Drum Tech. - Pt 5 - Open/Close (Push Pull) Tips

[@DaveFromVh1]

Those “V” tips were JUST the cue I needed for my left hand… a week later I’m hitting 200bpm with ease! I owe you some money for sure😂thank you!!

[@EddyBombay]

4:34 this is exactly the mistake I've been making for two years and you're the only person I've seen point it out. This video has helped so much! Thank you.

[@darnell828]

I watched the video and missed this important detail. I saw your comment and went back and checked it. YES! Thank You.

[@edubatera72]

Me too...years ago...

[@scottvelardo700]

It’s not necessarily a mistake. It’s just quieter. It’s a good idea to be able to do it both ways. To develop volume, you do need the high rebound, as Mr Knudtson says, and his coordination of wrist and fingers with the stick’s own bounce is a perfect example. To play softly, the lower “drop/catch” is the same feel but low.

[@michaelgaines2069]

Man, Dr. G thank you for your expert well produced instructional videos. As a drummer I have performed with many top acts in the 70's. In 1969, I suffered a gun shot wound in my left forearm while serving in the Viet Nam conflict. All was ok until about 2000 when I started losing control of my stick in my left hand. Especially when using the conventional grip. Focusing only on match grip, after about seven years of very little control progress, I am experiencing greater control. I just found your videos about a week now. But man are they HELPFUL. The Relaxation, sliding the stick into that groove and placing the butt of the stick just above the hinge of the wrist are all Super Helpful. I was born to play drums so I have always had a solid Love and Appreciation for them and everyone who puts in the work of Allowing Themselves to Speak Through Their Musical Instruments. Thanks.

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you Michael, you are welcome! Hey, I checked your channel out and saw the Dyke & The Blazers playlist! In the late 70's I worked with Eric Gravatt (Weather Report, McCoy Tyner) in a rock band. He played congas, I played drums. (He's as good on congas as he is on the kit!) Every once in a while when we would talk, he would mention Dyke & the Blazers. It was impossible to find their records in Minneapolis back then. I am going to check out your playlist! Be glad to do a ZOOM with you sometime if you have any questions about anything. You can email me at [e-mail]. All the Best! .

[@gravityblast3475]

Amazing attention to detail...I've never seen anyone break down mechanics this way.

[@swangonzalez4797]

Been checking out all the vids on the open close/push pull technique and this one just nails it . Big V and little V. 4 inches off the pad. This is the best breakdown of this technique Ive come across. Been having problems until I saw this. I was doing the compressed version he demonstrated. It felt wrong, awkwardly stiff and slow. I haven't found anyone who explained this technique in such detail like Gordy. I think I have the basics of the movements down now. Thanks! Amazing teacher. Scary player.

[@juice8769]

Amazing break down of the technique! Clear, concise, all the mechanics explained and demonstrated. Your channel is a goldmine. Chapeau!

[@danielmadariagavaldes893]

I never thought that I was going to pass over finger technique , and when I saw push pull technique few years ago I couldn’t understand it and gave up thinking that would be impossible for me, then I found your fantastic videos and I was able to understand the mechanics , and after a month of practice I’ve been developing lot of control , speed and being able apply it in all kind of grooves , fills and rudiments. I’m truly grateful

[@GKMusic54]

You are welcome! Glad they were helpful! I also do lessons if needed. You can email me if interested - [e-mail]. Thanks

[@webstercat]

Great teaching. Technique is essentially learning how to make your hands stick bouncing machines. When you get those machines working for you playing effortless.

[@andrewcutter1785]

Thank you so much for your great tuition! I’ve just cracked 60 and on my first basic drum kit, so any help is very much appreciated. Big V little V - love it. Legend.

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you Andrew!

[@jpboucharddrums]

This is exactly what I needed. You're a great teacher. Thank you so much!

[@ZeusbelikeYARRR]

A true Master and Educator of his craft. Thank you Gordy

[@Ranger1216]

You have taught this method throughout the world and drummers from all countries have learned it for their betterment. Thanks

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you Vincent!

[@rm2406]

This channel is pure gold

[@DYNABIKE1]

You are such a Technical Professor for drumming - - It's THE BEST !!!!!! Thanks for all the Help.

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

You're a great teacher. Thank you for making this video.

[@rmmccarthy1240]

Very nice wrist articulation. Thanks for a great lesson.

[@rickb1408]

I regret that adequate words fail me. Pity I can't give you a million likes for how awesome and the great extent and detail you go to for anyone and no one in your videos. You are a great man! Many, many thanks!

[@scottvelardo700]

The big Vee. (Tap) The little vee. (Tap) The big Vee. (Tap) The little Vee. (Tap) I could listen to him repeat that for hours. Excellent lesson. Being so clear with the height of the drum and the position of the forearms is SO important and so often not talked about! I’m constantly trying to get students to set up the drum higher because they are taught at school to put it lower, and they get used to the lazy position of lower hands. And then they wonder why they can’t play.

