Very un-coordinated left hand!!

[sleekdrummer]

Hey!
I (and so do many others out there) have a very wobbly, weak and un-coordinated left hand and arm. My double strokes are pathetic as whenever i try them i can start to pick up some speed and then lose all coordination and just stuff it all up and bomb out. This is really starting to annoy me and i was wondering if there were any good double stroke warm-ups to help with strengthening my left arm and also my double strokes.
Thanks!

[Wavelength]

Here's a little warm-up. Go easy on the tempo and play the strokes evenly.

R L R L R L R L
R R L L R R L L
R L R L R L R L
R L L R R L L R
L R L R L R L R
L L R R L L R R
L R L R L R L R
L R R L L R R L
R L R L R L R L
R L R R L R L L
R L R L R L R L
R L L R L R R L
R L R L R L R L
R R L R L L R L
R L R L R L R L
R L R L L R L R
L R L R L R L R
L R L L R L R R
L R L R L R L R
L R R L R L L R
L R L R L R L R
L L R L R R L R
L R L R L R L R
L R L R R L R L


Here's a coordination exercise. Again, go slowly and play cleanly.

RH | x x x x x x x x | x x x x x x x x | x x x x x x x x |
LH | oo oo oo oo oo o| o oo oo oo oo oo| -oo oo oo oo oo |
LF | - x - x - x - x | - x - x - x - x | - x - x - x - x |
RF | o - o - o - o - | o - o - o - o - | o - o - o - o - |

Basically, the right hand plays eighth notes, the right foot quarter notes and the left foot plays upbeats, while the left hand plays a repeating sequence of two sixteenth notes and one sixteenth rest.

[sleekdrummer]

Thanks!!! I will work on these and see how i go, thanks again!

[Deathmetalconga]

I assume you are right-handed. How long have you been drumming? If you're just getting started, you might want to consider playing open (left hand ride/hats, right hand snare). That means you'd put your ride cymbal next to your hihat, to your left. I am right handed but I've played like this for 24 years.

That might seem weird at first, but playing open is very natural (everyone types, drives, cooks and plays other instruments open handed). As another benefit, you will be increase the strength of your left hand and arm. You will also be giving your dominant right hand a little bit of a break from all the other things it has to do during the day.

[lstardrums]

I assume you are right-handed. How long have you been drumming? If you're just getting started, you might want to consider playing open (left hand ride/hats, right hand snare). That means you'd put your ride cymbal next to your hihat, to your left. I am right handed but I've played like this for 24 years.

That might seem weird at first, but playing open is very natural (everyone types, drives, cooks and plays other instruments open handed). As another benefit, you will be increase the strength of your left hand and arm. You will also be giving your dominant right hand a little bit of a break from all the other things it has to do during the day.

i agree with deathmetalconga's suggestion about playing open handed, however i disagree with his suggestion of putting your ride next to your hats. i say leave your ride on the traditional right side. when you play your hats use your left hand and when you play your ride use your right. this will keep your hands even so you will be able to lead with either hand. but do whatever works for you.

[maddrummr]

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5676

This thread might help you out.

[sleekdrummer]

I assume you are right-handed. How long have you been drumming? If you're just getting started, you might want to consider playing open (left hand ride/hats, right hand snare). That means you'd put your ride cymbal next to your hihat, to your left. I am right handed but I've played like this for 24 years.

That might seem weird at first, but playing open is very natural (everyone types, drives, cooks and plays other instruments open handed). As another benefit, you will be increase the strength of your left hand and arm. You will also be giving your dominant right hand a little bit of a break from all the other things it has to do during the day.

Hey!
Nah ive been playing for 4 years now (playing right handed on the hats) which has developed my right arm and wrist but not my left. So, yeh i could try open handed but i might leave my drum kit positioning where it is and just hit the hats with my left hand.
Thanks for that!

[JCM]

i agree with deathmetalconga's suggestion about playing open handed, however i disagree with his suggestion of putting your ride next to your hats. i say leave your ride on the traditional right side. when you play your hats use your left hand and when you play your ride use your right. this will keep your hands even so you will be able to lead with either hand. but do whatever works for you.

Yeah same here. That way you do not lose the stronger playing patterns in your right hand. Even crossed handed players play open handed because they have the ride on their right hand side.