the left handers (southpaw) thread [Archive] - DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM

Rick Wilkinson

07-10-2005, 10:15 PM

Right on LittleRock!

I was told at a young age to play right handed so I would be able to play (sit in) for other drummers on there right handed set's. Without changing everything around.

Plus a Left hand lead on a right handed set makes your fills alittle more uinque (I think).
Not that there any better just a touch different.

Try a 2 tom dbl Base (or single base tripplet) roll starting with the left hand on small tom then floor tom then base. Then try it starting with the right hand on the floor tom and you'll see what I mean.

tamazil789

07-10-2005, 11:12 PM

i write with my left hand but play music and sports with my right.

Rick Wilkinson

07-10-2005, 11:20 PM

But what Hand do you lead with?

Neil_Peart_Rocks125

07-12-2005, 08:11 PM

Im Left Handed and i just play right handed

Kenny_V

07-13-2005, 08:55 AM

i play a right handed set up and i would lead with the left but a couple years ago i started leading with my right hand....now i can lead with left or right just depending on my mood

Dr Drums

07-13-2005, 05:31 PM

i write with my left hand but play music and sports with my right.

Same here.
And btw if someone's a left handed and plays as a right handed (me for example) it's a REALLY big advantage.
My left hand is as fast as the right i not faster and for most right handed left hand is a real deal.

Dr. Neaux

07-15-2005, 07:19 AM

I write right-handed, shoot a basketball with my right(but I dribble better with my left), throw a ball with my right. But when it comes to playing drums, I'm left-handed. I tried playing right-handed when I was young. My dad is right-handed and I would try playing his set right-handed but I always felt more comfortable with my left and I played the bass drum better with my left foot. So when I got older and first started playing, which was in church, I switched the set around so I could play left-handed. Anytime I played on someone else's set at a gig or another church, I'd try to warn the drummer ahead of time that I was left-handed and would need to switch his/her set around. The most common response I got was: "Left-handed? Oh, you play backwards." I guess south-paws are a rare breed.

Bernhard

07-15-2005, 08:29 AM

You know, that 5%-10% of the population are left-handed, but in sports 50% of the Stars are lefties? There are many answers to this, one interesting is, that lefties are used to more concentrate on the movements they have to do...or so....

I think playing at a normal right handed set as leftie brings bid advantages. It's great, when the leading hand stays the weaker right hand, so it is trained a lot. But the good left hand starts the fills, put the accents - just not bad at all. And you can make all kind of fills very much easier - as was said before: start the triplet including BD with left.

And perhabs, we have no idea, how MANY great drummers are lefthanders, because we just don't know and see it..

It's a pity, if you give all your advantages away, when you play with a left-handed set.

And it looks SO STRANGE. Always when I'm watching a Video of Phil Collins or Ian Paice, I put a mirror beside the TV and look through the mirror - then it works for me.....

Bernhard

shootz

07-15-2005, 06:30 PM

I am Self tought, left handed/play RHset,and lead w/my left.That is one reason why I have a DAMN GOOD BASSDRUM FOOT!!I had to use a flam to begin my roles, and so on. I have been putting in much time beginning my roles w/right hand lately, and playing some cool grooves with crossover hh/ft/s/.....etc!

needforspeed182

07-16-2005, 12:58 AM

Yah, i write with my left, shoot basketballs with my left, throw with my left, punch lead with my left. But my kit is right handed, and i uses a double pedal and play lead with my left foot as much as possible....im wierd i know.

But we al have our own styles....

markmende

08-15-2005, 07:33 AM

Carter Beauford is left handed and plays with the open style and the left hand leading. So do Simon Phillips...

I am working on learning to play with my left hand leading...

Eas

08-15-2005, 09:58 AM

I´m right handed and i play a left-handed set but i can also switch to a right-handed set.
I´m thinking of practicing right-handed hard so i can play booth good, and get a killer right foot!

largo61

08-18-2005, 08:25 PM

needforspeed182

08-18-2005, 08:37 PM

Im a lefty, i play 100% Right Handed

Rick Wilkinson

08-18-2005, 08:50 PM

I'm a lefty and I can play right handed. I have a ride on both sides of my set. But I ussually play with my left foot. I also realized that even though I am a lefty, I lead roles with my right hand. It makes thing difficult.

That is an interesting combination but if you play a right-handed setup, the right hand lead should be an advantage. If you play a left-handed setup you can use it to your advantage cause you’re kind of forced to learn to lead with the left. So you’ll end up being able to lead with either hand. Then you can do this cool Billy Ward move.

