Open Handed Drumming - Drum Lesson with Chris Langan

"Open" up so many drumming possibilities! In this lesson, we will discuss how to play open handed.
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[@CCMDrummer]

As an open handed player myself, I think your video is spot on.

[@marcelodt]

Very cool. I had to switch to this style due to the reduced space requirement for my kit. I'm relearning to play.

[@pjdahmen]

Awesome tutorial

[@rockshowacustika]

I do not have the microphones at the drum set but i can show you how it can be done. Your explanation is so cleaver.

[@djplays9147]

Excellent lesson mate! I found this very helpful and considerate to people like me who drum in this style. Many thanks.🥁

[@groovewithpassiondrumlesso2348]

Great lesson Chris! I have two students who play open handed. I’ve shared this video with their parents. BTW I really like the cool fills you played. Gives this old Drum Teacher some new ideas... Thanks for sharing your talent!

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

awww man thanks so much! That really means a lot! I think being able to incorporate the left hand on the hats and play a backbeat with the right is such a great asset to have!

[@groovewithpassiondrumlesso2348]

You’re welcome man. BTW I’ve learned to play Don’t Stop Believing open handed. I have a student who plays cross handed who has learned the song really well. Definitely takes some practice. I’m sure you know that guys like Dom Famularo and Simon Phillips play I believe exclusively open handed. It definitely has some advantages. I have a student who is seven that from his first lesson with me two years ago has played open handed. I’ve told him that I’m a little jealous since he can do something that I struggle with. Definitely great to experiment with cross and open handed to open more more options on the kit.

[@stuartwilliams2445]

Chris. I'm a lefty but right footed. I've only been playing a year, full left hand set up, crossed hands over on the right side of kit, left foot on kick. I'm not even fully left handed as I do a lot of things with my right. My natural instinct, I believe, is to play right handed kit open handed (for me left hand hihat & right hand snare, right foot on the kick). I know your video is not really for lefties, mainly to help right handers develop, but I've been trying to find 'open handed' posts and yours has really brought home that I should play right set up. Not sure my drum teacher believes my weird 'wiring'. Anyway, thanks from the UK.

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Stuart Williams Hey Stuart! Thanks for the kind words brother! Glad I have helped in some sort of way. Just wait and see a few years from now when you have it fully developed! You’ll be doing things the “ordinary” drummer can’t do! Then you’ll be saying who’s weird now! Haha. That’s great man! I say explore playing in as many ways possible. You’ll be able to sit down at anybody’s kit and make magic happen! I look forward to hearing your progress! Please keep in touch!!!

[@stuartwilliams2445]

Cheers Chris - I'll sure give it a go! All the best mate.

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Stuart Williams Same to you brother!

[@scotthamilton7161]

This was great. I wasn't sure how to start. Now I will just go back thru my Rothman's Basic Drumming Patterns and re-learn them open-handed. Thank you so much. This made it much more approachable. Like any new technique I've learned to just accept the awkward feeling at the beginning and know that muscle memory over time will make it feel more natural. I'll just have to be patient and enjoy the ride.

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

I'm so glad this was able to help you! Thanks for the kind words! Enjoy!

[@pat7989]

Yea I'm a lefty, and I want to play like phil rudd but I dont want to cross so I angle like he does, but sticks not crossing. I think what's cool is I should be able to play open handed in the middle and to the left. The only thing is I do better I think probably with one crash to the left and hi hat also. I have 9 cymbals on a 5 piece set, so I might have to overload to the left side

[@pat7989]

Crash and hi hat to the right actually

[@bubinga_basher]

Due to neurological issues, i have to switch to open handed, after decades of "normal" playing. I've wanted to try open handed since hearing the DMB. The hardest pt has been open, and closing the hats. Anyway, i love playing, and won't quit w/out a fight. Thanks for posting this lesson btw, that 10 Inch tom sounds killer!

[@SteveSmith-ze8fl]

Very cool

[@rbelmedia6940]

lol -up to 7:50 i was going like - yeay, duh, i got this. I bought a kit in corona times and therefore i am now 2 years in. I can only play open handed, tried the other way. it is exactly as you said. You buy the kit and set it up as the book says, but i end up playing like it is not supposed to because this is how my mind functions. I need to master this ride thing. it's the difference between holding a tune and touching the stars.

[@warrentab]

Great video, Chris! Your instructions are very easy to follow. Since I am now playing on electronic drums, are there instructions specific to these?

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

warrentab if you set your e-kit up the same way you would set up an acoustic kit, then you are good to go!!! Thanks for the the comment!

