Open Handed Drumming - Cool Or Nah? 🤔 (What You Should Know)

[@GrassRoots-fp4ty]

I started playing open handed a few years ago. Once my brain figured out what I was trying to do it was great. And I think it just enhanced my playing overall. Kinda like reversing the drum kit, only helps to build chops.

[@ramonalfaro3252]

Been 23 of 25 years playing open-handed. I completely agree!

[@MarimboKing]

How long did you take to feel comfortable? I'm thinking about doing the same thing, I'm teaching my son, and he's a lefite, and I'm kinda envoius. I'm trying to get him to play every lesson both ways, though.

[@brandonboyce1661]

@@MarimboKing took me about a month to get comfortable but I practice about 4 hours a day regularly except on Saturday and Sunday so my hands can rest a bit. If that gives any reference, probably depends how much you practice. Also good to restrict yourself and set a boundary like “I’m not going to play anything other than open handed”. Your body will wanna be drumming and having fun like normal, but you won’t be able to, and I believe that makes the learning process go faster, because you just naturally compensate to get back into being musical as fast as possible.

[@4rmthamidwest]

I just started playing a couple weeks ago, and my teacher gave me bonus “homework” to practice on my set at home. I didn’t even realize I was playing open handed until I saw a couple videos where they were playing cross handed. Then I came across this video. Open handed seems so much more comfortable, and I’m glad I’m learning open handed right out the gate. Excited to see how I progress.

[@diqweezle9751]

I had a similar beginning experience as you, not realizing that I was playing in an alternative way by default. I'm riding with it, too. My left hand is accomplishing everything I'm asking of it on the hats, no problem, and my strong hand (my right) gets to slap freely around the kit. All the while, my posture is upright and stable with my shoulders comfortably sitting back and my hips at rest. I feel constricted when I cross, but I do find cross-handed to be more comfortable for certain rolls.

[@Coastfog]

If I would start playing from scratch again, I'd choose open handed. I've started practing open handed about a year ago and I could implement it pretty well in many ways. Lefty has to catch up a lot still, but I think every bit of progress makes me a better and more versatile drummer.

[@kentmoore8105]

Another tool in the tool box. I love it and have spent the past three years learning it, not to replace cross over but to enhance it. The single most difficult thing (for me) was to teach my right hand to be the follow/ghost hand when my left hand naturally did all that work.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Exactly - all those " i only play open handed now " guys - why limit yourself ? Why not do whatever works for the song ? ONLY playing open handed is just as limiting as ONLY cross handed.

[@paulbeltman8355]

Kent, that's exactly what I was surprised about too, that I couldn't play ghost notes/drags and stuff with my right hand! And indeed, enhance, not replace.

[@johngavin1448]

Ye man the ghosties on the right hand..... so tough. Timing feels soooooo natural open handed but lacking that left hand snare finesse. We will get there

[@panurge987]

I was self-taught as a kid, and at the time I didn't see the point of crossing my hands, so I just started learning drums "open-handed" from the start, with my ride on the left side, above my hi-hat. And now, I am trying to get better at playing the traditional way with my right hand playing the hi-hat - it's been tricky. One thing I've learned over the years is that when I play open-handed, my brain wants to lead with the left hand on fills, and it works great when I do a snare fill or play a fill up the toms from lowest to highest. But down the toms, I have trained my brain to flip the lead hand to my right.

[@malinwj1167]

Wished I'd done the same, as playing open handed seems more efficient. You gave yourself a smart advantage, when you started out

[@lindigj]

Yep, this was my situation as well, and I do the same thing in terms of flipping the lead hand. In time I have also learned other little tricks to cover any of the other minor inefficiencies of playing open handed, and the result is a very liberating and efficient way to play.

[@DeadAutumnHorrorStories]

I'm left handed and got tired of doing things that weren't made for me so rather than playing open-handed, I just decided to flip the whole kit, problem solved.

[@tommyromanowski]

Playing para diddles is a great way to switch hands easily!

[@Bearded_Mountain_Biker]

I started learning how to play drums late (when I turned 50). I spent so many years hand drumming (tapping my hands on the steering wheel etc.). I’m primarily a left-handed person, and when I set up my kit originally, I set it up right handed. I took some lessons and the instructor introduced me to open-handed drumming. I’ve not looked back since. It feels natural for me now. And one thing I think it’s helped me with is that I need to use my left hand on my high hat , then when I use the ride, I switch and my left is on the snare. it’s helping me build my skills using both hands and switching back and forth.