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/billywardbigtime.html

As for the foot thing I could see how that could be a bit difficult like you say.

Ynnad101

08-18-2005, 09:04 PM

my 27 yr old cousin has played right handed ever since i can remember, and only until about a yr ago that i learned that he's left handed...no wonder hes always had a nopticable smoother groove than i have. lol due to this i flipped my set and now i remember how it felt before i knew how to play lol...

Wegadrummer

08-19-2005, 12:28 AM

As all you pioneering member know:

I play open handed playing and i am proud of it:P

bald guy

08-19-2005, 02:12 AM

Yea, I play a righty kit, but I play open handed because I'm a lefty. My ride is just above my hi-hat, so actually a righty could play my kit easily. My problem is that after 33 years of playing I still lead with my left hand which sometimes make my fills sound odd. Famous lefties on righty kits? Simon Phillips, Carter Beauford, Ringo Starr, Eddie Bayers,....(help! there must be more!)

largo61

08-19-2005, 03:31 PM

[QUOTE=Rick Wilkinson]That is an interesting combination but if you play a right-handed setup, the right hand lead should be an advantage. If you play a left-handed setup you can use it to your advantage cause you’re kind of forced to learn to lead with the left. So you’ll end up being able to lead with either hand. Then you can do this cool Billy Ward move.

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/billywardbigtime.html

I can do that. That was the video that made me realize that I was leading with my right hand. I have since learned to lead with both hands. I can move up and down the toms without a problem as fast as I want.

canta

09-04-2005, 07:18 PM

Hi, I'm basically, left handed but write with right hand because I was forced to use
right hand when I was a child. And I play right handed on drums.
I've been playing drums for more than 20 years, and I've felt that leading
with left hand makes more solid and stable groove. Now, I practice leading with
left hand. Does any one feel the same way?
Will Kennedy is a great left handed player and off course, Lenny White.

Rick Wilkinson

09-04-2005, 08:14 PM

I've felt that leading
with left hand makes more solid and stable groove. Now, I practice leading with
left hand. Does any one feel the same way?

Yup! Strong left hand, strong beat and much more unique fills than the standard right hand lead. Plus most of "us" were forced to do some things "in our lives" right handed so that also makes us even more versatile when it comes to using both hands and leading with either. Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of right-handed drummers have plenty of great talent. But I’ll bet they were NEVER told once in their life… "No try it with your Left hand".

The other thing is that we Left-handers that play right handed have a unique opportunity to discover grooves that would be harder for right-handers to play. (And vice-a-versa) but there are fewer Lefty’s so the fills and beat differs just a bit. So I would encourage all drummers but mostly Lefties on right-handed sets to discover and develop their OWN unique style of playing. Don’t just try to be a Bonzo or a Steve Gadd, or ???? study as many of them as you can for sure, but don’t hold yourself back from your OWN style of playing.

Be the next Bonzo, Gadd, or ?????

crazydrummer14

09-04-2005, 08:54 PM

im lefty and i play a right handed set

aahznightsky

09-04-2005, 09:30 PM

How about an ambidextrous player ? That has tremendous advantages on right and left handed kits ...

Actually I'm not completely ambidextrous though unfortunately; my right foot has never played a hi hat :(

jonescrusher

09-04-2005, 10:18 PM

I'm left handed playing a right handed setup and always have done sonce starting on a drum kit about 10 years ago. I have always led with my left handed and this has at times caused my hands to get a bit tangled especially in fasrt single stroke rolls around the kit. After a recent blitz on hand and finger control, this is becoming less of a problem, and am starting to acheive a proficient level of ambidextrousness (if thats a word....)

I think it can really be an advantage, as open-handed playing should be more or less natural, and any possible problems with your hands getting tangled up can be sorted with up-to-scratch paradiddles, and other rudiments.

To any left-handers starting up - stick with a RH set-up, it pays off technique wise in the long run, and you save all the hassle of reversing the kit setup at lessons/gigs blah blah

sloppyjoe

09-04-2005, 11:17 PM

Does right handed who can play left handed pretty decent count? I dunno, I trained my self to do both cause it seemed like a good idea.

