Comments on: Traditional vs. Matched Grip – The Paradiddler’s Take

By: Preston Littlejohn

Preston Littlejohn — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:17:43 +0000

Circa today new modern drummers are all stuck in a rut. Its the same same same same same same saturated fiber glass table top drumming that sounds like a car stuck in neutral. Listened to Weckle and Cobham and Gadd and Travis Barker and its really nothing but boring over played plastic tupperware drum sounds. Now the One Man that never ever bores me is Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich played exciting drums and no one could ever touch him in technique ideas and great sounding drums. I do not waste my time or energy on any one playing out there today. A total waste of Time. I go back to Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich is and always will be the greatest drummer ever hands down. Buddy Rich.

By: Omar

Omar — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:29:17 +0000

Hi Trevor.

I love your passion (you too, Claudio)!

I wish you gave me those CD’s and vinyls, though! Yes, if you want the best hands in the business, you could just study Buddy Rich and be done with it. But to be a well-rounded drummer (if that’s your goal), you may want to check out other drummer stalwarts.

I’d say that if you want great feet as well as hands, you may want to get those CD’s and vinyl’s back! Although Buddy Rich may have had good feet, you’d learn a lot more from more modern drummers, such as the aforementioned Neil Peart, or one of my newer favorites, Marco Minnemann (both of which are featured on this web site).

Other drummers I think you’d learn a lot from are Steve Smith, Thomas Lang, Steve Gadd, Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, etc. All for different reasons, who offer perspectives that you won’t get from Buddy Rich (although I’m sure all of them were influenced by Buddy).

So Trevor, go get those CD’s and vinyls back!

By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:46:46 +0000

Hello Claudio Hey Man. dig your post and pages on sticking. I just gave away all my rock drummers on compact discs and vinyl and everything Rock and that includes neil peart and bonham and all rock and heavy rock drummers. I gave up on all of them.. Just noise and more noise and trash drumming. I keep reading about this guy called Buddy Rich. so I went to this music shop in my home town and bought about eleven compact discs on this guy called Buddy Rich. Hell Claudio its over. I do not want to hear or see another rock drummer or heavy metal drummer ever again. Buddy Rich for me Man. I will not waste my time on another rock drummer. Case Close Claudio its Buddy Rich for me from now on. Buddy Rich he is my new idol. Claudio Buddy Rich

By: Claudio Hector Sobrales

Claudio Hector Sobrales — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:50:04 +0000

I agree!!!!!

By: Got to Go with Buddy Rich

Got to Go with Buddy Rich — Sat, 29 May 2010 20:54:59 +0000

Really enjoy reading all the posts here about traditional sticking and match grip sticking. Everything makes sense here and I admire everyones opinions. To me. Buddy Rich would be the most dominant force in drumming. I have seriously tried to pay attention to todays modern drumming whether it be jazz fusion rock heavy metal you name it. The one man I keep coming back to is none other than Buddy Rich. Simply because Buddy Rich played the greatest set of drums in the universe. There are many drummers out there that have something to say behind a drum kit but but but Buddy Rich out plays out shines and out musicaly drums each and every one of them. When it comes down to the most tremendous drumming ever I would have to go with Buddy Rich.

By: Claudio Hector Sobrales

Claudio Hector Sobrales — Mon, 24 May 2010 04:20:27 +0000

Buddy Rich it’s a basical reference to understand why the drumming evolved in the way what is nowadays…..so I tried to balanced the opinions ..if in some way misunderstood …I’m sorry ; but I don’t Say I’m sorry , because each grip has it’s advantage and disadvantage. If Buddy Rich had learned in matched grip …? He would play as incredible and one-of-a -kind drummer , nothing had changed . I don’t argue nothing about Buddy Rich ….so why are We talking about him ?. It’s all about grip .maaaan…..!!!!! just grip!!!!
What I tried to express is just Sound ..if you close your eyes and try to discriminate which grip is every player uses , it would be a great surprise , who was playing with which grip …!!! that’s what I tried to refer to,!!!! if you like traditional excellent , if you don’t it’s the same…!!! it’s not a problem to me ..!!!! so the next time try to understand first and if you don’t understand ask me in a respectful way ; ‘cos I didn’t refer to nobody ,in a particular way . I could be Wrong or Right it’s my opinion!!!

By: Missing Buddy Rich so Much. No one out there to ADMIRE

Missing Buddy Rich so Much. No one out there to ADMIRE — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:29:52 +0000

Read all the comments on this page from all the drummers and fans. Please let me say my two cents. Went thru all the books of drum instruction. Sat in classes for percussion and jazz drumming and rock drumming and fusion drumming and drum and bugle corps drumming and how to Grip Stick and how to play Traditional Stick and how to practice and build your chops? All a waste of time and money. Go to the local music shop and get anything by Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich showed me more than any instructor or drummer out there today. His excellent way of playing has inspired a trillion drummers. Don’t give me this . You have to be a Jazz Drummer. You have to be a Rock Drummer. You have to get a Groove or a pocket in your playing??? This is total nonsense. Just watch and listen to Buddy Rich. Say your prayers at night and pray that some day you might just might have fifty percent of Buddy Rich in your playing. By the way there should be a Shrine built for Buddy Rich. No drum company or drum stick company or cymbal company could build a shrine tall enough or big enough to honor Buddy Rich. The master drummer. Buddy Rich. You can not be more emphatic than that. Buddy Rich

By: Claudio Hector Sobrales

Claudio Hector Sobrales — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:47:44 +0000

During my personal experience , I learnt, what matters is the sound ; if you feel comfortable with matched grip go for it ….if you feel comfortable with “traditional” grip good for you !. What I don’t understand ,is , why people fight each other in parties which must be friends and colleagues!!!! ; traditions are traditions and if someone says “Jazz sounds better in “traditional grip” ” ..that’s not a mistake …first Jazz players where kids when played drums in American Civil war and transladate this grip to the just born drum kit ….. Remember there are three “traditional grips” … Swiss/German ; French and American …all of them developed during wars. when Drums were replaced in battle field by radios , the Matched grip grew up . Again IT’s Sound which matters …..!!!!!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:58 +0000

Agreed !!!!!!!

By: Jordon Gonzales

Jordon Gonzales — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:11:35 +0000

What about the one thing I didn’t see anywhere in your post and primarily left out of the entire conversation: EXPERIENCE.

I do not hold to a notion that one can be better than the other. But there is obviously a case in every situation and drummer personality where one grip is better than the other. The only reason is this: The one that is better is the one practiced more often for that drummer or that specific style / song.

Practice is what determines which grip is better.