How to Play The Moeller Technique – Drumming Power and Endurance

The Moeller technique is a great drumming method that can swiftly improve your skills and teach you how to save energy while drumming. The technique is based on using a whipping motion with your drumstick which builds speed, power, and most importantly, control.

Before we dive in, have a look at this video by Jim Chapin to see the Moeller method in action. Jim Chapin was a drumming great and one of the main pioneers of the Moeller technique. 

How to Play The Moeller Technique

The entire essence of the Moeller technique lies behind performing a whip-like motion and controlling the rebound of your drumstick. As you may have learned from Science class, the fulcrum is a point around which a thing pivots. Using the fulcrum greatly reduces the stress on your wrists, arms, and shoulders. It can make you a much more efficient drummer.

While playing big powerful strokes with this technique, you use your shoulder, elbow, and wrist in one continuous whip-like motion to get a powerful stroke. The wrist motion is similar to dribbling a basketball. 

Watch the very accomplished drummer and instructor, Bruce Becker, demonstrate the Moeller technique.

Basically, the Moeller method consists of four strokes. The full stroke, the down stroke, the tap stroke, and the up stroke. Each with their own basic movements. When you understand them all, then they will work fluidly with each other.

Although, it’s best you start practicing this technique on a practice pad since it might take some time to develop the motions with fluidity.

Also, make sure to check your surroundings. I actually broke a lightbulb over my head with my drumstick the first time I was practicing the Moeller stroke!

The Full Stroke

The full stroke involves a powerful downward stroke, rebounded after the impact, on the surface. The stick goes from an initial vertical position onto the surface and back to the starting point. This prepares you to play the next stroke without expending extra energy. 

The power in the full stroke comes from the entire movement, rather than just from your wrists or forearm movements. When you play triplets or single-stroke rolls at higher tempos, this stroke makes it less taxing on you.

The Down Stroke 

The down stroke is another big movement in the Moeller method. It is similar to the full stroke in its initial phase. That is hitting the surface in a whipping motion. However, the goal of a down stroke isn’t to return the stick to its original position. 

You want the stick to stay just a couple of inches above the drum. This is achieved by snapping your fingers as the stick is going down. What results is a loud, snappy sound, or an accent. 

The down stroke is generally used on the snare for the upbeat and backbeat. It is also used for crash hits. 

The Up Stroke

The up stroke is completely opposite to the down stroke. You start a couple of inches from the surface, and after hitting it you end in a high, vertical position. It is a lighter hit, but heavily involves an upward movement of the wrist.

The purpose behind the up stroke is to get you into the position for a full or down stroke with as little effort as possible. 

The Tap Stroke

Mainly used for very gentle ghost notes, the tap stroke starts just a few inches from the drum. You tap the surface with the stick and return it to the same lower position. 

The focus of tap strokes isn’t to make an accented sound but to add regular strokes or ghost notes. It is also very useful for rolls with an accent.

At first, the Moeller technique can seem a bit daunting. However, the key is to start slowly in a systematic way and speed your way up. Yes, it does take time to develop, and yes, it can be frustrating. But when you do nail it, it all becomes worth it. 

Remember that speed comes eventually. Starting out, your energy should go into playing these strokes with complete control.

Practising the Moeller Technique

How do you incorporate the Moeller technique into your drumming? The answer is rudiments. The building blocks of drumming. 

Learning the Moeller technique takes your rudiments to the next level. It gives a certain clarity to them, and when you speed up, you maintain that clarity. 

For your single strokes, play steady full strokes. To develop them better, play accents using a down stroke and keep changing the level of your sticks’ height. 

Your doubles become combinations of a full stroke and a downstroke on each hand. You can also experiment with an up stroke followed by a down stroke. This will give a nice, even-sounding double stroke roll at higher speeds. 

The Moeller technique also benefits your paradiddles. Play the first note as a down stroke and the rest three notes as tap strokes. It can take a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth it in the end!

Using the Moeller Method on the Drum Set

The Moeller technique can be utilized in grooves or as part of fills. You can maintain a steady pulse on the hi-hat with down and up strokes and use the down stroke for strong snare shots. You can also add ghost notes as well. It also improves the speed of your fills.

Like on a drum pad, you want to start slowly and increase speed over time. The Moeller technique will give you better speed, control, and smoothness when you explore the kit. It can also really bring out the dynamics of your playing. 

Watch this video from the 11:53 mark for ideas.

Disadvantages of the Moeller Technique

The main disadvantage of the Moeller technique is that it is often overused by drummers at a basic level. Drummers can get lazy with the efficiencies of the Moeller technique, and they can rely on specific basic movements of the Moeller stroke without practicing them in a more versatile way. Of course, this isn’t a disadvantage of the technique per se, but more of an indirect issue with many drummers that learn the technique.

The tap stroke of the Moeller technique is also very dependent on the rebound of the surface. This might make it difficult to transfer it on objects with little rebound like lower toms.

Using other techniques like finger control can also help. But practice them both enough so you can switch back and forth with ease.

Origins of the Moeller Technique

The Moeller method is credited to Sanford A. Moeller, who was born in 1878. He observed civil war drummers could play powerful strokes for extended periods without getting tired. Being thoroughly impressed, he started to study the technique and wrote the ‘The Art of Snare Drumming,’ also known as the ‘Moeller book.’

In 1938, Sanford passed on the Moeller method to his pupil Jim Chapin. Since then, Chapin spent his life traveling the world and educating the masses. Thanks to his efforts, the Moeller technique reached the status it deserved.

Summary

Overall, the Moeller technique is an incredible tool to have as a drummer. Practice all four strokes on both hands with patience. Don’t worry about going fast initially, the speed will come with good technique and practice. A car never starts directly in 5th gear!

Once you get a hang of the Moeller technique, your speed and control will reach new limits. Then make sure to integrate it into your playing in the best and most tasteful way possible.