STEVENS GRIP vs BURTON GRIP: Which Four-Mallet Grip Is Right For You?

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Thank you so much for watching our grips video! Remember a good player with grip A will always be better than a bad player with grip B, so this video is just to help you find out what the differences are between the two most popular four-mallet grips 😇 and of course we aren't experts or anything on our grips (me especially LOL) but hopefully it gives you a general idea of what they're like! And of course please thank Therese for joining me on this video and hosting the show in her apartment! You can subscribe to her here: kzbin.info #TheStudioFamily

[@FollowJesus777-KING]

Adam Tan ok so I just started playing with 4 mallets not too long ago and I started to use burton but a kind of modified version of it. Instead of using one finger in between the mallets I use two(the mallets are in between my middle finger and ring finger) . This is so much easier to me and it enables me to play stronger/louder. It also helps with playing at larger intervals. Is it wrong if I play like that? Or should I go ahead and just play with the regular burton or steven? Like do you think it will be harder for me in the long run for me to play how I do now?

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Wow! Why not right? Experiment what feels right, as long as it doesn’t hold you back 😁 I also have a modified Stevens grip in this video so I understand how you feel

[@FollowJesus777-KING]

Adam Tan Thanks man. Your videos are very helpful btw.

[@Andy251153]

I have a youtube channel yo I know a few people that do what you do so there is nothing wrong with it.

[@catherinebaird0810]

Stevens works better on vibe I have played for 2+years on vibe with Stevens grip and I first played vibe with burtons grip. Stevens looks better for performing wise.

[@russ6541]

Adam: AS YOU CAN SEE IM NOT IN THE STUDIO TODAY IM WITH MY FRIEND THERESE Therese: *super shyly* hi

[@AdamTanPercussion]

I am a Meme HAHAHA yes

[@TheThurstonQuad]

I struggled a lot deciding on grip in my undergrad and I settled on: Whatever the part asks for. If there is a lot of horizontal and 2-3 mallet work I play Stevens. If there is an emphasis on chords or big blocky things I choose Burton, more often then not I play burton on vibraphone due to the size.

[@Andy251153]

I've developed both grips to what I think is an adequate level. That being said, I learned Steven's first because of doing marching band and indoor percussion in high school making it my dominant grip. Then I preceded to learn the other two grips and found that some of the technique from Steven's translates over quite nicely between each of the grips. From what I've tested out, smaller intervals are great on both but Burton's is more stable. That being said, independent stroked with Burton's with smaller intervals are a bit more challenging than Steven's. At normal intervals, they feel the same. Big intervals are weird for me as with Burton's, it is more challenging to hit bigger intervals in general. My Steven's can go to about a 11th or 12th but isn't stable past a 10th. As for versatility, Burton's takes it for multi percussion for me, but both grips feel good on vibraphone for me (my first keyboard instrument hehe). Mallet choice in my opinion isn't affected as it is more of a preference. The learning curve, however, is a bit steeper for Steven's than Burton's in my opinion. This is because of various issues that can occur with Steven's such as having a lot of tension with certain fingers and also having a hard time with getting each mallet to move independently while also not using too much arm and with vertical strokes needing a nice balance between arm and wrist. Meanwhile Burton's seems to have it easier with vertical strokes and more stable small intervals but again with learning how to properly rotate the wrist. Also, in my opinion, it is much easier to build worse habits that could potentially injure someone with Steven's, but that only happens if someone doesn't have enough guidance for the technique. Sorry for the mini essay!

