Stop Crossing Your Hands to Play Hihat.
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- čas přidán 25. 02. 2019
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This is an alternate way of playing the hihat that you may or may not have ever tried before. Some of you may even play this way already, or this could be a totally foreign concept. Today we’re talking about a method that keeps your hands from crossing, and we’ll discuss why it works so well. We’ll finish, though, by discussing an instance where you actually might want to cross your hands. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with your hihat playing, today’s lesson could very well solve the issue for you. Whether your hands are tangling up, sticks are clicking, or you’re just never comfortable when playing hihat patterns, this lesson is for you! As drummers we never want to skim over the topic of ergonomics and placement. Sometimes sliding your hihat a few inches can help a TON. So can adjusting your hands just a tad. This is interesting stuff, so let’s get going!
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i quite liked this technique of keeping right hand out of the way. I don't need to keep my high hat high and create tension on my right hand wrist. Nice thanks subscribing right way this channel.
What Stephan Clark meant to say..."stop playing how you want so i can gain more clout."
I tried accessing the link above and got a 404 error "Document not available."
Somewhere, Harry Miree just looked up from his kit and smiled.
But dude! What if I don't wanna cross my hands?
Ha ha! Exactly! I immediately thought about Harry's setup when he mentioned it. I kind of want to do the same thing.
@@JonathanDFielding As a left handed drummer, I am trying this approach and I like it. Basically because you can do more interesting stuff when it comes to fills AND you do not have to switch EVERYTHING over when sharing backline in a gig.
Dude
@@JonathanDFielding I started setting my kit up similar to his about a year ago and it is definitely the best decision I've ever made.
I just have my hi hats raised up higher. Problem solved
That could also work
@@AMusician11 Also feels a lot more comfortable imo
I usually keep my hats a solid 8 inches above my snare atleast
The separation is also good for recording, as you get less bleed from the hi hats into the snare mic.
I was going to comment asking about raising the hi hats. I'm not really a drummer, but my dad is and he's let me play his drums from time to time and I distinctly remember the hi hats being a good distance above the snare.
I still don’t know what engine that is that your neighbor randomly cranks midday.
Hey, what are you doing here? Don't you have videos to make? :D
I am left handed, and I play open handed with a standard set up. It has really improved my playing in the long run, and I'd recommend it to everyone.
Samen
Technically right handed but I play the same way as you and am perfectly comfortable doing so
I’m just beginning and trying to decide what’s best. I’m right handed and I think I like the open style on a standard set up.
@@itsjohnnymillion my only advice is to be careful how you play the hihat open-handed. If it's too high up, even if that's comfy for right handed, it can mess up your left wrist
same
I’ve learned to play from my dad who was lefty but played open hand on a right handed kit, so he taught me open hand even though I was right handed. This has actually made me a better drummer because both my hands are extremely skilled instead of having a “lame hand” that some drummers at my age still have (I’m still in high school)
30 plus years of touring and raising my hi hats has been very successful Keep rockin buddy great grooves!
My drum teacher showed me this technique when he saw I was getting frustrated when my sticks would click, and I'm loving it a lot more than crossing sticks. Thanks to this video I no longer have to explain to my band friends why I play like that, I'll just show them this video. Love your videos, always finding something interesting/useful.
OR, just learn to play open. Training your non dominant hand to keep timing and do more complicated timing will strengthen your drumming skills all around. My left hand is faster and more capable & agile now.
Weirdly enough, I use my left hand for writing, eating, tossing a baseball, but I have always played drums right handed. I don’t why I would do that, but for some reason it’s more comfortable, even though I’m a lefty.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s far more difficult but far more rewarding
@@justjimmy3154 I'm right handed and always played open😂
Ooooh Jonathan invites scrutiny of his channel in 3...2...;)
@@8020drummer , ha ha, go ahead. I've got a plane crash survival video that I filmed. You can join the millions who are self proclaimed 3rd party experts. Rip away, ;-)
Why do people have their hi-hats set so low?
