1st O/C Tech. Video Pt. 3 - Basic Strokes & Synchronizations

Visit GK-Music.com for Zoom Lessons and method books by Gordy Knudtson, drummer for the Steve Miller Band.

[@chadhoffman6769]

Easily the best videos on the open close technique! Been enjoying working on the open close over the last year and love how it pops up in my playing to help out when you're not expecting it. Gordy you're a gifted teacher!

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Chad!

[@doozle5132]

There are lots of good teachers on youtube but this is one of the clearest vids I've seen. Like the the crystal clear breakdown.

[@majikisaAA12wew]

WoW!! His snare groove is outstanding!!

[@TheHeavyshooter]

Your control and technique is simply pleasing to watch

[@Ismlor]

Thanks for offering your knowledge to the masses!

[@Offshore52]

Wow, probably the best video I've seen on stick technique so far!

[@mikecabral1579]

I'm retired after more than 45 years of playing. That was amazing I worked way to hard for all those years. I'm heals up guy all arm and wrist. I haven't had a lesson since about 1970. Wow that would have been nice to work on. Wonderful job.

[@PecosBill1950]

I think your videos are the best. You start with simple ideas and then build upon them one step at a time. You make even MY brain understand. And that's saying something! Thanks!

[@luckyday11]

This will change my life Wow Im totally blown away. I have been searching for this for a long time. Thank you sir!

[@Anonomusturd]

Same concept. The Moeller technique gets a whipping motion from the shoulder and this one gets it from the wrist. By using the wrist you can play faster because you don't have to use your whole arm and you're working with smaller muscle groups. But the best bet is to learn the Moeller first so you understand the whipping motion you need for this.

[@GKMusic54]

@forbeat100 - Thanks Paul. I studied with Marv Dahlgren, Floyd Thompson, & Elliot Fine. All of them are great teachers, but they did not show me this technique. The stuff shown here is from my own R & D work. I just finished a book which shows how it can be used to play rudiments called "Morphing Double Strokes with Open/Close Technique". Contact me at my website if you are interested, GK-Music.com, and I'll explain how to get a copy. It's not up on the site yet.

[@06livefast]

That animation just blew my mind. BLEW IT

[@TaylorDouglasMusic]

Blowing my mind Gordy! Thanks for all these amazing videos.

[@GKMusic54]

@JackFook. When this was shot I was a Promark endorser. I am now an Innovative Percussion endorser. They have made a custom signature stick for me I really like. It's rather beefy with a nice tip for cymbal sound.

[@pektus5]

This technique is strongest FINGER technique i saw in my life.And i saw a lot,because i am pro drummer and private instructor for 40 years.You built regular gladstone and moeller technique to a new level.DO YOU?

[@JakeShields09]

I dig your style! Who needs toms when you have a snare like that.. is that bell brass? Also, the material in this video is a lifetimes worth of practice.. bravo man, this is the best video hand technique lesson I have probably ever seen. You should consider playing technical death metal! haha Peace and respect!

[@tedreinhardtdrums]

gordy thanks, this is amazing. ive loved the "bounce\snap" or "bounce\bounce\snap" tecnique for years, but this is the next level, cant wait to work on this!.......ted

[@pbldrum]

Great instructive video. Stuff that I will try (with practice pad first) of course. I've seen you with Steve Miller Band more than once and I always come away more than impressed. Great groove drummer! Thank you. pl

[@GKMusic54]

RH sequence for shuffle on ride cym or hat: Hand opens on the "ah" / closes on the beat. For example - open/close = ah /1 - ah /2 - ah /3 - ah /4. When doing a double shuffle, LH on snare, RH on ride or hat, left wrist must also drop down to add a rimshot on 2 & 4. This is tricky to do and takes time to learn, but it's one of those feels you'll eventually need - especially when playing blues music.

[@GKMusic54]

Without seeing you play it's hard to say what the problem is. While it's normal for the non dominant hand to be developmentally behind the dominant one, good mechanics in both hands is crucial for success. Watch more videos of mine at GK-Music.com, like "Fundamentals of Drum Technique". The info and the visual examples can help out a lot. Use mirror(s) to watch yourself play. This lets you to see your mechanics from another perspective. You might be able to see what your problem is for yourself.

[@robertplutchak8571]

That snare truly sounds amazing!!

[@udkline]

Great lesson! I especially like how you applied the hand concepts to the set afterwards, providing a context/application for the more abstract technique in a more musical setting!

[@WannaBeChef50]

That was very informative. As a drummer of over 30 years, my technique has gotten sloppy and slow. I'm going back to basics to get my passion back. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@vorkap]

Only my favorite snare drum of all times. A work of art.

[@PvtSoab96]

What an amazing technique! Just plain awesome.

[@Gretsche87]

love that snare. Beautiful

[@nmnmnm9509]

Thanks indeed its the best drums teaching in YT

[@anushjohn]

wow, just wow! so well broken down and executed!