[@drumpoet3]

I love how you so clearly demonstrate exactly what you're talking about. Great job, Rob!

[@darbrolyat6391]

He is really is the best when it comes to articulating in a simple understanding way . Terrific drummer . I always feel encouraged by him

[@NikkiNexo777]

Mike Mangini inspired me to try open handed playing some 20 years ago. It took a while to train my brain, But I feel more creative on the kit. I ultimately Ended up adding a remote cable hat on my right side, Leaving the hats on the left side of coarse, as well as a x-hat which is permanently closed. Having 3 different sounding sets of hi-hats on the kit is a lot of fun.

[@timothystokes3134]

69 turning 70 .I started with the lockdown end of April two years ago. Playing open handed (E drums) because being left handed the kit wasn’t completely adjustable for that. I decided the benefit I‘d gain from promoting my right hand would, although sometimes tedious, pay off in the long run . I placed the Ride Cymbal slightly above the Hats (left side) to cope well, I start fills occasionally with the left hand as I can get back to the Hats or ride rhythmically in an easier fashion. Low and behold my right hand, although still 25% behind the quality of my left,has improved enormously, when I think back to the beginnings. The need to reverse stickings is clear but no big deal. Thanks for all your fantastic input. You are a constant source of inspiration and motivation, even though I realize to reach a level of proficiency I‘m asking a lot, but what the hell I‘m enjoying every minute of the journey.

[@LocaliLLocano]

Thanks for that knowledge I’m also a lefty who started at 39 in 2021. I know I need to train my right twice as hard to get to the way my left handles the snare.

[@richardholland7152]

I’m glad I’m not the only one! Lefty playing right hand ekit, BUT, I’ve been playing cross handed since I started, only about 6 months ago, but I’m going to switch to open now I’ve heard more people do it.

[@Ds_Drums]

I been playing for 45 years i left handed on right hand kit. I started open hand then after 5 years switched to crossover. Then after 7 or 8 years i saw Simon Phillips and got inspired to try open hand again. The result is since then i do both. I have a ride on each side of me on all my kits and use each ride for certain things. I play open and crossover on the hats usually just when i want but the different rides really work great. Usually i use a much more dry, dark ride on my left. I really expanded my possibilities and vocabulary.

[@houseal]

This approach has always intrigued me, and it's funny to see Rob apparently struggling with the same thing I do. Eyes closed, the giveaway at 7:08 is the snare ghost notes. Playing traditionally, they were in there. Open handed, nope. Over time that left hand on the snare just gets accustomed to laying them down without a thought, but swapping hands means you have to focus on putting them in there. It's awkward, at least for me.

[@jeffluker1895]

I'm so fortunate that when I began playing at 10 my drum teacher had me play open handed. Being a lefty but with a right dominate foot made everything flow so much better. Occasionally I'll set a ride up on my right just to keep my brain/body guessing and it's worked out really well.Great videos!

[@roonietunes7]

me, too (lefty/righty) (except i usually have a ride on the right, so a little ambidexterous) i was having some shoulder pain and back pain because the hi-hat always seems a bit oddly placed for me, so i switched to a lefty kit. there are some things that are easier, but my left foot just doesn't have the power and finesse of my right, and after 40 years, it's hard to get the hang of sticking 'backwards.' so i think i'm going to get a cable hat and go back to open-handed on a righty set.

[@CCMDrummer]

I am a right handed player who taught himself how to ride the HH with his left and I have been playing OH for over 25 years now and this was one of the best drumming decisions that I have made. I can do double ride combinations with my RC and HH at the same time, and I can do one handed fills with my right when holding down the groove with my left on the HH.

[@stationlightyears1532]

Yep, first few minutes definitely demonstrated that its's cool! I started using open-handed after seeing Simon Phillips demonstrate it. It can be a really liberating experience, frees up your playing in a new way and forces you to think differently about what you're doing. Fantastic vid as always, thanks!

[@lindigj]

I like how you explained this... I've been a righty open handed player since I began playing the drums and I always get questioned by other drummers if I'm left handed, and when they find out I'm not, they act like I'm crazy :). Like you said, I just enjoy how everything is open in the middle, and I have always felt comfortable playing the hi hat with my left hand 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@paulfruia]

I've been playing open handed for many years, but I'm a right-handed drummer. The main reason I started playing open handed is because I'm also a singer. I found that playing open handed allowed me to sit in a better position to keep my core straight up and down make my singing better and easier. However, after playing this way for several years, I actually set up my kit with floor toms and an additional ride cymbal on the left. This allows for some cool voicing options, kind of like you showed about 8:10.

