Rock Drumming Stick Tricks & Showmanship - Glen Sobel

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Want to have more showmanship as a drummer? Do you crave nothing more than to entertain the crowd, impress your friends, and keep yourself busy during simpler parts? Alice Cooper is known for putting on entertaining and wild live concerts, and stick tricks help drummer Glen Sobel put on a show from behind his drum kit!
But one word of caution before you start throwing crazy flourishes into your routine: don’t do this in the wrong place or wrong song (like a sad ballad)! With great power comes great responsibility, as they say.
Glen pulls off his stick twirls by placing the stick in a ‘cigar grip’ between your index and middle finger. Use your index finger to get the momentum going (watch the video to see how he balances it and wobbles it up and down) and the stick will start turning in a circle.
The key, of course, is incorporating this into a groove. First, get used to playing a single stroke while doing a twirl in between hits. Try it with both your right and left hand. This is easiest to do in a rock groove where the hi-hat hand is playing quarter notes.
You don’t want to interrupt the flow of the groove or have stick tricks mess up your playing. Your priority should always be to play the song well, so get comfortable before you start incorporating it into your drumming with other people. Stick tricks have a time and place, so be careful - only do it when it’s warranted.
If you want to do more with your right hand - or if you’re playing playing eighth notes - you can substitute your left hand to make room for the stick trick. When your right hand is busy, your left hand can play the notes your right hand would’ve been playing.
Try this stick twirl with double and single strokes and in hand foot combinations as well. You can even get both hands twirling at once!
Follow Glen:
►Facebook: / drummerglen
►Instagram: / glen_sobel
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►Facebook: / drumeo
►Instagram: / drumeoofficial
#glennsobel #alicecooper #sticktricks

[@fripptricky5099]

Glen: "You gotta make sure the gig is appropriate for stick tricks." Me: *furiously writing the words "wedding reception"*

[@hugodogobob]

I used to be a night manager at a wedding venue, it's definitely appropriate drunk people love that shit

[@interspace9846]

@Carter Dominic Me too! your gf loved my stick tricks!

[@austintaylor7117]

Sunday morning worship !!! 😭😂😂

[@Mityob67]

Can we talk about how beautiful the drums sound?

[@nicholas_james]

Earthworks

[@TheCjc34]

DW Customs... the new KING

[@mansi2248]

Totally

[@jmatthewgallant]

toms

[@tysteven6279]

I was thinking the same thing

[@stevematin6050]

Cooperdrummer: *Breathes Heavily*

[@human2069]

Someone needs to send him this

[@PeterEnis69]

what the heck, his right foot technique for the doubles is amazing

[@tomjackson3794]

He looks like he's playing heel/toe.

[@ATONE.]

10:00 with that upward cymbal stroke!

[@nicholas_james]

I'm happy to accidentally do that.

[@RafikMankariosDrumStudio]

Stick trick or not, Glen Sobel is one of the most versatile and amazing drummers on the planet! Although he's obviously rock-inclined, he's got phenomenal chops and musical vocabulary. He could easily be playing a funk gig without batting an eyelash.

[@BradSchlueter]

No doubt!

[@jmfs3497]

I warm up my hands with basic twirling. It feels good to stretch the fingers and feel the gravity, fulcrum, etc. I never really intentionally do tricks while playing, but practicing the basic "tricks" improves my stick control, allows me to switch grips in the moment, and minimizes catastrophic drops, lol.

[@miwasinner1758]

Finally!!! Mr. Glen Sobel on Drumeo!🤘🏻🔥🥁 hope this will be the first of many videos by Glen!

[@DrumeoOfficial]

More to come. 🙂 For all our lessons with Glen, check out: www.Drumeo.com

[@miwasinner1758]

Drumeo soooo stalked!!! Yeah, very much interested in joining his Drumeo class! I think he can be a good drum teacher🥁🤘🏻🔥

[@cauldronofcreations6138]

I'm gonna start learning this year, at my 26 years, and being born with a hand deformity in my left hand (locked joints), I'm kinda worried, but I'm excited to start learning! I learned the stick twirl watching this video and am probably gonna be watching with attention in the following months, plus some more from this channel! Thank you!🤘🏻

[@matthewcleary6870]

Great to see someone putting the truth out there about stick tricks. Great work.

[@Ricken2022]

I am not a drummer but I love to watch the magic ...that’s a great video.

