hi-hat height for open-handed

[jivadayadasa]

Where's your hat? I have just started really spending some quality time practicing open handed and I am lovin' it. I have read a good bit and see that some educators, namely Dom Famularo, advocate placing the hi-hat as low as the snare in order to avoid tension in the left arm. I don't get it, my right arm has always had to work over my left and up on the ride, why can't I leave the hat wear it is and avoid tension? Also, I am using a ride over my hat on the left and I can only lower it so much. My left arm is going to be up there anyway and I am confused. The LAST thing I want to do is cause myself problems or injury.

Right now my the bottom edge of my hat is 5" from the top rim of my snare. Too high?

What do you do and how's it working out for you.

Thanks any help you can give.

[BassDriver]

Right now my the bottom edge of my hat is 5" from the top rim of my snare. Too high?
Not too high, mine is like that, if I play open-handed I don't get much tension strain, but if you are worried about that try to make sure you have the hats in place where your left arm is the same angle (pointing upwards) as your right arm would have been, gradually your left arm will get used to it (just like it is adjusting to behaving like the right hand) and tension shouldn't be a problem.

[Deltadrummer]

I'm the same way. Mine is about three or four inches above the snare. You need to leave room so you can get that left hand under the right if you are playing ghosts notes with a 16th note pattern on the hat. I also sit up very high, which I like. that may be the difference.

[joeysnare]

im an open handed player since drumming birth im just now learning to play crossed. but ive noticed if my hi hat is too high i have to move it farther away to play open handed other wise it seems to bind up the muscles in my left arm to the point where i lose speed. i usually keep mine about an inch above the snare.

[grannydrums]

i play open handed,. I have a remote pedal and have the hats directly behind the snare, overlapping a tad and about 4 inches higher. The ride is above that. Both hands can get between the hats and snare with no crossing. Works for me.

[bonhamdrummer123]

im an open handed player since drumming birth im just now learning to play crossed. but ive noticed if my hi hat is too high i have to move it farther away to play open handed other wise it seems to bind up the muscles in my left arm to the point where i lose speed. i usually keep mine about an inch above the snare.

Me too, and my left hand still sucks!! Mine is about 4" or so above the snare and it works good, but when I try to play crossed I feel it is too low, so I don't usually alternate between the two without adjusting it unless necessary. I would make sure it isn't too high because out of personal experience it makes my wrist tighten up for some reason.

[jivadayadasa]

Well, it's been almost a week of truly working on open-handed for me and the hat height seems OK so far. I am consciously relaxing and not playing for too long or too loud. Right now I am playing open-handed 45 min of every 1 hour of practice.

It seemed almost ridiculously hard at first but just this week I can already hear, feel, and see some progress. Especially difficult for me is trying to swing basic jazz patterns (comp with right etc...) and also the halftime shuffle - but it feels incredibley satisfying to be actually making a little headway. At the moment, I am not in a band and I have always thought it seemed like a logical way to play (and just plain cool). By God - I am finally just going for it!

Thanks to all for the input. Please let me know more about YOUR experience.

Jiva

[jivadayadasa]

i play open handed,. I have a remote pedal and have the hats directly behind the snare, overlapping a tad and about 4 inches higher. The ride is above that. Both hands can get between the hats and snare with no crossing. Works for me.

Bill Bruford plays a remote and has his right in front of him. Sounds really cool; I am curious and would like to try it someday.

[Neil]

I shared a kit and a show with an open handed drummer, his hi hat was a good few inches lower than his snare.

I on the other hand had to drive home to get my hi hat as I play crossed. He could've warned me! :)

[cnw60]

trad grip or matched?

I play both, so my hats are a little higher, maybe 6" or 7" above the snare. That may be a little high for matched playing, but I've gotten used to it and it works out to be a great height for trad.