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

That's pretty interesting, man 🤔

[@alanpollard1]

Shout from a fellow singing drummer!

[@Edwordless]

I started teaching all my students to play open handed about 15 years ago, mainly because of the left hand lag! I had bought a book called “The Weaker Side,” and also had broken my right elbow and had to relearn tunes for my band with left lead. I decided it made more sense to just start from the beginning with students so that their left hand was getting as much work as their right. Later if they want to cross over, that’s fine. It’s pretty awesome to see them at 8 or 9 fluidly moving from left lead to right, something that still isn’t totally second nature for me!

[@MarimboKing]

Teaching my leftie son to switch, and he's been pretty adept at both, but lately he's been lazy with his right hand, favouring hihats cause he's getting a thing for Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblesfield grooves

[@zeichner42]

Thank you for this excellent overview. You hit all of the most important points. If people are looking for examples of open-handed drumming, here are a few names of drummers who use (more-or-less) standard setups (e.g. they don't reverse the whole kit): Billy Cobham Paco Sery AJ Hall Dom Famularo Carter Beauford Simon Philips Claus Hessler Luke Holland Will Kennedy Roberto "Tito" Gevert Desi Jones Wes Starr Louis Cole Robert "Sput" Searight Mark Shulman John Blackwell Lenny White It took me a couple years to feel equally comfortable with either right- or left-hand ride. Developing the ability of the right hand to "dance" is no small part of that. For the majority of those years, I only played left-hand ride. Only after I had become completely comfortable with that, did I start alternating with right-hand ride again. The book that helped me the most (although it isn't specifically for open-handed drumming) is "Future Sounds," by David Garibaldi. Now, my biggest challenges are perfecting my right-hand cross stick & finding a cowbell placement that works for either hand.

[@christophersmay4508]

I am a left handed drummer that plays open handed on a right handed setup. The only issue I have is with my independence in that my main ride cymbal is over near my hats, between it and my high mounted tom. It works just fine. I am in awe of you as a righty trying to play open handed and completely switching it up. That's real skill, being able to do everything with both hands.

[@guyelmouchnino6531]

Same for me for several years. Sometimes i have problems to do certains fills because i'm leading with my left hand but i'm trying to solve this problem.

[@DeadAutumnHorrorStories]

Dude, I just flipped the kit. Ik it's gonna cause problems for me down the line, but I'm a hobbyist.

[@jamieanderson7757]

Thanks Rob. Would love more videos on open handed playing please - I'm quickly finding ghost notes on the snare drum much easier with more control over dynamics with my dominant right hand. Open handed really gives, as you say, a weird feeling of freedom.

[@stephenscicluna5216]

Great video Rob. I switched to playing open handed a couple of years ago. I had envisaged that my biggest challenge was going to be the hi-hat/ride playing with my left. To my surprise, the greatest challenge was gaining the subtlety on my right hand for ghost/grace notes. Thanks again for the video Rob!

[@geoffreydlang]

To pick up where Rob leaves off regarding shuffles - if you’re relatively comfortable playing the hand patterns for the ‘Purdie Shuffle’ with a RH lead (including the appropriate ghost notes in all the right places), try the same thing open-handed at a slow tempo. Between the ghost notes and the backbeats, your RH will be tasked with playing dynamic nuances that you’re likely not accustomed to playing. It’s deceptively challenging!

[@jamesmyersdrums]

Great video Rob, you explained it well! I'm a left handed drummer playing open handed on a right handed setup. As a kid, I just did what I felt comfortable with while sitting on someone else's right handed setup. I took lessons on a right handed setup. Back then I didn't know there was such a thing as a left handed setup (hi-hat on right, or left side double bass pedals, etc). I thought it also made it easier for the sound guys to setup the right handed drum setup when playing shows so I just rolled with it and adapted.

[@alanpollard1]

Great video, Rob! My primary drum teacher growing up, Joe Raynor (R.I.P.!), taught all his students to play trad grip on a right-handed setup. But, he would regularly encourage us to spend time on a lefty kit, just to help with independence. Also, he would occassionally surprise us with an unannounced, "lefty week," where he would setup the student kit left-handed, and we would all just have to struggle through whatever we were working on that way. After being a righty trad player for 50 years, I still hold the occasional, personal, "lefty week," in Joe's honor!

