Traditional grip

Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks to play percussion instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip. Traditional grip is almost exclusively used to play the snare drum, especially the marching snare drum, and often the drum kit.

This grip is called traditional because it descends from the early days when the snare drum was carried over the shoulder on a sling. Since the drum is tilted, using an overhand grip on the high side of the drum forces the elbow in a very awkward position. In this case, an underhand grip is much more comfortable. Even when the drum is on a stand, many drummers will tilt their drum when using traditional grip, although tilting is not required. Many drummers use traditional grip on drums that are perfectly horizontal, especially in marching percussion.

The overhand grip most commonly used is the American grip. With the underhand grip, there are several different techniques employed which involve slight variations in finger positioning and usage. Common with all techniques is the usage of the wrist in rotating (a motion like turning a door knob) as the fundamental motion of the stick. The stick then rests in the space between the thumb and index finger, and the two fingers close around the stick with the thumb atop the index at the first knuckle. The middle finger then rests slightly on top side of the stick (typically the side fingertip is the only contact made). The stick then rests on the cuticle of the ring finger with the pinky support the ring finger from below.

Sanford A Moeller (whose book discusses the 'so called' Moeller Method or Moeller Technique) suggests learning the Traditional grip 'ancient style' as well - where the overhand grip holds/grips the drumstick almost entirely with the little finger.

Criticism

Some percussionists reject traditional grip, as it is believed to be inferior to matched grip in terms of convenience, efficiency, and quality of sound. Unlike German, French and American matched grip, the traditional grip is rarely used with the majority of other percussion instruments (e.g., mallet percussion or timpani). Despite these criticisms, traditional grip has been used, and in some cases continues to be used, by such world-renowned players as Thomas Lang, Danny Gottlieb, Antonio Sanchez, Danny Seraphine, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stewart Copeland, Steve Gadd, Neil Peart, Levon Helm, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Charlie Watts, Jeff Teal, Steve Smith, Virgil Donati, and Dave Weckl. Withstanding most of the criticisms, traditional grip is used by most Division I drum corps to play the marching snare drum.

External links

• Introduction to Traditional Grip (pdf) from the University of Minnesota drumline
• SnareScience - The purpose of this Web site is to further the art and science of rudimental snare drumming.
• An online article that covers the 'Traditional Grip'...used by the 'Ancients'...(i.e., the Little Finger Grip) - as per Sanford A Moeller, Jim Chapin, Tommy William Hanson, et al