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Recently I have discovered a lot of talent and a whole new world in drumming thanks to threads on HOD that pointed me towards Gospelchops.com - but I noticed something that struck me as a bit strange...
ALL of the featured drummers play MATCH grip, no trad at all (at least not on the video clips/master classes). I would think they'd be diggin' the trad and I really wonder why they are not. Can't be a coincidence. Seems like match grip is kinda trendy for these cats. What do you think?
I know a lot of Gospel cats, 90% of whom have never had a lesson in their life...
Why would someone play anything other than matched grip if they were not tutored? It's the logical choice to have both limbs set out on an equal footing unless you were told otherwise...
MP
I've talked to some and they mostly say it just makes more sense to have both hands the same. I guess it would make semse to have each side of the drum set the same too....
Most of these havent had any lessons and started when they where really young so it would make sense for young kids to play matched.
The one thing I think alot of these guys are lacking is dynamics.. They play either ALL the way or off!
Grip is a personal choice. Do what works for you and don't be concerned with what others choose to use.
I would consider myself a gospel player and I pla traditional grip. Since most gospel drummers are self taught, they don't run into tradional drip. I grew listening to gospel, soul, and SMOOTH JAZZ. That's right. I said it..... Smooth jazz. But at least when I listened to it it was cool elevater type music. My universe of drummers were all in the gospel realm unitl my junior year in high school when I stumbled upon the yellowjackets. So to answer you question, trad grip is just not seen. When gospel drummers see me play they all try to use trad grip the next time they hit the set. If one of my gospel heros growing up played trad grip, maybe I would have. Most gospel drummers actually emmulate Dennis Chambers. When I got introduce to DC it was on those two videos he had. Those two videos, I think "serious moves", and "in ther pocket", are the blueprint for a lot of the gospel chops. My exposure to DC led me to a tape 1 & 2 the had the Buudy Rich memorial......... Once I found out about Steve Gadd and started to look for myself, there was no one else to teach me, and into Dave Weckl And into Vinnie...... My switch to trad grip was inevitable.......
Nice reply dum-dum-soc.
Peace.