DRUMMERS: Traditional or Matched?

[ltwoman]

Let us not forget our hands, While some of us are in a quandry over what to do with our feet, what are we doing with our hands?
So what will it be? Traditional (Orthodox, according to SC) or Matched?
I'm using Matched (At this moment. I caught my foot doing Heel Up earlier today and I am a Heel Down gal...)

[smudge]

I really need to find a tutor, because I'm currently doing 'trad' the wrong way round. It feels really comfortable, but I'm assuming that the reason nobody plays like that is because it doesn't work once a person gets even marginally competent.

Currently heel down.

[luddite lady]

[quote="smudge"]I really need to find a tutor, because I'm currently doing 'trad' the wrong way round. It feels really comfortable, but I'm assuming that the reason nobody plays like that is because it doesn't work once a person gets even marginally competent.

Currently heel down. [/quote]

Smudge, what do you mean by 'trad' the wrong way round? Have you switched around your left and right hands? That's what I had been doing all my life whilst hitting things with any stick-like objects I could get my hands on. I've often wondered how I came up with this odd style when I didn't even know anything about match or traditional grip. It just feels so natural. However, I've switched to the traditional traditional grip after reading in a lame beginner drummer book that my way makes it really hard to master a full kit, and it is very difficult to unlearn a grip after playing seriously that way for a while.
The book was also a real fan of heel up, but I'm in the heel down camp.

[Shangeris]

I've started playing with the matched grip, but since I have been a Police/SC fan, I'm using the traditional grip wich is more confortable for me. But sometimes I still use the matched.

[Secret Journey]

I play traditional grip, there is something about the way stewart plays it as he holds the stick between his index finger and middle finger. I believe this is not the traditional way of playing " traditional grip ".

[Horacio]

Matched.

[smudge]

[quote="Secret Journey"]I play traditional grip, there is something about the way stewart plays it as he holds the stick between his index finger and middle finger. I believe this is not the traditional way of playing " traditional grip ".[/quote]

Yeah I noticed that. More of a 'modified writing implement' grip. The stick sits more comfortably there for me - which I guess is a function of where the joints are and relative length of digits - but my index finger can't control it on its own.

I really do need to get my hands sorted out. I'm right-handed (ish), playing traditional grip the wrong way round. I may be a drumming novice, but even I can tell that's not going to end well

[dontboxmein]

Depending on the gig...I use both from time to time...for Jazz...Traditional...but a Rock gig matched...Big Band...Trad.

Trad...is usually a quieter form if you need to hold back on volume...Trad is wonderful for that.
And if you need more power...Matched can really get the job done.

When I teach ...I teach both forms...my suggestion ...learn both...it surely can hurt you

[TheEqualizer]

Does matched really give you more power or does it just make you feel like you are playing with more power? From a standpoint of physics and mechanics, it would seem to me like traditional grip would lend it self to generating more power even though it may not feel like it to the drummer.

[TheEqualizer]

[quote="Secret Journey"]I play traditional grip, there is something about the way stewart plays it as he holds the stick between his index finger and middle finger. I believe this is not the traditional way of playing " traditional grip ".[/quote]

Correct. Leave it to Stewart to do the traditional in a non-traditional way.

[samburusunset]

I'm a matched grip girl. I goof around with traditional but always come back to matched.



And, I'm primarily heel down unless I'm playing some quick notes close together. Then I'll stay up.

[Johnny O]

Depending on the gig...I use both from time to time...for Jazz...Traditional...but a Rock gig matched...Big Band...Trad.

Trad...is usually a quieter form if you need to hold back on volume...Trad is wonderful for that.
And if you need more power...Matched can really get the job done.

You are correct, Sir! I do the exact same. For softer tunes or jazz I use trad while for rock madness I use matched. I tend to use matched on anything that has alot of tom fills as it feels more natural to go matched on the tom fills...

HEEL DOWN FOREVER!!!