What is touch in drumming?

Here, “touch” means the intensity and control of our drum strokes. We first develop that control through technical exercises. As we progress, add dynamics work to the routine and, where possible, practise on an actual drum kit. The response on a practice pad differs from that of an acoustic kit. Because the kit can be loud, our first attempts may reveal that the control developed on the pad is not yet fully established on the instrument.

Touch and dynamics exercises

Touch develops by practising accented and unaccented strokes on a pad.

Accented strokes: begin with the stick held roughly parallel to the practice pad. For this exercise, lift it with a controlled wrist movement to a higher starting position, described here as up to 90 degrees, before making the accented stroke. Avoid forcing the wrist.

Unaccented strokes: from the low, approximately parallel starting position above the pad, play without lifting the stick to the higher accent position.

In both strokes, pay attention to the distance between stick and pad. A low starting height helps keep unaccented notes quiet and controlled. For accents, use a higher, controlled stroke driven mainly by the wrist in this exercise, without unnecessary arm force. The aim is a clear difference in dynamics, not strain.

These exercises develop control at both louder and softer dynamics.

Stick choice matters in these exercises. For beginners, the author suggests lighter sticks to reduce fatigue. As technique develops, different weights and thicknesses can be explored with guidance; moving to heavier sticks is not a requirement, and comfort and control should remain the priority.

Your touch should suit the music: rock, jazz, blues, funk and metal call for different approaches to dynamics. The drum kit itself also responds differently according to its construction, materials and setup. Learn to adjust your playing to the sound and response of each kit.

Okan Can Telci
Rekor Sanat – Drum Teacher