Just got a drum set. I can keep time but I don’t have flow or experience on the drums and this is absolute perfect for me. Thank you, timing on this couldn’t be better.
His talk of varying grips was helpful. There is so much stressed about the fulcrum for beginners that we tend to obsess over always holding the stick there. Telling us that the grip is ever evolving based on many things gives me a little relief to know that it's perfectly natural to hold the sticks differently as needed.
Hey Nick,I played over 7000 nights in my career. After two hip replacements and hand issues ,I can tell you, the young guys better really pay attention to the fundamentals and ergonomics of playing the kit.The older I get,the more I find myself returning to the basics.Great content and, always, great playing.
Always great to have a little Nick DV inspiration during the day. These were some great tips for any level of drummer. I've seen videos of myself through the years and how I've had the drums set up and how I've been seated. I'd like to think they I've been incorporating so many of these techniques to my playing. But, like everyone else, I'm still learning.
Nick is a hero! I have gotten so much from his videos. He is easy to follow and an expert. His enthusiasm and well prepared presentations are manna from heaven. Thank you Mr. D
Nick shows the best first lesson for the new drummer. Nick is an expert at drum technique and playing. I tried to teach something like this to a friend just starting with drums but Nick explains the techniques so clearly I'm going to have him watch this video. Thanks Nick!
That's what I've always loved about drumming. After nearly 50 years of playing, I'm still learning! Thank you, Mr. D'Virgilio! You are an amazing drummer and teacher!
I've been an amateur drummer most of my life. Recently been through some hard times, and haven't drummed in about 4 years now. This video was just so enjoyable to watch. I still love the drums, and miss them a lot. Thanks Nick!
Great content,been playing non stop for 48 yrs,I'm blessed,one thing that I have been paying more attention to which is never discussed,nutrition for drummers,changed my diet to more veggies fish and the like, plus walking,my stamina has greatly improved,no more partying till t in the morning
Nick, it is always fun to watch you play. Not in LA anymore, and out in NE Tennessee, I don't get to see you play live that much. You've always been one of the best my friend. Take care.
There are drummers whom can play well and those that instruct well. Nick does both. Wish Nick had made this video 45 years ago. Clear concise no fluff instruction. Thank you Nick for this tech review presentation.
great video nick i been playing 2 years covid driven! ! watched the assemble vid u did a couple of years back ,so i follow u bro this is a good demo here thank you i am car wreck survivor so drumming has helped me alot i lost 15 lbs man i am guitar player most of the time some time lol i think u know what i mean man drums are a blast beat iam 61 haha
I took a private lesson with Chapin and that sent me down a life long journey into technique. Great job Nick, that is quite possibly the most concise and understandable explanation I've seen on the subject.
Nick proves that being a matched grip only player, is just fine. Blows the whole "a drummer really isn't a drummer unless they play traditional grip" thing out of the water
Nick is the best. I especially like how you actually play on the Instruments you demo - unlike the other clueless drummers who play mostly snare and cymbals when they are supposed to demo the bass drum and toms. Duh...to the "other guys".
Technique is so important! I've been playing drums for 30 years and I refused to learn any technique. I was practicing for 4-5 hours for nothing. How matter I've tried I couldn't get faster after some point. Secondly playing without technique caused me tennis elbow on my left arm, golfers elbow on my right arm and after that tendonitis issues on my both elbows. I had to give a break for a year, now I'm trying to learn all techniques and all kinds of grips. I believe that every "gifted" person uses the right technique and the right practice system. Even Van Gogh would use grid technique on his paints.
Thanks, Nick! I realized I had my kit set up a bit awkwardly. I followed your ergonomic advice, and now I can feel like everything's more comfortable! ✌
Great job Nick ! I own a few good practice pads, but I don't have a practice pad kit. How can I get in the work for my feet without using pedals during my woodshedding time?? T Y S.R.PURDY 🥁 GOD BLESS
Nick, seen you before aon Sweetwater promotions. You are a terrific Drummer, and an Inspiring Teacher. This Old man , a resurrected recreational Drummer after a 50 Year Hiatus, appreciates all the info you and Others share on the InterWeb. This one 5 point succinct video is a fabulous aid. You point about " being able to play into your Golden Years".... is a great one. Take it from Me, an old timer with some spinal disabilities / arthritic conditions, yes, by all means, take care of yourself. Folks may not thinks o, but nick is right : Drums are a physical instrument!!. Stay Limber, do your stretches, light weights for strength (watch Thomas Lang ), and DON"T do what I did - I didn't drink water on regular basis : Drink Water !! It lubricates the discs in your spine, and other joints! Sorry for Preaching. Peace All. Do the best You can in this Mad World.