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you!

[@muraskin]

Hello Gordy! Thank you very much for such useful and great video. I have been practizing a lot and now, with your precious advices I can play 16th notes easier and more relaxed. However there is still space for improvement. I'll keep learning from your tutorial videos. Greetings from Munich, Germany. Raul, 10 years old.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Raul, glad to be of help!

[@Coastfog]

Always coming back for this. What a wonderful technique.

[@pjcoop]

Best explanation I've seen of this. Very helpful. Thanks.

[@RythmOse]

Thanks a lot for those incredibles teaching videos. Understand the drums by a deep comprehension of our magnificent body machinery is the way i like :-)

[@shemapicture2058]

This is awesome. The best teacher. Thanks

[@Kipp_it_100]

And subscribed! Excellent video. Never would of thought to physically isolate the wrist by placing the forearm on a surface. Just like preacher curls!

[@ricochetts]

If i became a good drummer this because of Mr. Knudtson. I have learnt the core of drumming by you. Thank you very very very much.

[@mattryan6886]

These videos have been fantastic teaching tool.After months I’m finally getting functional at doing this technique. Starting to build speed and control. I’ve recommended this to my other drummer friends so they too can have this in there bag of tricks

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Matt! You should check out my Open/Close books too at GK-Music.com. They have some additional info not in the videos. Between the books and the videos you will get the most complete picture of this technique. Glad you like this stuff!

[@mattryan6886]

Gordy Knudtson I will most definitely look those up. This technique has been so useful for using with my ride and hihat, I’m able to play so relaxed now and for longer with more power

[@adnanrawashdeh3965]

Oneof the best tutorials ever

[@Jesseondrumsmusic]

You my friend are an excellent teacher. "The big V" is what I was missing😂

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks, glad to be of help!

[@NeddyRich]

Gordy - excellent technique and training. This will help me learn this rather quickly.

[@skywarrior3508]

The best Teacher.

[@coffeejolts]

Your explanation of freestroke mechanics is excellent. Thank you for posting this!

[@freecitizen2760]

I taught (languages and music) for 40 years. You are a great teacher! Subscribed!

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you Winston!

[@mellindrums]

the big V *clap* the little V *clap* the big V *clap* the little V *clap* 😂

[@christianwagenseil9621]

you can turn that into a hip hop song

[@OrGeNBLaCK13]

😂😂😂😂

[@RobGaruccio]

Remember to use about 3" with two little balls

[@KIRI4DOTS]

kzbin.infoUgkxgAUngKJToHx6YhmoHYc0sn7M7Or494yi

[@greghanberry6985]

Lmao...I stopped at 3:46 to write this exact comment and yours was the first one I read. Great tutorial! The little vee...uh The big vee...yeah

[@socialistmaybe]

Thank you a lot for your video lessons!!! It helps me so much to understand hand technique more. U do so great job!!!

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you!

[@Flatnoy69]

You are the Mr. Rogers of drums. That is a major complement in my books. I really looked up to Rogers. Thanks for the great tips and making this technique understandable.

[@FoolTheViking]

I was gonna say the Bob Ross if drums! Same thing. Respect

[@elehnez5732]

Best lesson since years. I found my second stroke not coming up just like you said. Therefore my wrist might feel a little stiff after a while. I guess it comes from playing in a loud hardrock band, while I always tryin to play into the drum and miss the upper motion from the wrist.

[@kongoff]

Excellent breakdown of key points of this technique. Thanks alot!

[@horvathbence4582]

Amazing teacher, very informative and educative video.

[@dancu9271]

A lot of thanks for making and sharing your video!!

[@deborahcox1773]

I really like your videos, I finally got my drum throne setup.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks!

[@patbrady2095]

Fantastic tips .I would have 20 lessons with him .

[@JC-xx5dm]

Speechless. Great teaching aids and explanations

[@Laudaweb63]

You are a genius ... Many greetings from Italy.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Carlo!

[@AlexeyLebedev-v8h]

Wow... There a tonn vids about this technic, but ur explanation is just so easy to get and it's worked so well for me. Thanks a lot) especially for a wooden balls trick)) I'll try make same one by myself, looks easy)

[@WambBoon]

Phenonmental sir, that could not be explained any simpler. 🙏

[@dwayneaguiar1148]

Good Helpful video your never to good to learn more.🥁😎🥁

[@andreasstochholm5688]

Wow 4:55 was exactly What i was looking for ... thank you

[@bacobill]

Me too.. so helpful thank you Gordy

[@fisicoamador1383]

Gordy is the best teacher every in KZbin!!!!

