I'm just learning more because I want to learn more and thanks to Mr Dior I am.

[@amurphful]

Hey Rick. I've had multiple excellent teachers in my teens into my early twenties (now late 30s). I'm still to this day trying to get an more than just 'adequate' left hand finger stroke speed. I'm play matched grip exclusively now. Any tips? I have put my time in practicing over the years. Although, I should hit the pad more often these days.

[@hollywood-drums]

wonderful! I would like to know the name of that multicross "cymbal" :)

[@rickdior]

Hi Luca That is a Fredrico Pan-Man-Fan I did a video all about it last week and you can find it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6PWmYWOgs6Fe7M

[@hollywood-drums]

@@rickdior thanks for the info

[@josephbradetich1560]

What s your opinion on people taping cymbals Steve had does that

[@morbidmanmusic]

What ever worksbfornthe music is the answer. So, learn to listen and be discriminating

[@morbidmanmusic]

That kit sound like my wahlberg &auge

[@WordsRuinMusic]

I have some W&A sets also. Very cool drums.

[@TikTok_refugees1977]

Joe Morello does this technique and is very fluid in playing check it out.

[@rickdior]

Yes, I witnessed Joe play like this .....up close....very close....for many years.

[@danlc95]

It's funny... To play the relaxed technique effectively with two toms mounted over my 22" bass drum, I have to sit so high I feel off balance. My largest rack tom is an 8"×12" drum. When I sit lower, with the snare slightly tilted towards me, I end up using a first finger/thumb fulcrum, which instantly tightens things up. I can play very precise this way, but I'm not getting the flow I get with the middle finger/thumb position. When I started using the relaxed approach in 1998, I played a five piece where all my drums were flat. My 12" tom was mounted off the crash cymbal stand. I used to get so many calls and work playing that way. So now I'm trying to figure out which way I'm going to go. I may go back to my "Vik Foxx" flat kit again. I may have to. I miss my feet!

[@louisvassallo797]

WHAT IS THAT FLAT RIDE, I USE PAISTE 602 18 AND 20

[@rickdior]

Hi Louis It's an 18" Paiste traditional flat ride. I will be publishing a video on small flat rides next week so look for that.

[@josephbradetich1560]

Sorry for miss spelling

[@midinerd]

fields of ghost notes as far as the ears can see whew

[@will9523]

So many teachers on youtube always demonstrate the fast, one handed singles where the wrist and thumb/index grip are perfectly still and it just the fingers doing all the work. but then when they go to demonstrate actual playing their wrists are involved in almost every stroke. it just is misleading. am i missing something?

[@rickdior]

Hi Will The wrists are always in motion but that does not mean that they are fully responsible for all of the strokes. Flowing speed is created by a combination of rebound, wrist and finger strokes. Getting those things to work together is the key to great technique and sound. This takes coordination as well so just practicing individual hands on a pad won't do it. You have to work on stoke combinations by dropping the stick with your wrist (no shoulders) and letting it bounce and then playing follow up strokes with your fingers.

[@will9523]

@@rickdior I understand. I've just been taking that example too literally. 🤦 Thank you for the reply.

[@andthensome512]

A renowned rock drummer who I find very uncomfortable to watch is Tommy Aldridge. All forearms. No wrist snap. It looks like he’s working way too hard to get sound out of his drums.

[@lifetabmedion8984]

You can play like RICK DIOR ? ... OK you can call yourself a drummer !