Only German grip?!

[h3r3tic]

Does anyone use only the german grip on the entire drumset?
Is it worth using only the german grip?

Hope to hear from you soon
Thanks!

[BringoDingo]

which one's that again? maybe I do and don't even know it. I don't speak german. maybe I should learn it.

[brittc89]

Im not really a technique guru whatsoever, but I can see any advantage to just limiting yourself to ONE technique on a drumset. Why do that, because you can? I dont think it would make anything easier by not ever switching th rotation of the wrist, but thats just my 2 cents.

[brittc89]

which one's that again? maybe I do and don't even know it. I don't speak german. maybe I should learn it.

I think its palm parallel to the floor. Someone correct me if Im wrong.

[Wavelength]

Try it for yourself. Can you accomplish everything you want with just one grip? If so, then it's worth it. Personally, I couldn't play anything with just one hand position...

[h3r3tic]

I think that about using 2 grips for example (German and American) left me with another question which is when playing on the ride cymbal, I use the American grip, I mean on the right side of the kit ofcourse, now my question is since I use the American grip on the ride, should my left hand (on the snare) play the same grip, or can I leave it german?

[Raymond Bloom]

different grips for different purposes! I'd say that there is no drummer who uses just ONE grip

[h3r3tic]

I see! thanks guys! and sorry for bugging you with these simples questions...

[Deltadrummer]

I think that about using 2 grips for example (German and American) left me with another question which is when playing on the ride cymbal, I use the American grip, I mean on the right side of the kit ofcourse, now my question is since I use the American grip on the ride, should my left hand (on the snare) play the same grip, or can I leave it german?

I don't use the German grip at all anymore.

[Vinnysimmo]

I use the german grip openhanded for powerplaying. And i use trad and american for almost evrything else. Thats my take on things.

[maddrummr]

I find myself drifting into a french grip on my ride cymbal from time to time.

[stasz]

I use almost exclusively german grip on the hi-hats and most of the kit, but I switch to french for the ride cymbal.

[Class A Drummer]

I think you should use all 3 grips in matched, and in traditional.

I remember In the Tony Williams clinic video he said how it was important to learn traditional just because it makes you think differently. By thinking differently, you obviously switch up your playing a little bit.

More grips=more creatitivity?

[Derek]

For me , American grip on the drums and French grip on the Ride. German Grip just feels a little forced , not relaxed for me.
But that's just me...

[h3r3tic]

For me , American grip on the drums and French grip on the Ride. German Grip just feels a little forced , not relaxed for me.
But that's just me...

That's why I changed to american grip, and yes... for the ride it feels much more natural the french grip. I used to use german grip on the ride cymbal it felt less natural than french grip which feels much more natural and feels good with the french grip! The most stupide thing that I did was to use fingers with german grip on the ride, a few days latter I felt a terrible pain on my hand and stopped drumming for a couple of days, when I tried the american grip, the pain went away and plus I can use wrist AND fingers with this grip. And the moeller on the moeller on the american grip feels good too!

[rmandelbaum]

I have always practice and played match grip. To this day when on the pad I focus on the matched grip.

I have noticed that when I am playing on the drums, snare and toms, I play the matched grip. But when I play the ride and hi-hat I end up with the German grip. It is not intentional but it just happens to feel comfortable that way.

You may find this interesting

http://drum-clinic.com/?p=6

[maddrummr]

I think you should use all 3 grips in matched, and in traditional.

I remember In the Tony Williams clinic video he said how it was important to learn traditional just because it makes you think differently. By thinking differently, you obviously switch up your playing a little bit.

More grips=more creatitivity?

Maybe...I also found myself using traditional today at band practice because I'm using a clave in a song then we switch out and jam...why waste time switching when you can just play trad.

[abe]

That's why I changed to american grip, and yes... for the ride it feels much more natural the french grip. I used to use german grip on the ride cymbal it felt less natural than french grip which feels much more natural and feels good with the french grip! The most stupide thing that I did was to use fingers with german grip on the ride, a few days latter I felt a terrible pain on my hand and stopped drumming for a couple of days, when I tried the american grip, the pain went away and plus I can use wrist AND fingers with this grip. And the moeller on the moeller on the american grip feels good too!

well, it's not so stupid thing itself. it's stupid to use only fingers for long periods of time if you haven't practiced it. I've heard that it's not wise to use fingers in german grip. even Weckl in his video told that. But I always experimented with german finger technique and found out way how to use it as easy as french though I wasn't sure that my ideas are good. Later I got Jojo's DVD and he told to use exact same grip and motion. I was proud with myself :) So after proper practice you'll definetly be able to use german/american grip finger control.

[sssssssss]

well, it's not so stupid thing itself. it's stupid to use only fingers for long periods of time if you haven't practiced it. I've heard that it's not wise to use fingers in german grip. even Weckl in his video told that. But I always experimented with german finger technique and found out way how to use it as easy as french though I wasn't sure that my ideas are good. Later I got Jojo's DVD and he told to use exact same grip and motion. I was proud with myself :) So after proper practice you'll definetly be able to use german/american grip finger control.


Yup, that's absolutely right. It happened the same for me. German grip is excellent for using your fingers, just as well as French grip is. The only difference for which, I guess, Weckl calls the French grip "finger position" is that in French you can use only your fingers for a longer period of time, which isn't really possible in German. In German, fingers should alwasy work in conjunction with the wrist. But again, if you don't use your fingers at all in German grip, you won't be able to correctly use it.
I use German grip most of the time simply because it's the most powerful and dynamically colorful grip of them all (at least for me). And I also love it because it's a cultivated thing, and humans are all about self-cultivation. Almost anybody who takes a pair of drumsticks in his/her hands will hold them in a more or less correct French grip. The German grip is to be learned, practiced and ultimately felt :D