[@alienair1748]

Glen is such a fun, humble and down to Earth man. I made some comment long ago after an Alice show in Dallas when he ripped a world changer drum solo during Halo of Flies. Glen responded within the day, a sweet and generous thankful answer. . . He's also ALA John Blackwell, R.I.P. - a fantastic learn for stick trickery and drumming. He's a consummate professional, just like the great Mr Vincent Furnier, who Ive met and spoken with. Superb human being.

[@JNovalis]

Glen the incredible. Super clean playing, technique, tricks, and CYMBAL CHOKES. Great educator.

[@dougsteeleguitar]

Good ole' Glen. Hung with him when AC was just out in Melbourne. I love the guy.

[@darrellroireau4061]

Awesome tricks and beautiful kit! Such precision!

[@Lorensr1]

I saw Glen play with Alice. In September 2021. I was hugely impressed by Glen and the whole band and Alice of course. They really are a superb rock band: one of the best in the business. Great musicians who have the music, sound, and looks down and a perfect complement to who Alice still has it big time.

[@shaguftanix]

I do that turning with my pen in class and everyone literally thinks I'm the coolest kid doing it.......I have a talent😭

[@AzizDoufikar2280]

same bro.

[@jameswalstrom2433]

I've been to quite a few Drum Clinics & GLEN was my Favorite... Talked a little, PLAYED a LOT... Fantastic Drummer....

[@roncar1761]

Always carry drum sticks when in a fancy restaurant to get the attention of your waiter! 🥢

[@joetroutt7425]

I just play double stroke triplets on the wine glass. Gets their attention every time.

[@Wolfiecolada]

i never say stuff like this, but that is a fine looking kit!. i'm not a fanboy of any brand, i just like what i see here.

[@sottx8268]

When I was a kid learning drums I looked everywhere for tutorials on how to do this. Finally, decades later, find one...

[@allancueto22]

FINALLY! 🤘 He is so AWESOME! Do I have to suscribe to see the other videos of him?

[@HeinekenPete]

...great lesson, cool tricks that you can noodle with when you're away from the kit!

[@salrodriguez51]

Glen Sobel one of the best out there, on top of that a real cool dude. Thanks Glen yo da man!

[@adamjonesdrummer]

Awesome as always !! 🥁🥁🎶🎶

[@MattMusicianX]

I like Alice Cooper! God bless you, Glen.

[@bergerdrum]

Ok, so you're telling me to do all this when playing in Celine Dion's band. LOL! Seriously, very cool video, well done - gave me a few new things to try out! I'm sorry to be the one to say it - I wish someone else had earlier - but like the Will Farrell/Chad Smith drum-offs, we now need a Dana Carvey/Glen Sobel drum-off!

[@scottmoore4582]

I saw him with Alice a few years back. Great drummer, fun to watch.

[@jlaleknas]

YES!!! He does it backwards! I saw him last night and it blew my mind. I’ve never seen it backwards like that before. Very cool.

[@TJCombo67]

IMO Tommy Lee was the ultimate showman regarding stick tricks and really pushed them into the mainstream.

[@TheBiggerNoise]

Oh yeah, insane showman. There was a funny competition of sorts in the 80s. It started with Tommy Lee doing a throw&catch and giving a bad ass look at the camera. Then Neil Peart follows with a throw/catch and a chuckle. I’m trying to remember the next two. I know one had the drummer just throw the stick away and grab another from the bag. And the last was (I think) bissonette throwing a stick and then a bunch raining down. Recall any of these so I can go re-live some of my misspent youth?

[@russmanleyjr6622]

Look up Michael Foster from Firehouse. He does some insane tricks as well

[@Elvriel]

This guy is so cool and positive, great video!

[@wherearetheavocados7012]

fck this is why I think drummers are the coolest! I want to be a drummer!!!

[@Gearheaddeluxe]

Holy crap. Haven't laughed that hard in years. The bogging when he's twirling the sticks to a love ballad

[@PLNKYELLOWBLACK]

idk man, doing spins on the ballad looked preeaatttty cooool

[@palainanoctem-im1sh]

That last trick looked fresh asf, almost like you were running. I've heard all of these tricks called flair, either way I love doing them while playing

[@heathertrythall9051]

This was extremely helpful, thank u!

[@hotdrummersteve]

I love this video and even when he showed how you should NOT do it during a ballet..made me want to even do it to a ballet..awesome video.. thank you

[@kristianjuric9980]

Wuao!! You're the best bro💪🤟

[@bricesansixx181]

Tommy Lee has the best showmanship!! 🤟🏼 He really knows how to work the crowd!!