I always set my hi-hat way higher than that - just about the same height as the ride and the small tom - and the problem has never arisen.
Back in the 80s I had everything way, way up, using two Yamaha extensions for the hi-hat and setting my crashes at head height. But those were the 80s and we were silly!
look at theyr snare? it"s lower than his bolls kek lol))
I have my hi hats low because it’s easier to play faster on one/two hands.
@@chasecoats2663 Of course, but we all set up our kits differently according to how we play. I must admit to being a bit of a neanderthal and I play a lot of half-time beats, smashing the shoulder of my stick into the edge of the hi-hat to get that crunching sound! I just bought a pair of Paiste Twenty Series Full Hi-Hats (Turkish B20 bronze, handmade in Switzerland) and a ride to match, but I will still stick them up in the air and knock seven bells out of them with 2Bs. Luckily, as well as sounding incredibly lush, they are also very heavy, so I'm sure they can take it!
I do like watching your videos though, and am always open to learning new things. Thanks and keep it up!!!
theres no right or wrong it depends where you are comfortable....
In my case, my hi-hat stand is broken so it's stick at the lowest level which happens to be like 2cm higher than the snare lmao + I prefer having things closer together anyways
Great video. I have been using this method for years along with crossed hands and playing open handed. This is especially useful when playing faster sixteenths on the hat with the right while making big accents with the left hand on the snare. Those of you who are closed minded might benefit from learning something new. It's just another tool for your toolbox. Newer drummers will benefit by breaking free of the old rut.
Moving them to the left has been amazing for me. So much more open space when playing.
All good ideas Stephen.
I always thought playing crossed over looked awkward and that has always made me glad to be a left handed drummer.
Ive seen lot of drummers playing with hands crossed..but they dont have any problems
That Harry Miree dude convinced me to play open-handed over a year ago, and it’s taken that long for me to just BEGIN to feel comfortable with it. But I plan to keep it, as long as I don’t dramatically plateau.
I’ve been doing something similar for the past year or so. I swapped my slave pedal with the hi hat pedal so I can get the hats more centered and I can keep my hands open to play quickly and effectively without crossing. Been loving the switch
Dude, I grew up playing like that bc I loved the independent hands.
Then, the remote/cable hats came out.....put them where your 1 tom sits. It Was incredible.
But bro your hit hat it’s mad low that why you hitting the stick lol
Yeah...he does really have it quite low. The technique he is talking about is pretty legit though, don't you think?
Dude I've been playing drums for 30 years and never thought of that I'm defiantly gonna try this out
Tons of amazing drummers cross their hands. No big deal
Most young drummers tend to forget to actually ‘push’ the hats and snare, and dig into the drums, and forget about the actual groove and feel.
most old people named David tend to think they know everything :)
Im a young drummer and i see exactly what u mean
@@RapidVidsProductions Learn from old farts like me, hahaha. I don't tend to know everything, far from it. But dig in to it, pushing, does not mean bashing. You'll learn eventually. God bless.
Love your videos I’ve been playing for 30 years and never had thought about this great tips keep up the good work.🤘🏼😎🤘🏼
This dude is a giraffe at drums tho
He's so freaking stiff ..jesus
Lefties where you at 🙋♂️
Simply remove the hi hat from your kit and this problem solves itself.
It worked for Keith Moon
Or if you’re like me and can’t afford a hi hat that solves the problem too!
just quit drumming and problem solved
Mapuan quitting will also save you a lot of money and make your neighbours, roommates, and family happier
@@koifish528 being killed by bees would be very cheap option too
As self-taught church drummer (drums was my 3rd instrument), it wasn’t till years later that I realized I was the weirdo by not crossing my hands. I have long enough legs that I slide the snare a hair closer, no problem. I’ve tried crossing and I just hit sticks together. You’re singing my song here!
