Open Hand Drummer List

drumslaveDave · #1 03-06-2006, 06:26 AM

Has anyone seen such a thing? I play open hand 'cause I am left handed with right hand feet and I was interested in other "famous" open hand drummes. So wheres a list? lol

Carter Beauford
Billy Cobham
and supposedly Dennis Wilson was an open hand drummer, I was too young to see any shows. Any more?

Freddie Freeloader · #2 03-06-2006, 06:31 AM

lenny white

dennis chambers can play open-handed but said he thinks its showing-off.
gary husband
dom famularo
john blackwell

rendezvous_drummer · #3 03-06-2006, 06:47 AM

Larry Mullen Jr. Occasionally plays open handed.....other than the ones mentioned already, i cant think of any more.

drumslaveDave · #4 03-06-2006, 06:57 AM

Wow what a short list lol

finnhiggins · #5 03-06-2006, 07:05 AM

Mike Mangini? I've never seen him cross over, although his kit sort of puts him out of the usual open-vs-closed categories to an extent.

glynes · #6 03-06-2006, 07:18 AM

Kenny Aronoff occasionally, with his second high-hats on the right.

Freddie Freeloader · #7 03-06-2006, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glynes

Kenny Aronoff occasionally, with his second high-hats on the right.

does that count?? i'm not sure it does really.

Wegadrummer · #8 03-06-2006, 11:48 AM

Simon Phillips... and me..

radiofriendlyunitshifter · #9 03-06-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddie Freeloader

does that count?? i'm not sure it does really.

yah, i would think that playing opened handed would be a right hander playing with his left

hand on the hi hat and right hand on snare... otherwise, we'd all be openhand players when we play the ride.

jpekarek · #10 03-06-2006, 05:20 PM

I play almost exclusively open handed. I have a set of hats on the right with a remote cable for a left foot pedal, I have it right next to my ride cymbal. For me, this is more comfortable and provides some new options.

Sutor · #11 03-06-2006, 05:33 PM

The only one i knew until i read this thread was Mike Bordin lol

tambian89 · #12 03-06-2006, 05:57 PM

Bobby Jarzombek! One ot the best open handed players! Not as good as Cobham or Philips, but definately good.

- Marc

tambian89 · #13 03-06-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpekarek

I play almost exclusively open handed. I have a set of hats on the right with a remote cable for a left foot pedal, I have it right next to my ride cymbal. For me, this is more comfortable and provides some new options.

What kind of ride is that? I like it!

- Marc

jpekarek · #14 03-06-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tambian89

What kind of ride is that? I like it!

- Marc

Thanks, it's a 22" Sabian Paragon, Neil Peart signature ride. It has a wonderful cutting sound, but it does not have much of a bell sound.

drumslaveDave · #15 03-06-2006, 06:57 PM

Carter Beauford
Billy Cobham
Dennis Wilson
lenny white
dennis chambers (thinks its showing-off) HA! Thats all I play, no time for monkey cross arm stuff, sorry traditional players...
gary husband
dom famularo
john blackwell
Larry Mullen Jr
Mike Mangini
Kenny Aronoff (count him anyway)
Simon Phillips-------this guy played w/ Camel and a slew of others :) No wonder he sounded familiar.
Bobby Jarzombek

Wegadrummer
jpekarek
drumslaveDave

I wonder if there are more lefties than us?

jpekarek · #16 03-06-2006, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumslaveDave

Carter Beauford
Billy Cobham
Dennis Wilson
lenny white
dennis chambers (thinks its showing-off) HA!
gary husband
dom famularo
john blackwell
Larry Mullen Jr
Mike Mangini
Kenny Aronoff (count him anyway)
Simon Phillips
Bobby Jarzombek

Wegadrummer
jpekarek
drumslaveDave

I wonder if there are more lefties than us?

Actually I am completely right handed. I just like the high-hats on the other side.

drumslaveDave · #17 03-06-2006, 07:05 PM

I'd think if you play open hand for 90% of your drum time you'd become more adept.
Some patterns will be natural for you as others it will be harder and visa versa

glynes · #18 03-06-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddie Freeloader

does that count?? i'm not sure it does really.

