problems with my left hand

[fatherboard]

I'm a right hand guy so, when playing i feel that my left hand isn't as fast and good as my right hand. When doing singles my left hand is slower :( . what can i do make ir faster and also accurate.( sorry about my English) please help

[d.c.drummer]

all you can do is practice. one suggestion to get your left hand up to speed would be to play open handed with your left hand on the hi-hat. it will also give you more independence and freedom in your playing.

[maddrummr]

Hey! Welcome, most of us have this problem also.

Well with a fractured right wrist i really got to isolate my left hand and it really built up speed. I would recommend doing some extra practice with the left hand, then when both hands are almost even, work them both faster.

I also agree with DC. Get some coordination on your left side by playing some open handed beats.

[fatherboard]

open handed beats? sorry but i don't know what is that. could you please give me an example or maybe a web page where i can see how to do it.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

open handed beats? sorry but i don't know what is that. could you please give me an example or maybe a web page where i can see how to do it.

since you're right handed, you probably have your hats on your left and your bass on your right.

you also probably play with your hands crossed (right hand plays the hats, and left hand plays the snare).

what d.c. is suggesting is to play your hats with your left hand, and your snare with your right hand.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

open handed:

billy cobham (http://drummerworld.com/Videos/billycobham2003.html)

bobby jarzombek (http://drummerworld.com/Drumclinic/Bobby_Jarzombek2.html)


crossed:

benny greb (http://drummerworld.com/Videos/bennygrebgrooving.html)

[funkster5TP]

I'd say open handed would be the way to go. I'd check out Carter Beauford for some ideas. Also just play singles with your left hand to a click. I tend to do this about half an hour a day with a heavy stick. It's boring but it builds up you muscles and makes your technique alot smoother!!

good luck
D

[bfrancese]

I'd check out Jim Chapin's book on independence

Link here on drummerworld: Chapin (http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Jim_Chapin.html)

Learning independence is a crucial role to developing the weak hand as well. I've just started getting into it, and it has been really helpful. But the best thing is to just practice extra with that weak hand.

I'm a lefty so when I drive I keep an extra set of sticks in the car and do excercises with my right hand while I drive with my left. Yes, I'm not really paying a ton of attention to the precise detail of what I'm playing (concentrating on the road), but I get a good work out with my right wrist on a surface with less rebound than a drumhead.

Practice on some firm pillows as well. Tony Royster Jr. does this...you can catch his Moeller Method video here on drummerworld as well. He gives a few tips. I doesn't come quick, but when it comes man, its glorious!

B

[Raymond Bloom]

one thing I did when I switched to trad grip as my main grip - I practiced with my left hand only, mostly triplets and 16th notes (Moeller), practice everywhere, while watching tv, broowsing drummerworld etc for some things my left hand is even faster than my right hand now!

good luck

[fatherboard]

woW! That sounds helpful,i will practice with my left hand on the hats and my right on the snare. But, what about the heavy sticks :O which are some examples of heavy sticks that i could use.
What bfrancese said about the pillows is awsome i'll also do it.
Mmm... i have a HQ realfeel practice pad so i think i will put it away and practice singles with my left hand on a pillow.

[fatherboard]

Oh! by the way talking about sticks i use this sticks, they are kind of wear but i like it because i love that tip that is kind of a circle like the travis barker ones. It is also kind of large and heavy :o here they are :

http://cgi.ebay.de/ProMark-Hickory-L-A-Special-LT-Rock-Drumsticks-G_W0QQitemZ270118271793QQcmdZViewItem

[Legacyrik]

Oh! by the way talking about sticks i use this sticks, they are kind of wear but i like it because i love that tip that is kind of a circle like the travis barker ones. It is also kind of large and heavy :o here they are :

http://cgi.ebay.de/ProMark-Hickory-L-A-Special-LT-Rock-Drumsticks-G_W0QQitemZ270118271793QQcmdZViewItem

Hmmm, they look crooked:) Might want to try straight sticks also..

[fatherboard]

Hmmm, they look crooked:) Might want to try straight sticks also..


crooked? :o sorry i'm peruvian and i don't understand some slangs.And what about those straight sticks. thanks

[Buri]

My left hand used to be very slow, especially when i played paradiddles it made the whole thing uneven at faster tempos. I practiced this for a long time:
RLL RLL RLL RLR LRR LRR LRR LRL
After some time i experienced something strange, my left hand became way faster and controlled than my right hand. I have no idea how that could happen since i didnt play like rll rll rll rll all the time, but also practiced my right hand.
hum whatever, i went away after some time....

[fatherboard]

My left hand used to be very slow, especially when i played paradiddles it made the whole thing uneven at faster tempos. I practiced this for a long time:
RLL RLL RLL RLR LRR LRR LRR LRL
After some time i experienced something strange, my left hand became way faster and controlled than my right hand. I have no idea how that could happen since i didnt play like rll rll rll rll all the time, but also practiced my right hand.
hum whatever, i went away after some time....

WOoW! But on those exercise there aren't accents, are there?

[Raymond Bloom]

also, an exercise you should try:


R L l l R L l l...

R l L l R l L l...

R l l L R l l L...


do it for 20 minutes a day and after some time there WILL be an improvement!


Try it!

cheers,
Ray

[Buri]

WOoW! But on those exercise there aren't accents, are there?
no there are no accents, sry for caps lock :/

[Class A Drummer]

All practice.

Im righty too, but for some reason, my left hand is faster than my right. I kinda like the fact that my left is faster because it makes me realize that i am actually able to increase my right hand's speed and that im not in a slump.

[fatherboard]

All practice.

Im righty too, but for some reason, my left hand is faster than my right. I kinda like the fact that my left is faster because it makes me realize that i am actually able to increase my right hand's speed and that im not in a slump.

so just practice... well i've been practicing as a open handed drummer and i have to say that..... cha cha chaaaan!..

it works! i dun know how but my left hand is just getting better! thanks!
But... don't leave this topic as "bah! that was the other post that i read yesterday"
BYES! :)

[Tutin]

crooked? :o sorry i'm peruvian and i don't understand some slangs.And what about those straight sticks. thanks

Crooked means bent.

the Zildjian heavy Jazz sticks are (I belive) the heaviest you can find.