[@colebaylom]

Thanks fir the nice tips 🤘🤘

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Any time! Glad this helped!

[@jamesphillips7211]

Thanks so much Chris. I too have shared this with a student who wants to learn open handed and I have a question.... If you want to play a straight 16th note, 1 bar fill, single stroke fill round the kit (4 on each tom....you know the one. ;)), presuming you would actually lead that with your right hand (due to the hands not getting in each others way); What do you do to come back to the hats? The hand you finish with on the floor tom is a left so unless you want to hit a crash before continuing on with your left the only thing I can think of is that you hit the first note with a right hand before switching? Any help on this would be great as I am looking like a bit of an idiot in his lessons atm. Lol

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Hey, thanks for the question! Yes if you crashed with your right hand at the end of the fill, you could comfortably come back to the groove without any interruption. The other thing you could do is use the first half of a paradiddle for the last four strokes of the fill. RLRR. Paradiddles are great because once you are comfortable with them, you can use them to bail you out of any situations you're in where you need to get back to a certain hand. Let me know if this helps!

[@jamesphillips7211]

@@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan Thanks so much for that Chhris. I can't believe I didn't think of the parradiddle option. I will give that a try. :)

[@tonyhades90]

Man same thing happened to me I seat on a drum kit and first thing I did was lead with my left I can’t do crossed I get so confused I got it so far till you added the ride which I have on my left but I’m going to change it to my right after watching this video I really need to do some exercises,do you have any to build techniques and control?

[@maximusheronimus23980]

Hi Chris, just searched open hand drumming, i'm about to start drumming, and looking at a lot of lessons, ( kinda airdrumming) and open hand feels a lot more groove

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

If it feels more natural than go for it! I offer skype lessons if you'd like to sign up! I can teach you right over the internet. shoot me an email and we can chat! [e-mail]

[@maximusheronimus23980]

@@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan Hi Chris, when doing a 4/4 beat, i can do also ghost notes better, and be creative.... Also what kind of drumset would you reccommend? Roland Td-1 DMK? i'm kinda on a tight budget

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Maximus Heronimus I’m not a huge fan of electronic drum kits. Is it because you are trying to keep the noise down? In that case if you’re gonna go electronic, try to get a kit with all mesh drum heads. Roland is great but very expensive. There’s a company named Alesis that makes decent electronic kits with all mesh heads at a much more affordable price

[@visheshl]

I am an open handed drummer and I need drum lessons...can you please of offer these lessons ?

[@visheshl]

Can you offer open handed drum lessons ?

[@stevenwilson9865]

Most right hand drummers, play the "Disco" beat lefty. And, don't even realize that.. Ambidextrous drummers are amazing...

[@Kardewski]

If your left hand is the stronger one, and that's why you choose to play this way, your ride cymbal would be placed near the highhat!

[@udanell]

NICE, that´s why i always teach how to use the left hand staying with the hit hat and the snare drum groove to leave right hand to do whatever you can imagine, also percussive rythms with right hand while left is doing the rest of the groove. If you are interested to see some examples i can start doing some videos for you. Greetings to you and all your followers, very nice video and the sound of your drum set is awesome.

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Hey thanks so much! This video is actually quite old! You should hear and see the kit now! Check out one of my recent videos or head to my instagram page. instagram.com/chris_langan_drummer

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

And yes I would love to see some videos!

[@rockshowacustika]

Behind the Beat with Chris Langan trying to play with your left hand hi hat and snare, with your right hand do another rythm, you will only miss the hi hat at the same time with the snare drum. It's just awesome

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

JL Udanell ahhh I know what you mean! I do that sometimes!!

[@rockshowacustika]

I will record some things today for you, it will be a pleasure to share with you this diffrent open handed style, it is not only open handed it is a really independence way to do different rythms. For example, play africa song from toto

[@ruairilogan153]

Cool!

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Glad you dig it! Every Wednesday I’ll be posting a new one. Also, make sure to check out my Drum Fill Friday’s!

[@ruairilogan153]

Behind the Beat with Chris Langan I will man, keep up the great work!

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Ruairi Logan will do my man!

[@rydergrimes6696]

I am learning because Simon made me do it

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

That's a good enough reason! Haha. I like switching between both!

[@brentfontenot1754]

Yeah Simon got me too!

[@tkelly830]

🤘

[@BehindtheBeatwithChrisLangan]

Hey! Haven't seen you in a few days! Lol. Glad to see you're back! Glad you dug the lesson!