Ok, I think that there is long need for a new type of thread to bring up some debate and differences, and maybe some new styles and techniques. The thing about this thread is this: this thread is open to all kinds of questions and also for the people with a lot more of the higher chops levels, to be able to compare and contrast the styles of others with the same level of playing expertiese. So without further ado, I'll get things started....

This thread's purpose is to talk about left hands in traddish grip and the techniques and styles that are used. I am going to discuss my left hand and how it looks, and all that stuff. Here we go...

My fingers are longer than most people. When I hold my left hand in traditional grip, it really looks like my fingers are straight pretty much. They do have a curve to them however...I have a attached a pic of my left hand on this post.



When I play, no fingers leave the stick at all; not even when rolling, playing at high stick heights, or anything unless it is a backstick or any other visual that does so. The key into me doing this, is to maximize the control of the stick in my left hand. To compensate for my left hand being my weak hand, I play everything that I know off of the left hand as well as off of the right hand. This gets the mental chops going as well, and the left hand up to speed a lot faster. The key to how I play is for maximum control of the sticks.

If you want to practice this style of left hand traditional, then some good suggestions I would tell you is that take 2 pennies, and place one of them between your thumb and pointer finger, and between the stick and your index finger. Then, play all your warmups off of the left hand. Once you get comfortable with that, then you will see enhanced control and technique. Also, play all of the stick control exercises and timing exercises that you can find off of the left hand first. That helps immensely with my style of left handed play.

The biggest thing about this the style I play my left hand in, is that at times, you can't really generate a lot of height with it because you can't get the stick up. To compensate this, if you want to incorparate this style into your playing, I highly recommend you look at playing a controlled rebound style of playing. That style is the one best suited with my left hand. It will give you the power you need to compensate with the stick not leaving your hands.

Like any style of playing, if teached properly, this style is a very effective one. Now how do you guys play your left hands in traditional grip? Explain some of the nuances, and what does the grip seem to bring to your overall style. As I said earlier, my grip is control. I can't wait to hear from you guys. And remember, Make sure that you guys make this thread a good one, this will be a good tool for beginning people going into the tradditional grip...that means now scrub posting....make sure everything you say will contribute....not to be mean, but there have been some really unhelpful posting as of late, but back on topic. Can't wait to hear from ya. Oh yeah and below is a pic of what my left hand looks like pretty much when I play...

Not bad technique from what I can see Coos! Anyway someone is the Ravens snareline told me, when we were working on excercises and cadence, that my tradish is very good. Here it goes:

I grab the stick and hold it like in matched but when I swing it to tradish, the stick knows where to go. The middle finger seems to point out a little but the pad of my thumb still has the first knuckle of my pointer. Now the stick itself also rests between the cuticle and the first knuckle of my ring finger, now when I bring up the stick I try to keep the stick on the cuticle in order to keep it under control and not flop around when I downstroke, now when I roll, unfortunatly my middle will back off of the stick a little but still be on contact so I can get some power, it's just a thing with me. Anyway, a good technique checker would be to just play a regular 8th note excercise only with the left hand, go slow at first, but graduatly increase speed while looking at your technique. Not bad, eh?

Alright boys... heres my share as far as left hands are concerned...
and Yes, I took these at my desk, so if you look hard enough you'll see CoosCoos original post and my 6-n-1 media card reader by my tower.

Below you will find several different styles of left hands, the one below is the one I use.

Here is the one taught to me by one of Phantom Regiment's Snare techs for 2002...

Next is one of my favorite WRONG left-hands... The Grenade or the push button method...

Next, we have another semi-popular method that I dont like, the flip-off ashtray hand... You may notice that my fingers are pulled in as well, with the stick resting on the ring finger's main knuckle..

This is the flip-off ashtray hand with pinky out... Don't know why ppl use this one but they do...

Last is my version with the middle finger out, no cute name for this one...

To sum it up, Phantom's grip is a little awkward, trying to play with all the fingers rigid.

The grenade is wrong. Straight up.

The flip-off ashtray can become comfortable and is very fast, but takes a while to get used to and hurts your knuckles.

My new grip, below, combines the best of speed and comfort for me. Its not easy to get good 12" and hard to get 15", but its managable. Only major problem for me on snare is to develop my left-hand so that it is perfectly equal with my dominant right hand.

[imagehttp://www.drumlines.org/upload/34635-PIC00039.JPG[/image]

Big John,

You need to put your thumb on the first joint of your index finger, and underneath the stick you should rest the stick above the first joint (just below the nail) of your ring finger.

I notice that you have your thumb turned in across the top of the stick, and have the stick all the way down on the ring finger. You need to fix that. The guys at UK are gonna eat you for lunch if you come in playing like that.