Thomas Lang: "Traditional Grip Vs Matched Grip" (Drum Lesson)

[@colinaldridge9529]

Absolutely the most thoughtful commentary on the subject, and Thomas is comes across as so friendly and humble!

[@acordaomundoereal2871]

Thomas is a lot frindly and humble.

[@nathanwinn4375]

I’m not a “trained” drummer, so I never developed my traditional grip. I play around with it when practicing some rudiments sometimes, but Thomas is absolutely right. There isn’t a practical reason for traditional grip anymore. HOWEVER…the traditional grip CAN add textures and ghost notes that matched doesn’t do for me. It feels correct to play jazz with a traditional grip to allow the softer touch to come through with all kinds of little goodies and textures. But ultimately, matched grip is the best for an overall drumming utility. Excellent discussion, Thomas!!

[@bighouse5804]

>the traditional grip CAN add textures and ghost notes that matched doesn’t do for me I would argue that's due to a lack of development in the matched grip rather than an intrinsic fault of the grip. Not to say you aren't doing matched right, but there's no inherent reason you couldn't achieve those same textures and ghost notes with matched grip given enough time to develop it. That includes the softer touches needed for jazz imo, though of course there is subjectivity and if it feels right to play jazz with traditional grip there's nothing wrong with that

[@scottlowell493]

@@bighouse5804 yes, matched grip, especially open handed development >traditional. Lack of nuance is just lack of development. "Traditional" ghost notes and textures...that implies the right hand holding like the conventional matched grip can't do those things. Zero logic there.

[@nowisthetime7461]

@@bighouse5804 Along with that, a matched French grip might be good for jazz, ghost notes, etc. where is more in finger control in instances where you're playing relatively softly.

[@jazzhole8208]

I guess it depends on the player. As Thomas already said, even after he switched to matched, he's still able to play traditional much better. Rick Dior said the same. he plays matched grip on daily occasions, but his traditional grip is much more controlled and feels more comfortable. And i guess every trad grip player would say the same. . . And every pressure or wrong posture will lead to issues, trad or matched 🤌

[@jazzhole8208]

And i wouldn't agree on the time and efford of development, building a reliable traditional grip technique. The movements are completely different from one another, so each hand had it's own link/areal in the brain. What 'could' lead to a much faster development, bcause the informations for the movements come from different sources in the hemispheres. There is a weak hand, always, and tradional grip makes it easier thru the rotation/finger movement to overcome this weakness. But you should only learn trad grip if you want it to, bcause, it's one more thing in your arsenal of playing your favorite instrument ❤🥁

[@foskco87]

It's kind of funny listening to a master of the traditional grip talk straight smack about the traditional grip. Everything he said is true though. Match grip just makes more sense in every way. There are a couple tricks which traditional grip works well for like Buddy Rich's under the arm cross"unders" over to the floor tom but as far as strength and natural dexterity, match grip wins. I do appreciate the historical and cultural significance of the traditional grip. But when it comes to pure technique... there is no modern-day reason to learn traditional grip as your main grip.

[@ScuffyTheDog]

It's called "being honest".

[@Power_Press711]

Bottom line... Use whichever grip you feel like using lol

[@strong_voice_of_truth]

I'm so glad someone finally put this tradition under logical scrutiny. For years those of us who played matched have been criticized for no good reason. In fact, it is healthier and more natural.

[@MonacoRocha]

Matched is so much more Natural....

[@nikoshatzimichael984]

Tell this secret to Dave & Vinnie!

[@bighouse5804]

@@nikoshatzimichael984 Both dave and vinnie had hand injuries from playing traditional even though they do it so well. Dave also said in a clinic that if he were to start over he would learn matched every time

[@jonbongjovi1869]

does anyone know why when I drum (or most drummers drum)our muscles wanna do that thing where we're biting our gums or whatever it is? i never ever noticed drummers doing it.....until i became a drummer 3 years ago....and then I looked at all kinds of drummers on YT and most do it too! so weird!

[@ccshumshum8104]

it's not healthier, it's not more natural. match grip seems that way because you suck at traditional.