LiquidSoul546

09-05-2005, 01:06 AM

I'm another lefty that plays righty...it doesn't really matter to me, cause when you start drums..no matter what hand you lead with, your equally uncowordinated.
peace

Chilli

09-05-2005, 06:33 AM

Well Carter Beauford from Dave Mathews Band is lefty and plays on right kit. His ride is on his left though and he leads with his left hand.

fourstringdrums

09-05-2005, 11:47 PM

I'm right handed but ocassionaly I make use of my stronger leg and play either left handed completely or left handed with the drums, and open handed with the ride/hi-hat. Right now I'm back to playing completely righty. I guess I get bored easily :)

0neyellowdrum

09-06-2005, 07:13 AM

Playing lefty all my life has presented 2 problems in performances:
#1- Most other drummers cannot come up to sit-in at my set
#2- I could not go sit in at their sets at their gigs.
My band opened a show last Sept. with 5 other bands including Ronnie Montrose, Jeff Watson. Our band was 1st up so we were last up for sound check, one drumset for all, already miked and I had to move kit around to fit a lefty. I was not well liked that night.
Really, most drummers can keep a beat and even groove playing the opposite of what feels natural I would think. Just takes practice doesn't it?
I met a woman back in the day who signed her checks with her left hand and backwards so that you had to look in a mirror to read it. She was naturally right handed and said she had a large sum of money forged out of her account. She contends she can write fluently that way.
Just takes practice?
Till next time....stevon

canta

09-15-2005, 07:07 AM

Hi,
Now, I remember Carter Beauford played on someone's rigth hand set and led with right hand when Dave Mattews played as a guest in Santana concert.
I watced a DVD (sorry, forgot the title). He plays great groove there.

And I forgot mentioning a great drummer, Chuck Morris. He leads with left hand
even though he is right handed.
I hope he will be picked up on this site.

fourstringdrums

09-15-2005, 07:34 AM

fourstringdrums

09-15-2005, 07:53 AM

Oh yea, we can't forget Billy Cobham. I think Mike Bordin might be lefty too. I know he plays open handed.

Bernhard

09-15-2005, 09:04 AM

Any Left handers play a right handed set but lead with there Left hand? Just wondering

I'm lefthanded and play a righthanded set and normally lead with the right hand.

So nobody will notice, only some tricky breaks and moves around the set surprise some folks from time to time.

I think it's not wrong to train the perhabs weaker right hand with leading work.
So your left hand is free to do some nice snaredrum things.

Bernhard

timpanigrip23

09-15-2005, 06:56 PM

I'm a left hand player on a right hand set. Well, actually I'm an ambidextrious player I can play both ways traditional and timpani grip style. Hey Bernhard I love the website man. I'm a big fan of Carter Beauford that's why I start playing and rehearsing timpani grip. Its very comfortable after a while of playing that way. Now I see what Carter means on his DVD "Under the table and drumming" Its a very comfortable way of playing.

bonham990

09-15-2005, 10:06 PM

hello .... im left handed playing on a right handed set i used to play with the left hand playing on the outerside of the high hat now i have learned to play like right handers

ERT776463825

09-26-2005, 05:18 PM

I personally think it's easier switching roles with the feet (going lefty) than with the hands, atleast for me. Usually when I switch to lefty I still play open handed with my ride/hats. Playing left handed with my hands is more difficult because the sensitivity and feel with the right hand on the snare isn't there because I haven't practiced it.

well i am left handed and play a right handed closed set for about 10 years now. as of last year i started learning open handed and then i got a 2nd hand set off my friend and set it up lefty, to develop complete ambidextrosity on a drumset. i am actually finding it harder to switch my feet then my hands, because my right root is not trained well enough to do open/closed hi-hat work.

drummaman1

09-26-2005, 08:44 PM

I am lefty, and I always envisioned myself behind a lefty kit.

I can play open hand - righty kit with left hand lead - but my feet stumble on themselves, especially if I play jazz.
I had to practice it. In college, I spent about a semester playing righty with left lead in the practice room, but always switched back for performance. I love playing rock and funk that way...I can lower the hi-hats to just above the snare, and really groove! I feel like going 'Billy Cobham' on the drums when they're set up that way!

My feet coordination is the only reason I haven't completely switched. Things would be different if I had started out that way, or had a chance to really work on it then. Now, it's virtually impossible, with a day job, rehearsals, etc. to get some good practice time in. I think I can, though...

Practicing righty did pay off for me. I had a bad case of gout in my left foot, and by gig time was still swollen and painful...basically I had to play BD with my right foot. After getting through that gig, I'm glad I practiced playing righty!

www.teamamf.com

09-28-2005, 03:02 AM

Lefty here as well...I play both, but prefer right handed. My father is right handed, so it worked out well growing up...

