Grips

Here's something I found interesting. Since we're always thinking about and talking about grips I was checking out this video I found on youtube.

The guy here uses the Burton grip. I use a modified version of the Burton Grip. I have 2 fingers in between the sticks. Some people call it the 'Miceli-Stoned' grip. There's a funny story behind that, but I won't go into that here. I thought I was pretty much the only guy using that grip. But others have pointed out to me that Victor Feldman uses it as well as a few other players.

To me the reality of grips is that each one can do things different, better and even worse than the others. To me that's a good thing because that will make people play different partly depending on the grip they use.

I think the grip I use makes me play different from guys who use the Burton grip. Sometimes I like that and sometimes I get a little depressed thinking maybe I'm missing something but not playing another way.

One of the positive things about my grip is that I think it's between the Stevens grip and the Burton grip in terms of using alternating stickings with the same hand.

On these videos both of us are playing a Bach Fuge in G minor. Actually Stefdav (his youtube name) plays the whole thing, I just play an excerpt. Stefdav sounds great I think. This comparison has nothing to do with his playing because I was very impressed by it.

The one thing I noticed was that with the Burton grip if you were to play C D C D with only your right hand, you'd use only one stick. With my grip I could use each mallet in the right hand to play each note. Now you can do that with the Stevens grip and can even play the notes faster and longer. For instance I would argue it's easiest to play a trill with one hand with the Stevens grip, my grip would be next easiest and burton the most difficult.

If you compare the 2 vids here, you'll see what I mean. Stefdav obviously has really developed hands! He'll play those lines with one stick. I'll use 2.

I had a talk with a student about this topic. He was trying to do things with the Burton grip that I didn't think could be done. After a couple weeks of discussion he agreed. I think everybody wants to think they can do everything with their grip that any other grip can do. I would argue that that's not the case at all!

Try playing a Bach 2 part invention with the Burton grip alternating sticks. I would argue that it really can't be done. I did a few with my grip however it was very difficult. It seems like to me that with the Stevens grip it would be the easiest.

Now before any starts getting defensive this is not a better than conversation. After all look what Burton does with his grip. Way more than most of us can do with ANY grip. Listen to Teddy Charles play 4 mallets. I'm sure that's the Musser grip(anybody know for sure?). He does amazing stuff. Victor Feldman Plays with the same grip I use and does amazing stuff!

To me what's interesting about grips is that they each present obstacles and hurdles that each player must overcome. And great players overcome these hurdles in unique ways. Listen to the podcasts at Larrys Improv Page between myself Ed Saindon, John Piper and a few others. We practice together (via the net). That is we pick a tune and all do solo versions of the tune. We get to check each other out. It seems like Ed and John have mastered the Burton grip and overcome any obstacles with that grip.

Altough they each have a unique sound their playing has sylistic qualities that come out of the Burton grip. Their are some similarities in their style. A kind of Burtonesque 'school of thought'.

So it was interesting to me to come across this video on youtube and how stefdav approached the fugue. Also the difference between the 2 grips.

And it was interesting to me to have the discussion with my student about grips. No grip is universal, they all have strengths and weeknesses. The Stevens grip offers a lot of independence and the most 'pianistic' playing of all the grips. Although it's sort of a piano player with only 4 fingers! I would argue though for vibes it lacks the power that the other grips offer. People have disagreed with me about this, but they haven't changed my mind yet.

I think the grip that I use offers a sort of middle ground between the 2. It seems like the Burton grip might be the most 'powerful' of the group. But I haven't used that grip in 20 years so I can't speak about that. Also I don't know much about the Stevens grip except what i see.

Any thoughts on grips??