[@Gomka99]

Used to play stevens grip but it hurt my hands too much after long sessions. Since i started with burton i'm happier playing lol

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Gomka That’s awesome man! Good that you found yours ☺️

[@aureliaharrison5345]

Wow! A few days ago I had to briefly explain the two grips to our piano accompanist while playing vibraphone. As for me, I (from the US) was taught Stevens grip first. I only ever play marimba in a concert setting a don’t usually have fast runs in the music I play. I see this in a lot in front ensemble groups, but I’m staring to use Burton grip and totally agree that if feels wayy more natural! I also notice when people try to hold four mallets for the first time they end end up using some variation of a cross grip. But, I do agree though that Steven’s grip feels better on the hands when playing a continuous stream of notes. For those reasons, I’m #TeamBurton.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Aurelia Harrison Great reason!! Keep going on the one you like most 😁

[@bluemobley7146]

I started playing with 4 mallets about a month or two ago, well into my freshman year of high school. I was told that my cross-grip was “incorrect.” I learned Stevens grip because I thought that was the only right way to do it. Since then, I’ve learned that there are, of course, many correct grips. I’m glad I learned Stevens though, bc in my short time of playing, I’ve gotten used to the grip quickly, and that allows for more fun to be had with harder music! I appreciate the comparison!

[@keyboardgeek7436]

Oh man I was so excited when I saw this in my sub feed. Thanks Adam, this video really helped a lot, hopefully when I get back to school tomorrow I can start working with Burton’s with the tips from Therese, although Stevens is still probably going to be my main grip. Keep up the awesome work man, can’t wait for the Japan vlogs

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Keyboard Geek thank you man! I’m glad you’re willing to try both! M

[@Andriale]

Summer means marching band season which means... time to stop being bad at burton because our pit teacher likes burton lol

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Kale Andrie Ahahaha I feel for you! Lucky I never had to learn it...

[@DolphinPain]

It's pretty rare in the marching activity. I think the cadets vibes used burton about a decade ago, but that's about it.

[@iKentEven]

The Pan-Michigander SCV vibes

[@noahvanhyning7752]

The Pan-Michigander which is strange because Burton better suits marching band

[@rwbytheassassin9942]

@@noahvanhyning7752 we prefer using Stevens our director didn't teach us Burton but he said if we ever wanted to learn he would teach us if we asked most of us prefer Steven

[@thatsdree1350]

In marching band, we have to use Stevens for marimba and burton for vibes. I’m a beginner and have found burton grip to be easier, so naturally, I’ve been sticking with playing the vibe

[@seabass3257]

We use stevens for both

[@danielkinney1560]

I’m definitely #TeamStevens because when it comes down to it, Stevens can do things Burton can’t (reach wider intervals) while Burton just allows you to do things easier

[@Sleed27]

Hahaha i thought i heard that burton is definitely a lot easier to pick up than girls>< 13:34

[@ThereseNgHoiYan]

ImNani That’s true also :)

[@BrandonVPlays]

I personally like Stevens grip because I mainly play marimba more than anything but I am learning Burton's grip from my friend, and I do agree that Burton's is easier at first.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Brandon Vanfleet Mmmm that’s good that you’ve started learning to have both in your arsenal 😁

[@juhorasimus00]

Stevens player here👋 I think one thing you missed in your versitality comparison is that because the mallet shafts don't cross with Stevens grip you can play with e.g. four tubular bell hammers or some other weird combinations of mallets and beaters. This ability is a great advantage in orchestral work sometimes!

[@anjagoller]

Team Traditional!

[@ashsoforenko3952]

The hand to hand position freedom of a cross grip. Try playing a roll on D2 and Ab2 in one hand, C5 and Ab5 in the other, like in the end of the Sejourne Concerto, much easier with traditional. Ability to use the downward hand position of the hand more advantageously for use of arm movements up and down. With this position you can use your palm down hand's up and down motion for dynamic and side to side motion of the arm to adjust notes. I find that more natural and palm sideways from Stevens. I find one hand scale figures easier with traditional (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHK4Zplud8d1i8k) Tighter control over the mallets than Burtons and easier interval changes. Easier to change the dynamic of mallets within one hand, as in mallet 3 and 4 playing piano and forte respectively. This one may be interpreted as vain but I think it looks better, much more natural and fluid on a performer. These are all just opinions of mine, but that's all it comes down to anyway. There are plenty of good reasons to use any grip, the most important thing is finding what works for you.