[@BabyThomas]

I started playing open handed ~10 years ago. The reason was my left "snare hand" was weak (and obstructed by the crossing) while my right "HH hand" was too strong. In result the grooves sounded wrong - loud hats, soft snare. Opening hands balanced the dynamics very nicely. But I quickly realized the benefits and decided this is MUCH better (dare to say proper) way of doing things. :) To this day I play 99% of the time open handed even when I can't properly execute whatever I'm trying to do. Lots of hours behind, much more hours ahead. ;)

[@chosen2begreat]

Can you play ghost notes with your right hand?

[@XeRo333]

When I got my first kit at 16 I naturally started playing both crossed and open handed playing. Found out a few of my favorite drummers play open handed. So, I paid more attention how they would play. Drummers like Ray Luzier, Ben Minal, & Neil Sanderson were the three I paid the most attention to and it's nice to see a full lesson on this channel on open handed playing.

[@commanderstraker6732]

American drummer Joe English who played with Paul McCartney and Wings in the mid 1970's was a left-handed drummer but played open handed on a right hand kit. His playing was phenomenal. Even Led Zeppelin's John Bonham was a fan of his playing

[@markielinhart]

As a lefty, open handed made my entry into this fantastic world of drumming just five moths ago possible. Now I’ve swapped my kit around - hihat right and bass drum left and its opened it all up even more. I’ve left the toms right cos clockwise works. Great lesson, thanks ✌🌻

[@dajones7574]

Rob Brown,I enjoy watching you play and teach, Thx for posting and sharing!

[@roelkuiper9919]

Definitely interested in seeing some good workouts to develop this ability. I’ve already gradually brought it in to my practice, only to strengthen the left hand more, to equalize the L vs R evenness. The perennially great Simon Phillips has mastered this technique, and he said it took him a while to get it down. You’ll notice his hihats are placed very low , almost near the level of his snare drum surface. Playing traditional R hand lead would be very awkward in that position. Great topic, Rob!

[@toddreiman1141]

I’m left handed but learned on a right handed kit. Also in marching band I learned right handed sticking. Been doing it that way for 30 plus years. I love 16ths etc between ride and hats. Developing your weak hand is a plus. Cheers.

[@paulrose343]

Same with me. I noticed early that playing syncopated and/or patterns with ghost notes on the snare came very comfortably as my lead band (left) had more independence automatically.

[@johncollins5552]

@@paulrose343 Me three, when you think logically a right handed player is actually playing the snare backbeat with their weakest ✋ And using the awkward arm crossing over, it's kind of all wrong for them! As a lefty playing a kit setup right handed the arm crossover is easier for me than them as I have my natural strong left hand on the snare backbeat.

[@t0urette]

Give sticks to any kid and they start to play open handed instantly. It’s just normal. My daughters music teacher forced her to play hands crossed. As a right handed open player I had to contact the teacher and explain what this thing really is. Weird that people are guided from start to cross their hands and lock half of the kit at the same time.

[@rubenkeller5543]

Lol sounds like you dont know why it makes sense to play Cross

[@bigwally8602]

Rob, I started learning the drums about 10 years ago. I’m left handed and I started playing a right hand kit in the standard cross stick way. After about eight years, I made it he switch to open handed on the right hand kit. So I sort of put the hard work in up front before making the change. The change wasn’t too difficult, though not a cake walk. It was worth it. The biggest decision was which hand to lead with since you capable of doing either. Thanks for the video. It was great.

[@Doug7900]

My 5 year old grandson got his 1st kid drum set yesterday… he is right handed and already playing match grip. Was blow away!

[@DuSoleil70]

Been playing for 35 years and recently set up my hats on the right side with a remote hat stand, mostly to get the hats further from the snare for recording purposes. I am surprised at how good it feels, except for the odd occasion when I instinctively reach to the left for the hats!

[@HankNinja]

Likewise! I also keep a traditional hat to the left which I can play with my heel while the ball of my foot is on the remote pedal. Having the hat next to the ride changed the game for me. Being able to heel toe to (e.g.) alternate or play both hats in unison is fun. I am just getting to the point where I can splash one and “chick” the other simultaneously.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

I have hats on both sides . I love how it feels playing the hats on the right. but I also love how it feels crossing over on the left.

[@NoNameForThisGuy]

That’s my new setup too, even went with the left handed double kick, but still leading with my right foot. I’ve never been more comfortable behind the kit

[@HankNinja]

@@NoNameForThisGuy me, too!

