Virgil Donati - My Approach To Wrist Technique

Click here to enter our exciting new giveaway for a chance to win a DW Design Series Snare Drum! ➡️ www.drumchanne... Check out Virgil Donati's brand NEW exclusive Drum Channel course 🤩
👉 drmch.nl/3w1ymIY
Have you ever felt like your grip strength was underdeveloped and your precision around the kit was off? -- Well you're in luck, because in today's lesson, Virgil Donati gives you extensive advice on how to approach and develop your wrist technique.
This lesson was taken from a 45-minute live lesson rebroadcast featuring Virgil Donati called "Rhythmic Challenges"- watch it now on Drum Channel!
👉 drumchannel.co...
---
Virgil Donati's herculean work-ethic and never-ending curiosity made him one of today's most well rounded drummers and clinicians. Aside from touring with Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Vai, and Allan Holdsworth, Virgil also maintains a busy schedule as a band leader and member for Planet X, The Virgil Donati Band, The Virgil Donati Trio, and many more.
---
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS
with Virgil Donati 👇
Virgil Donati Podcast on Drum Channel
drumchannel.co...
"In This Life" Full Concert
drumchannel.co...
Thomas Lang's Big Drum Bonanza with Virgil Donati
drumchannel.co...
---
Connect with Virgil!
📘 Facebook - / virgildonati
📷 Instagram - / thevirgildonati
🐧 Twitter - / virgil_donati
Stay in touch with Drum Channel!
📕 Facebook - / drumchannel
📸 Instagram - / drumchannel
🐦 Twitter - / drumchannel
Get better faster with our Practice Assist Metronome™!
www.drumchannel...
Visit the Drum Channel Store!
www.drumchannel...

[@abbdrums]

Rob's Technique class at M.I. changed my life. His philosophical tangents were the best and when he'd talk about playing at a high level, he'd always bring up Virgil and Vinnie haha.

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

MI grad as well 😊 Life changing experience on every level !!!

[@buddyrichable1]

I’ve been working on Austin’s guided hand workouts and highly recommend them, just check out his lesson videos which are some of the best.

[@drumjosh1987]

Great seeing other Rob students on here. Did classes with him then did another year outside of school with him as well, great teacher and player

[@shalaq]

When playing that simple single hand roll on the toms at 0:19 you can immediately tell that it's Virgil playing. Such power and clarity and fantastic tone in his drumming.

[@eastcoastrudimental9094]

Virgil is making a crucial point here. Finger control and Moeller-style is not the only truth out there. There is a living tradition of rudimental drumming, that can help you achieve outstanding control and precision. Legends like Jay Tuomey, Bobby Thompson and Les Parks (the sons of liberty) have shown us the way.

[@musicmusic6595]

Like tommy igoe said, everyone does the moeller technique or something similar too it, it's the natural way to play as you develop your technique. That wrist whipping motion is what everyone does why people keep talking about it like it's some untapped power is just beyond, it comes naturally with practice.

[@SwainBjornstrandt]

I love Virgil. Such a great guy and extremely talented. Watching him always brings joy to me.

[@roloduarte3100]

Me too, he’s such an inspiration.

[@KeefWest1988]

He’s like a text book with soul behind it. Very solid player.

[@tlkshowhst]

He's always pushed the limits of human capability on the drums. I bought his drumming workout VHS in the 90s and he was an absolute beast back then as well.

[@drumngrewve]

Rob's breadth of knowledge on how the hands work and how to make them work is rediculous.....his outlook on success and the room for it in a saturated music market is refreshing and always encouraging! Lucky to know, study, and work with the guy. His knowledge should most definitely be sought out! And he can still pick a pair of sticks cold and KILL!!!!

[@drumngrewve]

@Drummer J.L.H. indeed I am aware!!!

[@alexpi1978]

Simply, the best drummer

[@ididyermom3273]

Technique often overlooked really changes your game. I'm working on rewiring my hand technique to be more powerful after really admiring the dynamics Virgil is able to achieve. He's a master of masters!