[@loucontino4804]

Wow! Pretty wild that I had this video pop up on my U-Tube recommends cause I am seriously thinking about changing to matched grip...AGAIN! I played traditional grip for 8 years, then went to matched grip for 20 years and then back to traditional grip for the last 22. So here I am after playing 50 years looking at Jack DeJohnette playing only matched and now Thomas saying all of the right things here to make me believe it may be time to go matched again. Very cool explanation and of course, he is a wonderful musician who can do far more than play drums.

[@chiselcheswick5673]

I remember Neil Peart going from matched to traditional grip, but he also changed back again due to the limitation it put on him especially with regard to power. Great to hear such a logical explanation... thanks 👍

[@jeffreyappezzato9179]

When I started in 1983, I didn't know any better, so I started with match grip. After a 20 year layoff, I played match again, but I felt the tug to play traditional grip. I have found that traditional grip is useful when playing more rudimental patterns. Its certainly fun to switch between the two.

[@DriftSpaceZero]

Playing with arms crossed and traditional grip are tied to the same origin; those marching band drummers were the first people to sit at the drum kit, and were used to holding their left stick "traditionally," so they crossed their arms to access the hats easier. If we're acknowledging "traditional" grip is awkward: why not also extend that to playing something (hats) on your left side with your right hand? Crossing arms is the same sort of "desperate solution to a silly problem" (@2:54) that you mentioned early in the video. Drummers learn to cross their arms because they've been seeing others do it, and it "looks right," but it doesn't make ergonomic sense; Simon Phillips had this realization part-way through his career.

[@teedee2689]

Human anatomy dictates matched grip. Many traditional players develop injuries for them with time. Basic physics support matched grip. I dropped traditional grip very quickly when I started. Common sense.

[@davegarciaofficial]

Some drummers learned this way and will do every intellectual gymnastic to justify it. Can you? Of course. Some of the best played this way. But is it the best way?? No. It’s unnecessary. Any drummer who insists on playing this way these days does it out of pretentiousness.

[@drummerboy69n]

Bill Stewart plays jazz matched grip.

[@tylerpedersen9836]

And he’s one of the best jazz drummers out there.

[@ScuffyTheDog]

"A desperate solution for a silly problem". That's how traditional grip was invented. It's not necessary anymore and it's not comfortable or natural to play imho. People still use it and I respect that, but sometimes I think it's kind of a fancy thing to look more "pro", especially between jazz cats.

[@philosophy5134]

I am curious. If traditional grip is so much better. Why aren't both sticks held in traditional grip ?

[@kvong615]

Traditional grip does not look natural. Your always sitting with one shoulder down in a slant. I agree with Thomas

[@MrDaveangelo1]

There`s just one thing about traditional grip that made me pick it over a matched one - it looks WAY cooler)))

[@dodytris6708]

i do think soooo

[@aldomauricioable]

could be bro, but the problem in my case is when you have to play latin music and needs to play the cowbell with your left hand, is almost impossible and meaningless, I started too with traditional but have to change it and in my surprise, I get way better with my left hand while practicing common cowbell pattern. I simply do not have the time to practice traditional grip so, yes it looks cooler but I have not seen any drummer playing a cowbell pattern with traditional grip 🤷‍♂🤷‍♂

[@toothnail605]

Especially when your left shoulder goes way down like Steve Gadd and 99% of traditional players. To me it doesn't look cool when your left shoulder looks like it has a 25lb weight on it lol. STRAIGTEN your left shoulder THEN ya'll would look cool!

[@KikoFreitasMusic]

The only thing missing is the concept. Comprehend that the traditional grip is an art form, not related only with speed, power or control. We should listen to the old masters and the way they approached to Music, not only to technique, in order to understand the meaning of each stroke related to music. My admiration to Thomas, a great player. It’s just a new point of view 🙏🏼

[@fanolima1029]

Grande Kiko Freitas professor na arte da bateria

[@jonbongjovi1869]

then WHY DIDN'T BUDDY RICH USE TRADITIONAL GRIP with his RIGHT hand?

[@nealsausen4651]

@@jonbongjovi1869 : one-word answer:……. “TRADITION”!

[@grafikdrummer]

For me a great benefit of traditional grip is, that the stick is not controlled behind the fulcrum but before or at the fulcrum. That´s extremely useful for playing soft. I think it's no coincidence that the traditional grip lastet very long in classical jazz styles, because swing comping requires exactely that.

