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started moving, more involved techniques require the exclusive use of the thumb for bouncing the stick when playing at a faster tempo. 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 the 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 little finger supporting the ring finger from below.
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thighs into the drum. Because of that drum position, using an overhand grip on the high (left) side of the drum would force the elbow into a very awkward position while 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, it helps align the shoulders and spine and is more ergonomic. Many drummers use traditional grip on drums that are perfectly horizontal, especially in
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an index finger fulcrum, a middle finger fulcrum, or a combination of both. The fulcrum can also be placed on the first or second knuckles of the primary fulcrum finger. These options lead to many technical variations in playing position. All of the grips, with all of the fulcrum variations, apply to the right hand of
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Physiologically, the traditional left underhand grip uses fewer muscles than the right overhand grip and this causes each muscle to do a larger percentage of the work. Matched grip is therefore technically easier to play, though for reasons stated above, it is not always the superior choice for every
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The matched grip is performed by gripping the drum sticks with one's index finger and middle finger curling around the bottom of the stick and the thumb on the top. This allows the stick to move freely and bounce after striking a percussion instrument. Any of the major grips below can be played with
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because it descends from military marching drummers who carried a snare drum on a sling hung from the neck or one shoulder, with the drum riding closer to one hip than the other and tilted slightly for easier reach. This allowed the drummer to play the drum and march without banging their knees or
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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. Once the stick has
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Traditional grip can also be useful when playing with brushes in a stirring motion. Normally this style is used in a jazz context. The underhand grip naturally angles the left hand farther away from the right hand than would matched grip and allows more room for crossovers and sweeping maneuvers
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Some
Scottish pipe band players have a variation on the traditional left hand grip in which the underhand grip is played entirely with the thumb on top of the stick, utilizing no other fingers for downward pressure. This suits the pipe band's light and snappy style of playing well, but is not as
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American grip is a hybrid of the French grip and German grip. The palms of the hands typically are at about a 45-degree angle to the drum and both the fingers and wrist are used to move the stick. This grip is considered a general-purpose grip by percussionists because it combines the power and
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In French grip, the palms of the hands face directly toward each other and the stick is moved primarily with the fingers rather than the wrist as in German grip. This allows a greater degree of finesse and the addition of forearm rotation to the stroke, which is why many
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or other playing surface, and the stick is moved primarily with the wrist. German grip provides a large amount of power, but sacrifices the speed provided by the use of the fingers as in French grip. It is used when power is the primary concern, such as when playing a
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prefer French grip. This grip uses the smaller and faster finger muscles. It also comes in handy for playing fast tempos, including for swing or jazz on the ride cymbal. For louder strokes, the wrist rotates much in the same way as when hammering a nail.
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that
Moeller describes. Note the angle of the snare drum, which makes the traditional grip of the left hand necessary, since matched grip would be difficult to use. Also note the positioning of the right hand, which looks like the
581:. German grip provides a wide dynamic range, achieving the control necessary for pianissimo passages without the need for much rebound from the drum and also allowing for very loud fortissimo strokes from the arm.
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or
Moeller technique) suggests that one should learn the traditional grip 'ancient style', as well ... where the overhand grip should hold or grip the drumstick almost entirely with the little finger.
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larger wrist motion of the German grip with the quick finger strokes of the French grip. Each element of the stroke, finger or wrist motion, can be isolated as needed. It is widely used on
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because of their association with traditional snare drum and drum kit playing, in which the right and left hands grip the sticks in different ways, often one underhand and one overhand.
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evolving their style from marching and military styles and instrumentation, although it is also used by several rock drummers.
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When two identical beaters are used, one in each hand, there are two main varieties of grip:
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suitable for
American style drum corps playing or jazz drumming on a full kit.
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651:(Gran Cassa or Große Trommel), but only for sustained rolls or while sitting.
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grip (See
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Traditional grip (detail). Note the signature 'underhand' grip of the style
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In German grip, the palms of the hands are parallel to the
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Traditional grip (left) and matched grip (right) in use by
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456:. Traditional grip is almost exclusively used to play the
749:"About Scottish Drumming – Denver and District Pipe Band"
790:"Drum Technique & Ergonomics Part 5 – Get A Grip"
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392:Traditional grip. This is a good example of the
713:A History and Analysis of Jazz Drumming to 1942
472:than in other drum kit styles due to the early
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1086:National Association of Rudimental Drummers
64:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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724:Sanford A. Moeller, the Moeller book, p. 4
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223:Learn how and when to remove this message
161:Learn how and when to remove this message
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735:"What is Scottish Pipe Band Drumming?"
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432:and, to a lesser extent, the
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1122:Fife and drum corps
1117:Marching percussion
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1025:Fred Sanford
980:Marty Hurley
950:Robert Goute
940:Alex Duthart
930:Fritz Berger
925:Bill Bachman
899:Backsticking
883:
864:Drum cadence
798:. Retrieved
796:. 2015-02-28
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88:verification
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960:Thom Hannum
879:Drum stroke
564:German grip
550:French grip
528:drum sticks
481:traditional
438:drum sticks
410:Elvin Jones
313:soft sticks
309:kit drummer
297:snare drums
282:drum sticks
1167:Categories
1030:John Seton
970:H. C. Hart
845:percussion
842:Rudimental
800:2019-08-30
775:2019-08-30
699:References
683:Tenor drum
678:Vibraphone
660:Snare drum
557:timpanists
458:snare drum
305:vibraphone
291:and large
280:, whether
266:percussion
259:vibraphone
197:improve it
121:newspapers
50:improve it
1132:Pipe band
945:Vic Firth
869:Drum roll
852:Technique
688:Bass drum
674:Xylophone
649:Bass Drum
621:Bass drum
575:bass drum
546:as well.
444:. Unlike
434:jazz grip
348:timpanist
289:triangles
213:June 2023
201:verifying
56:talk page
665:Drum kit
636:Drum kit
616:Triangle
570:drumhead
466:drum kit
414:drum kit
412:playing
371:fashion.
1105:General
693:Timpani
640:Korean
278:mallets
195:Please
135:scholar
908:People
642:janggu
274:sticks
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766:(PDF)
611:Gongs
602:Usage
596:drums
293:gongs
142:JSTOR
128:books
884:Grip
676:and
270:grip
114:news
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424:or
276:or
264:In
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