Riccardo Merlini’s Killer Speed Secrets (Fastest Hands On The Planet)

Watch more of this mind-blowing approach to hand technique and speed development from Italian drummer Riccardo Merlini 👉 drmch.nl/3PJtU8w
In the course, Merlini shares a step-by-step guide to building the correct form and muscles used to play this technique with control and blazing speed.
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Italian drummer, fastest hands on the planet, graduated at Conservatory, student of Mike Mangini (Dream Theater) in Boston. Teacher, clinician, Riccardo is also one of the world fastest drummers who discovered and developed the fastest hands technique for a human being reaching 400BPM with single stroke roll. Drummers from all over the world studies with Riccardo like superstar percussionist Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill study, Mike Reid (drummer for Janet Jackson, Rihanna) and many others from around the world.
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[@drumchannel]

Watch more of this mind-blowing approach to hand technique and speed development from Italian drummer Riccardo Merlini 👉 drmch.nl/3PJtU8w

[@rebusd]

Please take my money Mr. Wizard

[@TheKoderius]

WOW, this is pure gold. If Lang is amazed by someone he must be really something.

[@frankburdodrums8984]

Yup. Very true.

[@Martin_Bernard]

That's because Lang is so slow compared to Riccardo

[@reezlaw]

Imagine Thomas Lang saying on camera that he's gonna take lessons from you

[@wiggy009]

That’s insane to even think about that level of skill

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

You learn from everybody I think the only drummer who didn’t learn from others was Buddy Rich all though he had his drummers he did like Thomas Lang is like the best there is but yet can take a lesson from Riccatdo with this insane technique

[@TheMetalFreshTiger]

Thomas actually takes a lot of lessons from many drummers! He said that in an interview, but I don’t remember where. That’s another reason why he’s so great! Don’t fight “the enemy” but learn from him 🤘

[@stonythedrummer]

I bought Ricardo’s lessons 2 years ago, and still use his bare hand warmups everyday. I came from marching band background, and I’m not gonna lie it took some getting used to. We would use matched grip and were taught to use more forearm for accents, so learning this wrist rotation made me feel like a day one drummer. However I will say this technique is a game changer. I used to sweat so much when I would play shows, but with this technique it keeps you so relaxed. This guy is changing the next gen of drumming I’m telling you.

[@MGBlast666]

word to that!

[@igunashiodesu]

You should check out Isac Jamba.

[@hecbiz75]

I've only been playing drums for 13 months. I'm into death metal and thrash, so speed is a big goal for me (I'm also into classical, funk, latin music, opera, jazz, old blues...but I digress). So, I tried this today. After many failed attempts, it suddenly clicked for a few seconds in my right hand - I'm a leftie. It's still hit and miss, but with persistent practice, I believe this could be a game changer. Thank you.

[@user-wr1oc4yt3r]

Thank you Ricardo for sharing this! Trying to get back into drumming after 40 years and boy it is an uphill climb! But loving it.

[@joeldrummer23]

Yes 😂 🙏🏻🙏🏻 but we all love the grind 😀

[@dbikeguy]

I'm 29 and I've been playing guitar, piano and various other instruments for about 20 years. Drums have always been the one path I never ventured down, so last week I bought myself a practice pad and have just been practicing for an hour or so a day doing rudiments and getting my hands up to speed. My non dominant left hand has been struggling, however I discovered that I really had a lot of control that felt natural in my right hand already. I've spent the last 5 or 6 years mostly playing bluegrass-style acoustic guitar, practicing/playing a ton of crosspicking, alternate picked lines where every note is picked and there's no legato going on, which has essentially been a big boot camp in wrist control, finger placement adjustments, and pick angles. So I was sitting here working on double rolls and I came across this video, tried the technique as you described it, and almost instantly was able to double my speed in my right hand. I'm convinced it is because of what I've been focusing on the past few years on guitar. The transfer of mechanics from one to the next really blew my mind, and it was so satisfying to feel as if I already had a grasp of this crazy technique you've innovated. Reminds me of when I was 16 and I took my best friend skiing for his first time. I had been skiing for a few years at that point, and felt like a pro. The first couple of runs, he was a little shaky on them. Then on the 3rd or 4th run, I remember him saying "oh, this is just like skating". He has been playing hockey since he was 4 years old, and I shit you not, on the next run, that kid was hitting jumps in the terrain park, dominating a black diamond trail, and skiing friggan backwards. I was furious bahahahah.

[@jpizzleforizzle]

Very cool. I came across this grip by accident many years ago. For me it's like an exaggerated French grip, which allows the combination of small wrist and finger movements to create more speed. I think by cocking the wrist downward it isolates small muscles in the wrist and fingers from larger forearm muscles.