[@dcuss7294]

Being a multi-intrumentalist, I've always played traps cross arm . Then I started playing west African drums, keeping time with the kenkeni and bell on my left. Now I always play traps open handed. It just seems like a more natural and relaxed way to play

[@brunomaie]

Man you become a master of the art!!! Some serious master vocabulary on your chops!!!

[@beverleycetin2238]

Fabulous as always Rob!

[@greedfox7842]

I'm a lefty, I play open on a right handed kit. you have to move your hi-hat slightly farther away from you, and lower it to the height of the snare; but having your arms down and relaxed like that really saves a lot of energy when playing. I do have a lot of trouble playing "normal" groves sometimes, just because the original drummer was crosshanded and that forces certain movements I don't have to do to match them; so technically open is easier, but crosshanded has a stagger-step to it that is hard to copy without being crippled.

[@Themurphyshow7]

I'm left handed but play right handed setup,so I naturally like to go open hand about half the time I'm playing, like you reference in the video. Trying to do a pattern open handed and then trying it closed, and then reversing the exercise. Great video

[@l337drums9]

Part of my practice routine is to take any groove and go back and forth between cross and open every few bars trying to keep the groove and same dynamics.

[@l337drums9]

I commented before I watched and you covered all of this, I'll shut up now :)

[@jaakkot9661]

I've created a playlist of five songs where there is some sort of a 16th note hihat pattern and I've played them every day. It felt really awkward at first but quickly I was able to throw in different accents and starting to ghost with the right hand. Very soon I noticed a huge improvement in left hand control, and when leading with left hand it forced me to play different kinds of fills rhan usually, so it was really refreshing to me. I would definitely say that it is beneficial to mess around with open-handed playing, simple comping exercises will improve your left hand hugely and force you to approach things in a different way!

[@Tonceitoys]

This year was the first time I played drums at a friend's house without knowing anything about technique and such. As a lefty this open handed position was the first thing I did when playing his right handed kit without thinking much of it. My friend pointed that out when he saw I was only hitting the hi-hat with my left hand.

[@michaeleagle2]

I keep coming back to this video. You're right both hands have new duties to pick up. Toying with it since the summer. So Far my experience playing open on a right hand kit, as the left hand is getting stronger, the right's abilities advance comparatively. Where the left tucked under the right was hindered, the right has access to so much. The left's new roles, riding out, hat work coupled with it's originals snare etc adds to the creative freedom. All this is opening up a level of creative expression. Fresh ideas. Decided to really give it go for '23 Picked up Open handed playing Vol 1 and 2.. See what some structured lessons on the subject matter unlocks.. Starting from scratch and it's kind of a rush.

[@OliKember]

Totally agree on the ergonomics! I’m looking into a remote hi hat stand now, between Pearl and DW. As a metal drummer the crossover on the hats just doesn’t feel as powerful on the snare as when I’m on the crash. Looking forward to going open handed.

[@Simmion1984]

I played open for about 20 years. I had a hard time learning the "right way" early on and never went back to learn until about a year ago. I strictly played punk rock. So now its like a whole new world opened

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

I have an electronic set. I just mount the hats between the two rack toms and set the toms up lefty. I leave my feet like a righty. I then load up my right rack with my crash and ride. This way its almost like having a cymbal hand and a tom hand if you want and you still have the freddom to move around independently.

[@grim_goat_6666]

yes man robbie... dig your ways and how you explain so definitely looking forward to them exercises

[@michaelzimmer4853]

Great Video. Thank You so much , Rob. Greetings from Germany.

[@jeffscalise5927]

Yes! Very interested. I’d say I’m still trying to develop fundamentals. I can’t groove with left-handed fast 16s, have little to no moeller method, and can’t ghost with the right hand. I also find it awkward to lead left but then transition to a right-hand lead fill. Would also like your thoughts on ride cymbal placement - left or right side. Hopefully practice and commitment will fix some of these setbacks.

[@jeffscalise5927]

Also - thoughts on grip when playing hats left-handed. I lowered my hats as well.

[@Darrylizer1]

After playing for decades I just started playing open handed and it's like starting over. I really need to practice a lot more.

[@robert-zr6vo]

Rob I just wanted to say that I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and you are the best Groove drummer out there peace out

[@mcevets135]

When I started playing a year ago, I was inspired by watching Danny Carey. So I knew that not wanting to cross my hands and keeping time with my right hand was doable. And since I knew I was going to start on an edrum kit, that meant I could put my hat anywhere I wanted. Harry Miree has a great video about his open setup for an acoustic kit. And just recently I discovered Bill Bruford's setup is open handed too. Also, to my surprise, when I took some in house lessons and had to use their standard kit, crossing wasn't that hard to adapt to.