[@anjagoller]

:D It's really funny that people think of the grips like that. This grip is primitive, this is for the advanced and this is for this kind of players... I started with Burton, just because I tried it myself and I didn't even know the name of the grip, but I really didn't get along with it. I was able to spread the mallets but I wasn't able to get them back together. Then I got myself the best teacher in the world an she taught me traditional grip. After 2 months I was able to start with Bach Prelude No.1 (well tempered piano I). I tried out Stevens for a few seconds just to see whether it is as uncomfortable as it looks. :D Advantages of Traditional grip (as addition to what Aaron already said) As far as I know by now this is the only grip where you can play with loose mallets which makes a much better sound than a stroke controlled by hand, as you need e.g. for Rhythm song. The first bass note in each bar with a loose mallet makes it sound full without accenting it. You can make better rolls, because of this loose mallet thing. You move your hands up and down without turning your wrist and the mallets just fall down one after the other which makes a pretty dense roll without exhausting your hands. Most people using Stevens put both mallets in one hand down together, then the other hand with both at the same time and that just doesn't sound as good as a loose mallet roll. Traditional grip is kind of like a spring. If you hold them without your thumb and forefinger between them, they will automatically go togethers. You use these two fingers to spread them but for the movement back you just have to stop spreading. You don't get nasty blisters between the middlefinger and the ringfinger, just one tiny little cushion on the forefinger. And if you don't wrap them with some tape you can wash the sticks of your mallets which is more hygienic. Disadvantages You can't spread them as wide as with Stevens (I can live with that) You have to deal with the clicking of the mallets I was in Bamberg at the beginning of April to listen to the winners concert of the Marimba Festiva competition. Only 3 people used Stevens, the rest of them (12 people) used Burton or Traditional. So the impression many people in the US have, that the better players all use Stevens and just morons go with Traditional or Burton is just not true.

[@songbirdincorporated]

anjagoller I'm a former traditional user. I switched to Burton and I think its way easier for me

[@evantindallmusic]

traditional for life

[@Capcoor]

Pierce Sparni Music Nobody’s worried ‘bout me

[@F1Swiftie]

Video 5 years old, but still very helpful! I’m 28 years out of high school and never learned to hold or play with 4 mallets. I watched this video a week ago with @ThereseNgHoiYan showing the Burton cross grip and it helped me to finally get it. For now, I lay them out just like she shows here before picking them up to make sure I’ve got it right. I’m able to play some pieces that I still have the sheet music for from high school. Far from perfect, but I’m having fun and happy with my progress so far.

[@robertvirnig638]

I'm in the same position as you. I played xylophone and other percussion in high school without ever learning any 4-mallet technique. I just bought a marimba a couple weeks ago and am almost 40 years beyond my high school days. The Burton grip looks less awkward and I'm trying to decide if I want to pick one grip or try learning them concurrently.

[@andyvo8571]

I usually find that using burton's grip is way more natural for me and since I'm in a highschool symphonic band with only 3 percussionists, I found that using burton to play across a large amount of percussion at the same time is easier than stevens. Though if I needed to do a cymbal roll I usually used stevens for that one handed roll. In our most recent set I had to have burtons in one hand, stevens in the other, and a hi-hat for the same song

[@yusxke_]

I struggled with getting a proper teacher to learn Steven’s, and right now (3rd year of marching band) I’m using Burton’s grip for a marimba piece. My independent strokes are absolutely awful right now, but I don’t have enough time to get quick Steven’s lessons.

[@CookingWithVu]

Great video! It's my birthday today, and I've been meaning to learn how to hold 4 mallets, so thank you!

[@AdamTanPercussion]

the.orginal. Vu HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN

[@CookingWithVu]

Adam Tan Thank you Adam!

[@biggysmoovemusic7777]

I usually do Stevens grip because I also do Marching Band and Indoor Percussion so I have to get used to it.