I recently bought a TAMA MXA73 X-Hat clamp and I like it a lot. I hang it on my right crash stand - making sure that one of the legs is pointing in the same direction so it doesn't wobble - and it sits just between my ride and a low china. The great thing about this X-hat is that you can micro adjust the tension using a knurled knob at the bottom of the assembly and also adjust the tilt of the bottom cymbal and the direction it tilts as well - irrespective of where the arm is pointing. With a little experimentation, it is possible to get a perfect hi-hat sound and it frees up my left hand to really hammer the snare drum and play accents on my regular hi-hat too. I must say, as a PAISTE user, that I don't care that much for Sound Edge bottom hats. but they do work very well with an X-hat. One major thing I have discovered is that you don't need to be pedalling a hi-hat on every hit to get that slushy 'peasoup' sound from it. If you set an X-hat just right, it will do it for you. I have just found this out and it really is a bit like magic!
Seriously should consider learning to play open handed cause my left hand can't keep up with my right when i try to play fast quavers or semiquavers on the hi hats with my left. I'm sure a lot of other drummers have the same or similar issue, GET THAT LEFT HAND WORKING!!!
By the way, great lesson man! Found this pretty useful
If I had a drumkit around, I think I would gravitate toward open-handed drumming, since my natural instinct from piano is to let my left hand keep time, even though I'm not left-handed. Plus, visually, the hi-hat is on my left so it would just feel more natural to my senses.
I've played open handed my whole life. I'm a lefty, but still right footed. So I play open. In the 23 years i've played my biggest realization is understanding which hand is leading at any given moment during a fill. My left hand is more agile and quick over longer phrases, but my right hand is still stronger from playing the backbeat with more short explosive speed. Sometimes I lead fills on the right hand, sometimes it's the left hand. As long as I recognize where i'm at going into the fills I can get out to the 1 easily with straight sticking or diddle-diddle patterns. Open handed is where it's at though for cool hi-hat patterns. It also locks in the right side of your body as the "Backbeat side" Right foot, right hand, kick and snare. Leaving the left hand for the ride patterns and "sprinkles." Thanks Carter Beauford!
I am lefty and used to play crossed on a righty kit, was super goofy. Learned to play on a lefty kit and just played open handed. Huge improvement
Great tip, this method has worked great for me 👍🏼 I also raise the hi hat up to give my left hand more room to swing.
So Agree I have always played like " Right hand out of the way" this and I teach my fellow students ...Great Vid
+1 on bringing the hi hats up higher. I raised mine about 2" and fast shuffles became MUCH easier.
This idea seems like a solution to a problem that does not exist.
I've played traditional grip and matched grip for 52 years and never
had a interferance problem. Not once. Your bass drum sounds great.
Same here. 54 years. Although I have hit myself twice or thrice in those years. big deal.
@@markryan3751 I almost took an eye out when I first started play a very long time ago.. it hurt bad enough that I keep my head UP! :)
yes, openyoureyes, one must keep one's head out of the "line of fire"; Be attentive to what your hands are doing.
I think the problem exists, but it's a self-imposed problem. "I'm only going to put the hats in this exact spot, but my sticks bang together! What should I do?" If you refuse to move the hats, you have to move your hands. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff here.
Excuse me, I am a beginning drummer and this is exactly the issue i am facing. This video was very helpful. I am very much trying to find the natural position on the kit...
Glad I found this....I'm a beginner and I never cross my sticks, I thought I was an oddball or doing it wrong, only the right way to practice is the only way ya should practice.....
I really liked your tip.Thanks!
I've enjoyed reading everyone's comments here so far, because like I guessed...you all have so many different opinions on this! Just to answer a question that's popped up a bunch - "Stephen, why are your hats so low?" - I do that because of the angle I like to play the hats. I get the best sound when I make sure that the stick angle isn't too sharp. If I raise the hats higher, I have to raise my arm higher. If I did do that, I'd in turn need to raise the throne also to help out with that. Like I've said in videos before, ergonomics is a constantly evolving process, so I won't rule that out down the road. I'm always adjusting my setup, as I hope you are too! Take care, everyone.
