I use traditional cross grip because it's what is most comfortable for me and my tiny weak hands, yet I've still gotten a lot of beef for not using Stevens. People trip out when they see my grip. "That looks so uncomfortable!" they say. I say just use what is most comfortable for you and what is best suited for the piece you are performing. You gave excellent advice: LEARN TWO GRIPS. I decided to start learning Stevens, but I struggle to keep a firm grip on the outside mallets. :( It's uncomfortable, but it'll be worth it, I think.
Terah Landy Hater's going to hate. If you go take a lesson with a professional marimba player they won't care what grip you use. They care if you make music when you play. Many people have won the Pasic Marimba Solo competition with Trad grip. In fact, many pieces are just easier with a palm down grip. People who argue about what grip is "best" are the same type of people who argue if Xbox or PS4 is better. (#PCMasterrace!) Gamers like to play games. Gearheads like to argue over semantics.
@Terah: Don't mind. You picked the best grip of them all. There are many techniques which are only possible with traditional but as there are rarely videos about traditional grip no one knows. I'm happy to have a teacher who taught me traditional and I will never ever change that. And it's healthier than others. You get awful blisters between middle and ringfinger with stevens...
When you mentioned the musser grip, I realized that our front ensemble for marching band and drumline actually had us switch from steven's to musser without really telling us what we were doing, but I realized it was because he wanted us to have smoother articulation without completely switching grips to traditional or burton.
As a life long marimba player using the traditional cross grip for years...I will tell you that injury can result from octaves on a wide bar instrument. I myself have aquired injury from this grip but can say its advantages are excellent control and power. Plus, small intervals are easy to control. Extending to octaves in the left abd right hand requires a "slender" instrument.
I think it must be noted that the traditional grip may seems more difficult than it actually is to change over large intervals. A key feature is the two fingers on the underside holding tightly. The creates tension which can be used to flick the stick quickly back and forth which allows you to change intervals quickly. The thumb is there Just to guide the stick rather than move it.
I'm learning Steven's and Burton's grip. My primary grip is Stevens since it is used by my front ensemble, but my wrist doesn't move as fluently as it should since my wrist doesn't turn well that way but it still works. Hopefully knowing two grips will hide each others weaknesses.
Great video! Now I know how to properly hold 4 mallets --- just started to play marimba and only using 2 mallets after 3 lessons. Maybe I'll surprise my instructor and show up playing using 4 next lesson. Only 75 here --- never to old to learn something new.
Depends on the corps. I know for a long time SCV let people use whatever, but as the writing is going more and more toward steven's lateral techniques, Stevens grip is more or less becoming the standard for marimba and burton/stevens for vibes.
From what I've heard from people who say they use extended cross grip, it's really burton grip with a dropped index finger and the hands slightly rotated, which is how most people use burton on marimba now-a-days anyhow. I'm not sure it deserves it's own name. I talk about some of those techniques in my burton grip video. Check it out!
I use Stephen's grip cuz that's what my school taught me. My biggest issues with it are getting power out of the ring and pinky finger mallets. And my biggest issue in general is accuracy. I miss my notes alot, I am getting better though
Hi! I'm from argentina and i find very interesting your videos, here is difficult to find about four mallet grip. I have a small xylophone and i really want to know the 4 mallets grip. Do You have some exercises or books i can start ti read?. Thanks!
The Burton grip is primarily a vibist's grip, and since rolls aren't as common on the vibes, the ability to do double lateral and one handed rolls isn't as important. It has a lot of structural stability in the hand due to the cross being in the center of the hand, but isn't as flexible as other grips. Its not as easy to do intervals involving accidentals and natural notes with the Burton grip on a marimba due to the two levels. On the vibes this isn't an issue since the bars are on a parallel plane.
I think this means make sure your hand is equally between the two mallets, which you don't actually always do. There are some diagrams is Method of Movement that illustrate this!
I use traditional cross grip because it's what is most comfortable for me and my tiny weak hands, yet I've still gotten a lot of beef for not using Stevens. People trip out when they see my grip. "That looks so uncomfortable!" they say. I say just use what is most comfortable for you and what is best suited for the piece you are performing.
You gave excellent advice: LEARN TWO GRIPS. I decided to start learning Stevens, but I struggle to keep a firm grip on the outside mallets. :( It's uncomfortable, but it'll be worth it, I think.
