3
Let’s Learn About Drums
Holding the sticks
The most common way to hold the sticks is called the 
“matched grip” as shown in the illustrations below.
Left hand
Right hand
Using the kick pedal
The kick pedal can be pressed in either of two ways: “heel 
up” or “heel down.”
Heel up
In this method, your heel oats above the pedal. With your 
heel o the pedal, lower your entire foot to push down the 
pedal. This method applies the full weight of your leg to the 
pedal, making it easier for you to produce a stronger sounds 
than the heel down method.
This is often used in rock and pop.
Heel down
In this method, the entire bottom of your foot from heel to 
toe stays in contact with the pedal. Use your ankle joint to 
make your toes push down the pedal.
This method allows more precise control of the volume, and 
is often used in jazz and bossa nova.
Using the snare
Head shot
Hit only the head of the pad. This is the most common 
method to play the snare.
Rim shot
Strike the head and the rim of the pad simultaneously.
A sound (rim sound) dierent than the head shot will be 
heard.
Rim
Cross stick
Only strike the rim of the pad.
Velocity switching “snare rim” sound, played softly produces 
a cross stick sound, and when played harder, produces a rim 
shot sound.
Rim
Rim
 & When playing cross stick, set XStickSens (p. 19) to anything 
other than “OFF.”
*  To play the cross stick, be sure that you only strike the rim 
of the pad. If you're resting your hand on the head, cross 
stick playing technique might not be possible.
*  This is eective only for a pad that is connected to the 
“SN” connector of the dedicated connection cable.
*  On some snare sounds, it might not be possible to play 
separate sounds in this way.
The Basics of Playing
Drums are played using both hands and both feet.
Here we explain how to hold the sticks, strike the drums, and use the pedal.