Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks to play percussion musical instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip. It is almost exclusively used to play the snare drum, especially the marching snare drum, and drum kit.

This grip is called traditional because it descends from the early days when the snare drum was carried over the shoulder on a sling. Since the drum is tilted, using an overhand grip on the high side of the drum forces the elbow in a very awkward position. An underhand grip is much more comfortable. Even when the drum is on a stand, many drummers will tilt it when using traditional grip.

The overhand grip most commonly used is the same as American grip. With the underhand grip, the wrist propels the stick and the thumb provides most of the control. The fingers do little but serve as a place to rest the stick, which is commonly placed on the cuticle of the ring finger.