[@johnflock7233]

Saw the Jones Beach show. It was a great thrill to see you play in person. You were great!!! As was the whole show. You need to teach Framtons drummer the open-close. He was working too hard.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks John, I appreciate it!

[@702ringo1]

Great video!!! Very helpful-thank you 🙏🥁👍

[@BrammudaDepeSekali]

very awesome lesson ! i wish i know your lesson years ago..

[@MrLioncash]

Jojo Mayer talks about exactly this technique, being seated and snare drum position are just as important as good technique. The correct height saves you energy, time and pain.

[@scpk2246]

Any video demonstrating how fast can you go with this technique? -also applying this on a kit

[@GKMusic54]

Yes, this playlist at my KZbin channel - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3jSgYiHebV_gdU

[@scpk2246]

@@GKMusic54 WOW! that's impressive! left and right combination is so hard to execute! kudos bro!

[@motivationnation6969]

Very thorough. Nice job. Giovanni, instructor Long Island Drum Center ( trained by Dom Famularo)

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you very much!

[@NeddyRich]

Such a very helpful lesson - greatly appreciated!

[@stefanoresca5878]

I love you'd drumming on the go jazz all stars

[@webstercat]

Big V and little v ! Realizing these two positions may be a reason I've not mastered this technique. I think I was missing this! Thanks Much!

[@GKMusic54]

You are welcome!

[@ronnolting1431]

Awesome technique

[@robryf9325]

I guess this would be another technique to add to your arsenal i.e. matched grip, traditional grip, etc. but it doesn’t work for me in my normal grip because I tend to hold the sticks toward the balance point this only works if you grip the sticks at the very end. Otherwise the back of stick hits the wrist, stopping the movement.

[@JesusLordOfLords455]

Thanks this tutorial is brilliant, nice work

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks Lloyd!

[@LaurentOliveri]

incredibely usefull, thank you very very much.

[@pokerface1967]

thank you so much for your time this was great

[@j.p.lindsay6768]

Mr. Knudtson, FANTASTIC series on the O/C technique! Very enlightening, thank you! Could you post the brand of your thick, octagonal practice pad and where one might buy it? Thank you again, you're a great teacher and player! :)

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks J.P.! Unfortunately that thick octagonal pad was is no longer available. It was a custom model made for me by Real Feel before the company was sold many years ago. Now I use Prologix and Innovative Percussion pads.

[@nelsonlourenco3781]

Finally, someone explains this how it should

[@freethinker7115]

Waoh great video !! Thank you just what I was looking for .. Best video so far

[@alessiogennaro8153]

Gorgeous!!

[@scottporter4871]

Great video, very informative. I can't help but lift my hand above my wrist on both strokes 😐

[@wizard-bb4mp]

THIS IS A REAL MASTER....HAILS FROM COLOMBIA...GREAT MASTER...THANKS

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you!

[@anthemgunaether2914]

Fantastic video !

[@Nassoud60]

Amazing work thank you 🙏

[@christophmeirich5928]

Thx so much!!! Very helpfull !! Greetings from germany Christoph!!!!👍👍👍👍👍

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you!

[@wjb111]

New subscriber. Thank you Gordy!!

[@petermoore604]

This is a really good break down of the technique Gordy. great vid.

[@ralfoster5753]

Top Explanation and good Bridge😊 👍👍👍

[@leandroeyou]

Perfect lesson. 🙏🫡

[@zebrunoeisenberg8465]

Man I can't thank you enough for your "small v big V" explanation!! I'm spending years trying to figure out a good upstroke that flows right with down stroke so I can do it with less glitch. Seems like I tried everything in the map and finally Big V is my up stroke divine answer (at least it feels like it for the current moment}. I owe you a Big One!!! All the Best to you and your family!

[@GKMusic54]

Thank you very much!

[@蘇柏叡-i7z]

Thanks Gordy Knudtson Sir

[@GKMusic54]

You are welcome!

[@bryansmith4856]

Very cool video, thank you sir.

[@GKMusic54]

You are very welcome

[@rudy73000]

Such precision omg..

[@thebentleycobb.music2240]

Great, but what’s the height of your throne in relations ship to your pedals keeping heel up?

[@MartinDee2000]

"Master Sticks" by Unigrip? Am I spelling that right? (maybe a used pair will come up on eBay)

[@Karch.Dah-Veed]

What's the best routine to train and develop the OC technique?

[@pcmmarssa376]

Hi, Mr. Knudtson. First at all my congratulation for easy, clear instructions open /close Drum technique. i would like to know where can buy the little sticks that call MASTER STICKS? ???

[@GKMusic54]

Hi Paulo, Unfortunately I believe the company that makes them went out of business many years ago.