[@sebuteo]

Excellent stuff Gordy. A very enjoyable video, impressive and useful demonstration. Cheers, Seb

[@sccrash420]

Wow. Incredible shuffles

[@Rkiser0592]

wow this was something I needed to watch! so good, THANKS GORDY YOU RULE

[@drumstudio2000]

great tool. But It seems to work more for those continuos (ala tony williams) ride beats, more than for a single stroke roll. If you have extra hours to study your single roll with this technique, go for it. If not, I recommend you work only with separate hands only...and work on merging this in your funk, pop or brazilian grooves for your leading hand (gordy did it really good with the funk)...and view a dozen videos of tony williams ride beats.... great video, congratulations and thanks!

[@hfxshark]

Incredible. Thank you, Gordy.

[@karinetex1]

Great videos, GK! I've been using what seems to be the 3 Note Stroke for a few years now. I've got a few versions of the "Single 6" on KZbin. I've also been amazed at the possibilities of patterns and grooves when combining the "separate" and "continuous" modes in unison, but offsetting the accents. In other words, starting the cycle of 3's independently between the hands.

[@Coastfog]

I just had the same idea after watching this, almost ten years later. I hope those years were good to you!

[@DonGeorge47]

Very impressive finished product and the instruction is very clear. Very well done.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks, we used only a shotgun mic about placed 8 feet away. The room we were in was fairly live, which added ambience to the sound.

[@acerious15]

you're really good with your hands there my good sir! fantastic technique!

[@doodoobuttz9]

your technique is amazing!

[@DiariodeumBatera]

muito, gostei! vou estudar. estou a tempos procurando por um tutorial explicativo como o seu. obrigado.

[@martin84jazz]

hey man you're great! thanx a lot! very good groove on the drumset by the way, and the end is totally amazing :D :D

[@marichivilcoy]

Hello! A comment and a question on my side. Question (for Gordy and/or drummers out there having figured this out) Is there by any chance a video on how to get the bounce without moving the wrist? (my body is not wanting to do so). If a video is not available, would you have any tips on how I could get there? I am so far focusing on the 2-note O/C stroke, but would love to get to the 3- and 4-notes strokes eventually. Comment Dear Gordy, your videos are responding, one to one, to all the questions I have had for years now. Not having an answer, not understanding the different strokes, has discouraged me a lot in the past. Now that I have watched (many of) your videos, I cannot wait to have time to sit on the practice pad and start over, from scratch. Many many thanks for your help!

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Mariana! To really answer your question I need to see how you can and can't move. We should do a ZOOM lesson. I charge $100 for the first lesson, allow up to 90 minutes, and $75 per hour for follow up lessons. We should be able to answer this in one lesson. Email me and we can set one up - [e-mail].

[@psychonaut3146]

a true master of your craft. thanx Gordy

[@rhythmantic]

Fantastic demonstration, very practical, thanks for sharing.

[@thedrumman64]

Another brilliant lesson. Outstanding job teaching! :-)

[@GKMusic54]

@TheSaneMe. It's a custom Real Feel made about 12 years ago.

[@mathiasvbl]

Really helpful video! This technique is really good for blast beats!

[@GKMusic54]

A Paiste /Jeff Ocheltree Snare made from Paiste Cymbal metal.

[@GuidoNietmann]

what a very good teacher you are! Nice lesson!

[@konarider]

Hey Gordy, I've been practicing this technique for a while and am just wondering if there's a particular grip that works best with it. ie. using french grip as opposed to a german grip. Great video and thanks!

[@geoffreydlang]

Presentation, explanation, execution, progression...all very well done. Especially dug the opening audio / graphics and closing credit sequence. KZbin would be a much smaller place if instructional videos would have to pass an audition..with this clip being the 'pass' standard.

[@AFGautonompunk]

thank you a lot, i appreciate it and learn a lot from them

[@miketalbot4]

Great playing!

[@ALKasat23]

Brilliant technique,amazing)

[@Dscheibi1]

Hey! First of all a really nice way to get fast on the drumset. But isnt it possible to play double stroke rolls with the open close t.?

[@GKMusic54]

Dscheibi1 Yes, watch Morphing Doubles Strokes w/ Open/Close Technique Parts 1, 4, & 5. Here are the links:kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmeWe6RtoN2hj6ucttps://kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6mkXquOqceShbOcttps://kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqu5kJmqipJjZ9E

[@G4boooo0]

I love the ending!!!!

[@k4drums]

Wow great lesson thank you, very inspiring, beautiful snare too.

[@hexaltoor2814]

oh my God this is so perfect

[@PedroMellodrums]

Agreed! It´s very inspiring and seems to be easy but, man, we have to work a lot to get this... Thank you very much!

[@joakimeklund1586]

Really impressing!

[@benprim]

Hi Gordy, thanks a lot for the videos. Very nice and detailed :) I'm curious do you apply the same principal for your feet ? in a heel/toe technique ?

[@GKMusic54]

You are welcome. Yes, you can apply the same concept to the feet.

[@AngryMetallisto]

A very useful video. Great examples and explanations. Thanks!

[@davidolson558]

Do you have any videos showing open/close technique with traditional grip?

[@GKMusic54]

Check out this video @ 1:00 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3jEmXialN-UnJo.

