Rick's Licks: Finger Control and Sticking Exercises

[@Rossa1958]

Great lesson Rick, thank you so much for explaining it and demonstrating it…

[@rickslicks1851]

Thank you. It takes patience to master this stuff but it has transformed my hands over the years in such a positive way.

[@charlesdexterbrewer6586]

I’ve been doing these exercises for a long time. You’ll get results. I have a more effortless follow through with the sticks, and a good tone and attack. No one part of my hands are getting too much responsibility. I’ll break away from the finger control as triplets to play some rudiments like the Swiss Army triplet. I went through a phase where I put a towel over the practice pad to get more resistance but only after doing the exercise for several years.

[@rickslicks1851]

Hey Charles. Glad this has worked for you as it has for hundreds of other drummers.

[@JohnPickup]

Thanks for this video, Rick. I'm a piano guy but I just bought myself a snare and a practice pad to mess about with and I feel like I might be getting somewhere with this routine.

[@rickslicks1851]

Yo John. Practicing and getting better at drumming and rhythm will only improve your piano playing so you have nothing to lose, much to win.

[@JohnPickup]

@@rickslicks1851 Yeah absolutely. Lots of similarities in finger and wrist technique. Lots of similarities in left hand piano comping vs snare comping, ride hand piano lines vs ride cymbal patterns. I just need to develop some stick control to get started and these exercises will really help.

[@jcushon]

Great explanation, demonstration and content. Will use and recommend to my students!

[@rickslicks1851]

Thanks so much for the kudos. I hope you get good use from it. You might want to get "Independence on the Drum Set" for any drum set students you may have. From Hal Loenard at: www.halleonard.com/product/6620090/independence-on-the-drumset . Great companion to all of my Rick's Licks videos complete with example audio files.

[@sevensilverflowers]

Thanks for sharing this exercise. Looking forward to using this as a warm up. Cheers!

[@rickslicks1851]

You're welcome. it's worked for me and countless students that I've taught it to for years.

[@sevensilverflowers]

@@rickslicks1851 It's that dreaded left hand. It will take time and patience to make it feel good. I do the exercise without a stick when I take my dog for a walk to build up the muscle memory.

[@GKMusic54]

Rick, Great stuff! Are you the same Ricky Sebastian that played on a Bill O'Connell record that I think was called "Lost Voices"?

[@rickslicks1851]

Hi. Yes, one and the same. Glad you're enjoying the videos. Check out my book "Independence on the Drum Set" available from Hal Leonard Corporation.

[@GKMusic54]

​@@rickslicks1851 Great record! Your playing on it is beautiful!!

[@rickslicks1851]

@@GKMusic54 Thanks so much.

[@DieTrommelbudeDrumschool]

Great Exercise👍

[@rickslicks1851]

glad you're enjoying the videos.

[@Edward-q2q]

Great Vid, can we have a close-up of you a bit more just for us visual learners ??

[@rickslicks1851]

How close do you need it?

[@Edward-q2q]

@rickslicks1851 it be good if it was on your fingers and hand . I only have my phone to watch, so when the click goes , you're saying each finger plus the sound of the pad be good to see what you're saying. Thank you, sir

[@s4lroachclip]

That left hand lesson is almost a guitar exercise! I have been trying this very first part, on my left and I am not getting it. The stick is flying every way. My right though is fine. It feels like brain damage causing the nervous system pathways to be blocked as if I had a stroke or something... But I have passed a milestone of playing doubles using this same finger technique. Like within a couple days I was doing 32nds at 70bpm for a longer time with no tension or stress on the muscles. Ill have to time it, next time after 30 second my left double starts to miss the second hit and I have to start again. i am trying to get a paradidle to sound like a roll...70bpm is my current threshold for 8ths.

[@rickslicks1851]

Keep working that left hand with my finger control exercises and I garauntee that you will get your left hand together like you never thought possible. I've taught this to thousands of students in my career.

[@s4lroachclip]

@@rickslicks1851 Thanks, How do you keep the stick from wandering right and left, so it stays just up and down? You make it look so easy.

[@graememcdonald1547]

@@s4lroachclip I have the same problem with my left hand. Used to be a trad gripper. I am aware of squeezing/tensing my biceps when trying to execute. ( good word)😁

[@auroraborealis3105]

Agreed. Have been working on this for a week now (left hand) and just give up in frustration as even playing eighth notes at 50 bpm is a challenge. Using the middle finger is somewhat tolerable, but transitioning to ring and little fingers is very difficult. Thanks for the tutorial though!

[@rickslicks1851]

You can't give up and have to keep trying. Your left hand will get there. I've had many students that persevered and were successful with this and it changed their playing forever.

[@MonacoRocha]

Hi Rick How Are you.. If I woodshed this Material WILL I GET ALL THE GIGS WITH THE BEST OF THE bestEST..?????

[@rickslicks1851]

Maybe not, but it will certainly help you achiever your goals. Lol.

[@MonacoRocha]

@@rickslicks1851 Hi Rick Lust Kidding Brother.. Stay Well... You still in N.Orleans?

[@rickslicks1851]

@@MonacoRocha Yes I am. No desire to live NYC at this point in my life. Where are you?

[@MonacoRocha]

@@rickslicks1851 After 34 years ( Astoria Queens) I GOT OUT Of Nyc..Went Back to Brasil for 3 years & 2 Years In Havana Now I'm in Montreal ,My 98 year old Mom is in an Old Folks Home ( gotta do The Right Thing) After She Goes ( IF she Goes Before Me ) I'm Off But I still don't know Where.. But For SURE Out Of North America....67 Now Things Change.. Who The F. would wanna live in NYC at this age? To play at the Zinc bar for $50.. Lol!!!! Stay well brother....

[@tjroy]

I loved my red yammy