NaturalRaz

09-28-2005, 03:16 AM

It has been mentioned, but I can't help to mention the name again. Check out (Carter Beauford).....he is amazing. He switches. He doesn't lead with any particular hand....he is ambidextrious and plays with whatever fits the song. He is really amazing to watch.

Stoned_Goldfish

10-19-2005, 07:57 AM

I have been playing drums for 6 months and I was wondering if I should play left handed. I was wondering because im left handed, but i learned how to play drums with my right hand. My sisters boyfriend(hes also a drummer) said that it would make it easier because I could lead with my left hand better, but im not sure because im not use to the feel of a left hand drumset. What do you think?

Bernhard

10-19-2005, 09:20 AM

sabianseb

10-19-2005, 02:23 PM

i also am left and have my set up left to i am used to it thats way but is it really beter the other way and y?

fourstringdrums

10-19-2005, 05:20 PM

i also am left and have my set up left to i am used to it thats way but is it really beter the other way and y?

Because by playing right handed, you'll strengthen that side of your body more, and you'll be able to play on right handed kits if you have to share a kit somewhere, take lessons etc.. It's also good to try and be ambidextrous if you can.

I personally think if you were born left handed, you shouldn't abandon it all together, but still practice right handed. I don't quite agree with how some feel that if you're born left handed and you play that way that you're doing something wrong.

I play left handed (open handed and left lead sometimes) only because I have to because my pedals have to be switched, so I'm really screwed if I want to take lessons or sit in on someone else's kit :)

aarbo

10-19-2005, 05:46 PM

Two of my drumming pupils I instruct are left handed. I told them to play open handed on a righty-setup. They both do very well with it and, Bernhard already explained it, they can play on a righty setup everything a righty can play and they have advanced coordination.

By the way, drumming beginners often say "ooh I have big problems with coordination when I do this or I do that"
I say: You can get familiar with EVERYTHING. Just practice and do it long enough. Especially when you are a beginner, every method is nearly equally hard to master. So why not decide for the most logical method instead for best looking or so...?

So Goldfish why don't you try it open handed on a righty setup? It will take you few weeks and everything goes better than before...

edit: look here how Dom Famularo explains open handed playing (http://www.vicfirth.com/education/drumset/domfamularo.html)

Stoned_Goldfish

10-21-2005, 01:11 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'll try it. have a nice day guys.

Peace,
Jacob

NaturalRaz

10-21-2005, 01:16 AM

Yes!

I play open handed....and it gives you an entire different drumming capability.

0neyellowdrum

11-05-2005, 04:49 AM

No Sir - no change

Playing as a lefthander on a righthanded kit is the best formula for great drumming.

There are some threads here at the Forum about this, my points are (...I'm also lefthander)

...you can sit in on every set, no problem

...you train your "Weaker" right hand by leading and develop nice lefthand licks on the snare..

You can do everything, what righties can, but some more, what righties not can do.

Take the freedom to play your ow..

Did you know, that only 5 percent of the population are lefthanded, but 50 percent of Sport-Greats? I

Bernhard

I hear this argument often but I still can not come to terms with this reasoning.
I am a left-handed person by nature. All of my fine motor skills eminate on my left; writing, drawing,shaving, etc. My power, however, eminates from my right; sports, lifting, carrying, etc. I play soccer with my right side being dominate, I bat right-handed, throw right-handed and so on. My first drum teacher had the same philosophy as Bernhard and tried to switch me to a 'righty' but it failed miserably. I just was not built that way. In fact, he found me to be an easy student to teach because I could mirror his example at lessons sitting facing him.
I ask this question to those who, like Bernhard, think a lefty has an advantage over a righty if a lefty converted to righty: With the logic expressed by Bernhard, would not a righty be better off switching to a lefty?

centralzeke

11-05-2005, 09:54 AM

fourstringdrums

11-05-2005, 09:37 PM

Hey guys! I'm really fascinated by this idea of playing open handed. I'm righty, and my left hand simply can't physically do a lot of things my right can. Open handed playing would probably help it catch up a bit.

My question is this. Dom says you have to lower your hi hat to do this. Why does he say this? My hi hat doesn't go any lower than it already is. Is it unsafe or harmful to do this normally hi hat with my left hand? Is it TOO cramped up? I mean, people do beats on the hi hat incorporating the left hand all the time, so I don't see any reason to buy a special hi hat that's lower...? All you're doing is removing the right hand. Anyone who's good at open handed playing, please reply!!