To me, open-handed is not crossing hands over ... regardless of where the hats are.

photon · #19 03-06-2006, 09:03 PM

If you are a domiant right hand drummer placing your hi-hat on the right side of your kit where your ride would be and using a remote pedal for your left foot does not constitute an open handed drummer in my opinion.

In my mind it means riding the hi-hat with your left hand in it's natural position (for a right handed drummer) on the left hand side of your kit.

I was watching an AC/DC concert on TV a few weeks back. I don't know who the drummer is (Phil Rudd?) but it appeared to me that he had his hi-hat set up in the ride cymbal position...maybe he had two hi-hats but he appeared to be using that one the most...but that's still not open handed in my opinion.

jpekarek · #20 03-06-2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

If you are a domiant right hand drummer placing your hi-hat on the right side of your kit where your ride would be and using a remote pedal for your left foot does not constitute an open handed drummer in my opinion.

In my mind it means riding the hi-hat with your left hand in it's natural position (for a right handed drummer) on the left hand side of your kit.

I was watching an AC/DC concert on TV a few weeks back. I don't know who the drummer is (Phil Rudd?) but it appeared to me that he had his hi-hat set up in the ride cymbal position...maybe he had two hi-hats but he appeared to be using that one the most...but that's still not open handed in my opinion.

What is your idea of an open handed drummer? I'm probably not completely open handed since I also have a set of hi-hats on my left side also, those remain shut most of the time.

But if a person is not crossing thier hands, doesn't that mean open handed? I guess I play both then.

cornelius · #21 03-06-2006, 09:40 PM

Ben Perowsky - Great drummer!

Open handed playing is very natural position-wise - Gary Chester used to say that if a four year old sat down behind a right handed kit, they would play the hihat with their left hand!

Guided by Noises · #22 03-06-2006, 10:02 PM

Claude Coleman of the band ween plays open-handed, he's a fantastic drummer.

Raymond Bloom · #23 03-06-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

I was watching an AC/DC concert on TV a few weeks back. I don't know who the drummer is (Phil Rudd?) but it appeared to me that he had his hi-hat set up in the ride cymbal position...maybe he had two hi-hats but he appeared to be using that one the most...but that's still not open handed in my opinion.

That was Chriss Slade, now they got Phil Rudd back!...in black 8)

drumslaveDave · #24 03-06-2006, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelius

Ben Perowsky - Great drummer!

Open handed playing is very natural position-wise - Gary Chester used to say that if a four year old sat down behind a right handed kit, they would play the hihat with their left hand!

Which is what I do...

photon · #25 03-06-2006, 10:17 PM

That's my point....open handed playing means to me (for a dominant right handed drummer) playing your high hat with your left hand........that being said I would like to try a remote high hat and set it up in the ride cymbal position on the right because that would really free things up a lot...

Jookbox · #26 03-06-2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpekarek

I play almost exclusively open handed. I have a set of hats on the right with a remote cable for a left foot pedal, I have it right next to my ride cymbal. For me, this is more comfortable and provides some new options.

cool idea.
............................

RMS · #27 03-07-2006, 12:32 AM

Matt Abts.

He plays with Gov't Mule. Check out "The deep end vol. 2", it's a two-cd set that comes with a DVD of the concert, including a cool drum solo. My buddy showed it to me and I think my style is similar to Matt's, only he plays open-handed. It's cool.

Jeff Almeyda · #28 03-07-2006, 03:30 AM

In my experience open handed simply means that the arms are not crossing. It should not be confused with left-hand lead. When a right handed drummer plays plays a ride cymbal, he IS playing open-handed. I mean just look at him!!! His hands are OPEN.

What guys like Dom Famularo and Simon Phillips do is play open handed with a left hand lead.

aahznightsky · #29 03-07-2006, 03:54 AM

Gene Holgan plays open handed, suprised nobody's said him yet!