[@k-9iqdogtrainingandadulted511]

Great video. You should experiment with a remote hi hat near your floor tom. Far easier and many more options. I run two hats, traditional and remote. Pure heaven.

[@jasmorabb104]

I play open handed and when I try to do cross handed on the snare it throws my beat way off. For some reason my I can not play hitting the snare with my left hand. Open handed is hard to do a drum role. I've tried to figure that out to.

[@paavojumppanen914]

I don't play exclusively open handed but I do practice switching hands like you did with your example and started doings so to build my independence and for that it is great. once you get used to using your weaker hand in the same way it just opens up so many more possibilities so I'd recommend dabbling in it for that reason alone. you don't need to use it exclusively but if you can do it it means you have good independence which will help a lot in other areas.

[@elizabethboquet8145]

Love your videos! I’m an adult learner, a left-handed player, and I have a right shoulder injury, so playing open is the way to go for me. Would love to see more tips and exercises for playing open. Thank you!

[@Coastfog]

Shawn Crowder (cross) and Simon Phillips (OH) have great videos content about OH/lefty playing, you might wanna check them out, too.

[@Dyingsociety38]

When I started playing drums I deliberately played a right handed kit because I didnt want to be a hinderance and gigs. 23 years later and I still play that way and do play open hand a bit. Simon Phillips and John Blackwell are my open handed influences.

[@billbigler1366]

Rob another very nice video. Thanks. Like some of the other Commenters I started playing completely left handed as I write with my left hand but do a bunch of other stuff right handed. This was in 1968. But I shattered my left wrist playing flag football in 1969. Didn't play again until 2004. When I started again in 2004 I started completely right handed since most drum music is written for right handed playing. Now I play both ways. Have double pedals and hats also on the right side. I am saying all of this as the mental exercise of cascading between right and left handed drumming and going open on either side when I feel it really ups the creativity quotient. I say try the open handed thing as you can always go back to your dominant side.

[@thejacksaints]

I started learning drums last month and am learning open handed since I'm a lefty and have only used right handed setups. The only disadvantage I've found is following online drum lessons, since I have to visually or audibly reverse all the instructions. Great channel!

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

That was a really special performance in the beginning. Great job

[@caesarelias6797]

I'm a self taught left handed drummer playing on a right handed drum set. I never knew you could set it up left handed till years later when I saw a band, can't remember who it was, on Letterman. Blew my mind on what I saw. But it has its advantages. Makes playing songs like, Don't Stop Believin, so much easier. The disadvantage for me is that my left is the dominant hand. So when I play 16ths on the hi-hat, I have to scoot my right arm over so my left has room to hit the snare. I'm working on using my right during this pattern. This also becomes a problem when I play shows where a kit is provided since I also have my ride on my left. I use a rack on my kit. So I basically assemble my rack with my cymbals and slide the rack right onto the drums provided lol. On my own kit, I feel right at home. Plus it grabs people's attention when I play since it looks unusual to what people are used to.

[@drummermomcjs]

Definitely a Yeah!, That sounded so spicy and saucy, really interesting and creative grooving and fills. Most appealing indeed! This is great for me now as I am focusing on bringing my left hand up to the level and skill of the right hand through exercises that will straighten out the flaws and match the skill and motions of my right hand. This is a great video, and a wonderful challenge to step up to. I can see how it will help in what I am focusing on. And yes, exercises would be most appreciated! Love the videos Rob, look forward to more great content. :-)

[@ppernett1]

Rob, you are really truly one of the coolest dudes on the planet. I have learned so much from you. THANK YOU!

[@colmhain]

That is EXACTLY me, a lefty that played other people's kits before I got one of my own. Still play like that over 30 years later, but do some cross work. I do have issues with ghosting and sliding with my left hand.

[@NikkiNexo777]

You don't need to be behind the kit to train your brain to play open handed. You can just tap on your legs and the floor wherever you are. Basic grooves to start. I did this everyday for the longest time and it sped up my progress learning open handed playing.