[@VampireFreakDotCom]

My percussion teacher was from Samoa and he’s always played traditional so that’s how he taught me.

[@ricky.beats.]

One of my friends plays center marimba in our indoor percussion line, and she uses Stevens, it gives her great freedom to shift intervals and play octaves, but but it gives her mad ring finger blisters.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Yessss that's why I use finger protectors and mallet tape to avoid that :)

[@laurenmcewen4155]

Congrats on 9,000 subs!!! Watching this video has also helped me learn more about Stevens Grip, which I am getting more comfortable with. Thank you for making awesome videos!

[@kArchenOFFICAL]

Hey Adam I’m a new front ensemble player, I looked at so many videos of trying to learn stevens grip but yours helped me out so much thank you!

[@XMrC72]

Here are some examples of players who've overcome the "weaknesses" of their grip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6mQgopjd7ibhrs - Stevens played with substantial vertical power. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmW7nmx-mpaol7s - Cross grip played with well controlled independence. Each grip offers different challenges, but none of them can't be overcome with patience and hard work.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

XMrC72 Absolutely! There’s always a way!

[@rubenoliveira9518]

I play burton's and steven's grip. Both have a lot of benefits for marimba and vibraphone 😁

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Rúben Oliveira Agreed!! It is a great thing that you can do both!

[@ACPerc]

Great Video Adam! I appreciate the information and knowledge that you share with the community. I use both grips so that works well for me. Stevens primarily on marimba and Burton for vibes. Congrats on the 9K subscribers you deserve it man!

[@MalikEmmanuel]

I know this is really late but Joe Locke is an amazing vibraphone player and he plays stevens grip. You should check him out!

[@rizolada]

What about the traditional grip

[@Capcoor]

And Musser.

[@iiipitviperiii2041]

My sophomore year in HS, our lead marimbist told me to do stevens, so i learned it. At every band comp i go to every mallet percussionist uses stevens so I've never really been exposed to burton.

[@jayeckart9234]

One thing I think is important to remeber is the ease of intervalic change with stevens. There are a lot of pieces (like cangelosi's solos) that have such insanely fast interval shifts that stevens is almost required. Now I personally play and teach both grips but I think that's the biggest adtvantsge to stevens is that with every single interval in the range of an octave, its just a stretch/roll (depending on your school of thought)

[@joelgillespie4180]

I use Burton's for vibes, but Steven's for marimba.

[@TylerJHaley]

Great video man! One of my favorites for sure. I play with both grips (Stevens on marimba, burton on pretty much everything else) and honestly they both have there ups and downs. At the end of the day, I feel like as long as you sound good playing that’s all that counts. When it comes to mallet choice I’ve found that the extra long mallets from Mike Balter really make a huge difference for me in burton. I played with different shaft types and lengths and that’s what I came up with for me. In my eyes, Stevens has that box because of the “non crossing” part, but overall they are both great grips. And of course, great video. Thanks for the great content, Adam!!

[@rndlkb10]

Changing intervals with Steven's grip is hard for me and I can't do independent strokes with Burton grip so I happen to do a mix of the 2. Hold 4 mallets with Steven's grip but change intervals like Burton grip. I also happened to discover my method by accident which happened to work out well.

[@lemonswounge2930]

I use Stevens and it seems a lot easier (to me) to play fast runs, especially octave runs, so I love the grip tbh. It is also rly easy to roll with and change intervals

[@huntervh9038]

I agree with your learning curve evaluation, I originally started with burton grip but changed when my percussion instructor insisted i use Stevens. Burton is definitely much easier to pick up but in my opinion, I hate how much the mallets wobble when I do independent strokes, on the other hand burton feels more stable at the beginning because the mallets are touching and it is easier to adjust width. With Stevens, initially I struggled even holding the mallets up, probably because my hands were small and my grip strength was pretty weak, but after I got control of the mallets I found it easier to play independent strokes and I got better faster.