Ronnie · #30 03-07-2006, 05:57 AM

BWACK of The David Crowder Band, plays open handed. He has his ride beside his Hi Hat. He has a very powerful sound live. Check out some of their stuff, it's pretty cool.

Here is a picture I took of BWACK in Nashville this past November.

Dannar · #31 03-07-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMS

Matt Abts.

He plays with Gov't Mule. Check out "The deep end vol. 2", it's a two-cd set that comes with a DVD of the concert, including a cool drum solo. My buddy showed it to me and I think my style is similar to Matt's, only he plays open-handed. It's cool.

"The Deepest End" is the live CD with DVD. I have watched that DVD probably a million times! Matt Abts is really weird when it comes to open handed playing, he does it a lot on that DVD, but when I say them in February or 05 he played open handed rarely, then when I saw them in June 05, I don't recall him playing open handed at all. Then other times I watch footage from early 2000 and he played almost exclusively open handed. I think he is the kind of drummer that can play either really well, and switches between the two as he pleases. Which I find very impressive, compared to most drummers who are strictly one of the other.

Wegadrummer · #32 03-07-2006, 10:51 AM

Here is my open handed kit, the ride is placed that i can reach the hight hat and the ride with both hand, both crossed and open..

#33 03-07-2006, 11:15 AM

Minnemann does it.

Lang can do it, but he chooses not to because he thinks that if you play openhanded your not as locked into a groove as if you cross your arms to the HiHat.

I have some grooves going open handed, but I really don´t see any reason why I should get more into that. Many other things to practise out there....

BTW: What is "Monkey cross arm stuff" that trad. players do?!? You mean cross stickings?? Matched plyers do that too. It just looks better with trad. grip imo.

Robin · #34 03-07-2006, 04:36 PM

Simon Phillips started with open-handed the same time he started with double bassdrums which was in the mid 70s.

Here is his kit. As you can, hihat is very low ( leading with the left of course! ) and the ride to the left also. Simon was one to inspired me to play open-handed.

Guided by Noises · #35 03-07-2006, 04:40 PM

Hey Sutor, Mike Bordin is an awesome drummer, loved his faith no more stuff. So don't feel bad!

drumslaveDave · #36 03-08-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticktrick

BTW: What is "Monkey cross arm stuff" that trad. players do?!? You mean cross stickings?? Matched plyers do that too. It just looks better with trad. grip imo.

The fisrt teacher I had said I held the sticks like a monkey, I was given sticks open handed and was told to play, not being a drummer, I naturally played like a 4 year old behind the kit. Being left handed this is comfortable for me. I was deemed the "uncrossed monkey" by my classmates and I in returned called them "cross-armed monkeys". It is not meant as an insult just an observation of how animal like we really are. lol

"If you hand a monkey two sticks how is going to hold them?", Like me.

3vil0n3 · #37 03-08-2006, 09:18 PM

I happen to know the drummer for Coheed and Cambria plays open handed. He's really a hard hitter. His setup is pretty cool and strangly short. Always seems like the more hard rock a drummer is the higher his cymbals get buy his was all "normal".

RMS · #38 03-08-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dannar

"The Deepest End" is the live CD with DVD.

Thanks for the correction...my buddy had showed it to me and I asked him what it was called...I guess I was a little off. But I had the drummer's name right, and I was all excited to rush home and look him up on Drummerworld...but alas, he is still on the wish list.
But yeah about Matt Abst, in the DVD his kit is set up up very much like mine, and our styles are so similar but he was able to do more with less effort by playing open handed, sounds like it was a gradual transition, possibly explaining why he doesn't always play like that.

Damon Dapper · #39 03-09-2006, 04:37 AM

Why is it called open-handed?

How can you hold the sticks if your hands are open?.......

Just kidding around..........

Dap.

jAZZpLANTS · #40 04-04-2006, 08:00 AM

I have been playing this way leading with my left hand ever since I started playing 5 years ago or so. Crossing your arms to play the hi hat always felt unnatural to me. Pretty soon I'll post a video of my playing.