Open-Handed Playing, Volume 2: A Step Beyond

This book refuses to treat open-handed playing as a gimmick or stylistic novelty. Instead, Hessler and Famularo build it systematically using linear and rudimental logic that works for drummers regardless of their dominant hand, which makes it genuinely accessible to crossover players. The eight play-along tracks transform what could be a dry technical manual into something you can immediately apply to actual grooves, and the expanded vocabulary Hessler develops here creates real options for funky, creative playing rather than just mechanical exercises.

Breaking through a technical ceiling. The patterns feel foreign at first, then gradually unlock a freedom in your hands and wrists that crossed-handed playing never quite achieves. Working through these exercises and play-alongs creates a tangible shift in how naturally the sticks find the drums.

Intermediate to advanced drummers ready to expand beyond crossed-handed technique, or players already exploring open-handed playing who want deeper vocabulary and more systematic approaches to building fluency. This also serves drummers caught between styles (fusion, funk, modern jazz) where hand independence and linear thinking unlock new grooves.

• Isolate one linear pattern at a time before attempting to apply it over the play-along tracks. The rudimental foundation only locks in when each hand's movement becomes independent and automatic.
• Record yourself playing through the same groove on tracks with and without headphones. Feedback will reveal which limbs are compensating or rushing when you lose visual reference.
• Start every session by playing familiar grooves open-handed before diving into new material. This builds muscle memory while keeping your confidence intact.
• Slow the play-along tracks down in your practice space. You'll catch coordination breaks that disappear once tempo increases, building genuine facility rather than false speed.

Assign this to drummers preparing for jazz ensemble or fusion-heavy settings where hand independence and linear vocabulary become essential. It also pairs well with drummer rotations through different styles of playing; a drummer who completes this volume emerges with tools and muscle memory that transfer across multiple genres and musical contexts.

• Open-handed stickwork and hand independence across multiple styles
• Linear drumming patterns and their application to contemporary grooves
• Rudimental foundations adapted for open-handed technique
• Left-hand fluency and control for crossed-hand drummers transitioning to open technique
• Vocabulary for funk and fusion drumming using linear approaches
• Coordination exercises that eliminate tension and build efficiency