[@jordanvincenzo464]

So, you can’t play quiet with your right hand? To me, there’s just a lot of motivated reasoning with traditional grip. People are taught that way, and then they work their way backwards to justify why it’s better. As soon as you could put the drum at any angle you wanted, that grip became obsolete and unnecessary. About the only time it might have some benefit is if you’re playing brushes, which might require a movement in your left hand that matched grip can’t do.

[@grafikdrummer]

@@jordanvincenzo464 Of course you can play quiet with the matched grip, I just find it easier to do so with traditional grip, because there is no leverage in the process. But you are right: it only makes sense if you are already a traditional grip player. I would never recommend learning traditional grip to a matched grip player just for playing soft. But I wouldn't do so for playing brushes either. On the contrary: there are several aspects in playing the brushes that are easier to master with matched grip.

[@halla6323]

To me traditional and matched grip are really the same grip. I found that be learning traditional grip it also helped me understand the match grip mutch better.

[@DevonHberman-im6bx]

@@jordanvincenzo464you just mad cause you can’t play traditional, admit it.

[@DevonHberman-im6bx]

@@grafikdrummerbrushes are definitely not easier match grip, you’re drunk.

[@bereangirl7118]

When I first started learning rudiments on my Slingerland snare drum back in 1963 , my drum teacher taught me using trad grip as that is what he used . In 1964, I switched to matched grip and have been using it ever since. Although I can still play very well with trad grip I have always believed that matched grip is a far better and faster way of learning to control the bounce and rebound of the sticks which are more evenly spaced across from each other on the pad or drum compared to trad.

[@flamencolo]

Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stewart Copeland, Virgil Donati, Tony Williams, Steve Smith, Charlie Watts... they can't be wrong!! 😀

[@simonrobert9858]

Vinnie use both, in earlier years use match a lot, and when gets old, mixed 2 of

[@jonbongjovi1869]

but ALL of them used a matched grip for ONE of their two hands, no? also, of course EVERYONE can be wrong. that's the history of humans. when I was a boy, and I questioned Invisible Sky Daddy, everyone would use the lame deflection of "so EVERYONE is wrong?" and I said "um, wasn't everyone on earth wrong when they thought it was flat? didn't everyone used to think the sun revolved around the earth? " and it shut them up every time.

[@maeu59]

No one said they’re wrong, trad grip was developed out of necessity and these guys were schooled on traditional, so why would they change? You do anything long enough it will become your dominant and preferred way. Even Weckl said If he was just starting out he would play matched. Traditional has become more of a badge of honor and some sort of accomplishment which in a way it is, because it does take a long time to master but when a guy like Thomas Lang says it’s really not worth any benefit to the final outcome, we should all listen.

[@flamencolo]

Neil Peart, John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Ringo Starr, Dennis Chambers, Phil Collins, Keith Moon, Ian Paice, Jeff Porcaro, John jr Robinson... they can't be wrong!!😁

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@flamencolo YOU FORGOT BUDDY RICH, who used MATCHED grip. I just watched him in 1942....Tommy Dorsey's band.... and BUDDY RICH IS USING MATCHED GRIP cuz the tune requires a lot of floor toom and POOR BUDDY couldn't get enough POWER out of Trad Grip, HA HA HA HA. Look at it yourself: Hawaiian....something or other is the name of the video.

[@CurtisDrums]

Traditional grip is useless. Don't use it. It's not worth it

[@substance1]

I think that some drummers can utilize the traditional grip to great success like Joe Morello, but your right, it takes a lot of technique to NOT get carpal tunnel syndrome using that grip.

[@timpricedrums]

Only time I ever play traditional grip is when I’m playing light jazzy stuff. It just feels better and there’s that shuffle/bounce thing that seems easier with the left hand for the fast swing stuff. Check out “rotten kid” by Buddy rich for an example of the left hand bouncing ghost thing. I’m sure there’s a better term for it! Great video 😁😎

[@49Macman]

Didn't know some of the details of the reason why marchers stopped traditional grip. Thanks!

[@JunkerOnDrums]

Buddy played matched grip once in a while, especialy in tom tom soloing. I think a lot af drummers uses traditionel grip because og tradition, and as you mention, it may make the drummer "think" different regarding the musical situation he/she is in.

