Why do drummers drop sticks

Why will (some) drummers drop a stick in the middle of the song?

What can be done to prevent it?

Why will (some) guitarists rush certain sections of tunes and drag on others... it's just one of those mysteries of life...

Sticks though seemingly inanimate , are actually crafty little critters yearning to run free.

Thus , sometimes when a drummer is distracted the sticks will see their chance to make a break for it , and then they'll jump from our grip in a desperate attempt for freedom.

Though sticks are sold in pairs they are solitary creatures , this is why you will rarely see both sticks attempt to free themselves at the same time.

Hope it helps.

Same reason guitar players will drop a pick, are a singers voice will crack sometimes {censored} happens. Hands get sweat, get cramps, sticks vibrate and move around, sometimes a wrong move, a whole number of reasons, happens to everybody.

All drummers drop sticks. Just like all guitarists break strings and all singers forget lyrics... Keyboard players, well, I'm sure they have their issues too. ;-)

Simple...

gravity.

Yeah, and it goes a little sumthin like this:

"Hey, have you guys ever heard that one song by that one band? Sweet, cuz we're playing that one next. It's in G. 1-2-3-4!"

Answer #1. . .because. . .

Answer #2. . . no. . .

Same reason other people drop {censored}.

Multiple times on one gig?

If I dropped my pick no more than once every few gigs, I'd chalk it up to dumb luck.

If I dropped my pick multiple times on one gig, I'd be looking to improve my technique.

Well maybe you should have explained that situation to us.

Sounds to me like you already had an answer.

friggin' passive/aggressive keyboardists.

Multiple times on one gig?

Ok, so that might be a little excessive. Chances are that your drummer is holding on too tight, or is not looking at the drums enough while he is playing, or is nervous as hell, or he just needs more practice.

Does he/she do this during practice?

Is he reaching for his beer?

Also unfamiliar drumkits increase the chances of a stick getting snagged somewhere as well as just making us more uncomfortable. If your drummer is playing on other people's kits during your gigs, that could be a huge factor, especially if they aren't set up optimally.

Would be a good question to know the answer to.

IF you drop drum sticks, go to a bowling alley, and get yourself

some PRO BOWLERS GRIP POWDER!

I use it when I have a gig, and it works all the time.

The more you sweat, the better it holds, and then you don`t

have to worry about buying drummers gloves

(unless you have a hot date later on).

I just gotta ask, what is the problem?

Drop a stick, pick up another one and keep on going. If you're drummer doesn't have extra sticks handy and has to go pick it up, then yeah, it's a problem. Check this cat, he drops 2 sticks in this solo. Unless you're really watching, you might not even notice:

[YOUTUBE]XZMnEsWvktA[/YOUTUBE]

Bitchin Solo

I rarely drop sticks. I do, however, occasionally throw them at assanine verticals.

I usually drop at least one or two sticks per gig. It's good to play with a light grip!

I play with a really light grip and my hands at the very ends of my sticks... I drop them once in a while, naturally, but the key is in your recovery. Dropping sticks is a fact of drumming, keeping the beat and getting back on track quickly is how good drummers make the best of a {censored}ty turn of events. Thankfully all the times I've dropped sticks (maybe once every three gigs or so) have been minor, wherein the stick would hop out of my hand and float in front of me for a few seconds... giving me enough time to grab it and keep playing. whew.

I've played as a bass player with drummers who drop sticks a little more than usual... one who would drop a stick, pick up another and keep going without missing a beat... and another who would damn near stop the whole song as he fumbled to pick up his stick(s).

my old drum instructor taught me to hold with a relaxed grip. it makes it easier to let the stick do the work; it rebounds naturally. you find the balance point and simply control the stick instead of forcing it into the drumhead. the downside is you might drop sticks more often. so, i actually practiced dropping sticks, and grabbing for my back-ups while playing one-handed. also practiced playing one-handed while reaching for my beer. both very useful.

That's my guess as well: snaggage. Even on my own kit, If I drop a stick it's usually means I don't have my ride tom adjusted well and am catching a rim.

Dropping a stick is GONNA HAPPEN ! As Mogwix stated, it is all in the recovery. Sometimes it's easy to make a smooth transition, sometimes it's more difficult. My preference is to have a pair of sticks in my back pocket for an easy grab when that happens.