Open Handed Drumming - Best Hi-Hat Technique?

[@leeyoungblood2314]

I personally like playing open hand, it simply allows me to have full access to everything else with the right hand. It makes perfect sense to not have to work around yourself.

[@RhythmNotes]

For sure.

[@ryanffielder]

Great Video! I started playing drums open handed as it felt most natural but fell into a habit of leading all fills with left hand which is not great when sitting behind a right handed kit. I have now re learned to play fills starting with right hand for better ergonomics

[@RhythmNotes]

That reminds of Ringo Starr. He led his fills often with his left hand.

[@alatterdaysaintonfire5643]

I received my first set at the age of 46, and I play for relaxation and fun. 2 weeks after I got my set I was complimented by a couple of people I did not know. That felt good. Now while played with the traditional cross hand I never felt free enough. I started 2 weeks ago playing open handed and I enjoy that style much better. It fits, I am left footed dominant, and right-handed dominant. I also throw a frisbee a much better left-handed so I feel like my rhythm and my technique fits much better with the open handed style I'm glad I discovered it.

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m curious … what side do you place your hi-hat?

[@alatterdaysaintonfire5643]

@@RhythmNotes left side

[@RabidHobbit]

I started naturally playing open-handed from the beginning (I still consider myself a beginner). My biggest challenge is hi-hat note speed/control with my left hand. I have trouble getting enough rebound from the hi-hat to play without tensing. I have yet to develop a good hi-hat stroke with my left hand. I am thinking I should put some of your practice sets into effect and see if I can improve. Thanks for the vid.

[@RhythmNotes]

You're welcome! ... another thing that helps a lot that I didn't get into for this video is playing through stick control. It's a book that is well balanced in terms right and left hand combinations. I still play through that book once a year slowly to focus on even strokes in both left and right hands. It trains the brain to not favor one hand over the other. But it's always a struggle for many of us. I also play through Master Studies which is by Joe Morello, a student of George Lawrence Stone (author of Stick Control). Perhaps you know all of this already. But if you don't, it's worth looking into for developing balanced hands.

[@pearlmmx7]

They always talk about the dominant hand but being a drummer you also need your feet. For example, I"m left handed but right footed. I started playing on a rigth handed drum (open handed) for several years but a drum teacher advised me to turn the drum left-handed to be able to do better drumfills (cuz we lefties always start fills with the left). After several years of playing on a left-handed drum set, the left foot on the bass drum remained the weak link. That is why I have now placed a remote hi-hat right in front of me and I operate it with my weak left foot. In this way my dominant foot on the right can operate the bass drum which feels much more natural. I still doubt whether I should not cross my hands by using a remote hi-hat (place right but operate left foot) and a double bass drum pedal (place bass drum left but operate right). But maybe this is getting too complicated ... The point is, too little account is taken into the dominant foot. And with today's possibilities (remote hi-hat / double bass drum pedal ...) I think a drum kit should always be placed taking into account both the dominant hand and the dominant foot. Unless putting the hi-hat right in front of you (like Danny Carey from Tool in Pneuma) becomes the new evolution in drumming! To think about! Greetings Andy

[@RhythmNotes]

You make a really good point, Andy.

[@pjdahmen]

Awesome tutorial

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you liked it

[@Dadedrums]

I wish I could play open handed, despite of the visuals, it let you play different ofchestrations. I will definitely get into practicing!

[@RhythmNotes]

Right on!

[@ARDrummer]

Great upload! I'm left handed but play a right hand setup...so open hand playing is pretty easy for me to switch to when I want to :)

[@RhythmNotes]

Do you have a reason for not playing a left handed setup? ... curious.

[@ARDrummer]

@@RhythmNotes Well, the first time I played a drum kit was in pep band and of course it was setup as a standard right-handed kit. So, I just learned that way and when I eventually bought my own drums, I never set them up the opposite way. I do notice that sometimes I end my fills with my left hand, lol. Other than that, it has worked out pretty good for me.

[@RhythmNotes]

It makes sense. Most of us begin playing on someone else’s kit or at least trying it out with a conventional setup. ... ending with your left ... it reminds of how Ringo would often lead gills with his left.

[@briangray4640]

Great info. It's hard to see your bass drum in the overhead view because it's so dark in that area. Have you considered illuminating that area? Maybe add a small LED light somewhere in that area.

[@RhythmNotes]

That’s a good idea. I’ll try to fix that issue.

[@kennybarnes2375]

A lot of problems that comes with left, or open-handed playing is that the weaker hand(left) does not have wrist strength. It's very difficult to play hi hat strokes, or anything for that matter, without wrist strength. That's where your stability is. Practice a lot of wrist strokes, preferably slow.

[@RhythmNotes]

Right on, Kenny! Excellent advice.

[@maxthecat1235]

i am beginner drummer and this looks like the most natural way for me to learn. I kept clicking the drums sticks when i began so I and stopped learning. Should i learn this style for first time drummer and practice with a traditional drum book instruction book with this style Thanks

[@RhythmNotes]

I highly recommend it. The best approach is to be able to do both but if I could go back to the beginning I would play open style. ... the most important thing is to develop your stroke techniques properly. Check out this playlist if you haven’t already kzbin.info/aero/PLfaZqBOzNnodeejdwYVIVjuTDfM_rX9d9

[@brianmcdermott2596]

So of your open hand how do you play ride? Cross to ride or move ride over the hats?

[@RhythmNotes]

Playing the ride with your right hand on the right side leaves your hands I crossed. If you play the ride with your left hand, place it on the left over the hats to remain open handed. I’m currently setting up hats and rides on both sides to practice staying open.