Stephen, I do have a question for you actually. It appears to me that in these videos, relatively speaking, you don't hit the drums super hard. Would you agree with that, and if so, is there a reason for it? Do you hit harder on gigs, compared to when you record? Do you ever practice hitting hard specifically?
Speaking for myself, one day I noticed that I didn't hit very hard, and that if I tried, I couldn't do it. Since then, I've practiced that specifically, and I feel it's helped my playing overall, in addition to getting me closer to the sound I want. When I'm hitting harder, I find it necessary to raise the hats a bit above the snare, since I need to hit them at a more direct angle. I sometimes put my right hand at a more non-crossed angle like you do here, but it tends to be for beats where I'm playing lighter on the hats.
Thanks!
Good video dude. I've always noticed I feel more comfortable when my hands are spread out (playing the ride for example). Maybe a remote hi-hat would be nice.
Also your half time shuffle is so filthy it should be R-rated. Keep it up man!
Once I played in a band, and out drummer used two hi-hats, the second one in the vicinity of floor tom, he played it with his rights hand. But then, he was a black metal drummer and didn't use hihat pedal much.
Then put your seat up higher too. In my opinion (which doesn't matter) you are too low.
Youre overanalyzing every single part of your playing and calling it ergonomic improvement. Youre not a robot, and all stands are telescopic for a reason. Also keeping your back perfectly straight is not a prerequisite to drumming. All the greats lean in, out, and over. Open your set up man! Spread out!!
I've been playing this way for years when I'm playing right hand on the hats (although I generally play open handed). Definitely a better technique - thanks for trying to get it out there.
I use the same approach when I need to play heavy back beats. To me it feels comfortable. It also helps to move the HH more toward the front of the kit (away from the throne, but not to the left). This allows the hands to naturally become less crossed while also balancing the distance from the throne to both pedals, BD and HH.
Early hi-hat drummers would play with their right hand not only because it is their strong hand but also because the left hand was in traditional grip. And playing at that angle with traditional is not very convenient. I think every drummer who learns matched grip should consequently play the hi-hat open handed. No need to cross the hand.
I started with traditional in a marching band more than 30 years ago, and probably will not re-learn my technique after such a long time. But for beginners I advocate learning open handed matched grip. Some music schools here in Hamburg, Germany, already teach it like that. It took time until matched grip "won" over traditional for the drum set, and I think so will open handed over crossed on the hi-hat.
I have tried several times during my life but always feel wrong the way the left hand angle hit the hats. I give the posture of my back and hip the priority
Man, too many dislikes. Just watch Richard Spaven performing Law at Meinl.. He gets all the possible sounds from his low hihat placement, while able to have completely different dynamics with each hand. This video is solid advice.
Everyone has their own style and technique, and that's cool.
Thank you for the helpful tutorial
This was super helpful! Thanks
I recently got a remote hihat to put my hihat infront of the snare and a few toms to my left. I get the open handed benefits with no major change, it’s fantastic
You’ve got some great insights! I’m a middle of the road drummer, but I learned to play back in the 70s-80s as a teen. Who, Zep,, Yes, Rush, etc. I had a five piece set with two cymbals and high hat, so Rush was always a challenge.
I instinctively learned things that I didn’t realize were important. I didn’t gave a double kick pedal so I made sure that at least the rest of my playing was as accurate as possible. I learned to play my high hat pretty well, thanks to Neil Peart.
After 30 years of not playing, I bought a used set cheap, with a double pedal. I’ve been playing at a leisurely pace for a couple years, learning double bass.
You’re vid on using the big toes really makes a difference for me!
This video was useful and gratifying because I realized my high hat skills are pretty good.
At some point years ago, (probably from playing Rush) I made the adjustment to non cross handed playing.
It’s nice to know I actually learned some good lessons without knowing it at the time.
Thanks for the vids. I’ll keep watching!
Thanks for the suggestions, I do think the hihat has more swooshing and is less crisp off the far edge however. Maybe not noticeable in a mix but I certainly notice.