Some thoughts: 1) I always advocate sitting above "parallel thighs." The angle of your thigh is going to change depending on whether or not your heel is off the pedal anyway. All the great big band drummers sat higher, as do guys with monster foot technique like Jojo Mayer and Thomas Lang, so there may something to it beyond just personal preference. 2) The flatter your drums are angled, the more gravity is able to do the work for you. However, having very low/flat toms makes you have to reach further to hit them. It also makes "sweeping" from tom to snare more difficult. I've been playing with my rack tom only a couple inches higher than my snare, with a small amount of tilt (~15˚), but I'm thinking of positioning it somewhat higher and more angled, so I don't have to reach for it so much. 3) IIRC, Sanford Moeller didn't invent the Moeller technique. He saw other rudimental drummers doing it and documented it. 4) Having good wrists is the basis of everything else. If you want to get the Moeller technique going, get your wrists going first. 5) To find the balance point of the stick, hold the stick in traditional grip, but keep your hand open, as if you were going to shake hands with someone. Then dribble the stick on your snare/pad with your other hand. Adjust the fulcrum until you find the position that gives maximum rebound. If you use matched grip, try placing that fulcrum point at your middle finger, and think of your thumb and index finger as merely keeping the stick from moving sideways, rather than as the fulcrum. 6) Also, where you grip the stick can change depending on what you're doing. Tony Williams used to grip the stick at the butt end with his ring finger and pinky, for example. I believe Jim Chapin talked about that as well. But definitely get your basic grip down first.
jc3drums, you presents some great observations. I'm 70 yo, a resurrected "drummer" after a 50 year Hiatus (1969). I play for about 1 hour a day to My Music (CCR, Petty, Mellencamp, Stones, Beatles, Eagles, Clapton, Winwood, etc., etc.,). Only had 6-8 lessons back in 1966 when I first started. But now we have the InterWeb. So I have encountered people like You and the many others out there that share info and experience. Although due to spinal issues and arthritic conditions that are erupting in many joints, I don't let That Stop Me. aside for your History lesson on the Meoller technique, I have not been able to really utilize that unless i am incorprating it without realizing it ! I especially found No. 1 & 2 most poignant and appropriate to me for sure. Be Well in this F_cked Up World , right Now. Unfortunately, in the words of Ten Years After's song ( TYA , one of my all time bands [I'm Going Home performed at Woodstock .... check it out]: I'd Love To Change The World.....But I Don't Know What To Do !!!
Comment on point one: I'm an older player and my ergo nomic setup changes every so often. I don't play every day but sometimes I'll sit at the kit and go "nothing fits" and start moving things around. I think that's good because you want to stay in the framework you laid out of ergonomic.
Nick, I'm a professional picture framer and have been playing since I was 7 years old. I'm 59 now and on my production table I have my phone propped up to watch/listen to videos as I work framing museum grade artworks. Out of all the videos I have played while working, this video has to be the clearest, most helpful one. I actually needed to stop and rewind parts if it. The very best tip was setting up the set ergonomically. But, I have two larger mounted toms on my Pearl set and cannot get them flat enough without the lugs hitting the base drum. What tip do you have for this? Thank you in advance!
Love the advice , very good drummer. Only the first thing he talked about was seat height. Dude I really can't have my legs facing on downward angle causeof my height, I'm very short .
Great video Nick! Your explanations are very clear and delivered with energy and enthusiasm! I didn’t realize that Jim Chapin studied with Sanford Moeller. I took some lessons from Jem so I guess I got it secondhand, and that’s pretty damn cool :-)
I actually figure out how to get my second tom parallel in front with my first tom. If the second tom is in to close I play the rim more then the head.
I want to learn the Moeller method but I have a partially torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder and bad arthritis in both arms, hands, fingers. So... I'm probably screwed.
Work on those chops! What tip did you find most useful?
looks like the labels for the time stamps are a little out of order, just an fyi
Posture and setting up of the kid ergonomics thanks again Nick
Just got a drum set. I can keep time but I don’t have flow or experience on the drums and this is absolute perfect for me. Thank you, timing on this couldn’t be better.
Wow even something as simple as posture….So obvious but I didn’t think of it. Thanks for talking about it.
