Noticed this myself recently, started playing jazz comping with traditional grip and found it worked much more nicely, technical and quiet comping ideas just feel much easier in traditional. Great video
I'm a week into converting full-time to trad grip (I play jazz and more "vintage" music - jump blues etc., so I've felt drawn for quite some time - my hand has this urge to go there). I can see myself using both in the end, especially when playing more modern styles, or for raucous soloing around the toms. There's a whole range of reasons for going over to trad, some important ones of which you've touched on. Interestingly, I notice from reading forums that people often debate this issue from a purely mechanical perspective (because, of course, that's an appeal to some perceived sense of objectivity) and yet drumming, like the music, is a cultural phenomenon - far more so than many of those people seem to imagine. There are objective mechanical aspects to it, for sure, but so much of it - again, like music itself (these strange noises that we creatures make) - is an ultimately arbitrary ritual practice. Trad grip enables me to create traditional jazz sounds better, especially when comping, and I also like how relaxed it feels, and also how much better it feels for playing brushes - all reasons I've changed over - but I'll be honest and say that another, major reason, is that trad grip is also part of "the dance" of jazz and earlier drumming. It's part of the ritual, a posture, a dance that brings my body and mind into a certain space of hearing and acting. Just like sitting down on an old jazz kit, versus a mega rock kit, does. Just like standing in a confident way helps confidence, or wearing a suit, or conversely motorcycle gear, can put me in a certain mind.
I've always used both. Started with traditional grip coming from drum and bugle corps. They are both equally useful on the kit. Depends on what I'm playing, many times using both during same song. 😎
I started out playing matched grip then I learned traditional grip when I began learning jazz because it felt easier to create a jazz sound from the drums using traditional grip. For a few years I really developed my traditional grip and kinda left matched grip behind for good. Eventually I picked up matched grip again because I was getting back into rock and I didn't like how traditional looked and felt for playing any genre other than jazz. Now ive decided that I want to work on getting both of my grips to the same comfort level, so for me that means working on matched grip more. 😓
Love your videos. Watched all of them, please keep them coming! Learned traditional grip 2 years ago and love it, still learning. I’m an obsessive jazz drummer just like you so your content is perfect for me. Kind regards from sweden!
Thanks so much! Means a ton that you enjoy my videos that much. I can very much relate to being an obsessive jazz drummer lol. I’ll keep em coming! Have a good one!
Julian you say rim shots are easier to make with match grip. That's because you're still tilting your snare drum down in front of you. Try titlting it the way those earlier jazz drummers did and you'll find it much easier to execute rim shots.
Rimshots with traditional grip also can hurt, unless you move the fulcrum almost to the butt end of the stick, which then compromises the stick's ability to bounce. Weckl uses matched grip whenever he needs to do a lot of rimshots for this reason.
@@jc3drums916 Relying on the thumb as the main finger holding the stick in place (in traditional grip) can cause problems down the road after years of rim shots. Using the index finger as the main finger holding the stick in place alleviates a lot of that. Levon Helm used traditional grip most of his playing career but he played rim shots (using trad grip) with the back of his hand facing down to the floor with all the shock running up his thumb. After years of that he had to play matched grip using a glove with velcro in the palm to help hold the stick.
I'm nowhere near as good as you, and only have a couple years into drums now (after decades of guitar, bass, piano etc).. but I actually just started traditional 2 weeks ago. I'm definitely finding it awkward getting around the kit, but I've been really really surprised just how much easier it has been doing singles, doubles, rolls etc.. and oddly enough, my tone has improved. I actually find it more natural with the snare, and the sound has improved. Only problem I gotta get past is that the entire feel when combined with everything else is so foreign that it's like re-learning the same grooves over again haha.
That’s great that traditional is working all for you!! It definitely involved a lot of relearning for me, that’s why I put it off for so long lol! Best of luck in your continuing drumming journey!
Hello. I'm 66 years old. I was in the USMC D&B Corps and the USMC Band. I've played both ways for years. Traditional feels better for me. I'd suggest doing 16ths one hand at a time alternating hands of course. After your hands are warmed up - get to 32 bars, or more one hand at a time. Here's the hard part - get to two hours a day. I guarantee after 6 months of doing this you'll feel very comfortable playing traditional.
I play jazz using matched but when I play a slow trve kvlt blast beat I use traditional beacuse my matched technique is too clean and even for the sound I want
I started learning traditional grip because it looked cool...
Lol, that’s definitely part of why I did too!!
Noticed this myself recently, started playing jazz comping with traditional grip and found it worked much more nicely, technical and quiet comping ideas just feel much easier in traditional. Great video
Awesome Sam, glad you noticed the same thing! Have a good one!
you convinced me to start learning traditional grip. good luck to me and anyone who's starting out on this new journey.