[@seppoinnanen5577]

The most thorough explanation of traditional vs matched grip. Thank you, sir 👍

[@rei7587]

I don’t play drums at all but I watched the entire thing and enjoyed every second. Really insightful stuff from the history to the thought processes and dedication to the craft.

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

I play both grips and use them according to what I’m playing and feeling You playing swing you using traditional It allows ghost notes and nuances that I feel match grip don’t give naturally You playing rock and riding concert toms you use match for power and control It’s nice to have both grips as you may need This is my take You got guys like Virgil who plays hard and can ride his toms incredible and he uses traditional grip There can be exceptions plus he is a sick man when it comes to his playing 😂Thomas Lang is an alien by the way from planet drums just an extraordinary player teacher clinician and too humble

[@nikoshatzimichael984]

Virgil needs work with his traditional sticking. The most powerful traditional stroke is that of Vinnie. He plays so smooth jazz and so hard rock with his traditional grip.

[@actionjackson8439]

Periods and commas. You'd be amazed at how less ignorant you sound by using them. Give it a try.

[@merlynscave]

I watched nearly all of this and get your point, but. Seeing as most people are right handed it seems apt that using your left hand in a different way works for coordinating the sticks. Steve Gad, Vinnie, etc both use the traditional grip as well as Buddy. I have been playing for 45 years and when I need total control I use traditional grip, when I want rock power I use matched grip, or timpani grip. I think all drummers should learn both.

[@marcusguzman5018]

I definitely have as much power with traditional grip as I did when I only used matched grip traditional grip gives you much more freedom of movement plus extra power... I do utilize Mirrored Traditional Grip... Traditional in both hands

[@FrederickJohnSebastian]

Very interesting about Symmetry v Asymmetry, maestro. In regards to Matched grip, your hand is only over the stick if you use German grip. If you use the French variant, the majority of your hand is also underneath the stick? And IF you examine the wrist movements in French and even American it is not the waving motion but a hinge motion like you're casting a rod in fishing? In the case of traditional, I was always discouraged from approaching the stick from below; rather it was advised to approach the stick from the side with the stick perpendicular to the drum and the palm faced the side of the drum not upwards: as if you were ''shaking hands with the snare'. One held the stick in place with your thumb and you gently wrapped your fingers around the stick. The thumb was your fulcrum.

[@drumvlado]

Very interesting and thorough look on the subject. I have to say that I personally find two benefits of traditional grip, but that could be subjective: One is that it gives you a different feel and this does affect the groove and a s a result as well what you end up playing in the same musical context. And two - it is so much better at low dynamics. Probably this is why the vast majority of jazz players use it. You can be really delicate and quick at the same time. Best is to know both and use them accordingly, but, of course, that really depends on what kind of music you play.

[@titobee-lard5724]

thomas lang is THE jean-claude van damme of drumming :D

[@ddummer]

I switched to traditional grip when I was 25 after playing matched grip for 13 years... simply because I liked the challenge. Now 27 years later I got it to a place where I am happy with it. ;)

[@dodytris6708]

same as me brother.. and traditional grip looks so coool LOL

[@drew-shourd]

Great video, Thomas, I am very curious what your thoughts are on drummers like Todd Sucherman, (drummer for the rock band STYX since about 1995) and he plays predominately traditional grip and KILLS it!...where most players that use traditional grip are jazz players.

[@garyblair3033]

Sina drums played matched until she took Jazz lessons. When I started school band, the snare drum. I tought it allowed more transitions.

[@maxopthof3449]

For the most part it is true. I have played for 30+ years always matched. That being said, there are times when something seems easier or more effective with traditional. Take playing a rhythm on the hi hat and snare. Especially if there is a lot of ghosting and or syncopation, there is a benefit to not raising the left(traditional) hand into the right(matched) hand. Also, after playing almost completely matched my whole life, somehow I get a quicker double stroke from a traditional grip in my left hand. All that being said, when Thomas Lang speaks, I (and every other drummer should) listen. Truly one of the greatest technicians to grace the drumset. Thanks for the lesson.