[@teeoh9192]

I agree! When the "Looks That Kill" video came out back in '83(?), I watched him like, "WTF am I looking at?!" He was twirling spitting, beating the shxt out of his drums like they fxxked his GF! I was a fan from that point on! PLUS, he has a groove that NO other drummer from that era, or any other, has!

[@fusionmusicaltroop1155]

You are a great artist.... Salute to you!

[@BradSchlueter]

Great job, Glen! Actually, one of the wedding bands loves it when I toss and twirl sticks. But as you suggested - never during ballads...lol!

[@n.a2235]

Finally am able to do this and I can’t stop 😂, I don’t even play drums I just saw Tommy lee do it in the dirt and thought it was sick it’s pretty easy it just takes practice

[@fromthegreenroom]

F yeah. I got a few tricks up my sleeve. But still learning through drumeo. 🤘

[@robparenzan1086]

Awesome I love this guy!

[@Brento44]

Those hihats sound fantastic!!

[@zaenotaverage76]

I was amazed to know that we twirl the same way I always thought that I was doing it wrong

[@tom_4615]

I was never really arsed about stick tricks but then I started listening to 5 seconds of summer and Jesus Christ ashton Irwin does the coolest tricks and since then Ive really wanted to incorporate it into my playing

[@zukipower9960]

I'm a pretty decent drummer but suck baaaad at stick tricks. This is inspiring to just practice them. Thank you!!

[@robpaxson4455]

dude did 5 gigs on the Crue farewell tour, playing with BOTH the opener and the headliner

[@picklesthedrummer6772]

I could go all day with the Alice/Wayne's World jokes but wow this guy really knows to party 🤘👍🤘👍

[@smc4606]

Good seeing you glen... pit 2006

[@La_sagne]

that right there, is a true professional

[@ChipRitter]

Glen is the man!

[@CoachSet]

Can we talk about that right foot. My Lord!!! He doesn't even need the double bass drum pedal. Smokin it with just the right!!

[@solomony4339]

Nice playing

[@firasqabbani]

That's Awesome

[@BamBam_PDX]

I call that last lick the Vinnie Colaiuta Escalator lick, cuz as Bissionette describes it, he asked Vinnie how that lick went as they were passing each other on an escalator.

[@Mike_Vogelson]

Holy sticks... !!!!!!!! This man is a vary charismatic

[@speedy1001]

This is how Eric Moore looks so cool when he doing drum solo 🤐😁

[@darklight4815]

That intro to Poison kicked ass 💪😎

[@philjohnson4490]

I enjoyed this video

[@sagarnaduvattam4956]

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@alanblasczyk1779]

Excellent

[@adammtroutman]

Absolute professional. Respect

[@skadizia]

Imagine this man is teaching you how to drum. I would learn so fast.

[@DanyMeyer]

Nice one !!! Got it, do it during Celine Dion songs =)

[@markdemell3717]

Three thumbs up.

[@karenkalasy8251]

Awesome!

[@j.reinhardt36]

I don't even play drums but i love this channel

[@starspangled2206]

this dude has got a good sense of humor.

[@Ppainko1]

Oh, Dude, that's pretty cool.

[@praise_asalikeze]

Wooh that's a new grip dude I tried it and it works 3:13 to 3:27

[@teaganwindago3132]

I'm Giving up on this!!! After I slammed my computer and poked myself in the eye it's not worth dying over! Like I said a slo mo of it would help a lot!!!!!!!!!!

[@zacharyjoyner515]

Todd Baker if you go to options you can change the playback speed to half or quarter speed

[@MariusFusariu]

Dayum this dude is flying

[@novagardenstudios]

"Stick flippin' ballad" is my new f-word.

[@salthedrummer1]

Glen is a bad boy!

[@dhdw1]

the most awesome stick tricks ??? Eric Moore Jr!!!! But how he does it?? If someone knows??

[@theofficialdrumcovers]

Eric does a way more efficient trick with the exact same effect where the stick doesn't actually leave the fulcrum. there is no need to change your grip the way Glen does. let me know if you want me to show you.

[@kokobrazil2869]

very funny but good gret job more please

[@arifgalih765]

Dude, that drum's sound makes my ear squirtgasm.

[@noahworobey]

I've been there!

[@AlexR_89]

Will Hunt from Evanescence is great with this sort of stuff. Really fun to watch.

