DRUMMER CAFE

Lately at the kit I've been trying to improve my overall ergonomics, make everything easier to play physically, so that I'm not trying to put both hands in the same conflicting space at the same time, etc etc.
But I've noticed...

While just grooving, it seems my right hand impedes the room of my left.  My left hand (snare hand) seems to be limited in it's range of motion (or just getting claustrophobic).  When I'm grooving on my ride with my right hand far away, my left hand is comfortable and happy, but as soon as I'm back on the hats, it's put in it's little crawl space (so to speak).

So I guess my questions are:
Have you just gotten used to using your left hand in a smaller space?

How do you have your hats and snare setup in relation to each other? Let's go with the hats' position relative to the snare for explinations (ie- Hats are at 9 oclock to the snare).

How far are your hats away from you? And at what angle? As in, your lead hand reaches to 9 or 11 oclock grooving on the hats.

I'm trying to just get real comfortable grooving and getting my snare hand to feel good about hitting the snare, not as if it has to get power that isn't there from a 1/4 or 1/3 (at best) of a full-stroke.
(mind you this is all assuming that I don't emphasize the strokes on my hats when playing the snare on the same beat)


Thanks!
Z

Try the second approach shown in this diagram, which doesn't require your left stick to be under your right:

I have mine set up kind of like the second diagram in Mr. A's picture.

I use the Gibraltar Ultra-Adjust hi-hat stand so that I can keep my feet comfortable, too.

I play like in the second picture and had a guy tell me I reminded him of Ringo

I was just pondering this same thing today!  Will have to try that alternative playing position posted by Mr A above.  Funny enough what brought it on was the same thing you mentioned too - trying to work on grooving and developing a good feel on the snare.  Some good advice here!

I set up more like M.A.'s first drawing but hold my sticks like the second photo. I to have been in an ergonomic frame of mind lately.

My response is to try and remember not to start incorporating too much elbow if my hands open up! I do often find that if I say, move my right hand over to the ride, my left hand suddenly starts making a bigger motion. I figure if I can keep my hats volume down, and then keep my snare volume down when I uncross my hands, the restricted space when playing the hi-hats will be inconsequential.

However, when finances permit, I would like to try a centred hi-hat set up.

Great thread!  I had the same problem, then moved my HH to Position 2 in Mr. A's diagram.  That solved the problem of the sticks being crossed. 

However, I then noticed that when I brought my snare hand up during my stroke, both wrists were still crossing on the same plane during my stroke. in spite of my sticks no longer crossing.

I realized my solution was a 3 dimensional one.  I raised my HH about 2 inches, bringing the cymbals high enough that my wrists were no longer at the same level. I also found that in doing so I am using more of my larger muscle groups (shoulder and pecs) during play, not just my wrist and forearm which goes a long way in improving my stamina and power.   

Actually I don't think that is true, although it certainly makes it more comfortable.

To resolve any "crossing" that happens with the arms/drumsticks, it comes from:

• Centering the Snare drum with the body.
• Not sitting directly behind the Kick drum.
• Setting the first Tom so that it is not directly centered and in front of the Snare drum.
• Bring the HiHat forward and more towards 11 O'Clock position to the Snare drum.

If you play the HiHat with right hand, the HiHat being forward as opposed to the side of the Snare drum, allows you to play the HiHat without having the right stick cross-over the left drumstick ... assuming that the left stick is playing the center of the Snare drum.

Since the sticks aren't crossing, there's no need to raise the HiHat with the exception of comfort and the right stick not coming close to the Snare every time it hits the HiHat.

A good rule of thumb is to have your HiHat 6-inches above the playing surface of the Snare drum. It can be hire, but it is a comfort issue based on each individual's body structure.

I understand what you are saying now.

However, when I use position #2 (per Mr. A's diagram), my elbows are still down at my side and I'm totally relaxed; no tension.

I'm going to make a video lesson on this and share it on Drummer Cafe TV so I can demo what I do and what has been working for me for many years ... even without a Remote HiHat.