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Rob Hirons – Open Handed Playing
March 25th, 2010 
admin Have you grown frustrated with trying to learn from books, software,
or cheap introductory videos with little useful content?
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Nice groove dude! Very fine exhibit of excellent open hand drumming, great job!
I’m currently doing that, it’s a bitch though:P
I guess that these “sticking patterns” is more what I meant, I don’t copy fills straight off. I sure hope that I’ll be able play this way instinctively. That would make great independence around the kit, and is what I intended to do from when I started playing open handed.
I don’t have any fills that I really learn so to speak. All fills are improvised although everyone obviously has sticking patterns that they get used to. I haven’t actually adapted any sticking patterns in fills so that they work starting on the left hand during rythms played with left hand HH – I just play my fills as I would have done if I was playing HH with the right hand. However, I definately suggest inversing all sticking patterns and exercises for improvement purposes.
I’ve been playing for three and a half years (very actively.)
Now after have seen this Metzger-dude play, I was so overwhelmed I just had to try open-handed playing too. It’s a bitch.
Great to see that you seem to have gotten a grip of it though. Nice playing. Have you learned your old fills so that you’re able to play them starting out with your left hand as well?
I’ve been playing for around 25 years now and I switched around two years ago. Just keep at it. My right hand is also still better than the left and maybe it always will be. However, the left is really beginning to work great and continuing in the same manner can only do good.
How long did you play conventional right-handed before you switched?
I’m two years into the switch, and my right hand is still way more fluid. I could play trad-grip on the right hand first go. That darn right hand has it so easy!! ;-P
I’m working on getting that easy fluid feel you have. My goal is to play Godwacker open-handed.
not only does open handed improve your left hand for right handed players, even if you can blast beat with two hands, open handed style really helps in showmanship as well. since showmanship requires you to have high arm movements, so if you cross your hands on the highhat, your left hand cant move high enuff for that of an effect
I would say on the right as when you’re just playing one bass drum. however if you want to strengthen the left foot, try to practise all exercises using the left lead as well. I heard that Gregg Bisonnette plays double bass 16th note rolls leading from the left foot because he’s used to playing the hi hat with the left on the quarter note pulse… So I guess it’s personal.
lol i tryied doing open hand now i cant stop its soo much better
oh! you should have started playing open handed in a right-handed kit…
Which foot should a right-open-handed player use while leading double bass stuff?
to you, Just take some metal clippers and cut to the flange and make it 2 inches for a 10 inch 2.5 for a 12 inch, 5 for a 18 inch and for 20 or 22 inch 5.5 to 7 inch long cut, If you play anything unrythmical and without mussic its gunna sound like shit,, but i put a normall hanchi and wuhan (same thing) besides my cut ones,, much better with the cuts, it sounds like a drilled a-zildjian.
how ?. i have 1 , its shit
That’s a good thing
i am left play righty but ill go try open handed
………..
interesting how you have your rack tos low to high instead of high to low
i kinda like the china,,, but if you cut a wuhan or han-chi it sounds just as good,,, thats why i get them people say theyre cheap but theyre meant to be screwed with ,,,, and you can play by ear,,, but if i put music infront of you that read this but you never played could you without even secondly reading?
i love your playing man. This sounds crisp, enjoyable, and damn-near professional. I’m wondering though, if you switch to close-handed, do you raise your hi-hat and move it towards your snare, or leave it the way it is?
i don’t think i can go back to cross. i don’t know why, im just so used to open handed
I’ve always drummed open handed and I am and always will be right handed.
I’ve been playing cross all my life, but I recently started picking up OH, mostly just to give myself some freedom with what I can do. I would suggest (for natural cross players) leaving your drums set up for cross but play the hats with the left. One thing though, I can’t figure out why some people set their toms like that (T,t,F). Could you explain?
too right, as it says in the description u can move your hand around the kit while keeping a beat on the hi-hat, when i 1st started playing open handed from cross handed, i found it really hard lol, but now, about 2-3 years on its like ive played open handed all my life lol!
Cheers! I did take lessons yes, and still do! It sounds like what you’re doing is just great. Try to exercise the weaker hand as much as possible.
The snare is a Gretsch with a free floating system.
GREAT JOB!! I LOVE YOUR DRUMMING. Im 26 and i used to play when i was younger but now i have my own house im getting back into the grove!! i play the same way as you as far as open handed!! Did you take lessons? and me being left handed playing open handed what do you recommend I could do to improve my skills? I was thinking about getting the rock drumming system. but thats all right handed “crossing” ? by the way what kind of snare is that? THANKS again for your help and ROCK ON!!!!
Aie aie aie