[@davidolson558]

Thanks Gordy! I've played traditional grip for 40 years and still learn new ways of proper technique and angles of the drumset.

[@JazzCat601]

Impressive technical display - thanks for sharing

[@RudyMalik77]

Gordy do you give personal lessons online?

[@GKMusic54]

Yes, I do. Email me: [e-mail] and we can set something up.

[@Dazzer1234567]

great technique and great vid - many thanks!

[@colourfulwithaU]

Outstanding work!

[@DreBDrums]

I don't mean to be nit-picky, but I see the stick shifting between the crook of your hand and the outer part of your hand connoting a german grip. Is this just how things go in terms of this technique?

[@GKMusic54]

Andre, There are several different ways to do Open/Close. You can see some other drummers doing it at my KZbin channel. Their forms are different, but the basic principles are always the same. kzbin.info

[@GrooveJuggernaut]

This is great! My instructor has me doing the same exercises from the first half. I am curious, though... With regard to the latter half, what's the big picture? Why practice the 3s and 4s from the second half? Are you any faster/more powerful/ controlled/relaxed when you play singles like that? or is it just to gain more of a command over your hands/sticks?

[@blanno1]

Hello... Your snare sound incredible... What is your Mic's configuration for this recording? Of course great technique to record this way... Great stick control, great sound!!

[@miketwo345]

That just rocked my world.

[@TheSaneMe]

Obvious MasterClass !!!!! also want like to know what is that Practice Pad ?

[@TucksonFever]

Amazing.

[@Elchanitobonito]

loving this technique you should make a blast beat vid man haha go 200 bpm then in triplet oh that would be sick and even higher tempos man would love to see that

[@kelvinvavao388]

this was very helpful! thank you.

[@AkashSharma-kh2jc]

Beautiful practice

[@pdbutow]

Gordy, How can I play this technique with my left hand using traditional grip?

[@GKMusic54]

Go to: GK-Music.com, click video lessons, scroll down and select Raul Valdes Pt. 2 video. Raul demos trad grip during the Backbeat Applications portion (about 1/2 way through). He's amazing, check him out.

[@pdbutow]

Gordy Knudtson Thank you, Gordy!

[@randomyoutubenickname]

i love the intro

[@drummingman]

Gordy is awesome! I was lucky to go to Music tech (thats the old name of the school) and study with him.

[@kingmajin]

love the endings

[@umdiscodevinil]

very interesting and useful!

[@rickyvecchio7774]

Perfect...!!!! Many many thanks...!!!

[@kabasakalis]

Excellent educational material.

[@GKMusic54]

A Paiste Jeff Ocheltree Snare

[@splaijsen]

Fantastic drumming! What snare is that and what is it made of? Sound like brass but alot warmer. Andy/Sweden

[@davidolson558]

I'm curious if you play open/close technique due to a past injury?

[@GKMusic54]

No, O/C motions are natural body movements. But I did switch to matched grip from traditional grip decades ago because of a wrist injury.

[@davidolson558]

@@GKMusic54 thanks for the great information! It does seem the open/close technique in something that students should learn early on, but it seems to be an evolutionary thing.

[@GKMusic54]

@@davidolson558 Correct, I believe they need to understand basic singles and doubles first. Then add O/C to help their double stroke development. You can then show them how O/C lets you play with the timing of the second note of the double, as in this video - parts 1-3 of a 10 part series - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmLRZqKlf8yUotE

[@OGnoreservations]

Seriously awesome video

[@DrumApe]

Fantastic!

[@jjelefan]

Thank you for this lesson! :)

[@davidolson558]

How is open/close the same or different than push/pull technique?

[@GKMusic54]

It's all the same thing - open/close, push/pull, drop/squeeze, drop catch etc. Open/Close is the best name for it because an external observer can see the performers opening & closing of the hand. They can't feel the performer's pushing & pulling the stick.

[@davidolson558]

@@GKMusic54 thx for the cool explanation! I live in the Minneapolis area. Do you give Zoom or in person lessons? I've taken from Elliot Fine for over 10 years back in the 80s.

[@GKMusic54]

No in-person stuff right now, only zoom. Email me [e-mail] and we can set something up. Thanks!

[@franciscorivera6271]

excellent, love it!! thank you ! my best !!

[@GKMusic54]

Many thanks!!

[@JeffJeanJumeau]

hola muy buena esa técnica, pero tengo una pregunta, al involucrar las muñecas con los dedos perdemos velocidad?

[@mrnemo04]

Awesome, Thank You.

[@sticksbass]

i take it from what happened at the end there wont be future vids any time soon?

[@GKMusic54]

Open/close......stroke must finish in position of control.

[@LudwigSC93]

This man does more than anyone with 2 drums!

[@erikeepper]

The animation was obvioisly made by a drummer :) Very helpful video.

[@Volentry]

Insane hand technique... wow.

[@razla]

Excellent lesson, thanks very much

[@cutedrumer]

You play awesome!

[@mcinty12]

I want to get that fast so I can blow up too!!! Great lesson !