[@ziggysanderson]

A great education on the grip for sure. I do recall Dave Weckl mention one benefit he likes about traditional was the angle of the stick that can be achieved. The stick butt can be raised and enables a different angle to generate a different sound. I am a matched player and just use traditional for fun, it looks cool :)!

[@wannabeadrummer]

Best description of the drumming grips I've seen, no nonsense.

[@homerinchinatown2]

I'm a lifelong matched grip player but I've been fussing with traditional grip for a few years now. One thing that never gets as much mention is timing with matched vs trad in the left hand. I have found that my backbeats are different with traditional grip and I think it's that the stick hits just a little more ahead of the beat due to its angle with trad grip. I also suck at rimshots with trad grip so I don't use them, which also may have an effect. Regardless, it is a way I can take advantage of a natural difference with the grip when it makes musical sense. If I had been a long-term trad guy I might have weeded out that tendency, so perhaps it's a benefit of being a noob... It's a different tangent, but one way I've always used trad grip is with brushes. I thought from early on that the differences with that grip would allow for different hand/finger motions, which it does. I think it may be more relaxing with brushes too, as the brush naturally rests on the drum head, where I want it to be most of the time.

[@JulianFernandez]

the buddy thing is out of context. buddy played little to no backbeats. for HIS music, trad WAS the grip. also Billy played trad on both hands some times.

[@ChiefSupreme6803]

There are zero advantages with traditional grip, only disadvantages. Only drum teachers stuck in the past are keeping it alive.

[@tayebdaldoul5185]

Matched grip shows strength and symmetry, while traditional grip shows lameness and likely weakness of the blows.

[@sigib.5847]

Thomas, I think that if Napoleon's drummers had played the matched grip, he would have won the Battle of Waterloo. How ever, I think that playing traditionally is more fluid and musical. Perhaps because the lesser strength of the left hand forces this kind of playing. I think matched sounds very good technically and artistically. But it tempts you to just play rhythmically. The melodic element is often missing. This is less important in solos, because the artistry should be more in the foreground here. But here too, matched of sounds too choppy to me. Traditional does have something to it.

[@geoffreysmith4618]

This is an unbelievably helpful video. I am 62 an grew up playing traditional grip because…well Buddy Rich!! Duh! However, I definitely never mastered it but it is in my head. Getting back into drums again I was seriously thinking about switching to match and found this video. Your massive chops in either camp give you a significant amount of credibility. Thank you.

[@MrFchank]

Knew the story of the marching drummers and the traditional grip,but what a great explanation from one of the best in the world.

[@KONAMAN100]

What a tutor, great deep knowledge and when he demos what he's talking about, wow. Top educator, master player.

[@robertthompson5568]

I play matched grip and I'm always "shining a light and over working" my left hand, just because it's my shitty weak hand...I can't even imagine having to try and get around my kit with traditional grip! 😳

[@casseusdelince879]

I play both but there's so many things u can't do in traditional grip, like moving so fast with power around the drum,,, match grip is better if u wanna move around the drum... But if you're playing jazz traditional grip helps you play south

[@jaakkot9661]

@3.26 "Altough I haven't practiced it in maky many years..." just casually throwing in 115bpm moeller 16th's 😆😆😆

[@rbtz07]

His favorite drummers all played Traditional Grip because of their 'asymmetrical" thinking. Also, just about all the breakthroughs in Modern Drumming came from Traditional Grip players. From Marching Snare Drum rudiments to the invention of the drumset itself almost a hundred yrs ago, also this is why play hand over hand on the drum because of the Traditional Grip. Swing beats and the backbeat was all invented by Traditional Grip players years ago. So here's my olive branch: the trad grip makes no sense in today's playing, but, lets not forget the asymmetrical thinking American drumners years ago gave us this wonderful template called Modern Drumming. Use the Trad grip or not, but there is no doubt in my mind it's history was pure genius.

[@stereofidelic67]

Rob Brown as invested an entire merchandise website full of t-shirts and hoodies that say "Traditional" on them. Best he doesn't watch this video. !!

[@drumpab1318]

bravo! finally someone! great thx! its kind of feel like release for that guy ..

[@RalphOnofrio]

Preference...I play both, but primarily traditional.

