Open-handed drumming

Open-handed drumming refers to a method of playing a drum kit.

Method

The method involves not crossing the hands when playing the hi-hat (or ride-cymbal) and snare drum simultaneously as opposed to the more traditional way of playing drums which features crossed hands as the basic playing position.[1] Absolute beginners often choose this open-handed way of playing as their first and natural attempt to drumming.

A number of drummers experiment and are comfortable with open-handed drumming but do not always play in that configuration, such as Dennis Chambers, Sean Reinert, Thomas Lang and Marco Minnemann. Steve Smith and Deen Castronovo have used the open hand technique for the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'".

Cymbals

Many drummers that use this style position their "ride" cymbal above their hi-hat for a quicker transition to both, known as "left-handed ride".

Generally drummers playing "left-handed ride" lead with their left hand throughout; basically playing left-handed on a right-handed kit. While true "open-handed" players lead with either hand leaving the ride cymbal on the right of the kit. The other way around (playing right-handed on a left-handed kit) being very uncommon. Although some drummers use two rides and/or hats one on each side of their kit.

Sticking

Open-handed players normally use french grip rather than american "traditional grip" (generally used in marching and jazz) or "german grip" mainly used in rock, funk and pop. Notable exceptions being Mike Bordin in the videoclip for the song Evidence (by Faith No More), Matt Chamberlain in the videoclip for the song What I Am (by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) and Virgil Donati utilising traditional grip. Lenny White, as a left handed drummer, also used to play open handed with traditional grip, playing on a right handed kit.

Beginnings and development

Open handed playing was first conceived as idea with Jim Chapin's book Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, and Gary Chester's book The New Breed which emphasize coordinated independence, leading with both hands and legs.

The first drummers who started open-handed playing are musicians like Billy Cobham, Lenny White, and Dennis Wilson, who started this way of playing in the 1960s and early 1970s either out of instinct (such as Wilson, who was naturally left-handed and therefore felt more comfortable leading with that hand), or out of experimentation, finding the advantage of not having to cross one's hands over in complex fills or playing the hi-hats in the traditional manner. Many proponents of the technique have also noted that the lack of a "roof" of another arm crossing over allows for the full range of the snare playing arm's stroke to be available, meaning that loud rimshots are more easily played. Others have pointed out the added conservation of energy attained by not having to fully raise and cross one's lead hand when playing, for instance, between the hi-hats and ride in faster passages. As a result, many drummers in more extreme genres have adopted this technique. Another advantage is a player's access to the floor tom while playing the hi-hats, a feat infamously difficult to pull off in the traditional technique without access to an auxiliary floor tom.

In 2008 and 2011 Dom Famularo and Claus Hessler wrote Open Handed Playing vol.1 and 2, which are lessons focused entirely on open-handed playing.[2]

Heavy metal music

Open-handed playing is more common in the metal genre then other contemporary music as it is easier to hit the snaredrum hard at (very) hi-tempo with the dominating hand. Plus the other arm is not in the way, with the hi-hat mounted low. Punk drummers often set their hi-hat very high, from the snare, for the same reason (though obviously maintaining crosstick position). Another reason being the use of two bass drums and/or four or more rack toms in which case a stock hi-hat gets to be (uncomfortably) far away from the snaredrum otherwise.

Open-handed drummers

First proponents

Second era drummers

Modern open handed drummers
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References
  1. "Matts Drum Lessons | Open Handed Drumming | Matts Drum Lessons". 2011-04-14. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  2. Dom Famularo Books on Open handed playing
  3. "Maceo Parker - Shake everything you've got". YouTube. 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  4. "Dorje | Aeromancy | Drum Playthrough". YouTube. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  5. "Overtime (Live Band sesh) - KNOWER". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
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