Column #5

Jeff Campbell

July 11, 2007

Left vs. right? Drummers had a knee-jerk reaction

I’d like to pose a burning question. Why do you suppose that snare drummers in a marching band have a separate stick grip for both their right and left hands? This question came to my mind as I watched several marching bands last week in the 4th of July parade. I noticed that these drummers hold the stick in their right hand with fingers wrapped around it; the hand is in a fist formation with the palm facing down. Conversely, the stick in the left hand is tucked between the first two fingers and thumb with the palm facing up. Also, the stick in the left hand is held so that it is perpendicular to the arm while the stick in the right hand is parallel to the arm. Doesn’t it seem strange that drummers don’t hold the sticks exactly the same in each hand?

Well, it seemed strange to me, so I did a little homework. It seems that differing stick grip used by marching snare drummers has a very utilitarian and functional history. The marching snare drum predates the use of signal flags, radios, walkie-talkies, or cell phones as a mode of military communication. Specific rhythm patterns would indicate various signals so that officers could communicate their military commands to a large group of soldiers.

Since the drummer had to march with the troops, he figured out a way to strap the drum over his shoulder. The only problem was that a military drum was long and deep, and the person carrying the drum was always banging his knees into it as he marched with the troops. Eventually someone figured out that if the drum was situated on the left side of the player’s waist it would be out of the way of his legs (and knees). The only problem was that this put the drum at a very awkward angle, making it difficult to play. The only logical solution was to have a different stick grip for the right and left hands.

Even though modern drummers don’t strap the drum to their shoulder any more, many of them still use the old military mismatched stick hold with what they call traditional grip. But there’s a new camp of drummers who feel that traditional grip is outdated and they used a stick hold called matched grip, which, just as it sounds, means the player holds the stick the same way in both hands. And while both the traditional and the matched groups are friendly, I’m hopeful that they will remain peaceful towards each other.

At the percussion session at Birch Creek, we have both traditional and matched grip players and so far, this two party system is working well. Of course, don’t take my word for it. Stop by and see for yourself – but keep your political views to yourself. We don’t want to upset the delicate balance of power between the traditional and matched grippers.