I'm a week into converting full-time to trad grip (I play jazz and more "vintage" music - jump blues etc., so I've felt drawn for quite some time - my hand has this urge to go there). I can see myself using both in the end, especially when playing more modern styles, or for raucous soloing around the toms. There's a whole range of reasons for going over to trad, some important ones of which you've touched on. Interestingly, I notice from reading forums that people often debate this issue from a purely mechanical perspective (because, of course, that's an appeal to some perceived sense of objectivity) and yet drumming, like the music, is a cultural phenomenon - far more so than many of those people seem to imagine. There are objective mechanical aspects to it, for sure, but so much of it - again, like music itself (these strange noises that we creatures make) - is an ultimately arbitrary ritual practice. Trad grip enables me to create traditional jazz sounds better, especially when comping, and I also like how relaxed it feels, and also how much better it feels for playing brushes - all reasons I've changed over - but I'll be honest and say that another, major reason, is that trad grip is also part of "the dance" of jazz and earlier drumming. It's part of the ritual, a posture, a dance that brings my body and mind into a certain space of hearing and acting. Just like sitting down on an old jazz kit, versus a mega rock kit, does. Just like standing in a confident way helps confidence, or wearing a suit, or conversely motorcycle gear, can put me in a certain mind.
I've always used both. Started with traditional grip coming from drum and bugle corps. They are both equally useful on the kit. Depends on what I'm playing, many times using both during same song. 😎
I'm late but I love you the song choice for the background
Ur the most underrated jazz drum channel on RUclips 👍
Thanks so much Osian!! Really appreciate it. More drumming videos coming soon!
I started out playing matched grip then I learned traditional grip when I began learning jazz because it felt easier to create a jazz sound from the drums using traditional grip. For a few years I really developed my traditional grip and kinda left matched grip behind for good. Eventually I picked up matched grip again because I was getting back into rock and I didn't like how traditional looked and felt for playing any genre other than jazz. Now ive decided that I want to work on getting both of my grips to the same comfort level, so for me that means working on matched grip more. 😓
I’m working on both too! Good luck with it, definitely a little daunting getting both grips up to par! You can do it!
Love your videos. Watched all of them, please keep them coming! Learned traditional grip 2 years ago and love it, still learning. I’m an obsessive jazz drummer just like you so your content is perfect for me. Kind regards from sweden!
Thanks so much! Means a ton that you enjoy my videos that much. I can very much relate to being an obsessive jazz drummer lol. I’ll keep em coming! Have a good one!
Excellent video. I really like the Tony Williams references.
Thanks Steve! Gotta love Mr. Williams!!
Julian you say rim shots are easier to make with match grip. That's because you're still tilting your snare drum down in front of you. Try titlting it the way those earlier jazz drummers did and you'll find it much easier to execute rim shots.
Rimshots with traditional grip also can hurt, unless you move the fulcrum almost to the butt end of the stick, which then compromises the stick's ability to bounce. Weckl uses matched grip whenever he needs to do a lot of rimshots for this reason.
@@jc3drums916 Relying on the thumb as the main finger holding the stick in place (in traditional grip) can cause problems down the road after years of rim shots. Using the index finger as the main finger holding the stick in place alleviates a lot of that. Levon Helm used traditional grip most of his playing career but he played rim shots (using trad grip) with the back of his hand facing down to the floor with all the shock running up his thumb. After years of that he had to play matched grip using a glove with velcro in the palm to help hold the stick.
Yeah I love that sound of traditional grip "quiet comping"!
Same here, loving it!
I was taught marching snare in DCI that tradition enables you to play much faster, While controlling dynamics.
It’s like strat or Les Paul for guitar players. The answer is YES.
No debate, either will work.
great video as always!
Thanks George!
Great video man!
Thank you! Have a good one :)
I started playing traditional grip 3 yrs Ago. Because i only played classical before that.
I played lots of classical in High School as well, that’s definitely one of the main reasons I didn’t learn traditional until recently!
Amazing video👌
Thanks!!
I'm nowhere near as good as you, and only have a couple years into drums now (after decades of guitar, bass, piano etc).. but I actually just started traditional 2 weeks ago. I'm definitely finding it awkward getting around the kit, but I've been really really surprised just how much easier it has been doing singles, doubles, rolls etc.. and oddly enough, my tone has improved. I actually find it more natural with the snare, and the sound has improved. Only problem I gotta get past is that the entire feel when combined with everything else is so foreign that it's like re-learning the same grooves over again haha.
That’s great that traditional is working all for you!! It definitely involved a lot of relearning for me, that’s why I put it off for so long lol! Best of luck in your continuing drumming journey!
Hello. I'm 66 years old. I was in the USMC D&B Corps and the USMC Band. I've played both ways for years. Traditional feels better for me. I'd suggest doing 16ths one hand at a time alternating hands of course. After your hands are warmed up - get to 32 bars, or more one hand at a time. Here's the hard part - get to two hours a day. I guarantee after 6 months of doing this you'll feel very comfortable playing traditional.
I suck at both. Is there a third way?;)
I play jazz using matched but when I play a slow trve kvlt blast beat I use traditional beacuse my matched technique is too clean and even for the sound I want
I began with the traditional grip, so to me it's quite the opposite. Every time I play with match grip my left hand drops the stick haha
Lol I can relate with traditional!
I'd lower your left hand a bit to be more even with the drum head, it looks like you're a bit choked up.
I only use the traditional grip for brushes. It's not 1882 anymore.
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about.
This is bull shit I went to UNT