Open-handed playing

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The term " open-handed playing " describes a certain playing technique on the drums .

definition

In "open-handed playing", the hands are not "crossed" on the drums; the drummer rather takes an “open” position. For a right-handed and right-footed drummer, this means that the hihat , which is by default on the left side of the set, is played with the left hand, while the snare drum, which is usually placed in the center of the drum kit, is played with the right hand. Usually the left hihat is positioned much lower than when playing with crossed hands. The so-called " Matched Grip " is used as a stick position .

advantages

"Open-handed playing" has a number of advantages over playing with crossed hands:

  • The player gains more freedom of movement while playing hihat and snare at the same time.
  • The posture when playing the drum set is more beneficial and ergonomic from a medical point of view.
  • The open position gives the drummer more options when it comes to choosing a sound.

background

The first description of this playing technique comes from a publication by Jim Chapin in 1948 with the title "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer Vol. I - Coordinated Independence as applied to Jazz and Bebop". In the preface to his book, Chapin describes the conceptual advantages and the naturalness of this "open" position. The historical background is also related to the development of modern drums themselves. Especially in the first half of the 20th century, the components of the drum kit and their construction were in constant change. The hihat was particularly affected, the development of which has gone through many stages from the so-called “low boy” to the “sock cymbal” to the form that is common today. Up until the 1940s, with the hands crossed, it was still quite common to play with the left hand over the right (and not underneath, as is common today) with the “Traditional Grip”. Only gradually did the crossed playing position with the right hand over the left hand prevail and was retained even after the increased occurrence of the "matched grip" (i.e. the same position of the sticks in the right and left hand). In general, the subject is also characterized by the drummer's individual handling of his “handedness” or “footing”, the musical requirements and the great flexibility in setting up the drum set.

Well-known representatives

At the beginning of the 1970s, Billy Cobham was considered the most prominent representative of "open-handed playing". His artistic work as a drummer with John McLaughlin 's Mahavishnu Orchestra set new standards in the field of jazz-rock. Cobham describes himself as a two-handed player who can best meet the instrumental and musical requirements of the drums with his "open" position. Lenny White is also an open-handed player from the very beginning. He became known, among other things, for his work with Chick Corea 's Return to Forever. Unlike Cobham, however, White is left-handed. The German drummer Claus Hessler and the American Dom Famularo published a textbook on this subject for the first time in 2009. Other well-known representatives are u. a .:

Effects on the structure

In general, it can be observed that the structure of "open-handed" drummers shows certain symmetrical properties and often reflects stronger individual characteristics of the player. So it is e.g. For example, it is not uncommon for hi-hats and ride cymbals to be on both sides of the drum kit, for additional (smaller) snares to be integrated and for an otherwise stronger "right-leaning" structure to be noticeable less often. This inevitably results in more individual tonal and musical characteristics of the drummers who move in this way.

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