Snare technique is the technique used to play asnare drum.
It is studied as an end to itself bysnare drummers, and as a way of developing stick control skill bykit drummers and players of otherauxiliary percussion instruments. Snare drum is the first instrument that most percussionists learn to play.
There are two categories of grips used in snare technique:matched grip, in which both hands hold the sticks in an overhand grip, andtraditional grip, in which one hand uses an overhand grip and the other an underhand grip. Traditional grip is almost exclusively used onsnare drum, and concertbass drum,[1][2][3] while matched grip is used on all percussion instruments. Traditional grip is also primarily used in drum corps style marching environments, such asDrum Corps International.
Snare drum technique is learned mainly by learning specific sequences of drumstick strokes, each of them known as adrum rudiment and most of them short. Examples of rudiments are theparadiddle and thedrum roll. Rudiments are often practiced in theOpen, closed, open method where the player increases and decreases the tempo of the pattern in a steady methodical way. Rudiments can be built up into larger phrases, as in the purely rudimental playing of military and marching bands, or used for technical mastery by drum kit players or orchestral percussionists.
Snare drumming is accomplished with a series of individual strokes, a more basic level of organization than rudiments, which fall into a small number of major categories, such as Up, Down, Full, or Tap.
A distinctive feature of snare drumming is the use of rolls, or sustained sounds made from a series of repetitive notes placed close together.[4] Rolls can be played open, as in single or double stroke rolls, or closed as in the orchestral or concert roll.[5]
Many variations of snare drum technique exist based on the context or music being performed. Snare drum can be played with sweeping and stirring motions if played withbrushes.[6] It can also be played in a snappy and light manner, as in thePipe band tradition ofScotland.[7] A much heavier approach is used in AmericanDrum corps playing.[8] Ancientfife and drum corps used a flowing whip-like method now known as theMoeller method after its 20th century championSanford A. Moeller, which is also sometimes employed by drum kit players.[9] A contrasting style of playing, using a lot of rebound from the head, is often called the Gladstone method afterBilly Gladstone.[10]
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