Most right-handed drum set players have been taught to play the snare drum with their left hand while crossing their right arm over their left arm to play their hi-hat. This works quite well and I play like this — most of the time. For a different perspective, I also have practiced playing “open” — with my left hand on the hi-hat and my right hand on the snare.
There are some great drummers that play this way all the time: Billy Cobham; Lenny White; Will Kennedy; Carter Beauford; Dom Famularo; and Ben Perowsky easily come to mind. There are many others!
So, try not crossing your arms, move that ride cymbal over to the hi-hat side and see what happens. This is big fun and can really play with your brain! Start with a very simple groove and go slow. For even more fun, try to start every drum fill with your left hand as well. Also, crash with your left hand without creating a flam with the bass drum. Drum fills and crashes with the weaker side can also be played without playing in this “open” style.
Even if I play the exact same groove, somehow it tends to sound different when I play in this fashion. It certainly feels different, and sometimes that’s a good thing!
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