Terah Landy Hater's going to hate. If you go take a lesson with a professional marimba player they won't care what grip you use. They care if you make music when you play. Many people have won the Pasic Marimba Solo competition with Trad grip. In fact, many pieces are just easier with a palm down grip. People who argue about what grip is "best" are the same type of people who argue if Xbox or PS4 is better. (#PCMasterrace!) Gamers like to play games. Gearheads like to argue over semantics.
Marimbalogy Bah, you nail it on the head in every way!!
"#PCMasterrace" lol.
@Terah: Don't mind. You picked the best grip of them all. There are many techniques which are only possible with traditional but as there are rarely videos about traditional grip no one knows. I'm happy to have a teacher who taught me traditional and I will never ever change that. And it's healthier than others. You get awful blisters between middle and ringfinger with stevens...
When you mentioned the musser grip, I realized that our front ensemble for marching band and drumline actually had us switch from steven's to musser without really telling us what we were doing, but I realized it was because he wanted us to have smoother articulation without completely switching grips to traditional or burton.
As a life long marimba player using the traditional cross grip for years...I will tell you that injury can result from octaves on a wide bar instrument. I myself have aquired injury from this grip but can say its advantages are excellent control and power. Plus, small intervals are easy to control. Extending to octaves in the left abd right hand requires a "slender" instrument.
I think it must be noted that the traditional grip may seems more difficult than it actually is to change over large intervals. A key feature is the two fingers on the underside holding tightly. The creates tension which can be used to flick the stick quickly back and forth which allows you to change intervals quickly. The thumb is there Just to guide the stick rather than move it.
I'm learning Steven's and Burton's grip. My primary grip is Stevens since it is used by my front ensemble, but my wrist doesn't move as fluently as it should since my wrist doesn't turn well that way but it still works. Hopefully knowing two grips will hide each others weaknesses.
Great video! Now I know how to properly hold 4 mallets --- just started to play marimba and only using 2 mallets after 3 lessons. Maybe I'll surprise my instructor and show up playing using 4 next lesson. Only 75 here --- never to old to learn something new.
Thanks man. Just picked up a set of vibes to do my next video and have to get back into the swing of things.
@rosskay It's Gordon Stout's Grip. I doesn't really have a name but only 2 people use it to my knowledge.
Depends on the corps. I know for a long time SCV let people use whatever, but as the writing is going more and more toward steven's lateral techniques, Stevens grip is more or less becoming the standard for marimba and burton/stevens for vibes.
From what I've heard from people who say they use extended cross grip, it's really burton grip with a dropped index finger and the hands slightly rotated, which is how most people use burton on marimba now-a-days anyhow. I'm not sure it deserves it's own name. I talk about some of those techniques in my burton grip video. Check it out!
@doninetexas Wow! That is awesome! Best of luck!
@davidhernandezdeniz Woah!!!! I've never seen that before! How does his pinky not break off???
@percussionrush Sweet thanks! I do have her book for reference, but I'm not a Trad player :) I don't know the details as much as the other grips!
@sacking100 Thanks! I shall keep them comin!
@shavethebravedave You're welcome!
I use Stephen's grip cuz that's what my school taught me. My biggest issues with it are getting power out of the ring and pinky finger mallets. And my biggest issue in general is accuracy. I miss my notes alot, I am getting better though
We all miss notes :) But practice scales with the outer mallets. It can help!
@@Marimbalogy thank you
I don't understand how traditional grip isn't taught more.
Hi! I'm from argentina and i find very interesting your videos, here is difficult to find about four mallet grip. I have a small xylophone and i really want to know the 4 mallets grip. Do You have some exercises or books i can start ti read?. Thanks!
Hello! head to marimbalogy.com/marimba-exercises . You can also get the book "Simply Four" by Giff Howarth or "Method of Movement" by Leight Stevens
Why is the Burton's grip not popular?
There are some things that you can't do easily with it. Mostly fast double laterals and one handed rolls.
The Burton grip is primarily a vibist's grip, and since rolls aren't as common on the vibes, the ability to do double lateral and one handed rolls isn't as important. It has a lot of structural stability in the hand due to the cross being in the center of the hand, but isn't as flexible as other grips. Its not as easy to do intervals involving accidentals and natural notes with the Burton grip on a marimba due to the two levels. On the vibes this isn't an issue since the bars are on a parallel plane.
Does anyone know if you're aloud to choose what grip you use if your playing in a drum corps or wgi group?
How do you bisect the angle of the mallets? I was told to do that but I don’t know what that means exactly
I think this means make sure your hand is equally between the two mallets, which you don't actually always do. There are some diagrams is Method of Movement that illustrate this!
Marimbalogy Thank you!
hahah "soo... don't hate" :)