[@angelagk4884]

It's ankle motion applied to hands

[@frusio]

We are so proud of Riccardo!!! 👊🏾 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 👊🏾

[@FesteringGhoul]

I learned about this guy very recently and he instantly became my new favorite drummer

[@acmesalute76]

This video made me go back and watch a video with Hannes Grossmann. He uses a very similar technique but doesn’t explain it as well. This actually helped me a ton, because the fingers technique never felt that good, but adding the slight wrist rotation works so well for me! I think it’s the fact I have shorter thumbs. Whatever the reason, this is great, so thank you!

[@hefewiseman]

thanks for posting ,taking the time.. very interesting

[@VermontScaleCustoms]

Wow, such a short vid! I was ready to watch Riccardo play for hours. I would love to see how he approached the brush technique on all the different surfaces. Not that I use brushes that much but that was fascinating to see at the beginning. @YoniMadar has some amazing speed as well. That guy has crazy good technique!

[@johnscott7442]

“As you can see, especially with my left hand , I’m not really able to play with this technique “ Left hand: 203 BPM

[@LukeTang-t8l]

Yeah but he can play up to 450 bpm with his techniques. He has a video on his KZbin channel of him doing a single stroke roll at 450, and a video of him doing a 400 bpm blast beat!😊

[@rebusd]

That is batshit crazy lol. There's another comment here about Lang's awe being even more impressive. In light of his comment deriding WFD some years ago, his enthusiasm is extra-interesting.

[@damianneve]

I legitimately have been doing that since 1999 making belive I could play drums and ppl made fun of me and now it's a legitimate technique 😄 🤣 😂 I can't believe this

[@GianpaoloGallianOfficial]

Thanks, Thomas! And Thanks Riccardo!! A beautiful technique! :-)

[@johnscott7442]

Thank you bro ! Much love to you Tommy !!!🔥🔥🔥

[@zumb42]

In aeronautics it would be called "afterburning". To the natural movement of the fingers, the additional force of the hand turned slightly to one side is added. I will try to apply it. Thanks.

[@therealdavidmac]

In about ten mins I could start breaking through. Good advice here. I’m been playing drums since a kid but I’m revamping my technique and this one doesn’t stress my fingers

[@jarrahdrum]

its fantastic

[@TylerOath]

Finally this guy gets some recognition!!

[@collinscollins5595]

Also the Drum Channel is truly successful as they can pay Lang to do interviews. And the guest is incredible of course. Awesome stuff DC!

[@Mar-ow9me]

Thank you brother!!

[@GustavoLopez-ig9tc]

Excelente. Gracias por compartir este pequeño gran tesoro!

[@emergentform1188]

Wow that's brilliant and so counter-intuitive. You've certainly earned your place in drumming history with that craziness. Salute!

[@pauloguitar4366]

This guy is really good with the flying fingers technique, geesh.

[@kjc9trader491]

IDEA: Slow the speed of your player to .25 --- Now it makes a little more visual sense!

[@janetremsing6988]

🤯Mind sufficently BLOWN!!! Niceness!👍

[@gadymarcus5297]

magnifico.

[@danlc95]

I stumbled on a similar technique when my old acoustic cover band did Ramble On by Led Zeppelin. I did that 16th beat on my floor tom with my right hand while muffling the drum with my left. I had to find a way to jeep thay groove going with one hand, which resulted in a new technique for me. I don't rely on rebounds though. I manufacturer the rebound when needed by nature of the motion. This past summer I was concentrating on the Buddy approach, and I was able to unlock some things, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted to continue with. So about a month ago I switched my grips up a bit, and I'm finally getting the control and speed up. Had I not done that Ramble On song I may have ever stumbled upon the new approach.

[@adolfotapias9397]

It's brutal!!!! it's time to practice hell yeahh

[@Martin_Bernard]

And in two weeks we will reach 300 bpm

[@adolfotapias9397]

@@Martin_Bernard jajajaja sure jejeje

[@diegoguillen4378]

Be careful with tendinitis 😅

[@adolfotapias9397]

@@diegoguillen4378 jejejejejej

[@demetriosberotas3517]

It's a rarher composite motion. My experience, is that it came naturally for my left hand. Finger pulling was not quite working in terms of speed or control so the wrist kind of did the rest of the job without me even thinking. But, it didn;t come for my right hand (dominant) which is way stronger and more apt. So it was either fingers or wrist for that. (Pure wrist gets me up to 200-210 - fingers roughly up to 230-246 bpm. What I'll try inext, is to start practicing from 200 bpm and not go up (on the right hand), before I see the combination of wrist rotation and finger pulling, actually working - and see what happens next.

