OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALS
with music city mystique:
Flips ExERCISE 1 – Set, Gumption, Set
Use this exercise to practice your flip ups from set to gumption and Sones flip down from gumption back to set. Start with a slow three count structure, then faster to a two count structure, then finally at performance speed one count flips.
Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing breaks down the flip exercise:
FLIPS EXERCISE 1: SET UP TO GUMPTION ; SONES DOWN TO SET
Take the most direct pathway between the positions. Keep the upper body as relaxed and still as possible. Always check your starting and ending positions by watching yourself in a mirror or filming yourself. It helps to film yourself in “slo-mo” if possible to really see if the path is consistent from player to player.
Here is a breakdown of the THREE count exercise:
Initiate the motion on count one
Check the flash point on count 2
End in gumption on count 3.
Hold on count four, checking the gumption 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 gumption on count 2.
Hold on counts three and four, checking the gumption 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 gumption position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, .. .. .. | Down, .. .. .. 😐