Great videos keep ‘em coming!
You're using the method I developed in 1980. Excellent! }:-)
Thank you, thank you thank you. You made me see the light! Makes perfect sense, and it works!
Valuable info here. Thanks!
Cool, I've been playing crossed and open all my drumming days. Good video. Love it. Dave
.
A really good solution for those who don’t want to reach would be to change where you cross over, it’s something any quad player is familiar with, you cross with either your fulcrums on top of eachother, or your wrists on top of eachother (or a variation such as right fulcrum over left wrist) which lets you play as high as you want and syncopated as you want without tangling
Great tips and advise as usual, will give it a try.
Been playing this way for years. Love it! You just move the hihat forward a bit.
Hi Stephen, I also play a "traditional setup" without crossing my hands. Many years ago I was frustrated with my hat placement for all the reasons you have mentioned, and having a chance to meet Dave Weckl very briefly at NAMM, I asked his advice. I was crushed when he very dismissively said "raise your hats", then moved on to the next person.
I had been watching the Weckl "back to basics" videos, and took to heart the section about how to place your kick drum. So I broke my kit down to a stool, kick drum, and hats, and decided to place them first. By having them both an equal distance away with a more natural spread between them, I found that my balance felt much better. Before, I had always had my left foot closer to me, which allowed me to not have my hands clash, but felt very unbalanced. With the new set up, when I replaced the snare and rack tom into the kit, I found that the hats were no longer next to the snare, they were further forward, and next to the rack tom. It is now more of a triangle, with the hats and tom next to each other, and the snare in the front. This allows me to play very easily without crossing my hands, and without having to lean forward to get around the left hand stick. It also meant that I didn't have to raise my hats, and could continue to play on the top, or the edge depending on the tune. It also opened up the snare drum, and avoids that problem of only having the bottom half, or third to play on. One adjustment was that now I tend to mic my snare from the left of the hat, rather than between the hat and tom, but that is a very minor change that audio techs don't seem to mind.
Thanks for the video. It is interesting to see someone else's take on a concept that I believe in.
My drum teacher showed me this trick when I was 14 and it changed my playing forever!
Thanks for all the tips this makes me a batter player this is my 2 week playing you help me a lot thanks 👍👍👍👍
I tried this when I was at Uni many years ago. I found it completely changed my snare sound and opened it up. I guess with my hands crossed I was choking up on the stick. I actually preferred the way it sounded and felt the old way so I stuck with it. So many drum techniques aim to remove obstacles and remove tension. I find a little tension and fight gives me something to lean on and helps my time playing and impact on the kit. Like playing into the bass drum head rather than releasing the beater after each stroke, for example.
im right handed on a right handed set up and one day independently i decided "well hey everyone crosses their arms but if i don't then i can just feel natural and be able to move around easier" so i kinda just started using my left hand instead, id say it took about a week of consistent practice to adjust to it but once you do then its fine, also you train your left arm and hand to be more like your right hand in other aspects of your life too so its basically a way to make yourself almost ambidextrous!
Just reconfigured my electronic practice kit to give this Ergo set up if yours a try and I got to say I like it. It's going to take a little getting used to like you said, finding that new Sweet Spot. However, it already feels better with less collisions. Much appreciated!
So, check this out.. if the hi hat stand & bass drum pedal were invented together, creating the elements for the first drum kit.. it would be different than what we see today. The hi hat stand would naturally go to the right hand side near the ride cymbal & played with your right foot. The bass drum would be to the left & played with your left foot. As Stephen said in the video .. all drummers were right handed due to marching formations, Drums on slings on your left side & it’s where traditional grip comes from.. for anyone reading this who doesn’t know. 👍🏼
Man this video helped alot .
Really helped man! Thank you!
I took the advice of Harry Miree and moved my hats to the right. Near where the second tom normally is. I use an electronic set so it was simple. It has dramatically improved my drumming. Yes I can play a normal set and have for 20 years but once I got past all of my conventional hang ups and caring what other people thought, I am having way more fun.
