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drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:40 pm
by eyeamflesch_Archive
I'm learning drums and I have reached to the conclusion that my left hand is crippled. It's not as fast, as strong and as dexterous as my right one. How can I work this out?

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 2:31 pm
by Dylan_Archive
You might want to think about switching which hand does which. There are a lot of drummers who have the hihat on the left and play it with their left hand, and the same but switched for snare work. You mention grindcore in your signature, so your stronger right hand would be pummeling the snare while your weaker left would be hitting the half-open hihat.

That would sound bad-ass, dude!

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 3:17 pm
by justinc_Archive
eyeamflesch wrote:How can I work this out?



a simple practice pad or snare excercise is to match a single right hand stroke with 3 left hand strokes. as in Right, Left, Left, Left, repeat..
its important to make the strokes sound the same.

then when you get bored of that one you can go: Right, Right, Left, Left, Left, Left, Left, Left, repeat.

if you play these excercises with a metronome it can be some help....

you may or may not also want to work on yr left hand grip.

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 3:52 pm
by Redline_Archive
I'm assuming you're not playing with a traditional left hand grip if yr in a "heavy" outfit.

Do triplets around the kit without your Right hand even being involved. Have it limp at your side.

EX: L L Bass L L Bass L L Bass all around the toms, floor tom, etc.

For true schooling on 4 way independence, listen to Jack DeJohnette or Don Moye.


Jay

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:04 pm
by fargokamikaze_Archive
try things like starting rolls left handed, playing everything in reverse, hitting things that you would normally strike right with a crossed over left. Get crazy. It'll be fun

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:56 pm
by nick92675_Archive
practice a lot. all of the above suggestions are good, but you need to physically strentghen your hand/stroke, which doesn't happen overnight.

nobody was born a good drummer, they just spend a lot of time getting that way. also you might pay attention to your bass drum - a lot of beginners have no strength on the bass drum pedal either - your body isn't pre-programmed to have your less dominant hand or foor hit as hard as another.

another old school drum corps geek thing we used to do they called "stone killers" which just conisted of 2 measures of 1/8th notes with your right hand, then the next 2 measures with your left hand, along with a metranome. so like...

Code: Select all

1  &  2  &  3  &   4  &  2 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL repeat ad nauseum


ah fuck, i can't figure out how to get it lined up right, but you get the idea...

it'd pretty unflattering to your left hand. with shorter durations on the left hand, the difference isn't so apparant. it's so totally uncool, but get one of those beginners stick control books and start learning the rudaments.

keep it up!

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:02 pm
by eyeamflesch_Archive
Thanks y'all :)

drummers: left hand indipendence technique

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:05 pm
by vockins_Archive
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