His talk of varying grips was helpful. There is so much stressed about the fulcrum for beginners that we tend to obsess over always holding the stick there. Telling us that the grip is ever evolving based on many things gives me a little relief to know that it's perfectly natural to hold the sticks differently as needed.
I could listen for hours to Nick D'Virgilio explain just about anything. What a great communicator and teacher!
Mr. D‘Virgilio is the MAN!!!! Great tips for any drummer at any stage.
Hey Nick,I played over 7000 nights in my career. After two hip replacements and hand issues ,I can tell you, the young guys better really pay attention to the fundamentals and ergonomics of playing the kit.The older I get,the more I find myself returning to the basics.Great content and, always, great playing.
Always great to have a little Nick DV inspiration during the day. These were some great tips for any level of drummer. I've seen videos of myself through the years and how I've had the drums set up and how I've been seated. I'd like to think they I've been incorporating so many of these techniques to my playing. But, like everyone else, I'm still learning.
Nick is a hero! I have gotten so much from his videos. He is easy to follow and an expert. His enthusiasm and well prepared presentations are manna from heaven.
Thank you Mr. D
Nick shows the best first lesson for the new drummer. Nick is an expert at drum technique and playing. I tried to teach something like this to a friend just starting with drums but Nick explains the techniques so clearly I'm going to have him watch this video. Thanks Nick!
That's what I've always loved about drumming. After nearly 50 years of playing, I'm still learning! Thank you, Mr. D'Virgilio! You are an amazing drummer and teacher!
I've been an amateur drummer most of my life. Recently been through some hard times, and haven't drummed in about 4 years now. This video was just so enjoyable to watch. I still love the drums, and miss them a lot. Thanks Nick!
Great content,been playing non stop for 48 yrs,I'm blessed,one thing that I have been paying more attention to which is never discussed,nutrition for drummers,changed my diet to more veggies fish and the like, plus walking,my stamina has greatly improved,no more partying till t in the morning
This dude really knows his stuff way to go Nick!
Nick-this was fabulous advice for any player skill level. Thank you so much. Always been a big fan
I’ve been playing for 45 years but it’s always good to keep going back to fundamentals, great video from a great player here.
My Grandson took to the wisdom of the whole video.
Thank You.
Sweetwater ROCKS!!!!
Nick, it is always fun to watch you play. Not in LA anymore, and out in NE Tennessee, I don't get to see you play live that much. You've always been one of the best my friend. Take care.
There are drummers whom can play well and those that instruct well. Nick does both. Wish Nick had made this video 45 years ago. Clear concise no fluff instruction. Thank you Nick for this tech review presentation.
I’ve played for 25 years and I always learn something new from Nick. I’m excited my second hi-tom was already slightly lower than my first. 😀😀😀🤟🤟🤟
great video nick i been playing 2 years covid driven! ! watched the assemble vid u did a couple of years back ,so i follow u bro this is a good demo here thank you i am car wreck survivor so drumming has helped me alot i lost 15 lbs man i am guitar player most of the time some time lol i think u know what i mean man drums are a blast beat iam 61 haha
2B or not to be... 😆 You made my day. Always good to see you Mr D'Virgilio!! Thank you for your video!
Excellent presentation Nick. I will integrate all of this into my teaching.................Cheers!
Best video for beginners! I’ve watched a lot of confusing videos and this one goes in my playlist because it’s so simple to understand. Thank you
Go Gene Go! I mean..... Go Nick Go! All good stuff for beginners and fundamental reminders for more advanced players. Thanks and Blessings!
I took a private lesson with Chapin and that sent me down a life long journey into technique. Great job Nick, that is quite possibly the most concise and understandable explanation I've seen on the subject.
Wow ! Loud and clear Nick.
Nick proves that being a matched grip only player, is just fine. Blows the whole "a drummer really isn't a drummer unless they play traditional grip" thing out of the water
I love my zildjian cymbals but those meinls sound amazing. Nick is the man.
Nick is the best. I especially like how you actually play on the Instruments you demo - unlike the other clueless drummers who play mostly snare and cymbals when they are supposed to demo the bass drum and toms. Duh...to the "other guys".