I am left handed and I play open handed. Always have. My dominant hand is my left so I lead with my left. I put my ride cymbal a little to the left of my hi hats. I roll left to right. Simon Phillips taught himself to play open handed, for me it came natural. The cross handed position is because the drummers of old, would play the traditional grip with their left hand, so they could stay under the right hand on their hi hats. Their big band, jazzy style of playing, did not require constant hits on the snare. Their style would use the ride a lot without snare beats, and hi hats grabbed by their left hand to mute them. Gene Krupa did that a lot. A more modern day drummer that did that was Buddy Rich. So the cross handed style of playing seemed to work better for right handed drummers using the traditional grip as opposed to the over handed grip. Todd Sucherman that plays for Styx, uses both the traditional and over handed grip, but primarily the under handed traditional grip. Since I play open handed and attack my snare with my right hand, I have no need for the traditional underhanded grip. Both of my grips are the overhanded grip. I never took lessons and I have been playing for over 50 years now. Had I took lessons, the teacher would most likely have attempted to get me to lead with my right hand and play the cross handed grip, which I would not have been able to do. That would have caused some conflict between me and the teacher. But luckily, I never took lessons and my parents never mentioned or thought to get lessons for me. I actually did just fine without them. There are more guys thes edyas playing open handed and leading with their left hand than used to be. Anyway, that's my take on it.
As an open handed/leftie drummer,
It's nice to see people try an approach similar to mine, maybe not the same. But it's cool to see people try new things and understand how I approach the drum kit instead of just getting weird looks.
-Ace
So you are left handed and play on a right hand set up?
Hans Grueber
Sorry for the late reply, but yeah, I play open handed on a right handed kit
I already have my HH's at that position, so I will try this, Thanks! I do love the K's 🥁🥁🥁🥁
Overcomplicating something that shouldn't be complicated. Different styles for different drummers. But if the hats are that low of course playing cross will be tough. But this guy is one of the few I've seen play open. Most drummers I've seen cross and have no issues.
Yesssss. That's the way I prefer to play after years of experimenting. Thanks
Very helpful bro, thanks!
Very nice I agree! What are you using here as your beater on the pedal??
This is exactly what I do. It is just more natural for me. Good video.
i'm lefty and play open handed on a right handed kit but i just forced myself to also learn to ride completely with my right so now i'm a hand switching beast
I discovered this playing position a few years ago, actually. I like to play lots of intricate hat/snare stuff, so that kinda just naturally came to me as playing started requiring it.
I simply move my right hand over my left wrist which allows a full wrist stroke with my left hand on the snare.. self-taught of course.. Good video as always but something is odd beginning at 7:30 referring to "Hands NOT crossed" (as does the writing at the top).. but the examples ARE crossed.. Is it just my feeble brain?
I was going to say the same thing about the left wrist. Crossing your hands even farther is another way to get your sticks out of each other's way.
Bill Bacon He’s saying “might be better to Not cross your hands” at 7:25. It appears to be an editing mistake for his title. Your feeble brain is working correctly.
@@cleopatrajones7096 You are very kind to reassure my mind lol.. I have that OCD thing to a fault sometimes but when I was working in data entry my bosses loved me.. Thanks Cleopatra (love your name)
I think perhaps he has a more specific definition of “hands crossed” in this video.
@@bacobill Thanks Bill! I used to have fairly severe OCD. I'm now realizing my previous comment makes no sense. Haha. He did say that quote but I think he meant "Might be better to cross your hands". Oh my feeble brain. It's all the artificial sweeteners.
You're a freaking genius, Stephen
Great tips , I learning drums and English at the same time . Greetings from Chile
...glad to know I'm not doing it "wrong" by not crossing the sticks. It only took one or two times whacking my knuckles crossing over for me to settle on the reach method
I'm all for playing however you are comfortable. Personally I have my snare and hi-hat higher and I usually play traditional grip. I don't have any problems, even when I switch to matched grip. I do also have a right side closed hi-hat, which gives me some options. I try grooves a few different ways and play whatever it most comfortable.
