Snare Tilted Forward

[osamasgoat5467]

I noticed that in both a Dave Black and Buddy Rich solo video they had their snares tilted forward, Does anyone do this anymore? Did they do this to get more bounce to their rack toms for faster fills or was it just a common thing back then?


http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/daveblackbigsolo.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgeX9iYOFSQ

[Wavelength]

That particular snare angle facilitates the use of the traditional grip by making the left hand stroke angle more natural. It actually makes sense, since the traditional grip was originally devised to make playing of shoulder-swung marching drums easier.

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/236282/2/istockphoto_236282_colonial_drummer.jpg

Contemporary players who still do a bit of snare tilting include Dave Weckl and Steve Smith, and there are many others.

[jeffwj]

I think Steve Smith wrote an article in Modern Drummer a few years back on that same topic. Maybe someone here can tell us what issue it was in.

Jeff

[Deathmetalconga]

I played like that for 20 years, as it seemed to be easier on my hands and wrists. The natural tendency of sticks is to point down a bit (at least how I hold them) and having the drum canted away from me seemed to work better.

Now I have the snare perfectly level (I use a level to check it) and that changes my playing a bit. So far the hands and wrists are fine.

www.terrasonus.com

[Class A Drummer]

Its all comfort. As said already, it seems to be more of a natural position, but this does not mean you should do it. It is not better, it is only a preference.

Great players like Steve Gadd actually tilts his snare drum the opposite way.
I found that kinda interesting.

[mlehnertz]

Bingo. I played that way for many years - up until college when I converted to matched grip.

And don't forget kids, traditional grip was developed strictly because of the angle of the marching snare drum caused by the shoulder strap.

That particular snare angle facilitates the use of the traditional grip by making the left hand stroke angle more natural. It actually makes sense, since the traditional grip was originally devised to make playing of shoulder-swung marching drums easier.

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/236282/2/istockphoto_236282_colonial_drummer.jpg

Contemporary players who still do a bit of snare tilting include Dave Weckl and Steve Smith, and there are many others.

[TheSteve]

It all depends on how your left hand is positioned. Players tilt their drum to get the best back beat they can with the most comfort. But that was already stated. Oh and the traditional grip was invented becase of the tilted snare drum, so most people with a straight snare drum while playing traditional is just weird to me, unless it's absolutely nesessary. Keep that in mind.

[loki83jcg]

I played with my snare drum tilted forward for a few years because I wanted to look and do the same my drum teacher, Tony DeNicola. He played traditional and I played match.

With match and the snare drum tilted forward I began hurting my wrists very badly. To this day I have to watch that I don't over extend my wrists forward, which is anything past what would keep the hand and forearm straight, especially with my weak hand and especially on the small tom.

The wrist stroke is not level to down but up to level, if you can understand that.

Took me some time to undo what seemed completely natural and the pain stopped (now I have to keep the snare drum with a tilt facing me). Have some other drummer watch your playing and then be receptive on his criticisms (which is really the hardest thing to do for all drummers).

[k3ng]

I tilt mine forward for the sake of my rimshots. MY recent thread on rimshots has got me experimenting and I find tilting the snare forwards gives me an easier facility for rimshots on my left hand, which I play trad.

[nate]

I played like that for 20 years, as it seemed to be easier on my hands and wrists. The natural tendency of sticks is to point down a bit (at least how I hold them) and having the drum canted away from me seemed to work better.

Now I have the snare perfectly level (I use a level to check it) and that changes my playing a bit. So far the hands and wrists are fine.

www.terrasonus.com


why did you change?


.......

[BigSexyPanda]

i know keith carlock plays with every drum tilted away from him, not just his snare because he plays traditional grip. i forgot his exact explanation, but it's probably the same concept for the snare, just attached it to the toms as well. I know he explains it in the 2005 MD Fest DVD.

Keith Carlock in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4vEsSFNy0Q

[Wavelength]

1) The stroke angle is more natural.

2) In an open stage situation, Keith will automatically sound and look better, because the rest of the drummers will be in deep trouble trying to work with Keith's set... :)

[h3r3tic]

Even Keith Carlock has his snare drum tilted forward too. I think since he plays traditional grip, it is logical that you can get better rimshots that way than putting your snare drum in a flat position...
But it doesn't mean that it is the best way to play traditional grip that way...
Peace!

[finnhiggins]

I actually tried this in matched grip recently after watching Keith play, and have taken a bit of a shine to it. It seems to make it easier to get to the toms and back, more of a "dropping down" feeling than a "pulling back" one if you catch my drift. Not sure if I'll stay this way, but it's comfortable and also pretty stylish. I like.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

I'm a traditional player most of the time, but occasionally like to bring out the matched grip as and when I feel like it. I'm more or less equal with both. I find that I can get consistently good rimshots with my snare pointed forward or flat, in either grip. It's not difficult it just requires a bit of practice. It feels natural, even in matched grip, with the snare tilted forward.

[Michael G]

They tilted it foward for two reasons.

1. Easier to play Traditional.

2. Easier to play at their height level (They used to sit on those big drum "thrones" instead of stools.)

[nhzoso]

My instructor does this with his snare too and it is strictly for rim shots, He plays matched grip only.

[mlehnertz]

I don't. Please explain.

...more of a "dropping down" feeling than a "pulling back" one if you catch my drift.

[Drummer30]

Well having never played match grip before I'm kind of at a disadvantage here, but what I have always done is kept it level, I found that my rolls etc seemed to be getting random rimshots unless my hands were at an uncomfortable angle. As for the moving around the toms, I have always found it an easier stretch to play the toms when matched rather than when (just holding) the sticks traditional. So experiment a bit, the likes of Neil Peart have switched and honed both styles to be used for their strong points, so it all really comes down to preference, practicality, and performance.