Thanks for the class Nick... Keep 'em coming
Thanks for this wonderful technique, I really love how you explained it
Technique is so important! I've been playing drums for 30 years and I refused to learn any technique. I was practicing for 4-5 hours for nothing. How matter I've tried I couldn't get faster after some point. Secondly playing without technique caused me tennis elbow on my left arm, golfers elbow on my right arm and after that tendonitis issues on my both elbows. I had to give a break for a year, now I'm trying to learn all techniques and all kinds of grips. I believe that every "gifted" person uses the right technique and the right practice system. Even Van Gogh would use grid technique on his paints.
Fabulous! Diggin' your beat from start to finish! ❤
Thanx for the refresher Nick, never knew you were teacher!!!
this dude needs to be the only drum video guy.. best explanations i've heard
Great Video and demonstration. Will work this on my pad first. Thanks very much….
Very informative for those starting out with drums.
Can we all just agree on one thing? That finish on his kit is very kickass! Wow!
Your drumming blows me away everytime Nick! && When I talk to anybody about Sweetwater, I always refer to you guys as "MY music store". :D
Thanks, Nick! I realized I had my kit set up a bit awkwardly. I followed your ergonomic advice, and now I can feel like everything's more comfortable! ✌
👍🥁
Nick is a national treasure for you guys at Sweetwater, make sure he get as much love as he should. All Nick drummers are great anyway ;)
A great video!!! I've been playing for years. This helped me a ton!!! Lots of stuff I didn't know.
You are such a great teacher awesome material thankyou so much
Excellent video! Thanks Nick!
Thanks Nick for a great re-check video
Great lesson, Nick!
He’s such a great drummer… also a very wonderful speaker
Thank you Great refreshment course for us drummers, that might forget the basics.
Thank you, Nick! The clear explanation and examples in this video have helped me a lot.
Love your hairstyle Nick🤝
Amazing and original solo there, I watched it several times
Absolutely incredible 💯
I'd like to hear more from Nick about this kick drum limitations and how he overcame them. I bet a lot of us would benefit from his experience.
NDV has always had a mad sense of groove and timing
Sent me running for the kit! Thanks Nick!
🥁🏃
awesome tips , thx so mucho Viigilio
This was quite useful Nick, a lot more than most drum videos actually. Thanks!
Just got my copy of Troika in the mail today, signed by the man himself as well as Neal and Ross! Looking forward to listening after this video.
Great mate. I love you man. So much great help here.
Thank you so much.
Anyone who’s interested in Nick’s playing, check out “gibberish” by Spock’s Beard. It’s a really cool tune with a drum solo at the end.
very good lesson! thanx for that!
Way to go Nick - great video!
🤘😎🥁👍
Great job Nick ! I own a few good practice pads, but I don't have a practice pad kit. How can I get in the work for my feet without using pedals during my woodshedding time?? T Y S.R.PURDY 🥁 GOD BLESS
I like Nick. He's got that sleazy salesman vibe.
I’m not gonna lie, the “…or NOT 2B” made me laugh.
Nick is the type of guy you wish was your big brother. Such a great attitude!
A Super Cool video Nick, A lot of common sense in this and very good advice thanks a lot !!!😎🥁🎵🎶✌️❤️👍👍
Nick, seen you before aon Sweetwater promotions. You are a terrific Drummer, and an Inspiring Teacher. This Old man , a resurrected recreational Drummer after a 50 Year Hiatus, appreciates all the info you and Others share on the InterWeb. This one 5 point succinct video is a fabulous aid. You point about " being able to play into your Golden Years".... is a great one. Take it from Me, an old timer with some spinal disabilities / arthritic conditions, yes, by all means, take care of yourself. Folks may not thinks o, but nick is right : Drums are a physical instrument!!. Stay Limber, do your stretches, light weights for strength (watch Thomas Lang ), and DON"T do what I did - I didn't drink water on regular basis : Drink Water !! It lubricates the discs in your spine, and other joints! Sorry for Preaching. Peace All. Do the best You can in this Mad World.
Great overview !
Great video and tips! I needed them all! Lol. Your the man !
Nick your the man.
legend has it nick is still out there feathering his hi hat :D
Some thoughts:
1) I always advocate sitting above "parallel thighs." The angle of your thigh is going to change depending on whether or not your heel is off the pedal anyway. All the great big band drummers sat higher, as do guys with monster foot technique like Jojo Mayer and Thomas Lang, so there may something to it beyond just personal preference.
2) The flatter your drums are angled, the more gravity is able to do the work for you. However, having very low/flat toms makes you have to reach further to hit them. It also makes "sweeping" from tom to snare more difficult. I've been playing with my rack tom only a couple inches higher than my snare, with a small amount of tilt (~15˚), but I'm thinking of positioning it somewhat higher and more angled, so I don't have to reach for it so much.
