How to fix Traditional grip slice

[ajcf1995]

isnt marching traditional grip alot different???????????

[A7Xblood]

Can somebody explain what a slice is?

[mickeydrummer29]

why would you pratice playing trad. grip with your thumb? the thumb doesnt move at all

[ufig101]

I've been a traditional-grip player for 11 years now, my left hand is definitely a lot weaker than it should be though (I figure from lack of rudiment practice). This technique really isn't coming as easy to me as you implied, the stick isn't rebounding as naturally as it normally would. Am I missing something here? Is this a technique that's meant to go in conjunction with other particular techniques?

[digitaldown]

don't waste your time learning traditional grip. it has zero advantages and it's just so much harder to learn. matched grip rules!

[billddrummer]

@digitaldown

To be more versatile, learn all you can.

[pektus5]

MAN!THANK YOU VERY MUCH!you help me a lot.

[tspit74]

Great video. I'm in the process of switching over to traditional grip and this video is great. Can't wait to try this technique tonight. Thanks Bill!

[0509killer]

Thanks Billy Ray! Can you explain a little what you mean by "open-handed"?

Gracias!

[BillRayDrums]

@0509killer

"open handed" means playing the hi-hat and snare without crossing the hihat hand over the snare hand.

[0509killer]

Doh! I know what that is...I thought you were referring to a type of grip, (where's my head today). Right, Carter Beauford is a master at this and you'll agree that everyone should at least give "open handedness(?)" a try - it's mostly done with matched grip. Thanks!

[BillRayDrums]

@0509killer

Yeah I used to do a disco gig...very utilitarian sort of gig....the precursor to the "oonce oonce" phenomenon :D

Anyways, in order to develop more flexibility with my rhythmic abilities and to "free my energy up", I began practicing playing open-handed. A guy I worked with named Lenny "Fuzzy" Rankin (who also gave me my "foot") helped me cultivate that, because after he heard me trying to do it, it was an expected "feel".

And remember, you play sticks... the drums are just there.

[BillRayDrums]

Wow! 21,000+ views....THis was a video I did to show a buddy of mine this trick; notice I didn't even have a pad...LOL the hallmark of a then-broke musician at that time! I'm going to break all this down into smaller chunks soon, with better video as well. :D

tl;dr:

It ain't the gear, it's what YOU bring to the table. More vids to come.

[0509killer]

Holy smokes, this is clears up a question I've had about how to dribble the stick with a traditional grip. Seriously, I've watched a ton of videos and dvd's and this helped a lot, now...it's time to practice.....and practice and...

[BillRayDrums]

@0509killer

Yeah, just develop a bounce with your thumb over the stick; nothing should ever be forced. Just let things fall as they may.

As a drummer who switches between traditional, matched, and open-handed "stances", Traditional grip lets me flow in more "circular" directions rather than linear planes offered by matched. I suppose that's just another angle to consider in the grand scheme.

[mv9109]

Got it :)

[aiyic]

Invaluable little lesson.

[johnchenky]

I like this video... Bill came up very straight without wasting time... he revealed the actual happening which none reveals... good video... Bill try to post your techniques if you have time...

[TheMapexDrummer11]

Thanks for this vid dude. Im trying to get my trad better.

[fzzzzzzzy]

Dude, this is the worst "lesson" on youtube, or maybe on the whole planet. I have no clue how you are getting your stick to bounce in that position. I cannot imitate this at all. The art of teaching is very different from the art of showing off.

[BillRayDrums]

@fzzzzzzzy

Glad you got so much out of it. Keep practicing.

[mikper7]

Great little vid my friend, very informative.

[Gnarm0]

thanks

[OmfgItsLeon]

thanks!

[smokeurjoke]

wtf.. i think my hands are just retarded.. i cant get this to save my life.. anyone got any tips for easier flow of the stick but still having control of speen as match grip?

[duplacite]

If you want to use T-grip, use it all the time and forget about M-grip (well, almost). Cos T-grip is a little harder on a drumset compared to M-grip.

Don't attempt to learn both together: you'll only dabble in both. I learned this the hard way, don't follow my footsteps...

I use T-grip cos it's a left-right thing. I'm a lefty but my right is stronger, cos since young I've been taught to write/throw/punch/etc with my right hand. I confuse left-right sometimes so I use T-grip like a marker.

[iamcraiger]

Excellent ..thank you!

[FeeLtheHertZ]

Haha, I heard the Macintosh "Submarine" sound in the background :P

[CloggedLacrimalGland]

damnit. my stick goes everywhere!

[ponysunny]

omg! thank you so much. I didn't realize you used your thumb that much. I'm a match grip player trying to learn traditional. I was wondering how the stick got to be vertical without turning your wrist half way around. so thanks

[BeckyDrums]

i've been told to connect my first finger and my thumb at all times

[petersinol]

Look at Jojo Mayer DVD. Its not "at all times".

[xxdrummer370xx]

He's talking about for marching snare. Which is what you always want to do that for.

[hiphopsucks96]

@petersinol Oh, 'cause Jojo Mayer's always right. Just because it came out of Jojo Mayer's mouth doesn't mean it's right. To him, yes. To a drummer with a different approach, it isn't.

[wrcsti06]

Good vid, do you play double strokes in the same manner, with the thumb only,

[MMMuller]

awesome video

[0kills]

that hurts my thumb though, does it mean im doing it wrong?

[BillRayDrums]

Probably you are tensing up. Keep it relaxed like you are bouncing a basketball with your thumb.

[0kills]

yo thanks. it wasn't that i think. I still got to work on the grip itself, I didn't realize traditional grip requires the wrist to be a bit "up" o.o

[gogogadgetspoon]

Badass... I've been dabbling in traditional grip and this helps a lot man, thanks for postin!

[gumbone124]

whats slice?

[BillRayDrums]

"Slice" refers to the stick moving inward as you are playing traditional grip- it's the motion of pulling the fingers down vs the angle of your hand, which brings the stick in towards you at an angle.

I initially did this video for a friend but it seems to be wildly popular and for that I am grateful. :D Thanks all!

[adndrummer]

exelen my friend...why have speed?when hours study at day?

[Abasuto]

I've played for about 10+ using only match grip. I've off and on been trying to use traditional lately and that little tip about using the thumb on top just helped me a ton.

Thanks.

[colrick1234]

thanks it did help me out show more please

[killeroctian]

I started drums (snare not set) 5 years ago only using match grip but i started to used traditional and im loving it!

[musicmantrev]

hey billy, i played traditional for probably about 8-9 years and decided to play matched grip because my left hand speed simply was not there but now that ive watched this video its going to be a mix of traditional and matched lol, my left hand can fly now.

[Castlegates]

Amen to that...

[1MustHave1UserName]

Thanks Billy Ray, I'm 49, I've been a matched grip guy all my life and I figured I'd learn trad Grip and see what it's all about. Your vid has been an IMMENSE help!! SAVED in FAVES!!

[stys85]

thanx a lot ray

[jesseroman3]

Hey man good advice!

But don't be so cheap, get a pad!

[BillRayDrums]

I have a pad that's older than you and I put together...

[BillRayDrums]

I wouldn't know. I don't watch TV!

[Metalman]

Billy ray...you rock man. ( it's dbkman )

[paisteforlife]

So what are you doing there? Why are you flicking the stick first with your fingers?

Is it easier or what?

[Aaron1337keys]

thanks! lol

[drummrguy]

awesome awesome...... i think that this helps and i also think it just takes alot of practicing to build stregnth.... the body has a way of learning things through trial and error :)

[naterepp]

thanks a lot bill, appreciate you taking time to do this