Learning traditional grip

[FlyByNight]

Ever since I started playing the drums, I've wanted to learn traditional grip. I've tried and tried and can't get it to feel right. I've watched videos, read books, but still can't get a hang of it. I know there's a few people on here that use mainly traditional grip. Any tips for traditional grip?

[drummer]

Why?

[Northern Redneck]

Why?

My question as well. If one is working for you?

[8beat]

I don't think about it. It's just a grip that I learned in school. I practice rudiments with various grips. Works for me.

[FlyByNight]

My question as well. If one is working for you?

Just for curiosity. After seeing Rick Allen (with both arms) and Stewart Copeland using traditional grip. It's made me want to learn it.

[lukesplat12]

I couldn't get it until I really focused on the fulcrum. Maybe that's just me though.

[FlyByNight]

I couldn't get it until I really focused on the fulcrum. Maybe that's just me though.

I think that's my problem. I can't get any looseness in the grip. What I mean by that is if I try to do a roll with the left hand. The stick doesn't bounce on the head.

[rickthedrummer]

If you want to play Traditional grip, figure a year to get used to it, and another year to get comfortable with it.

[kay-gee]

I do both. Trad for rudiments and brushes. Matched for back beat type stuff.

all the best...

[Pearl MCX Man]

I play both ways depending on what it is that I am playing. Some songs I use traditional but most of the time match grip. Good to be able to use one or the other. Whatever works for you.

[PopsOldSkins]

JoJo Mayer's Secret Weapons DVD. If you haven't seen this one.

[drummer]

If you want to play Traditional grip, figure a year to get used to it, and another year to get comfortable with it.

If I may add... it's also relative to how much time your playing/practicing.

[rickthedrummer]

If I may add... it's also relative to how much time your playing/practicing.

I agree with you although I stand by my timeline because it still will take around 2 years for 1 to be really comfortable with it.

Over the years, I have probably shown about 40 drummers how to get started with "Trad" grip. I know that 2 actually reached a point where they could play with it and not jump to match if the song got a little fast.

Most of the others didn't stick with it, mainly because, when it came right down to it, they didn't want to put the time into it.

I made a short video up for a guy on a different forum a few years ago, showing him how I do it ( I know I'm not technically correct with my Trad, but I know I'm a long ways from being wrong). I got a PM from him about 2 months later saying that he just couldn't get it.

There aren't that many things that you can master in 2 months. Maybe farting and knowing which way the TP goes but Trad isn't 1 of them.

[Rotarded]

I play both ways depending on what it is that I am playing. Some songs I use traditional but most of the time match grip. Good to be able to use one or the other. Whatever works for you.

I am the same. Some songs/music the traditional grip just feels better.

[drummer]

I agree with you although I stand by my timeline because it still will take around 2 years for 1 to be really comfortable with it.

It's all you Rick. I know nothing.

[rickthedrummer]

It's all you Rick. I know nothing.

That's why you are a mod.

Seriously, do you play any Trad or are you a strictly a match grip player?

[Kazaamski]

Practice pads m8. Don't worry about playing around the kit, until you get comfortable with using your fingers for stick control. The stick pivots in between the thumb and the index finger, and I like the shaft to rest on the cuticle of my ring finger. Idk. Works for me

[EyePea]

jojo mayer's secret weapons dvd. If you haven't seen this one.

+1

[porkpieguy]

I have friends that played snare drum in band. After 6 years of practicing an hour a day (and 4 of those years in marching band, they were playing about 4 hours a day during the fall), they seemed pretty comfortable with it.

My point? It takes time to unlearn and relearn something you've been doing for years. I was interested in learning traditional grip at one time (I just thought it looked cool), but then I realized that there were a million other things I wanted to learn and try before doing something that really wouldn't make any significant improvements in my playing.

[SpazApproved]

I grew up playing mostly traditional until I got into highschool and my teacher pretty much said it's not allowed.. (i know sounds crazy) he let me know unless I join the local fife n drums it's a dead grip that's only used in marching lines.

Since then I have only dabled with it here or there but I've become more accustom to match grip. But now and then I'll play tradition so I don't completely loose it.

You need to start with open hand no fingers and focus on the fulcrum with thumb

[Ricardo]

I grew up playing mostly traditional until I got into highschool and my teacher pretty much said it's not allowed.. (i know sounds crazy) he let me know unless I join the local fife n drums it's a dead grip that's only used in marching lines.

Since then I have only dabled with it here or there but I've become more accustom to match grip. But now and then I'll play tradition so I don't completely loose it.

You need to start with open hand no fingers and focus on the fulcrum with thumb

To quote my teachers in college :

Traditional grip is for parade drums, but if that is what you started with and have always used, then keep it...........otherwise go with matched grip.

Why ?
Because in college we also had to learn tympani, marimba, congas, chimes, vibes, concert bass drum and 20 other assorted percussion instruments that would never allow you to use a traditional grip.

[SpazApproved]

Parade drums lol nice

[drummer]

That's why you are a mod.

Seriously, do you play any Trad or are you a strictly a match grip player?

I learned traditional and switched to match after about 3 or 4 years (many moons ago). I can still play traditional but not as comfortably.

[gdmoore28]

Traditional grip just feels right to me. It's how I've played from day one. Don't know why. I guess I saw somebody doing it and decided that was the way to do it. In my case, traditional is totally comfortable, natural, and controllable. Note I said "to me." For others, it may never feel comfortable.

Matched grip is what I wrestle with. I've been playing for over fifty years, and it was only four of five years ago that I started mixing matched grip into the routine.

As for learning traditional now, after having learned matched grip, the key is the same as everything else - use it and practice it. You will eventually fall into your own method of grip, balance, and control.

GeeDeeEmm

[rickthedrummer]

I learned traditional and switched to match after about 3 or 4 years (many moons ago). I can still play traditional but not as comfortably.

Exactly how many moons was that?