James Walker
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Mar 18 2002
Posts: 1283
Loc: Connecticut
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What's your favorite four-mallet grip (or do you have more than one?) What advantages do you feel one grip has over another?
(Your humble moderator has his thoughts, but I'll hold off on posting anything just yet.)
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Mark Mahoney
Tiger Talk Trainee
Reged: Oct 08 2002
Posts: 11
Loc: CT
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My favorite grip is the Burton grip.
It's simple and adaptable. However, it does lend itself to the intervals of 4ths and 5ths more readily than others.
I should add that I have minimal marimba training and have even less experience with the Steven's grip.
However, for vibes and MalletKat (which is my main axe) the Burton grip works fine.
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James Walker
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Mar 18 2002
Posts: 1283
Loc: Connecticut
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I've fallen into the stereotypical "Burton for vibraphone, Stevens for marimba" thing for the most part, with some exceptions, and with Gordon Stout's grip working its way into the picture every now and again. I've never been able to get my head (or hands) around the traditional "scissors" grip, and I've tried the grip Mike Mainieri uses (the old George Stone grip, IIRC), and while Mike sounds fabulous using it...well, it just ain't for me.
While each grip does have its strengths and weaknesses, I think that percussionists tend to overstate the differences in capabilities between grips. Even though I've learned (and use) several different grips, it bothers me no end to hear of younger players who look at a piece of music and say, "Well, it has a lot of block chords...so I'll use Burton grip!" Students often tend to jump to the "let's change grips" option much, much too readily, IMNSHO, rather than taking the time and energy to really master one grip. The time spent learning the fundamentals of a second grip could be just as well spent refining and strengthening one's technique with their first grip.
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drumlord
Tiger Talk Trainee
Reged: Oct 25 2002
Posts: 10
Loc: RI
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I also think its important to master one grip. I've been working on the Burton grip mostly. However, as I've been taught and what I do in practice is use two different grips based on the piece. It is rare that I use Stevens on anything for vibes, but with marimba I use both.
Block chords doesn't mean Burton for me, but around here, one rule that is generally used is that if there is a slow piece with lots of flowing rolls (such as in the case of many second movements in marimba concertos), then using a ripple roll with the Stevens grip is preferred. So far, I've only known one person who has a perfect ripple roll with the Burton grip, but it is possible.
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