[@justlooking6898]

'...with my left hand, I cannot really play with this technique'... Bldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldldl!!! (I even typed that out fast, having seen that technique, lol); Cannot wait to try this! Rock and Rolllllllllllllllllllllllllllll....................🍀🍀🍀

[@kirjian]

2 weeks?! 🤯

[@bellwagonjuice6014]

This guy is flat out amazing. I've still yet to see a student of his get as good though. I can't help but wonder if a lot of it is just down to how he's built. I get that there's a lot of practice time needed to try to get a handle on anything "unusual", but a lot of the footage of people at his camps and training courses seem to just show them struggling at the same sort of level trying to do the basic technique. Maybe I've missed something?

[@rightturnnews805]

Incredible. I wonder if he could adapt it to conga playing a la Mano Secreto?

[@prod_adrian]

This reminds me a bit of how Inferno from Behemoth plays with wrist motion, looks very stiff, but also rotating the hand like that. Interesting

[@jamesblace5761]

this is so genius!

[@peacefulbliss1]

Thanks for posting this, it is amazing what this guy does. He may have meant well, but I never really got the explanation for how he does it. Is it the way you position your hand? Any replies is appreciated, thanks...

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

This is amazing, I wish he would of given some excersises to do while playing hand technique. I guess just keep playing alternate singles and hope for the best. Been trying this for years now and its just not clicking. I can't figure it out and I have BA in Music and almost 40 years of playing drums. LOL

[@lucaaganetti7931]

Grandissimo Riccardo!!!

[@lukescipiortherockshow1975]

Thank you

[@shatteredstiks7392]

I play on pillows or non bounce surfaces a lot builds the wrists, forearms, and fingers all works together to build stamina.

[@sticktrik]

Same technique that Mike Mangini developed!!!

[@diegoguillen4378]

Didn't he learn this technique with Mike Mangini? He never mentioned him 🤔

[@TripleDeluxeDrums]

drummers have pushed the envelope for hand speed and foot speed to new levels.

[@rebusd]

In my practice heyday, I was able to do a respectably fast hand roll (thumb and pinky) on a djembe using that wrist trick after a corps guy showed me trad grip. I appear to have lost it do to decrepitude (lol) but I'm pondering its relation to what Wiz talks about here about 3:40

[@Thetimetraveler88mph]

That’s my dude forreal !!!

[@V4Victory93]

Not at all surprised that he is Mike Mangini's student !

[@eddierivera1860]

Amazing!

[@saguarotreker]

This is the same ergonomics that gave EVH such great speed.

[@bilhamcobbly2957]

Everyone in the chat will probably attempt this.Good luck to us all.

[@TheMerryPup]

What’s the brand of those practice pads?

[@andreamazza-7MZ_R3bornDigital]

Grande Ricardo! 👏👏👏

[@andreamazza-7MZ_R3bornDigital]

Riccardo scusate ..

[@mrt5342]

:58 - we all know how Peter Parker became Spider Man...I'd bet Mr. Merlini was bit by a radioactive hummingbird!!!

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Who cares. Spiderman sucks. Batman is far better and cooler.

[@mrt5342]

@@dcmastermindfirst9418 You're right, who cares.

[@orionmcnebula]

The ladies are gonna love this new technique. All in the wrist 😉

[@jamisbillson4872]

His hands have got a battery in them. Staggering speed.

[@Tekkerue]

A while back I scoured KZbin for Riccardo's tutorials trying to learn how to do this, but my hands don't glitch like that. 🥲

[@giovannidibartolomeo2967]

PorcacciaDellaMiseria, che velocità di rullo INCREDIBILE! Penso che NON È solo una questione di allenamenti e sacrifici MA probabilmente anche di un DONO naturale...Noo?

[@namesake7139]

Once he figured out the the technique it took him two weeks to get to the speed he's at now..... Wow!!!!! Like a super Saiyan

[@bryanharrison3889]

I used to do this back in the early 2000s until i switched to push-pull.

[@mcAzcrew]

didnt hannes grossmann used this technique and called "hybrid technique" long ago?

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

Yeah, his technique is pretty similar, although he puts more emphases on the fingers. It's the same technique Mike Mangini uses too, which he said he figured it out by himself. So I think it's just a natural motion you discover if you spend a lot of time experimenting.

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

Most of us may never get to do it like him thats just the way it is It’s something he does just like Thomas does his thing which is a handful in the world maybe Like Buddy Rich even today people try to mimic him There’s always a special gift out there just except it and learn and be urself

[@rayelfers3730]

Great technique! Iv noticed how small his drum sticks are, I wonder if that helps with speed?