[@-thebigclatter-50sjzrr86]

Thanks again..👏. Your playing always sounds really good..👌

[@colemartin9077]

Hey Rob. I've played open hand all my life. I'm left handed and play a right handed setup. I love it. I try and play crossed over and with in a bar I'm back to open hand lol. I'm ambidextrous i guess and many left handed people are. Cause we are forced to do right handed things sometimes. My only issue is left hand is weak even after 30 yrs of playing. More time in the wood shed I reckon. Love the videos man.

[@gsmith207]

Dude WTF! That was awesome! Can tell Opened or Closed your the man! I’m gonna hit the Beat lab and try it! So cool. Gonna get my BeatDown! Ow!

[@johnpaolonejr1299]

When I started taking lessons in 2001 my drum teacher trained us to play open handed. If you're playing time on something on the right side of the kit you use the right hand and if you're playing time on something on the left side of the kit you use your left hand. Rest in Peace Nick Moffo. "THE BEST TEACHER"

[@miguelmastelloto2213]

You da man Mr.Brown…I truly enjoy watching your videos and learn some much from it. 🇨🇦😎

[@WinstonBartholomewIII]

First time I ever sat down behind a drum set 30 years ago open hand just felt natural to me and I went from there. I was the oddball back then because the only three open-handed drummers I knew were Simon phillips, the drummer from Faith no More and the drummer from The arsenio Hall show I think his name was Anton fig. When I started I kept the ride on my hi-hat side but evolved into ambidextrous and now keep my ride on the traditional side and play with my right hand.

[@debralynnpaxton5238]

Excellent playing as Always, Rob !

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

Thanks Debra 👊🏾🙂

[@drumfanatik316]

I learned to play open handed a LONG time ago out of necessity. I wanted to play the song …And Justice for All by Metallica. That tom groove with the hi-hats going the whole time. I was young, no job, couldn’t afford another set of hats so I figured out how to play it open handed. To this day, even with a set of aux hats on my right, I still play that song open handed. Later on I added a lot more on the left side of my kit. Third floor tom, percussion, a 19” China, it really helps with learning not only how to play open handed, but independence as well and opens up your mind for so many ideas!!!

[@Mityob67]

Appreciate you brother. Good groovin as always.

[@jtdevrieze]

I'm a lefty and have only recently been trying out open handed playing in a serious way, would love a video with some open handed independence exercises or really any open handed exercises

[@philipdean3688]

For me I started cross handed on a lefty kit, then transitioned into open handed on a righty. At first I used double pedals and no Hi hat control. Let me tell you it sucked. I finally switched to righty open handed with righty feet so dominant foot (left) on hi hat and non dominant (right) in bass drum. Right foot still doesn’t have the strength my left did, but it is definitely worth doing. For me conquering the ride was the hardest thing in the switch because it’s switching my hands, the foot switch wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it’d be.

[@OllieSticksman]

I kind of accidentally drifted into an open handed only phase many years ago. Felt really comfortable but I got too comfy and then struggled like hell with crossovers. Nowadays I switch out all the time and it's way more free when I need to suddenly catch something I'm struggling with crossed or open mid-groove. One day there'll be barely anything to make me struggle 😂

[@daztastic147]

Definitely a good thing, the thing is there are two ways to look at it, I often considered having a second hi hat on my right (roughly between toms 2&3), which would enable OHP but still using the right hand, but if what we’re talking about is using the left hand on the hi-hat yes this is good in my opinion for gaining better coordination and speed in the left hand. Some songs require you to play open handed so that’s always an interesting one, I’m planning to try a cover of ‘Don’t stop believing’ by Boston. This is a good example

[@vashkarvashkar4051]

Great lesson!

[@tubular167]

Started playing kit five years ago.i am right handed but naturally played opened handed.did not even know at the time..it was a "thing"..it just felt right...i have never understand why crossing hands was used by drummers.....if you give a pair of sticks to a child...they will naturally play open handed..seems logical..why do lots of drum teachers teach this crossing hands way?...also you will have a stronger snare hit using your right hand if you are right handed player and can switch between leading with both hands..great video as usual Rob 💯

[@t3hgir]

my goal: get open handed grooves (especially 16th note hihat) feeling and sounding the same as right hand lead. I can chop around and play some cool stuff open but it's on the simple pocket stuff, getting that light touch on the hihat while rimshotting the snare and also being able to ghost note/accent at will. It's like I made it past the coordination block but now I have a dynamic block. It's kind of amazing though how easy it is to come up with interesting patterns and fills when you start thinking "open."

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

It's tricky. Takes a ton of hours and repetitive movements to get all that stuff happening for sure

[@catfishmudflap]

I am glad I learned about this.

