Does everyone use a Matched Grip for drumming?

[The Tony Show]

All of the Youtube videos of Rock Band drummers I've seen are using the Matched Grip. Has anyone had success using a traditional (Jazz) grip to play Rock Band? I'm a complete Novice drummer, but am quickly improving and playing on Hard now- I've tried both, and the Traditional seems a little more comfortable. For descriptions/pictures of what I'm talking about, look here:

http://www.rockdrummingsystem.com/underground/drum-articles/using-proper-stick-grips.php

So the question remains- do any of you Expert drummers use the traditional grip?

[Rorschach1976]

I am also a novice drummer, so there is no question that my technique is poor and I'm not really one to give good advice, but...

I usually use a matched grip, but I beat Blackened on expert for the first time last night, and about a minute in my right arm started getting really sore. To kind of ease the tension, I switched to the traditional grip in the middle of the song. I found that it was way easier on my arm, but I was far less coordinated and missed a lot more beats.

I can see pros and cons for both grips, but I'd love to hear what the "real" drummers have to say.

[HMXDungHeaver]

In terms of real drumming, i'm very much a novice (i own a set but have had no lessons, and very limited playing time). I have however beat every song on expert besides Blinded By Fear and Blackened.

I've always used the Matched Grip, and have never really thought to switch. Ever since seeing Max Weinberg rock the traditional grip on Conan, i have always thought it looked kind of goofy and wasn't really for me.

Whenever I try the traditional grip, it feels awkward and like I have less control.

As previously said, it'd be interesting to see what actual drummers do.

[GreenGrassAndy]

I think that one of the reasons that people use the matched grip is because it comes more naturally, plus I think that's how it's demonstrated in the tutorials for anybody who watched those.

[Tralfmadorian]

Matched here.

I might be inclined to use the traditional grip if the snare were on a flat plane instead of slanted, and between my legs, per your usual jazz kit setup, and not offset to my left. I am comfortable with the traditional grip because of my snare drum experience in middle and high school band.

[zack10house]

I'm like, halfway between matched and french grip....weird

[Beat100]

i switch between grips lol :S French Grip for really easy, lazy, slow parts of songs and then matched on rolls and precision beats :P haha weird, but that's me
-like zach10house lol :P

[davidshek]

I'm like, halfway between matched and french grip....weird

Freak! :p

I vary between Matched and Traditional, depends on my mood really. I'll usually use traditional for slower, more relaxed (read: easier) songs, and matched for the more complex stuff. I do the same on my real kit.

[HMXDungHeaver]

i switch between grips lol :S French Grip for really easy, lazy, slow parts of songs and then matched on rolls and precision beats :P haha weird, but that's me
-like zach10house lol :P

Actually, after reading the different types, I think I used the french the same way you do.

[harper83087]

there is no way i have ever, can, or ever will play the traditional jazz way haha, ive tried and tried and its just not comfortable to me. so i stick with the matched ;)

[Asgautr]

IBitePrettyHard uses traditional grip in this video:
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But he changes to matched near the end.

I've tried traditional grip, but I'm no good at it. I might be getting a real kit soon, though, and I'll definitely try to improve on it.

[skullpit]

When I first learned to play drums back in grade school, we were taught the jazz grip. Once I hit high school, I started using a matched grip and never looked back.

[bisq]

Actually, after reading the different types, I think I used the french the same way you do.

I do also!!! That being using french for easier, slower parts of songs. Actually, I started using matched grip...then after getting some wrist soreness, i switched to french because it seemed to help lessen the pain. After a while the pain subsided and I now use this combination. I subconsciously switch to a matched grip whenever things get a little hairy...

Actually this is pretty much all true for my right hand only, since that was the wrist that gave me problems. My left hand is pretty stupid and doesn't do the french grip very well at all. I have to consciously think about it constantly or it will revert back to a matched grip. :confused:

[tiger5150]

I use matched grip. Have seen different versions of the matched grip where the back of your hands are facing to the left and right. But I play with the back of the hands facing straight up.

[tiger5150]

I use matched grip. Have seen different versions of the matched grip where the back of your hands are facing to the left and right. But I play with the back of the hands facing straight up.

Well I did some research. I guess I was using the french grip and didnt know it.

French grip for me then.

[mercuryshadow09]

Guess i'm a freak too i only use French grip.

[shaggymojo]

I'm like, halfway between matched and french grip....weird


Me too. I find that for more demanding songs it gets more like matched and less like french.

