hats at the same height of the snare on open playing?

[h3r3tic]

Greetings ;)

Since I´ve been playing open-handed I´ve noticed that progresses were done made :) But there´s something that I´m still worried about...
When I saw Bobby Jarzombek´s video I´ve noticed that he lowered the hats at the same height of the snare. Dom Famularo does it too and Billy Cobham too.

But should I continue with the hats at the same height of the snare?
Will it make any diference?

Thanx guys ;)
Peace

[Jeff Almeyda]

I play open handed as well and the dilemma is this: The lower hi-hat definitely makes it easier for the left hand to get in position without strain. If you play with the hi-hat that low, however it's very difficult to cleanly play it with the right hand.

I got around that by using two hi hats on my left side, a 14" on a regular stand in "normal" position and a 13" on a remote in the low left hand position. In this way, I have the best of both worlds. I can also get the hi hat left foot going while my left hand is playing on the closed remote. (The remote has a drop-lock clutch)

I also have an x hat on my right. I used to have 3 mounted toms and I'm much happier now with the two mounted toms and the extra hi-hats. Much more useful in real life and those descending tom rolls have been done to death anyway.

[h3r3tic]

thanks, so it seems that I should continue with the hats lower almost at the same height of the snare ;)

Thankx a lot dude
Peace

[aahznightsky]

For me, when I set up my kit in a normal fashion, open handed playing works best for me at the same height as is usual for me. Especially because I still want my right hand to get some action too!

[Jeff Almeyda]

Try it both ways and see what you like best. It's all a matter of comfort and personal taste anyway.

[Wegadrummer]

For me, when I set up my kit in a normal fashion, open handed playing works best for me at the same height as is usual for me. Especially because I still want my right hand to get some action too!

yep, I play open handed.. and i have my highat alittle over the snare, it the right hand want to do something.. it can be done without any trouble..

[NaturalRaZ]

Anywhere from 4 to 6 inches above my snare works for me. I tried to find a good height that I could use both open and cross playing.

Thankfully I found a balance.

Sometimes you might wanna move your hh further back or bring it in a little. Try all different variations. One time... I had the rim of the hats about 2 inches over the rim of the snare, actually hanging a bit over the snare.

Keep trying.. you'll find it.

[a1DrummerT]

Greetings ;)

Since I´ve been playing open-handed I´ve noticed that progresses were done made :) But there´s something that I´m still worried about...
When I saw Bobby Jarzombek´s video I´ve noticed that he lowered the hats at the same height of the snare. Dom Famularo does it too and Billy Cobham too.

But should I continue with the hats at the same height of the snare?
Will it make any diference?

Thanx guys ;)
Peace

if you are indefinately playing open then i would say yes but there's no way you are going to play closed like that ya know

[Ekim]

I sometimes play open style with my hats set normally. That is, well higher than the snare height. It puts my left hand at an odd angle, but it works. So it is possible to play like that.

I just find I like having my arms crossed and switching to hats-snare at same height would prevent me from playing "normally".

[Rich]

I think we all have the same problem with hats at one time or another. If the hats are too low, and you are playing crossover style and you want to play an open HH and then a snare beat right behind it, you can sometimes hit your sticks together. If you are a right handed player, the right stick is going down to hit the open HH while the left stick is moving upward getting in position to play the next snare beat. I just try to find a happy medium! Rich

[hauk]

if your worried about playing open and crossed w/ one hat setup, you could try putting the hats at about the same height of your snare rim at the top left corner of your snare (i know snares dont have corners... maybe 10-11 o'clock on it is a better description). this way the has are nice and low for open, and when you go crossed you can still access the hats as well as you could the rim, and since the hats are that far foward your sticks wont actually cross, so you dont have to worry about colliding sticks. of course, this might not work on your set if your rack tom is in the way. hope this helped someone in some minute way! (or at least didnt sound like total crazy-talk)

[Jeff Graw]

I've been playing open handed my entire life. I started out with the hi hats at snare level because it felt more comfortable and put less strain on the left hand, and was easier to access with the right hand. However, now I player so my hats are raised high enough for most closed handed players to comfortably use them. While lowering the hats is very tempting, it does make it a lot harder to hit the edge of the hats (especially with the right hand!) therefore limiting your playing somewhat. I'd advise you to raise the hats to a level where you can still be expressive, but not too high to be completely uncomfortable (slight discomfort will go away with time).

[Wavelength]

I wouldn't lower it to the snare level, since it would make it more difficult to play the hi-hat with both hands.

[h3r3tic]

I wouldn't lower it to the snare level, since it would make it more difficult to play the hi-hat with both hands.

Yeap! good point!
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