I'm right handed but because of having to use my left leg on the bass drum, I set up left handed. I use my left hand on the ride and my right hand on the hi-hat. So depending on how you look at it, I'm either playing the ride open handed or the hi-hat open handed.

Anyway, I have my hi-hat lowered just a bit higher than the snare. You don't have to do this (Carter Beauford doesn't) but it is more comfortable because with the hi-hat at a "regular" height, my arm feels like it's at a weird angle.

Basically if it feels good playing with your left hand on the hi-hat at the height you usually have it, do it. If it feels better with it lowered, do it. You don't have to buy a new hi-hat, depending on how your hi-hat is designed, if the bottom of the tube is just as low as it could go, but if it were shorter it would go lower, you can cut it. This is what Dom suggests. Luckily, my hi-hat goes as low as I need.

Wegadrummer

11-06-2005, 01:41 AM

I am left handed...
Wega + left handed = open handed playing..

yakbutter

11-06-2005, 02:31 AM

I'm practicing playing open handed on a right handed setup after 11 years of playing crossed. My left hand has gotten much, much stronger, and it's easier to lay into the snare on the e's and ah's now. It's twice the work, but the effect it has on technique and coordination is totally worth it. I used to think that my hands were of relatively equal strength since I could perform a single stroke roll with either hand at about the same speed. But once I tried putting the left hand to use on the hi-hat it totally exposed me.

I have a question for you open-handed players, though. If you were to play a fill down the toms would you play the pattern left-handed or right? I'm still playing all my fills leading with the right. It works out pretty nicely, and it's not as hard to switch back and forth as I thought it would be.

nomuzakpleeze

11-10-2005, 11:45 PM

Great topic guys.
I am a lefty playing a right hand kit, open-handed. For awhile it felt like I was the ONLY one doing this.

I think there are some things I can do more easily than a right-hander, like switch from hat to ride, or play both during a beat. I have my hat and ride close together, most of my action is to my left, I don't even get over to my floor tom much. Is this how other open-handers set up?

I do feel limited at times too. My two-handed hi-hat technique has always been poor. I feel like I'm fighting my way through a lot of 16ths beats My stick work gets a bit screwy at times too. (Granted, some of that is because I've never been very commited to practicing rudiments)

I start my fills with my left most of the time...Yak, did you have to train yourself to switch to right-start fills?

Sar

11-11-2005, 05:49 AM

I'm a lefty and I play right handed, back when I first started drumming I learned to play the drums with my left on a "righty" setup, and later on I switched to playing with my right because I wanted to get my right hand stronger (and also because I wanted to join the snare line at my school and so I had to practice with my right, you know we all have to look the same and can't have all 5 guys starting with the right and one starting with the left :P) And now I can play pretty much with both my hands of course I feel a tad more comfortable playing with my right than my left since I'm so used to playing with it, but I can play with my left just as good if I take time to get used to it...
I always try to keep them both equal... And I can't really say a lefty is better than a righty or a righty is better than a lefty because I don't think it's true we have some advantages they don't have and they have advantages we don't have, so you can't really say one is better than the other... But that's just my opinion, right? :)

Anduin

11-11-2005, 07:15 PM

...you can sit in on every set, no problem

This point is much more important than it might appear at first. Since the vast majority of kits are set up the so-called right-handed way, you'll limit yourself for the rest of your life if you set up the other way. You'll almost never be able to just casually sit in with a band, and if you've never done that, let me just say that it's one of the most fun live playing experiences you can have. Gets all the juices flowing, and expands your list of musical contacts as the band realizes the brilliance of your playing. (Y'know, going for the best-case scenario here.)

hanman

12-05-2005, 03:48 AM

Are there any TRUE advantages and any TRUE disanvantages to being left handed and drumming on adrum kit set up for a right handed person. btw, i've been drumming like this for about 3-4 years.
Also, how could i improve my rudiments on the practice pad.

Pedro

12-05-2005, 04:41 AM

If you're a left handed drummer playing on a right handed setup you have the adantage to play open handed and still have the option leading the hi-hat with your strongest hand. It's a more natural approach to drumming (my oppinion). But I would put your ride cymbal to your left. With this option you still have the possibility to play crossstick if you want that the snaredrum is led by the strongest had (is really interesting with some funck). And if you play open handed you have much more acces to your toms while still playing a pattern with your hi-hat.

