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Why/how did you start playing open-handed and what did you practice? |
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I am predominantly right-handed although I do a few things lefty, including throwing a frisbee and bouncing a basketball. I started out playing the drums the conventional way with the right hand on the hi-hat and the left hand on the snare. I switched to playing open-handed around 1991. For me it began when I was experimenting with patterns which involved moving my left hand around the toms while keeping time on the hi-hat. My left hand kept getting caught up under my right so I switched over just to challenge myself to learn the coordination of these particular patterns. After learning the patterns I thought about it a bit and then I decided to try and make the switch completely. Of course it was difficult at first and initially I only played lefty in my personal practice but still played right-handed for band practice and gigs. It's hard to say how long it took to completely switch over. Little by little, I just learned as I played. Another thing I need to mention is that when I was growing up Simon Phillips was a huge influence on me. His approach and musical ideas gave me inspiration to forge ahead. There are several other popular drummers that play open-handed, including Mike Bordin (Faith No More/Ozzy) and Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band).
I don't know about any specific exercises or patterns to practice but these are the types of patterns that I was working on once I could hold down basic time.
When I say ‘basic time’ I'm talking about playing eighth notes on the hi-hat (1&2&3&4&) with the left hand while playing 2 and 4 on the snare drum. Adding the bass drum is the next step. You can start by just playing 1 and 3 and then gradually improvise bd rhythms while keeping the hands steady. To check your groove, go back and forth between open-handed and the conventional playing and listen to yourself. Try to make your open-handed playing sound as smooth as your playing with your hands crossed-over.
Anyway, after I learned how to play the hi-hat eighth note pattern and make it groove I began to play a sixteenth note paradiddle between my right foot and right hand. This might be too advanced for some of you but it's a pattern that once you learn it, you can play it for days.
After you learn this pattern, continue to play the snare drum and hi-hat together on the 2 and 4 but instead of hitting the snare drum on the "1e" and "3e", move those right hand strokes to a tom. Also move the "2&","2a", and the "4&", "4a" to the toms. This is the pattern that I am referencing in my DVD "Performance & Technique" when I say, "my left hand kept getting caught under my right when playing conventional".
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