[@BuehlsRules]

Hell yeah to the shoutout to Rob Carson

[@drumchannel]

Rob's the man!

[@BuehlsRules]

He was one of my instructors at M.I. Such a cool dude

[@stanleymasterson1135]

This guys technique changed my life. From the very first time I watched him, I knew all I wanted to do was smoke weed and eat chips

[@snorhyveln]

Virgil is so unique among all the great technical/musical drummers out there. When everybody stretches their limits with burning kerosene Virgil burns jetfuel!

[@jorgejaray.2671]

The best!!

[@thomprasol1767]

Great episode!!

[@VloggingOdisha]

I love his drumming.. VD my favorite

[@codersexpo1580]

This will be my first and last time I say I LIKE VD

[@VloggingOdisha]

@@codersexpo1580 Why So ??

[@codersexpo1580]

@@VloggingOdisha The acronym not Virgil...Virgil is my hero ;-)

[@alonsorodriguez4139]

Amazing drummer

[@PierluigivillaniMr]

Incredibile batterista, unico!!! TOP

[@anthonypompeus9404]

Wow! Virgils Technique is so good! Use your wrists! And hi hat for pulse, very inspiring 🙂

[@alucard0712]

He sounds so perfect!

[@tapanbasuaritra]

0:54 - "I was playing the hi-hat, right?" - "You always do" BEST :D

[@JohnMuskiet]

OMG!!!! Thanks mr Donati!

[@mjm5081]

What a beast!!!

[@haekalbadjeber988]

Best drummer on planet earth

[@airamsouza411]

Awesome, man!

[@Lowdowndirty9000]

Why does that look like the most comfortable hat ever made

[@davidcurtis4478]

Fantastic!!!!!

[@pabk7808]

Sweeeet,, and love the bass tone your jamming with at the end there

[@Moparornuthin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5u1lZybetV6iMk Eleven Part 2!

[@ibbumpn]

Rob Carson is the drummer he mentioned... BTW

[@A201290]

Tem como me recuperar?

[@hugolafhugolaf]

0:23-0:30 WTF HOW?

[@mjollnirtsubo]

he's so damn good

[@RolfWamFjell]

So good!!!

[@vannistefani936]

Impressionante bravissimo..

[@evanthegreat2332]

Very good, he just needs to work on his speed a little bit

[@jasonread5017]

Only one Virgil ,Buddy ,Cobham and the Steve Gadd and Ringo STAR

[@rondeangelis7384]

umbrella performer for sure

[@CliffConway]

What does that mean?

[@rondeangelis7384]

Cliff Conway oh god typo.. unbelievable not umbrella lol

[@CliffConway]

Ron Deangelis hahah hilarious. I was all confused 😆

[@rondeangelis7384]

Cliff Conway freakin typing on a iphone bites...

[@calmac9720]

He is indeed umbrella performer. I have seen him live on several occasions.

[@drumsanddrumming]

Virgil and Thomas Lang= the creme de la creme

[@WorldsWorstFishing]

Top 2 no doubt!

[@dougmorato]

Donati still ahead IMHO

[@dougmorato]

WhoDarestheMAN gamer I respect your opinion but just watch this video and look at Lang’s face while appreciating Donati playing. Tomas is a beast but there’s just no one close to Virgil EVER. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ7JgmVtZaiLa80

[@j.d.7208]

@WhoDarestheMAN gamer Mike the master Mangini period

[@Moparornuthin]

@WhoDarestheMAN gamer It's no competition, and i think they would both say the other is superior in different ways, but the simple fact is Virg has been at the top for over 30 years, innovating techniques and grooves at a level that most could only hope to achieve. To say he would get 'crushed' is a little narrow sighted. At the end of the day, at that top level, when they all say Virgil is something else, who are we to argue? Having seen and shared looks of disbelief (with great world class drummers also present) in his clinic's throughout the years, there is no one else like him. Also, just a glimpse into one of his independence grooves from years ago, there's countless examples but here is just one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2jOmYduhZ6Cms0

[@MatheusAzevedoDrums]

Um dos melhores bateristas..."