[@boomerguy9935]

The best drummers in the world play both grips. Whatever works best and sounds best, is what matters most. There are different beats which require one grip over the other in order the get the best sound and still keep perfect time. I disagree with you when you say there are no benefits to using only the traditional grip. It depends on the music you're playing. It's a physics thing. I've been playing since the mid-60's and I've always used both grips, depending on the beat required.

[@yeselectionwasrigged3645]

Personal drum heros 1) John Bonham 2)Chad Sexton 3)Thomas Lang 4)Danny Carey 5)any big band drummer. Including Daniel Glass.

[@Richie_Sharp_Drums]

Guys, I'm nervous here.... I've been playing traditional grip for 2 decades now, and without a doubt im far more technically stable although I do flip a little. But 95% I stay true to the grip and have refined it over the years. However, I'm starting to see some limitations, certainly harder hitting stuff, especially quicker singles and some movement around the kit... But when I flip to matched, my creativity goes. 🥺 It's bizarre. I do notice even little practice on matched, some things feel better: Reach, Consistency power and sound of back beats, movement around the drums - to a point. Has anyone here made the transition after years of practice with traditional, and could share some thoughts for me? Don't know whether to stick to what I know, or invest my time into changing grip?

[@palmiuga]

Quando dice "focusing", il fuoco della telecamera cambia. Incredibilis!

[@TheEleatic]

Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Simon Phillips, Aaron Scott, Bill Stewart….end of debate.

[@mykimikimiky]

thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge and experience!!!!

[@DerekTJ]

I love this. Trad grip to me has always been snobby. Im right-handed. I fell for the orthodoxy for a while and I really pushed myself on it when I binged on a lot of the tutorial DVDs but eventually thought, this is bs. And having given it a real go, I one day was talking to someone (guitarist) about it with sticks in my hands at the kit and I unknowingly used switched to trad grip on my right hand and it was 20 times better than my left, even though I had literally never used in my life. The most beneficial change I ever made was switching to open-handed; that's where its really at. I'm still useless with my left though 😆 Addendum: when Neil Peart switched to trad I thought then, that there has to be something in but nah, Neil didn't stay with trad for long.

[@KeatingJosh]

That one album changed my life.. test for echo!

[@almogleizerman2328]

i know this video is 3 years old but i still feel like the traditional has the advantage, someone who played trad for his whole life would probably have much better control on match than someone who played match and went on to try trad

[@icerag]

One additional point, if I may add: the traditional grip would be quite awkward and weak to play on any drum or cymbal to the left of the hi-hat. For that, the matched grip is much better.

[@johngeorges1510]

I was involved with a Colonial reenactment group and I never heard of the drum on the side. The sling (rope in very early times), put the drum at an angle and therefore traditional grip happened. The drumset started late 1890s. Those drummers studied with military veterans. Gene Krupa studied with Sanford Moller.

[@joelwatkins4377]

By the way, this was the best video I have ever seen on the subject. Great insight from a great drummer!

[@paulipekkarinenmusic]

Buddy Rich didn't like this video :D

[@farshimelt]

Dead people usually don't.

[@notjux]

This might be a weird tangent, but this is just like "legacy keys" in Dota. In the original Warcraft 3 version of the game, there were strict engine limitations that forced users to use very specific hotkeys, different for each of the dozens of heroes in the game. When Dota 2 released, the new engine allowed them to create a secondary universal control scheme for every character, but pro players resisted because they were used to the ancient control schemes that were effective at confusing new players. While this created an interesting skill gap, it was undeniable that legacy keys were objectively harder to play with. Hence the pros slowly but surely moved on to the modern QWER setup that's ubiquitous today. I can't remember if all of this is relevant to drumming, but it made sense to me at some point. REALLY learned a lot from the video though!

[@HenrySolly40]

The voice, the accent, height and looks, all make him Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother. He chose drums, instead of body building...and he became a great drummer.

[@robertoricci3393]

Actually Thomas hasn't a thick Austrian accent like Arnold. He sounds very American.

[@darioconstain]

For me he looks more like van damme

[@joelwatkins4377]

I could not agree more. I learned to play matched. Once I decided to attempt learning traditional grip...I wanted to quit playing! Lol I just stuck with matched til this day.