[@justhadrums]

Also Morgan Rose and Shannon Larkin

[@jhenlim]

Nice. You should get Wyatt Stav here

[@teaganwindago3132]

I'm Todd. I'm a 47 year old guitarist that has always had a passion for drumming, I even have a Tattoo of Sabian from shoulder to shoulder and it's also my 24 year old daughters name. I have purchased a pearl drum set and it's coming in piece by piece. I bought 2 double Tama Iron Cobra Bass pedals so 1 will be on the kit and the other will remain under my desk for constant practice time. I watched your video many times and I still can't get it. A slow mo of how you transfer the stick from holding to spinning I can't see. that would be greatly helpful. I hope you read your comments. Thank you for the video.

[@colemanadamson5943]

You define yourself too much as a drummer......you are a person. You are exhibiting obsessive behaviour and it can be very detrimental to your well being. Just sayin'.

[@sidthesloth7043]

Bruh

[@tlezzy8252]

@@colemanadamson5943 Or... he is self determined , has set a goal... In which he will achieve. The tattoo a bit much for my taste, lol Cool name for his daughter... peace

[@CrashEng]

@@colemanadamson5943 agreed, that shit is yikes

[@jameswalstrom2433]

Todd Sucherman is GREAT Clinician also...

[@MrRezRising]

Guy named Sam Ulano taught me my first trick at Sam Ash in NYC in 1986. I had no idea who he was (and you probably dont either) 🙄 but he was pretty neat.

[@permpress]

Ah! Makes sense. I believe Dino Danelli had a lesson or two with Sam, among others. Dino is pretty fancy with the sticks!

[@marsdrums6298]

So, it looks like you flicked the wrist a bit in the beginning of the twirl just to get the stick moving in the pinwheel action you want it to. Then the index finger keeps things going. Back in the day, I ran the stick through 3 fingers and that was really difficult. Using Marching sticks to boot on top of that. Very hard for a teenager to move a log through their fingers like that. I haven't done a stick twirl since High School. I kind of got away from that (being away from drums for 15 of 17 years hasn't helped that either) but I'd kind of like to learn this technique. Looks like I'll be sitting in bed watching TV practicing this stick twirl. It looks nice.

[@salamiigamingyt8849]

I am super happy now...I do it backwards too .

[@Coylee91]

True story, a good friend of mine lost his right thumb to a circular saw. It was grafted back on but he was never able to grip a stick with it so from that point on, he always plays with it between his index and middle fingers, chucks a twirl in at every available opportunity.

[@juggernautjoff]

that was great!!! No stick tricks in church band or when playing with Celine Dion, however ok in Megadeth!! check✅😂

[@attempt58]

The cool thing is, if you can exploit weird mechanics in drumming and use them, that's creativity not cheating. For example I can use both sides of the stick to play 16th notes on the ride, or play 6 drums simultaneously.

[@MrDrumstick86]

Hello! Do you (DRUEMO) got an overview over what gear that every invidual drummer uses during the videos?

[@1911localfightforfreedom]

It would be awesome if they would do a super slo-mo on this.

[@adityatyagi4009]

Tommy Lee needs to watch this.

[@paolomoretti9291]

Cool! A fantastic way to subract time to your pratice to learn how to run the risk of losing your sticks. If I fail as a drummer I'll try this to get a job in a circus.

[@kellanmurakami5340]

11:55

[@paolomoretti9291]

@@kellanmurakami5340 Thought musicians entertain people with music, my fault. Alice cooper must be a genius: he's the only one in the world who understood that people go to a concert to see jugglers, and that anybody else is "just standing there". Or maybe he's got nothing else to offer, who knows...

[@bergerdrum]

Wow, that's a harsh - and undeserved - comment. I see you have the Ballantine Beer/John Bonham symbol as your avatar. John Bonham incorporated stick twirling into his playing, as did Keith Moon. So did Papa Jo Jones. Gene Krupa and Louie Bellson. So do Steve Smith, Marco Minnemann, and Thomas Lang. A musician needs to remember the entertainment part of their job. Sure, music comes first, and you have to make sure you can play well before you try the showy stuff. However, totally ignoring showmanship is not the right thing to do.

[@pattol666]

what sticks are he using? i like the handle I want to look into them

[@claysmell]

love the helicopter

[@CornBeefDrums]

Want to talk about stick tricks... Ray Luzier is your man!!!

[@alienair1748]

been trying the tricks and losing the sticks! this is way harder than it looks

[@PoppyB2011]

I've had people try to show me the forward spin for years. I've never been able to do it. Same. Backwards. I didn't realize it was "Wrong" until people told me.

[@thehsisterslila9818]

Is so cool I try it but I’m ok with it