[@darthsoros9728]

Cnc precision machine

[@sanchezzz1]

...more...please

[@vasprov]

Virgil Donati ты самый крутой барабанщик!!!!!!

[@myrealfakename6068]

Wow!

[@kimbill107]

Monster!!!!!

[@stephenpemberton85]

Dudes a monster!..i suck!😆

[@RiccardoPearlman]

He's born in 1958. FIFTY. EIGHT. Let that sink in.

[@manictree5436]

Let this sink in: So what? Too many people get hung up on the age thing. Why not continue to improve?

[@RiccardoPearlman]

@@manictree5436 Because arthritis. Because diabetes or heart issues. Because decades of RSI. Because decades of old injuries and whatever else. His ability to have maintained and cared for himself to this point is to be commended. VERY few people get to their sixties looking and operating on this level. Give me just a tiny fucking break with this age is just a number thing. Age is not just a number. If you do anything physical for a living/life getting old is going to be the hardest thing you deal with.

[@manictree5436]

@@RiccardoPearlman People have health problems in there 20's. Health problems aside, no need to FOCUS on age. I don't think Buddy did. I don't think Colaiuta does. Remember, I understand health problems can have an affect, but not age for age sake. Even Bellson was better after age 60.

[@BurakDrummer]

I coming from Doğaz Titiz

[@dennizz7152]

Me too

[@cristina2514]

Terrific

[@JamesSmith-kv8js]

I use wrist and finger strokes as well and I‘m not even a drummer:

[@clearestapricotpencil4125]

What you do?

[@francoa2197]

@@clearestapricotpencil4125 ...solitary sex

[@frankburdodrums8984]

Virgil Donati - " I AM A ROBOT." Finally the mystery is solved. Just kidding but I wonder sometimes.

[@MrBostonrobb]

Good lord!

[@ACLOCKWORKDRUMMER]

Don't forget Henry Adler !

[@DrumApe]

Virgil practices 10 hours a day so we don't have to.

[@jaspergillgannon4991]

The man's a fucking octopus I swear!

[@ryancarver]

🙌

[@CRM537]

@ 62 he is like an 18 year old...

[@manictree5436]

No, way more drumming development now then when he was younger.

[@jamesblack7348]

Virgil needs a prescription from the doctor.. cause he is sick..

[@stephenpemberton85]

Steve Vai said Virgil was ALWAYS practicing or watching porn!😆 ✌💛🤘

[@kchappelle]

I’m glad I have something in common with him

[@tryharder249]

Jesus Maria José!

[@saintjames7387]

when would you ever play like that unless ur trying to show off for somebody?

[@saintjames7387]

@Drummer J.L.H. no thanks id much rather help the song and not my ego.

[@saintjames7387]

@Drummer J.L.H. i dont think drum channel would have hired this man if he was generally percieved as being "misunderstood"... but maybe im wrong.

[@bitzmil9319]

left middle finger dribbles the stick.. Virge: There’s no fingers there at all.

[@U2WB]

Great playing, but he didn’t actually teach us anything.

[@U2WB]

Drummer J.L.H. It’s great if you learned something. What I saw was a chops demonstration. “Look at what I can do” is not what I consider teaching.

[@U2WB]

Drummer J.L.H. Thank you for the kind words. I’ll watch Virgil’s video again - I probably missed something. What tends to happen with players that good (I ran into this with Eric Johnson) is that when they’re demonstrating things you want to to shout “WAIT ! SLOW DOWN !!” LOL Peace.

[@frozd58]

Not true. He taught me that i should quit drumming

[@saulmighty]

So basically his technique is "git gud" as youngsters nowadays would say. I rely on things like open-close technique (which is excellent, thanks Gordy Knudtson!) and Moeller just to be economical as I'm a wimp that never goes to the gym :D

[@agoo7581]

That did nothing to teach wrist technique,, that was just a "look how good I am for 2 minutes"