I'm trying to unlearn my feeble drumming anti-technique and build back up from vaguely solid foundations.

One problem I'm having is that my left hand wants to play traditional grip, but I understand that contemporary thinking is that this is bad practise until you get to advanced stages as it's largely considered an anachronism apart from a few specific uses.

Does anybody have realistic advice on trad vs overhand/matched?

I'm not a drummer so take this FWIW, but you're not alone... Stewart Copeland uses traditional grip on his right hand and overhand on his left. He is/was a busy drummer, but he never seemed to injure himself that way...

If it feels natural and your stick control doesn't suffer, then just play traditional and be done with it.

I play left under right over. I think you'll find a ton of mixed grip drummers out there. My left wrist is weak because I broke it a few times, and the underhand grip seems to give it a bit more play/practice time. Also, my wrist doesn't swell up as bad after.

[disclaimer: I'm a guitar player]

the biggest problem i have w/ traditional grip for the left hand is it restricts how hard you can hit the snare. it's possible to whack it that way, but it seems like you'd be using a lot of forearm/elbow and you'd wear out fast (the floodgate for jokes just opened).

i dunno, maybe if you were playing jazz or any type of soft music with subtle snare hits or whatever, go for it. but for rock drumming, i would stick to the overhand grip.

FuzzBob wrote:Stewart Copeland uses traditional grip on his right hand and overhand on his left.

It's the other way around, which is technically called "traditional grip." The most widely-spread theory regarding the origin of traditional grip is that it's easier to play a side-slung marching snare drum with the left-hand stick held palm-up. There is no generally accepted version of traditional grip where the right hand is played palm-up, unless the player is left-handed.

As far as traditional grip being for more "advanced" playing, I've never heard such a thing. If it's more comfortable to you, then use it. If you're concerned about your technique or if you want to be sure that you're getting the most out of your grip, you should seek you a good, reputable teacher and get some lessons on technique. Otherwise, don't sweat which grip you use. There are plenty of awesome drummers using both.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

154 wrote:i dunno, maybe if you were playing jazz or any type of soft music with subtle snare hits or whatever, go for it. but for rock drumming, i would stick to the overhand grip.

I'm not a basher by any means. Though, when I'm playing a clockwork snare bit, I usually switch out to an over left, then back as needed.

There are plenty of hard hitters playing traditional grip, in my experience. It's just a matter of what you practice.

Check out Carla Azar in this video. She's smacking it pretty hard.

Alan Page from Seersucker used to knock the fuck out of the drums, whilst playing traditional grip. I miss that guy. RIP.

Check out Carla Azar in this video. She's smacking it pretty hard

hmmm.. different ideas of 'hard' i guess. i was thinking more along the lines of Todd Trainer or Dale Crover.. that would be difficult to pull off with the traditional grip i think.

cgarges wrote:As far as traditional grip being for more "advanced" playing, I've never heard such a thing.

Ha, no sorry that's not what I meant.

I meant that in the same way as you'd encourage a learner guitarist to use a plectrum or fingers for picking/strumming rather than a violin bow, it seems most people currently recommend playing matched grip until one has advanced in one's drumming.

Not that it's an advanced grip (or for advanced playing) but that it's best left until one's playing has advanced.

Like playing the guitar with a violin bow...sort of.