EXACTLY!

Yeah, thats really helpful. It’s almost like a reverse of Moeller technique for matched grip where the elbow is OUT on the up stroke and IN on the down stroke.

I see what you mean about uniformity. Things are definitely less strict in the drumset world.

Awesome thanks!

Alex

In a drumset application (where uniformity isn’t an issue), your left elbow should swing like a pendulum to compliment the rotation of your wrist.

On the prep or upstroke the elbow should pull in towards your body and when you strike the drum it should push back out. So if you’re laying down a basic 4/4 groove your elbow moves:
- in on ct. 1 (upstroke)
- out on ct. 2(down stroke)
- in on ct. 3(upstroke)
- out on ct. 4 (down stroke)

Since you’re now leveraging the weight/velocity your entire arm instead of just your wrist you’ll be blowing snare heads w/ Traditional grip in no time!

I mostly use German for my left hand too and tend to only use French for my right hand when it is playing the right side of the kit (ride and floor tom like you mentioned).

Traditional grip is one of my weak points though. I have trouble getting the same power out of it that I get for matched grip. I found Jeff Queen’s “The Next Level” to be a good starting off point to learn it. What do you reckon?

Hahah! Thanks, you just made my day with this comment!

I use french primarily on my right hand (hi-hat/ride cyms & floor tom) and german w/ the Left on the rack tom & both hands when playing on the snare (for shuffles and such)…

Great article!

eP