ambidextrous playing

[amba]

Hello Drummerworld people...my favorite drum site!!

Just wondering it any other drummers are persuing playing in an ambidextrous way; Whatever we have learned right hand dominant, assuming you're right handed, and then re-learning all of that with a left hand dominant way... i.e. simple example...it is easy for me to play: feet (dbl bass) RLRLRLRLRLRLR etc...and then the R.H plays: rrrrLrrrrrrrLrrrrrrrLrrr etc... (on hats or ride with the L being on the snare... but now my approach is more the opposite...everything i do righty, I now spend tons of hours doing everything left hand dominant...

This has been an amazing journey so far...just wondering if anyone out there would care to join me?

Peace to all of you...!

Best,

Michael P. Barton

[drflam]

I've started practicing open handed because of Steve Smith on the Journey song Don't Stop Believing. Now I'm starting to play fairly simple syncopated grooves leading with the left hand etc.

In terms of co-ordination, it's a little like learning to play over again.

[amba]

I remember that tune! Yes...it is a left hand on toms and stuff groove...a very cool groove, actually...that's a good one to practice on...!
Another one is Steve Gadd on Paul Simon's "50 ways to leave your lover." The Steve Gadd page on this site has him doing a lot of left hand on hat...



Peace,

MPBarton

[PineyplayParadiddles]

I can play left handed and right. I learnt on a right handed kit but am left handed. Im pretty ambidextrous so I taught myself how to play crossed over as well.

[drumbandit]

I'm left handed but play right handed, as well but I can't play a left handed kit very well due to my left foot coordination.

Tom

[Jeff Almeyda]

I use either hand to lead and it's something you'll always work on.

Ever notice how many lefty's play right handed kits but never vice versa? Weird.

[jonescrusher]

Another lefty playing right-handed setup here. Many leftys are often given no option but to learn this way, as the world is made for right handed drummers - if you go for lessons chances are the teacher's kit will be RH, and sharing kits at gigs is a complete nightmare if you demand to have everything set up lefty. Many gigs i've played i wouldn't even have had the option to reset the kit.

It's a beautiful thing, though; with perseverence, it eventually puts you at the advantage in terms of hand strength (and foot strength, if you're left footed).

[drumbandit]

Yeah i didn't really have a choice, but becuase i started lessons when I'd barely touched a kit it wasn't any kind of weird transition or anything. I agree with the advantage at playing on a right handed kit, I can play some fills which start on my left hand which a lot of drummer friends cannot. But vice versa.

Tom