3) IIRC, Sanford Moeller didn't invent the Moeller technique. He saw other rudimental drummers doing it and documented it.
4) Having good wrists is the basis of everything else. If you want to get the Moeller technique going, get your wrists going first.
5) To find the balance point of the stick, hold the stick in traditional grip, but keep your hand open, as if you were going to shake hands with someone. Then dribble the stick on your snare/pad with your other hand. Adjust the fulcrum until you find the position that gives maximum rebound. If you use matched grip, try placing that fulcrum point at your middle finger, and think of your thumb and index finger as merely keeping the stick from moving sideways, rather than as the fulcrum.
6) Also, where you grip the stick can change depending on what you're doing. Tony Williams used to grip the stick at the butt end with his ring finger and pinky, for example. I believe Jim Chapin talked about that as well. But definitely get your basic grip down first.
jc3drums, you presents some great observations. I'm 70 yo, a resurrected "drummer" after a 50 year Hiatus (1969). I play for about 1 hour a day to My Music (CCR, Petty, Mellencamp, Stones, Beatles, Eagles, Clapton, Winwood, etc., etc.,). Only had 6-8 lessons back in 1966 when I first started. But now we have the InterWeb. So I have encountered people like You and the many others out there that share info and experience. Although due to spinal issues and arthritic conditions that are erupting in many joints, I don't let That Stop Me. aside for your History lesson on the Meoller technique, I have not been able to really utilize that unless i am incorprating it without realizing it ! I especially found No. 1 & 2 most poignant and appropriate to me for sure. Be Well in this F_cked Up World , right Now. Unfortunately, in the words of Ten Years After's song ( TYA , one of my all time bands [I'm Going Home performed at Woodstock .... check it out]: I'd Love To Change The World.....But I Don't Know What To Do !!!
Comment on point one: I'm an older player and my ergo nomic setup changes every so often. I don't play every day but sometimes I'll sit at the kit and go "nothing fits" and start moving things around. I think that's good because you want to stay in the framework you laid out of ergonomic.
Great stuff thanks Nick!
Love your videos , great tips that really help
Great tips Nick!
you are a king. thanks
amazing technics really enjoyed
Nick, I'm a professional picture framer and have been playing since I was 7 years old. I'm 59 now and on my production table I have my phone propped up to watch/listen to videos as I work framing museum grade artworks. Out of all the videos I have played while working, this video has to be the clearest, most helpful one. I actually needed to stop and rewind parts if it.
The very best tip was setting up the set ergonomically. But, I have two larger mounted toms on my Pearl set and cannot get them flat enough without the lugs hitting the base drum. What tip do you have for this?
Thank you in advance!
Love the advice , very good drummer.
Only the first thing he talked about was seat height.
Dude I really can't have my legs facing on downward angle causeof my height, I'm very short .
The transformation to Jon Luvitz is nearly complete.
HA! Too the tee!!!!!
I was thinking the same thing but wanted to check to see if someone else had already said it, and sure enough! 🤣
@@gonecountry246 It's uncanny!
Great Stuff !
Any tips for people with arthritis? That and some hip pain have been my issues lately.
Great technique’s thanks
Very informative video Extremely good job Jim Chapin was the man
that triplet is the rhythm to Little Richards Classic Lucille
Great ideas!
NDV! So great.
Great video Nick! Your explanations are very clear and delivered with energy and enthusiasm!
I didn’t realize that Jim Chapin studied with Sanford Moeller. I took some lessons from Jem so I guess I got it secondhand, and that’s pretty damn cool :-)
Awesome great music song. Drummer. 🤘🤘so sound great audio.
I actually figure out how to get my second tom parallel in front with my first tom. If the second tom is in to close I play the rim more then the head.
damn that intro is on another level
Great video. That thumbnail image is something else, though.
Niceeee very informative, thank you
I don’t even play drums I just like to watch Nick play 😆
Important topic!
If you close your eyes and listen, this guy sounds like Casey Casum :)
Nah, Kasem's voice was higher and scratchier.
Sorry, but I'm not hearing' it at all. But he sure looks like Jon Lovizt!
Can you demo the dualist pedals
2b or not 2B. Great!
My! No words.
I want to learn the Moeller method but I have a partially torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder and bad arthritis in both arms, hands, fingers. So... I'm probably screwed.