Drum Crossover Technique

Part of the Video Series How to Play the Drums

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Learn the crossover technique to play your cymbals and your snare at the same time in this free online video music lesson on how to play the drums for beginners.

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Tags: bass, cymbals, drums, hat, snare
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Video Transcript

Drum Crossover Technique
Hi I’m Chris and today we are going to talk about the crossover. First you want to get your sticks and you want to put your right arm over your left arm, okay. Now then if you are left handed it will be vise versa because it will be set up differently, okay. This is the standard for rock drummers, jazz drummers, this is how we set up for getting ready to play a beat, okay. Let me demonstrate. Now then, with the crossover the key is to be relaxed. You always want to be relaxed. Now then we want to make sure that we are at an angle on the Snare Drum and the High Hat, okay. Now then this allows us to accurately hit the High Hat and accurately hit the Snare Drum, on a more precise beat. And notice how I am using my wrists, more so my fingers and I’m relaxed while I am doing it. Now then, if we didn’t have posture and we didn’t have the angle this doesn’t allow for as accurate of a beat. Now notice the High Hat sounded a little more wet and it wasn’t as precise; my posture was down so I was not able to accurately hit the Snare Drum on time. So it is very important that you hold your stick at an angle on the Snare and hold your drumstick at an angle on the High Hat. So the head promptly hits the Snare, promptly hits the High Hat and that is a Crossover.

About the Expert

Expert: Chris Hynes has been playing the drums for over 10 years. He is currently the drummer for the up-and-coming band What We Know. Read More