[@aungyelin959]

Hi gordy plz do some blast beat technique

[@norwaydude6]

This can be used for blastbeats, pratice single stroke rolls using this technique. Watch Wanja Nechtan Gröger's video called "strange blast beat technique explained", he goes very much into detail on how to apply this technique to blastbeats.

[@etilcareh]

Just perfect.

[@reinmacalino2465]

damn that attachment is real help, where can i get that one.

[@GKMusic54]

I don't know. The company that made them went out of business 10+ years ago.

[@Carriesaglock]

I never understood the point of the push/pull technique. You can do singles just as fast with your fingers (flying fingers technique)

[@JB-pg6ju]

Sir u r a freakin genius

[@WEENIEHUTTBOSS]

ah so that v tip is what im missing. thank you

[@billwolf8036]

Wow - at 4:41 I see exactly where I mess up. I can come up to level but can't get the wrist bending up to feel natural at the end. It's kind of strange as it's feels like the wrist momentum is opposite of what it feels like when I use moeller.

[@GKMusic54]

Yes, it is different but necessary in order to get the the wrist hinge to understand how to move in concert with the fulcrum. Check out Part Three of this same Fundamentals series for more info on this.

[@tendingtropic7778]

great video, even after al these years! question : what is the optimal angle in your elbow for this technique? 90 degrees? in other words, if i want to use the open/close technique for fast hihat rythms, how high should my hihat be

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks! 90 degrees, or slightly more, for playing on the drum is great, doesn't have to be on the hat. Riding on the top of the hat play with the tip is easier than trying to ride on the edge with the shoulder of stick. For me, the tip on top of hat is never seems to be loud enough. I use Moeller for fast 16ths on the edge of the hat. I do like using O/C on the ride cymbal. You have to experiment to see what works best for you and the musical situation.

[@keitasuzuki7808]

This is really helpful Thank you🙏

[@ernessst91]

Sir!!! Thank you!!!! 🤜🏾🤛🏾

[@conisilou]

Dear Mr Knudtson. Please be so kind and clarify to me a few simple questions in regards to Open/Close. 1) Do you use the index finger as well on fast speeds when open/close technique is applied? 2) When you do a drum fill on the toms/floor tom , a loud and fast one, are you applying Open/close or close handed technique? 3) My middle and ring finger tend to let go when when applying the technique . Are you always controlling the stick with the fingertips or do the stick slides in your first knuckles? Awaiting your reply Thank you sir Knudtson.

[@GKMusic54]

Hi Constantinos, 1) Yes you can use the index finger at fast speed. 2) O/C technique is for low volume, loud requires closed hands. 3) It's imperative that the first joint and pad of your middle finger remain in contact with the stick. If the stick is sliding in, you probably aren't holding the stick quite right. Check out Part Two of my Fundamentals videos, somewhere in the middle look for "American grip tips" where I put a stick on top of the other stick to make the middle and ring finger do the work. I think this might help.

[@conisilou]

Thank you Sir Knudtson and God bless you....

[@ddarkodev2923]

Amazing 👏

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks

[@ricochetts]

Just Perfectness from a great teacher.

[@TheBudgiedrummer]

It's clear how the technique would work with the right hand in a groove but do the left hand mechanics have to be modified if not mirroring the right as it does in rolls?

[@GKMusic54]

Depends on what you are playing - drum set or snare drum? Mirroring is great if just playing the snare drum, both hands serving the same function. If playing a loud arena drum set groove, different hands are doing different functions, so they probably will be a bit different. For more o/c snare drum apps check out my "Morphing Doubles" videos on this channel or at my website GK-Music.com.

[@TheBudgiedrummer]

I was thinking more for a drum set application. In a 4/4 groove the 8th notes on the hat work well with open close, as they are in quick succession, but there is a natural gap between beats 2 and 4 on the snare. Do you play those as more of a snap/catch, if you get my meaning?

[@GKMusic54]

TheBudgiedrummer No, I view the back beat as a single stroke, unless I'm playing a shuffle, shuffling with both hands.

[@TheBudgiedrummer]

Ok. Many thanks for taking the time to answer.

[@MrOcevigo]

I love the tutorials. I’d give thousand likes, the only problem I have is when I am in the open position and i want to execute finger strokes before closing, I see that my thumb turns upwards aligning with the stick. Yours doesn’t move at all. I’ve been more than 10h trying to do it and my finger control sucks

[@aidanschram9652]

I cant seem to get the upstroke or close part right. My stick always ends up flat and my wrist not bending up. Still cant comprehend how its possible to bend your wrist upwards while striking the drum

[@michaelmarotta5947]

Hi Gordy. I like your videos;your a great teacher. I have a question, do you have your own way of teaching traditional grip? Would love to have a lesson on that topic.

[@GKMusic54]

Thanks, Michael. I don't really teach traditional grip because I don't use it myself. I had a wrist injury many years ago which made me a matched grip player.