[@markmurphy4529]

Excellent explanation ! Best I've ever heard regarding the issue! ✅👍🍀

[@edellis515]

I soooooooo love traditional grip. I admit one reason is it LOOKS SOOOOOOOO COOL

[@legatusvids]

Who cares, just play whatever you like. Everyone will naturally prefer one method over the other, some are ambidextrous enough to do traditional, matched and open playing. This argument about a monkey or baby picking up sticks naturally is an overplayed rationalization. That same monkey or baby will also pick up a hot pot until it learns not to. Better yet, compare it to swinging a baseball bat, any person can naturally swing a bat but until they learn proper mechanics they are never going to hit the ball regardless if they choose to bat right, left handed or both. This argument is old and just click bait, check out this video from a somewhat accomplished drummer who switched to traditional after 30 years. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWnPoJJ8j5qGja8

[@fernandoamorim86]

I also think that the modern grip leaves us with a more erect spine, the traditional grip, I always see drummers with their backs falling to the left, almost all of them.

[@resonanttotality8322]

Let's rename "Traditional" grip to what it was really utilized for and that is "Side Drum" grip...

[@PaulAxe]

I do have this problem. I cut my index finger and I can’t grip it like I use to. Trying to relearn traditional. Very hard.

[@arsonne]

Best video on the subject. Traditional grip just makes no sense. People play it because their heroes do or because it looks cool, but when it comes down to it there's no real reason. I don't even buy the stuff jazz guys say about it's easier to play ghost notes. You put the same time it took to learn trad grip into your left hand ghost notes, you'd have an amazing light touch plus all the benefits of matched playing.

[@scottlowell493]

Thomas, Neil Peart and others that hit hard using the traditional grip always seem to come down with tendonitis and or carpel tunnel. Traditional grip just doesn't seem optimal for health and playing hard rock/prog/metal.

[@SwappingIsSaving]

I wonder if, for right-handed people, this grip could actually result in a more even sound as it forces you to place more attention on your weaker hand, whereas with matched grip it's a lot easier to approximate what the right hand is doing and sort of get by.

[@MacKorn75]

John Wright of NoMeansNo plays traditional grip like crazy.

[@Chiroman527]

Thomas, thank you for a very thoughtfully presented topic for Drummers. As a 70 YO, retiree, who returned to playing drums , solely for enjoyment as a pastime in retirement, after over a 50 Year Hiatus, I have been watching instructional YT Videos for a couple of years now. This is one of the Best I've seen. I learned the Traditional Grip in exactly the way you described: First lesson in 1966, "here's how you hold the sticks"... But in accordance to this info, when I returned to the drums in 2019, although I may have started using the Traditional grip, but quickly gravitated to the Matched Grip. Everybody's body mechanics vary, and for me, notice that I am better able to roll my forearm to play trad grip on the snare (I think that although I have Not been able to play Golf for a few years now due to spinal issues that forced my retirement, I would "roll" my left arm and wrist which caused me to Slice my drives and even Iron Shots), but with 3 Rack Toms on my set ( Thomas used the old term drum Set, not rum Kit), it is much more difficult to play around the kit using a Trad grip. Thomas' reference to Buddy Rich were very interesting, as Buddy Rich played with Superhuman speed. Never seen anything like it. Do yourself a favor, if you have not seen Buddy Rich play , watch his performances on The Tonight Show with Johnnie Carson... Holy Sh*t...

[@jonbongjovi1869]

Thomas never says you can't get superspeed out of trad grip. he says it's going to harm your body SOONER than matched grip.

[@michaeljuliano8839]

I will say there is a benefit to ghost notes with the traditional grip. I play both grips preferring matched for heavier rock-type music and traditional for jazz.

[@richardbartolo2890]

On this video T L seems to be pushing the match grip, Saying it will take a lot longer, I cant agree with 2 things. #1 It really wont take any longer if you start out with the mind set on the Trad grip that this one of the way's required to hold the sticks and its imperative your learn both. #2 Is if there is new student watching this video, Telling him its going to be harder will turn him away quick from the Trad Grip. And doing that just eliminated part of his arsenal needed to work with. When I started there was only the traditional grip. And it was not called that. It was called this is how you hold drums sticks. Times change. If you go back and look at the drummers like Cozy Cole, Chick Webb, Joe Morello etc. Those drummers were pounding away and had great technique and controlled finesse. Using both grips to me is having a well rounded technique. It's like a guitar playing choosing the pick or the fingers Or both, Or using a thumb pick and your fingers, Every musician needs a deep bag of useful techniques to have a wider palate of sound and ideas.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

Thomas never argues that Trad Grip DOESN'T PRODUCE INCREDIBLE DRUMMING OR DRUMMERS. He simply proves it's going to DAMAGE THEIR BODIES sooner than Matched Grip, and he even proves this....cuz it happened to.....THIS MACHO MAN!

