trad grip-left hand modified fingering

[slinglander]

Any trad grippers ever try this: use your left index finger instead of your ring finger to balance the stick? I found even more power and control with this modification but haven't found any mention of this on-line. (I had to use this mod after damaging my left ring finger by constantly slamming the stick against it while playing flams, developing "trigger finger" and some carpal tunnel symptoms in the process.)
It works so well I've decided to incorporate this as a technique and alternate the grips depending on whatever I play.

So, I'm asking the 2 or 3 of you trad grippers out there, is this a common variation?

this:
not this(traditional normal):

[rickthedrummer]

It is. I've seen a lot of "Trad" players (including me) do it.

I've also seen drummers bring the stick in towards their body and play with the tip of the index finger.



Skip to about 2:15 and you can see that his middle finger is out of the way.

[slinglander]

I do single stroke rolls that way where the stick is cradled in the thumb "webbing"and the thumb holds onto the stick while the wrist action does the work and no fingers are involved. I just don't move that hand much around the kit or the stick takes off!

[rickthedrummer]

I do single stroke rolls that way where the stick is cradled in the thumb "webbing"and the thumb holds onto the stick while the wrist action does the work and no fingers are involved. I just don't move that hand much around the kit or the stick takes off!

"I just don't move that hand much around the kit or the stick takes off![/QUOTE]"


Where does the stick go? I had to ask that.

[Jackie]

The video looked like it was a young Joe Morrello. The solo had a Cozy Cole feel to it meaning, Topsy feel and a little Gene Krupa's Drum Boggie snare feel and of course the drummers own technique. What I saw in that video was the left hand middle finger doing what they call Bounce control which is part of finger control. The only time that I think a drummer balances the stick with the left hand index finger is when they want to fan the sticks for fast single strokes. Let me correct my last sentence. I sat down and played and then I remembered something. Holding the stick in the left hand in traditional grip, striking the drum and rebounding the stick with no fingers on the stick, just the thumb and web of hand is called a fulcrum stroke. This provides the energy for bouncing. Roy Burns wrote a book called," Finger Control ", and talks about using the fulcrum. I recommend the book.

[slinglander]

"I just don't move that hand much around the kit or the stick takes off!

"
Where does the stick go? I had to ask that.[/QUOTE]

Usually hits the lead guitarist in the back!

"fan" the sticks? that is what I do for single stroke rolls..a Fulcrum stroke.
Videos show V.Colaiuta with his thumb back on the butt of the stick, sort of an "open" grip with the fingers still holding the stick in the traditional way.
I don't know how to control a stick this way but he does! It does give wicked power, tho.
I guess the trad grip is not "written in stone" but has as many variations as there are drummers who use it.