by Thomas Altmann » Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:14 pm
Actually, when you muffle the drum head with the other hand, like the way it should be done in order to play an accurate "marcha" (or "tumbao"), the difference between a closed slap (traditional) and an open one is not that big. Sometimes, when I have to get off the skin quickly to execute the next stroke or reach over to the other drum, I don't bother too much about closing my slap. I keep it light. It doesn't make a big difference in sound, but it gives me more velocity.
Thomas