OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALS
with music city mystique:
Flips 6 Vertical to Set
This exercise works on the downward flip from vertical to set. Because of the delay of the flip until the last possible moment, this flip is different from the other flips you’ve learned thus frar.
Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the flip pathway for the flip from Vertical to Set.
FLIPS 6: Vertical to Set
Like all flips, you should take the most direct pathway between the positions. Keep the upper body as relaxed and still as possible. The final motion of the flip will be as close to instantaneous as possible – starting a split second before 1 and ending in the set position on count 1.
Here is a breakdown of the flip from vertical to set:
Start at the vertical position, hands together, knots at eye level.
Slowly move your arms downward, keeping the blades even until you get to stomach level. This is where the flip starts.
Turn the hands outward, pressing with the pinkys.
Allow the motion and gravity of the cymbals to turn in the outward direction.
As with all flips, as the motion begins, you’ll relax the fingers off the cymbals and allow the straps and pads to allow the cymbals to rotate freely.
Bring the fingers back onto the cymbals and finish the flip in the set position.
Here’s what the flip looks like in a slow continuous motion.
You can use the same 3 count structure to practice flips from set to vertical, then back to set.
Initiate the motion on count one.
Check the flash point on count 2.
End in vertical on count 3.
Hold on count four, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, 2, 3 .. | Down, 2, 3 .. 😐
Here is a breakdown of the TWO count exercise:
Initiate the motion on count one.
Check the flash point on the “and” of count one.
End in vertical on count 2.
Hold on counts three and four, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, 2, .. .. | Down, 2, .. .. 😐
Here is a breakdown of the ONE count exercise:
The final performance flip will be as fast as possible. Think of starting on one and ending on one (you’ll actually need to move SLIGHTLY before count one so that you hit the arrival point at gumption exactly together on the downbeat).
Hold on counts 2, 3 & 4, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, .. .. .. | Down, .. .. .. 😐
back to set.