As a traditional grip, rudimental swing drummer, I've never had a cross-stick problem. My hi-hats are higher to allow full stick movement and, as one person noted, helps with my posture behind the drums. Good video just the same. It's something matched grip drummers need to address.
I am praying that I get good enough for these level of advice videos to matter to me...
This is a great video! It really helps me out as a beginner. I picked up a new Road Show 5 piece and having fun with no experience following these tips and considerations. Question...Playing and keeping time is progressing, but a solid paradiddle seems hopeless. Which should I focus on more? I guess I would probably be getting better sooner if I didn't cut practice to watch Danny Carey videos. Thanks
Hi Stephen, greatly appreciate your videos. What is your opinion of open hand hi-hat playing or ambidextrous hi-hat playing?? Where left keeps the time on the hi-hat and not the right hand. Your opinion?
All the people telling you to raise your hi hat seem to miss the fact that it's much harder to do top side detail work that way. I understand why you like it lower. I tried raising mine and didn't like it at all. I think I'd rather learn open. I also tried the way you showed in this video and found it to be awkward reaching my arm out further, and you have to be very precise with your stick position on the right hand because you can whack your thumb with your left.
I'm stunned you haven't got an injury in your right shoulder playing with your right hand brought up to the front like that man. Not dissing your way of playing, everyone plays comfortably like they want to play. I myself mix between open and crossed depending on the beat and my mood. And have my HH a bit higher to prevent the sticks toughing :)
This is interesting... I should try it
I actually switched from open to crossed and my playing improved lmao
Not a drummer, just got overly curious about drums and went down a weeks long rabbit hole. I'm left handed and thought I'd give the air drums a play to see what I _would_ do if I were a drummer, and it's so much easier for me to keep consistent time with my left hand. So, good to know I guess? That I'd want to play open handed if I ever did.
Yes indeed, I did it about 10 years ago, it's funny and confortable, Thank you, i like This video.
Great tip. Allows for so much more POWER!
I've never thought about this, but I've never felt it to be a problem
Just recently started getting more serious on my trap kit playing, but for years, I was playing African drums like Djembe and then mostly the dunun drums, ( once you go duns, you don't go back ) playing the bell as the timekeeper with my left hand.
And I started learning very intricate bell parts doing it, so now when I play trap drums, I have a tendency to use my left hand on a high hat and my right on the snare. Sure I do the crossover too at times, but I find it more natural to play the snare and the hi-hat straight on.
I've been playing since 1980 and I've never had an issue with cross-handed playing but I also play open-handed. There is no right or wrong way, it's just a matter of personal preference. There are quite a few professional drummers who play cross-handed. All it takes is practice, practice, practice.
When I’m playing solos or complex fills I tend to switch back and forth from left handed to right handed, just for visual reasons and it feels much smoother and cooler to play
I do this! Started about a year ago and found that it let me be a little more creative
I like my high hat up pretty high. You can get forte strokes with your left hand while crossed without raising your right hand
How would a centered double bass pedal change the ergonomics for you? Like offset eclipse, sonar giant beat center pedal or or a custom darwin?
I'm from New Mexico. Paul Deakin from The Mavericks taught me this!!
Very nice vid Steve. It just comes down to not only what one is comfortable with? But also how much discipline and rigorous cross training with the hats one can handle. I myself can play your usual garden variety pop/ rock stuff just as well as anyone. I've been a drummer for 30 years. But I also have many years of Death Metal and related post 1985 styles that I can play. And I incorporate using both the cross hands and a separate right side hat set. Point? Well, I think that learning the most challenging thing musically that one can using the crossing of the hands is a very good thing. In a way that, once applied with open handed technique? They can be utilized together in a very effective / powerful way that just does wonders for one's chops/ flexibility around the kit.