Question about Jeff...

[ashio nz]

...did Jeff Porcaro play matched grip exclusively throughout his career?

When seeing pictures and clips of him, he was always playing matched. He had such masterful control over his ghost notes on the snare, something I've trying to improve lately. (I play matched) Can anyone confirm please?

Thanks!!!

[BennyAndTheSkins]

I believe Jeff played matched grip for most, if not all, of his career. Every pic I've ever seen of him shows him playing matched, and I've seen pics from way back in his Steely Dan days, through Boz, and Toto.......

[Geoff_G]

pretty sure it is all matched. one thing that has continued to kill me about his playing was the SPEED, relaxedness & groove of his one-handed 16th note beats. i made a practice tape out of the grooves from his video -- the one at the end is 102 bpm. i think i have heard him do 110 as well.

[Jean-Paul]

Actually I have read in an interview that Jeff started with a traditional grip but involved in louder musical situations his fingers started to grow crooked. That's why he switched to matched.

[PocketPlayer]

For a killer one-handed groove, check out the often NOT heard tune off TOTO XX titled, Last Night. It's an almost too perfect triplet groove on hats w/accents, but I can believe Jeff pulled this off as consistently on this cut.

[ashio nz]

Thanks for the replies dudes!!

One of my favorite Jeff albums is Dave Gilmour's 'About Face' (circa late '80's) which has some very tasty grooves on there.