[@superironman]

It'd help for sure but he does it with hammers and stuff just as clean so it's definitely not essential

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

No. Small sticks making you faster is one of the biggest myths that exist in drumming. In fact, bigger sticks do in fact make you faster. He didn't show it in this video, but with this technique you can play even without sticks. You can hold anything in your hand and play 300bpm single strokes on a pillow, because you don't need rebound either.

[@bornr2797]

The fasest ever....this guy is awsome

[@toolband1992]

It's kinda like the 'flying finger' technique you see in extreme metal bands. But you've managed to tweak it and you would be wicked at blast beats. You gotta b near 300bpm? Yeah that's true it would put a lot of stress on your joints as I regularly see players doing 270+ and some had to switch to push-pull cause FF just caused to much pain and that seems the clear technique to play fast tempo's besides yours. Thanks a lot, mate, VERY impressive and economical. :)

[@prod_adrian]

Exactly. Doesnt look too healthy on the long run, or when played for longer sections like blast beats. I think Inferno from Behemoth uses some similar technique but even more with wrist motion than fingers.

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

He's can reach way beyond 300bpm though. He has videos playing clean 32nd single strokes at 170 bpm. But it's not like the flying fingers technique at all. The downstroke is all on the wrist, while the fingers help bringing the stick back, so the wrist can throw it down again. Flying fingers has the fingers doing all the work, which is different from this.

[@thetylerfish9089]

TWO WEEKS!! He said two weeks. I won’t be that fast in two lifetimes. Guess I’ll try tho.

[@mati1956]

una locura

[@ScottMartinD]

0:57

[@radiosant]

Does anyone what those pants Riccardo’s wearing is? They’re damn cool.

[@andrewworrall4302]

Like a hangover check

[@catobekkevold8333]

Thomas Lang is almost the spitting image of Norwegian speed skater Johan Olav Koss!

[@darrylbaker273]

Kewl.

[@justinkiehlmeier563]

its like trem picking on guitar with the wrist

[@lajeanette33]

I have to say fast for sure but with brushes as well?! 🤯

[@hasan_bahramian]

🤘🤘🙏❤️🌹

[@JloBroOFFICIAL]

Anyone practice this? What’s your experience like?

[@iamcraiger]

hopefully he can afford some new pants now

[@bellwagonjuice6014]

😂😂😂😂

[@JamesBerlo]

YIKES !!! ???

[@hasan_bahramian]

🌹 💞 💞

[@ceciacece]

il migliore!!!

[@rockerwill777]

It's blastbeats!? Grindcore drummers have been doing this since the 80s!

[@martinleicht5911]

😎 👍

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

His single stroke roll sounds like my press roll.

[@batouttahell454]

Take that to the Grocery store

[@jacobkmet1577]

🤘🏻

[@danield2398]

When terminator T-1000 meets T-5000

[@szymapert7799]

Riccardo is a beast but come on, its impossible to make a progress from 180 to 300(or even more like him) in two weeks. it can takes months or even years, of course it depends but not in such a short period of time...or he's just a genius xD

[@baorozzo]

I’ve studied with him. I improved really fast, I reached 300bpm easily. I think it takes me some weeks bot not really a lot. He is a great teacher, for sure!

[@mhm6]

@@baorozzo awesome but can you go that fast anytime you want? I’ll nail something one day and the next day, it’s like I’m attempting it for the first time.

[@baorozzo]

@@mhm6 i think that you can… It’s required just to be consistent with the study. I reach fast these speed, I apply these techniques every time I can: while going to work, on my car in a row while blocked on the traffic, or while watching tv… This technique doesn’t need a surface to rebound to. You can literally play on a piece of paper that is suspended on just one side.

[@19tet]

the day i figure out how to do this ....

[@Carriesaglock]

Dude’s fast ya but check out the stuff Ramon Montagner does its amazing.

[@rolandbachmann1743]

Now that we've seen El Siberiano lets put them up in a fight.

[@ljs5025]

옆모습이 레옹닮😂

[@LauceHarry]

His wife must be really happy

[@gospelplayer2]

Took 2 weeks lol Wth

[@haventhebeast6050]

I could match him

[@scpk2246]

is he faster than RAMON MONTAGNER push pull technique?

[@cmdrumming6104]

He's got a lucky partner ; )

[@claudioolate2516]

What the actual f*#@. He can play faster than my both hands. (I'm a begginerl

[@superkas]

His woman definitely love him

[@carlucciotrapella9536]

Merlini come velocità e' inarrivabile forse dopo 20 anni 12 ore al giorno possiamo sperare di arrivare a questi livelli ma dubito molto