[@maeu59]

Guitar and drums are two different things what Thomas is saying here is that you can get the same results with either grips.

[@NerismaStudios]

I use both, which one I use is based on what I’m playing, but more often, what mood I’m in. Matched is more natural and easier to adapt to when first starting. Traditional just “looks” cool at this point

[@phillamoore157]

What an excellent lesson. Thank you for posting!

[@minimoog4236]

'We don't have issues stumbling over our drums' Has Thomas MET any other drummers :-)

[@carsonlambaiso-cy1im]

Bc one hand is dominant. Nobody has matched hands with anything without training. I’d even argue that it’s the dominant hand philosophy that explains the true origin of traditional grip

[@clarkkimberly9870]

Danke Thomas! Ich spiele Matched Grip, will aber unbedingt auch den Traditional Grip lernen. Sehr informatives Video. Liebe Grüße.

[@MrCarlrisian]

Master!

[@DrumsTillDeath]

My first 5 years playing was in Orchestra and Marching band. I was taught traditional. I then began playing with Rock Bands that required more volume then dynamics and switched over to match grip like some of my hero’s. I immediately found it easier to play the higher toms with more ease and consistency. But between the low tunings and change of grip, some of the bounce was taken out of my step so to speak and as a result my new technique forced me to relearn simple rudiments again. Ghost notes which were natural for me, had to be practiced again. Some hurdles 4 sure. Ultimately I started switching grips seamlessly and use both to this day. If I could do it all over it would be matched grip all the way.

[@ospuddy]

The palm up grip should be called the chopsticks or Chinese grip as that's how chopsticks are held.

[@jimmerli1765]

I learned traditional grip and played that way so long I can not play matched with my left hand at all, Feels as unnatural to me as traditional would with others. I would love to play matched as I see nothing but advantages ... just cant do it.

[@ryanl3260]

The idea of traditional inspiring asymmetrical thinking/playing makes a lot of sense. But as a new drummer I find it way more comfortable to play with matched. Nice lesson!

[@joecoleman288]

Of course you can re-create the problem of tilt on your kit an suddenly traditional grip is more useful!

[@thibodaux3424]

You can't argue with that! Lots of people say that for jazz and matched grip you can't really have a light touch for ghosted notes, etc. but I disagree. It's all a mental head space issue really. There are a couple of things like some stick on stick and brush ideas that traditional grip makes easier due to the angle but when it comes to sound or dynamics there's no difference other than it taking far longer to get your hands together with traditional grip.

[@ricklieffering241]

What a great explanation by a great drummer. I attended one of his clinics once, during which he played a five stroke roll on the bassdrum. I was blown away so I asked him how he did it. He didn't hear me or misunderstood and started playing paradiddles or something on the kicks, like it was nothing. " No the five stroke roll" I said, and he went oh right, prrrap prrrrap prrrap prrrrap. A supersolid 5stroke roll with his bloody feet. Absolutly insane.

[@tinalandrey5104]

match grip is like throwing a ball. traditional is suplination and pronation of distal bicept tendon

[@drumdiscussion7776]

Thomas is a good teacher. This is very interesting and insightful. The discussion will continue forever.

[@gregschweizervoice2265]

Like you, I feel really comfortable with traditional because that's how I came up. Now that I'm getting back into it after years away, I see the logic of match grip and that's what I'll focus on. You make a comprehensive and strong case for gripping both sticks the same. Thank you!

[@RicardoCaldasJ]

The best

[@Nmdixon-cu7vm]

I don’t have a snare attached to my hip so I don’t use traditional grip

[@jakethepitador2558]

The ghost of Buddy Rich gave this 20 thumbs down.