[Nasenbluten]

i switch between french and matched, i find straight slower rolls like on orange crush, it's alot easier to use french for those types, but liek blackened and what not i use matched

[RawWS6]

Hmm I guess I would say I use a French grip also. That sucks having to say that, can we call it a Freedom grip? ;)

[The Tony Show]

Hmm I guess I would say I use a French grip also. That sucks having to say that, can we call it a Freedom grip? ;)

Haha- "Freedom Grip". :D

[Lord_Beelzebub]

I use the French grip. No wonder why I can play for so long and not get tired of playing. :p

Notice how it says in that link that you hold the stick loosely with French grip. I guess I do so much that sometime when I hit the pad the stick flies out of my hand on the floor. LOL Good for rebound though. Just to note though I have cut out mouse pads over my drum pads, they are upside down so I'm hitting rubber, not the felt on the other side. Is working great for me for rebound.

[orange_black]

well im definitely the oddball here.... i use trad and ONLY trad. lol i havent played matched since high school.... so my matched grip basically sucks.

but hey thats what happens when you play set using a trad grip... you get used to it and eventually (as in my case) it became my dominant grip.

but any drummer would tell you that beginners should always use matched grip. today, trad grip isnt really required like it was before (for slanted drums)... however, you'll notice the majority of proffesional drummers out there that have been schooled deeply use the trad grip. ... as well as 99.999% of the drum corps units.

:)

hey, in my opinion, Trad kicks ass... matched is for "everyone else" :)

[Bukkethead]

I've always used Matched, but for some reason after a while it starts to make my right wrist ache. Last night I tried a variant of Traditional (stick between index/middle finger rather than middle/ring) and I found it gives me more speed and control, and less "end of stick whacking into my thigh", as well as no pain. I think I'll be working with that from now on.

[Lord_Beelzebub]

well im definitely the oddball here.... i use trad and ONLY trad. lol i havent played matched since high school.... so my matched grip basically sucks.

but hey thats what happens when you play set using a trad grip... you get used to it and eventually (as in my case) it became my dominant grip.

but any drummer would tell you that beginners should always use matched grip. today, trad grip isnt really required like it was before (for slanted drums)... however, you'll notice the majority of proffesional drummers out there that have been schooled deeply use the trad grip. ... as well as 99.999% of the drum corps units.

:)

hey, in my opinion, Trad kicks ass... matched is for "everyone else" :)


Any way you can make your avatar picture A LOT bigger???

[Dzhokhar]

I'm no drummer but I don't think the Rock Band drum layout is very conducive to using a traditional grip.

[barbaraann72]

I only use matched.

[JesusSilencio]

For drum set (and this game) I use german matched grip. I play marching snare, so I can use traditional, but for set, matched just feels more natural. Mainly, traditional feels weird to me when the drum has little rebound. Plus, I have trouble going across different drums with traditional.

I think IBitePrettyHard is using traditional grip for that song because the drummer for that band uses traditional grip, and the song feels sorta jazzy. I can tell IBitePrettyHard has marching experience, (by his technique, stick control, and his fills) so he is probably comfortably using traditional grip.

[OKGost]

I used quite a bit of traditional in my high school days for Drumline and whatnot, but I'd never want to play RB with traditional grip. I tried it onces and it felt pretty (and pardon my lack of a more appropriate term) '******ed' playing that way. I'll stick with matched.

EDIT: Dzhokhar is right. The way the drums are set make it really awkward to use trad. If it was a real drumset, I would reconsider.

[flamingtoilet]

I just hold on tight and play. I don't really use a "grip".

Maybe that's why I suck.

[TakeABow]

Rock Band reminds me of Tenors from marching band. I used a matched grip for those, and I feel wrong not using one on the Rock Band set. I can do traditional grip (from learning to play snare), but I prefer matched when there is more than one drum.

[Moo Cow]

Mine kind of looks like the first.

Honestly, all I do is basically put the drum stick in my palm, and make a loose fist around it - I don't have my index pointing out like in the picture.

[bonethug0108]

I recently switched to traditional, though certain songs sometimes call for using the match grip.

[Xero314-2]

I was originally trained to use traditional grip, but that was many years ago and I never went that far with it. For Rock Band I have been using matched grip, but play around with traditional grip from time to time.

The important thing is to use what works best for your. There are some techniques that are easier to do with each grip, but any good drummer will tell you that your grip style is not important, as long as you perform your chosen style correctly.