[@dannycastromusic_]

Hunter VH yeah me too, I started out woth burton grip but changed to stevens. At first it was easy cause I just had to play some chords, but when I started learning solo pieces I switched to stevens cause I just felt I had more independance and for me it felt more natural, like the mallets felt like part of me. Though I did have a hard time holding the sticks for long perioda, my grip strength progressively improved and that badically the only grip I use now.

[@TylerDunphy]

I play stevens, it WRECKS your hands and is quite hard to learn but once you get really good with it you have so much control, reach, and musicality/playability with it

[@melodyc9935]

Yasssss finally this video!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love your videos and eiditing!!!

[@AdamTanPercussion]

melmelmelody Thank you so much!!

[@lordmustard8882]

I use Burtons grip. My teacher calls it cross grip, and I’ve never actually heard the actually name “Burton”, but that’s good to know!

[@ClassyXxGamer]

Great video! I use Stevens Grip! I would like to learn Burton’s though just to see which one I like better.

[@kayleighr6073]

We have to play Stevens, but that's the hardest, I like traditional A LOT.

[@iansummers8297]

I think there needed to be a section for appearance because that has a lot to do with performing with each of the types of grips. In my opinion Stevens grip looks a lot nicer while performing it just looks like you can flow so much easier with it where as Burton looks so stiff and unnatural.

[@brandonpease5586]

I do think that as far as mallet choice goes, Burton grip blows Stevens out of the water (disclaimer: Im actually a stevens grip guy as well) for the fact of the weight of many mallets and where you are able to hold it in the shaft for the most control. Along with that, the rattan shafts have less room to bend because you are holding further up on the mallet than Stevens. Other than that, I agree with everything and I think this is a great video for new 4 mallet students!

[@avarettig]

i personally think Burton grip is a bit easier for me, but i am improving my Stevens grip for drum corps/DCI plans. 🤙🏼

[@briandaniels59]

I learned Stevens grip for marimba and Burton for vipraphone.

[@jc3drums916]

I'm a terrible Stevens grip player, but I find Burton grip to be inherently more stable, as do people I know who play both (better than I do). Stevens grip might feel stable to you, but I suspect it's a case of not knowing how much more stable a grip can be, because it's all you know. I also find it inherently more difficult to get very small intervals with Burton grip. As far as birch vs. rattan goes, I tried using birch mallets (Malletech LS10) with Burton grip. It have me a pretty bad blister where it rested against my middle finger. I don't think birch is a good idea for someone still learning Burton grip (as I was at the time), unless they wrap it with something. That doesn't happen with rattan, because it's so much smoother.

[@pokemonman957]

6:50 The @The Cavaliers Front Ensemble

[@alskyfajardo7361]

Sometimes when I need to drum and I have an index or thumb complication, I use the outer mallet burton grip for drumsticks. -_-

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Al Sky Fajardo Wowwwww that is pro!

[@sj.robins8048]

Adam I was at day of percussion yesterday at the uwa and they played meet again by you.

[@nicks4251]

I play vibraphone with Stevens and I’ve noticed smaller octaves are hard to play. I think Stevens is better for marimba.

[@DMalone123]

I play musser grip for most stuff and Burton for jazz vibes

[@swarnimghimire9764]

At the start stevens was much harder to learn, but once i got good at it it was much better than burtons, so baiscally my take, for learning it, once youre a proffesional both are basically the same efficiency, at the very start stevens is harder, but in the middle when youre an intermediate, stevens is easier to play with.

[@mitchelljroth]

Learning both, but mainly Stevens because 'Merica

[@dabonthemhaters8013]

I use Burton grip, but im new to 4 mallet and i'd like to learn both

[@Andy251153]

Could you explain how your Steven's grip works? I saw on a comment from you that you use a modified Steven's and was wondering how it is modified.

[@buddylove3640]

Great video, I play both. There's is beautiful!!!

[@kylen5719]

I’m currently using burton but am learning Stevens soon! (So I am trying to be like a hybrid!)