[@bear-headstudios1212]

Beat down brown at it again, awesome job

[@walterlucas39]

Please do a video on this. I will definitely work on it. Please!

[@philkibler4319]

I have played open handed(with ride cymbal on my left also) exclusively my whole 43 years of playing, I learned that way for vocal purposes, as I do a lot of vocal work, it opens up more space so my stick doesn't hit my Mic while playing, I get weird looks sometimes, but, it's always worked for me.

[@jamieanderson7757]

Haha - the people giving weird looks are the weird ones ! I had to put up with a dick brain bandleader who would get angry and nasty because she didn't like the LOOK of me playing a pair of hats on my right!

[@jimbarcelona1078]

Tried it very tough especially old dogs like me and traditional player as well. But I try it a few more times. Simon Phillips had a video on open hand playing course he said he was 17 when he started doing it.

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

That's a cool video

[@owenmark702]

I always played open handed. I’m right handed but dyslexic so it was kind of an adaptation. I now shuffle with the sticks crossed to get more articulate ghost notes.

[@skirwan78]

hey Rob, can you do a bit on centered Hi-hats like Bachman or Danny Carey has set up - using a remote HH cable and placing the HH right in the the middle above the snare - or maybe experimenting with all the places you can place a remote HH on a kit?

[@marttihill8943]

I have MS and it mostly affects my right hand/arm. Playing open handed has really increased my ability to play faster tempos without getting fatigued as fast (I've also added a Ride cymbal and floor tom on my left side for added variety/creativity/ergonomics).

[@victorwhite7200]

I like it! Please do more vids on this topic.

[@mikeshomegardening8150]

I'm right handed. When I first started playing I unknowingly set up my kit leftly but felt comfortable with it honestly. Played that cross handed with no real issues. Later I was "corrected" so I switched my kit to a righty set up, and now I play open handed. Working on cross handed playing but its taking a while to get there so I just keep defaulting to open handed. Because of this, I find myself placing my rides on the hi hat side. Looks weird but I make it work.

[@charlesmarion2032]

One my favorites

[@drumbyte]

The backbeat will always suffer until you clock enough hours like Simon Phillips. Bill Bruford puts his hats in the center of his kit. I like to put fixed hats in the center. I think the ultimate setup would be 3 sets of hats. 1 on the left, a remote on the right, and a fixed set of 10" hats in the middle.

[@HorologicRannygazoo]

Depends on what I'm playing. If I'm grooving to the Yellowjackets, I usually find it easier to play Will Kennedy's patterns like Will does -- open-handed (I said easier, not easy) When I'm playing Simon Phillips' open handed Toto grooves, I usually find cross-handed is much easier for me., because he keeps it so close to Porcaro's style. And when I'm driving, since I have to use the left foot to air drum bass, I usually play open finger on the steering wheel. In any case, I agree that it's a great skill to add to the toolbox.

[@rooroo140]

Agree on your driving comment, top of console is a great snare sound. I do some of my best licks that way -esp when alone ;)

[@aaronfrank9649]

Nice playing!

[@tmaddrummer]

When I saw the title of this lesson, I knew that finally, this would be thoroughly explained..... Who is that kid with the whiskers? Thanks and Blessings!

[@minimus8320]

What were you playing along to for the opening track? Amazing playing!

[@UndercoverNormie]

Some of us don't get a choice! For me, I'm just wired that way. I golf and swing right handed but I bowl and throw left-handed, write left-handed. On drums, a traditional lefty setup doesn't jive with me and despite being left-footed, on drums, right is more natural for me. Open-handed drumming was what always felt best for someone with scrambled brains like me! My biggest issue is ride placement.

[@KkRech]

More on this topic plz!

[@badhabits25]

I'm left handed, that's how I started to play drums years ago. My band teacher insisted I play right handed. To this day i don't feel like I've been able to develop my right hand to equal my left. And I do feel it has hurt my drumming

[@Mudge07]

Pros: a route to greater independence and flexibility, cons: new muscle memory to learn and, old to un-learn. Generally, it’s not a necessity, unless you have gear overload as explained by Simon P, however it does provide a stimulating challenge which many might actually enjoy. I first actively applied the technique to play Muse’s “Hysteria”; where you play both ride and hi-hat and have to stick open-handed. Nice work RB.

[@vaughanxaviermusic]

I don't think you need to try to delete your old right handed playing habits when moving to open handed. It's just more options, and you can play both..