Editing Snare drum technique

{{Short description|Percussive instrument technique}}
'''Snare technique''' is the technique used to play a [[snare drum]].

It is studied as an end to itself by [[snare drum]]mers, and as a way of developing stick control skill by [[drum kit|kit drummers]] and players of other [[auxiliary percussion]] instruments. Snare drum is the first instrument that most percussionists learn to play.  
[[File:Marching snares.jpg|thumb|[[Snare drum]]mers in a [[high school]] [[marching band]] playing with [[traditional grip]]]]

== Grips ==
{{main|grip (percussion)}}
There are two categories of grips used in snare technique: [[matched grip]], in which both hands hold the sticks in an overhand grip, and [[traditional grip]], in which one hand uses an overhand grip and the other an underhand grip. Traditional grip is almost exclusively used on [[snare drum]], and concert [[bass drum]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brad-meyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Snare-Clinic.pdf|title=Brad Meyer Clinic|last=Meyer|first=Brad|date=2012|website=Brad-Meyer.com|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/XanwGC_Gtwg|title=Vic Firth Bass Drum Technique Video|last=Gauger|first=Tom|date=2015|website=YouTube|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/tc1-19-30.pdf|title=Percussion Techniques|last= Army|first= Department of|date=2018|website=Fas.org|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> while matched grip is used on all percussion instruments. Traditional grip is also primarily used in drum corps style marching environments, such as [[Drum Corps International]].

== Rudiments ==
{{main|drum rudiment}}
Snare drum technique is learned mainly by learning specific sequences of drumstick strokes, each of them known as a [[drum rudiment]] and most of them short. Examples of rudiments are the [[paradiddle]] and the [[drum roll]]. Rudiments are often practiced in the [[Open, 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.

== Strokes ==
{{main|Drum stroke}}
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.

== Rolls ==
{{main|Drum roll}}
A distinctive feature of snare drumming is the use of rolls, or sustained sounds made from a series of repetitive notes placed close together.<ref>Rothman, Joel. Rolls Rolls Rolls. USA: JR Publications, 1967.</ref> Rolls can be played open, as in single or double stroke rolls, or closed as in the orchestral or concert roll.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.propercussion.org/filer/lilletrommenotation.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-11-17 |archive-date=2015-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906123226/http://www.propercussion.org/filer/lilletrommenotation.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Techniques and styles ==
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 with [[Percussion mallet#Brushes|brushes]].<ref>Thigpen, Ed. ''The Sound of Brushes.'' Alfred, 1999.</ref> It can also be played in a snappy and light manner, as in the [[Pipe band]] tradition of [[Scotland]].<ref>Stronach, Doug. ''Doug Stronach's Pipe Band Snare Drum Tutor.'' Kitchener, 2000.</ref> A much heavier approach is used in American [[Drum and bugle corps (modern)|Drum corps]] playing.<ref>Bachman, Bill. ''Stick Technique.'' Modern Drummer, 2011.</ref> Ancient [[fife and drum corps]] used a flowing whip-like method now known as the [[Moeller method]] after its 20th century champion [[Sanford A. Moeller]], which is also sometimes employed by drum kit players.<ref>Moeller, Sandord. ''The Art of Snare Drumming.'' Ludwig, 1925.</ref> A contrasting style of playing, using a lot of rebound from the head, is often called the Gladstone method after [[Billy Gladstone]].<ref>Dean, Matt. ''The Drum: A History.'' Scarecrow, 2012.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070107211239/http://www.vicfirth.com/education/articles/wesselsgrip.html Grip]
* [http://www.snarescience.com/articles/snare-technique.html Mechanics]

{{Rudimental Percussion}}

[[Category:Percussion performance techniques]]