[@brockfreeland7115]

great video Adam - sorry im late!

[@justtraininsanity8463]

Hey Adam since you have done these before, I was wondering if you could do a review video on the Adams alpha marimba

[@AdamTanPercussion]

If I get access to one I will! But my summary of it is that the sound is similar to a Marimba One, maybe less bass, and the Voyager frame is one of my most disliked frames on any marimba because it is so unstable - definitely the square Adams frames are much better.

[@justtraininsanity8463]

@@AdamTanPercussion thank you for the clarification! 😃

[@markelperez886]

Resta-jay jeff geoffrey series review, pleasee!!😂🙏🙏

[@ryancarlisle7909]

I’m one of those people who want to learn cross grip 😎

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Ryan Carlisle ME TOO

[@brockfreeland7115]

SAME

[@evantindallmusic]

join the family brotha

[@MarimbaMaurice]

So my verdict: Let's get (even) better at Stevens grip :)

[@erick_fernandez_78910]

“VEEEEE!” HAHAHA!

[@allison1157]

Steven's grip is hard on vibe

[@PlushChronicles]

Just a history lesson: What we know as "Steven's Grip" is technically supposed to be called "Steven's TECHNIQUE". Since it is essentially Musser Grip with a few alterations. The fundamental way you hold the mallets is mostly the same as Musser, its just the way Steven's found to manipulate the mallets in the hands, Therefore: Steven's Technique :) technically lol

[@DavidThePercussionist]

3:39 year 8? Of high school?

[@GH_percussion]

I'm just here without a choice lol

[@willoman88]

Wrong intro

[@kalebharrison5317]

I do burton and play with Burch I dont like ratan mallets at all for cross grip

[@danielapollo]

Adam, I have a lot of respect for you, and I think you and your contents are really awesome. But your Steven's grip is kind of wrong, specifically with how your middle finger holds the inside mallet - not being on the very bottom of the inside mallets. And I think it's okay since you have already developed your grip and built your muscles that way. I just that hope you haven't been teaching that to your students if they are beginners.

[@alexpullen7276]

Adams alpha review😱🙏🙏🙏

[@peternguyen7506]

Why not both????

[@marcelinhuguet7853]

Peter Nguyen its very hard to learn a second after you learned the first for some years, so to do both perfectly is hard i think

[@Bynasf]

I used to play burton in my right hand and Stevens on my left because I had 2 different pairs

[@kenyaramirez8410]

Stevens grip hurts quit a bit, it puts a lot more strain on your wrist than burtons, my friends who has carpal tunnel uses burton because it feels better and the pain you get from Stevens grip is jsut blegh

[@deedeeg.5163]

Steven's for the win!!!

[@eveweymeersch5874]

Burton grips 💥❤️

[@nukedrag8181]

Me who plays with traditional grip -_-

[@qianfenggao6383]

I used burton before,but now my new teacher told me to play with traditional.He said in this way I can make a real tone of marimbar.

[@pacz8114]

You talk too fast to really understand -- which was further compounded by a continuous and annoying drumming in the background. I also don't understand the beginning, which was confusing and strange. Otherwise, thank you for demonstrating these two mallet techniques both of which are quite different and offer their own advantages.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Thanks for the feedback! My videos have gotten a lot better since this one but yup you're totally right haha.

[@willbettscope9042]

Stevens 4 life

[@nicktingle3832]

I as a 7th grader use Burton Grip

[@EL-wi2oh]

so pretty

[@Herman-kq2wg]

team Burton

[@jlayzi]

I guess so...

[@maccody3139]

Stevens > burton

[@AdamTanPercussion]

MacCody Mmmm for me at least ~~~

[@roberthammond6479]

Trad player all the way - all hail Miroslav Dimov

[@benjaminhellert8531]

All hail Keiko Abe!

[@elishalee242]

TradItioNal griP iS dyInG oUt :((((

[@leah_7894]

:)