RamboKnife

12-05-2005, 06:17 AM

I have a funny story like this. I'm left handed, and I got my set about a year and a half ago, which was set up RIGHT in my basement. I didn't know any difference, so I started to learn right handed. About a couple months into playing, I kept thinking, 'Jesus, why the hell this is so hard'...so one night somthing popped into my head to swtich my set around ( I must have seen Phil Collins set up or somthing...), and man, did I feel like an idiot. Good thing is though, my right foot is almost as strong as my left foot for my double bass pedal.

pearldjian0711

12-18-2005, 01:38 AM

im a left handed drummer and used to play on a right handed set up. it was nice playing open handed and was easy to do fast fills with toms. but when it came to cymbals thats where the problems started. it was hard to use the ride and had a hard time utilizing the hi-hat. to play comfortably i had to move all of the cymbals to the left side. it kind of looked funny so one day i decided to change it to a left handed set up and what a difference it made. but whatever your comfortable with and whatever feels right is all that matters. if you ever have a hard time for whatever reason, change your set up around maybe that will help.

DrumProgressive

12-18-2005, 01:29 PM

I'm a lefty too, but i never liked playing a right set up. I just switch everything. It gives trouble for ordering drum parts (sometimes, like double bass pedals) but for the rest it stays the same.

carlgough

12-18-2005, 08:35 PM

I've often wondered this myself.

I wish someone would have told me to arrange my kit differently when I was starting out - It's a real pain in the arse and, on reflection I would say it's stemmed my ability.

This is because we lefties tend to lead with the left hand but the bulk of what we're trying to access during fills and breaks etc. is to our right.

I still play a right handed some 15 years later but I've recently scaled my kit down to a 4 piece and added a second set of hats that allow me to play open handed. I'm far more comfortable with this set-up than I have ever been.

Furthermore, I'm trying to re-wire my brain to lead with the right hand (which will probably leave me dyslexic but what the hell).

I feel your pain friend.

Carl

hanman

12-18-2005, 09:32 PM

It would be neat to get an extra highhat on the right side of the kit. It would be like playing the ride. I saw a drum clinic last November with Kenny Aronoff, he isn;t left handed, but he said he like having the other highhat because he broke his nose when he played with his hands crossed; he said with his power and speed he got his nose in the way and it painfully broke. haha.

Ramsh

12-19-2005, 12:24 AM

I'm left handed and always play on my set (just played one live gig and no band yet), sometimes I play on right handed sets, it works because I'm in shape with my right foot because of doublebass, but my left foot could be better on hihat, this will change when I get my second TD-8 trigger module and a FD-8 hihat foot control. I'll relace my acoustic cymbals with e cymbals and my set will be for left and right handed :)

Tricked350z

12-29-2005, 11:18 PM

does any 1 have the case as me? being a right hannde person but being a left hannded drummer......but having the drumset set up for a right handed drummer

Ducky

01-01-2006, 12:03 AM

cough, if someone wants to buy a left handed double bass pedal PM me, cough

lol

Johnest

01-02-2006, 03:19 AM

[QUOTE=I ask this question to those who, like Bernhard, think a lefty has an advantage over a righty if a lefty converted to righty: With the logic expressed by Bernhard, would not a righty be better off switching to a lefty?[/QUOTE]

IM a left-handed drummer on a left-handed kit and nobody in the world is gonna make me change that for a suppose advantage. I have been playing that way for almost 20 years and my left foot is too strong to put it away.

Real lefty play real left-handed drums... hehehe

mickeyroberts

03-12-2006, 09:48 PM

Hey

I have played for 25 years,.............left handed but play right as well......simple when you sit in on a set you cannot change enitre kit, use to change just snare and floor tom and hi hat, learned to play right, but still kick it hard left
cheers
mickey roberts

MOONCHILD

04-04-2006, 01:14 PM

my friend is left handed and plays as right handed but he looks so silly when he plays funky rythms.

Battered Sausage

04-04-2006, 04:03 PM

I'm left handed and I play a 'lefty' setup. My right hand is soo weak.. i mean there's really only one use for it.. ; )
I'm gonna give playing a 'righty' setup open handed a go for a day or 2 and see what happens.

MAX ZNAEVSKY

04-07-2006, 07:01 AM

I'm playing openhanded on righthanded set (and I'm not lefty), and the strangest thing is I cannot play well enough on a left - handed set. But I can easily play like righthanders....

ReX

04-07-2006, 10:26 AM

I am a member of that superior breed, the Left Handers. Our superiority is demonstrated by our ability to peel potatoes, cut paper, and open tin cans with whatever you throw at us. We will not be defeated (in the kitchen, anyway...).

Sorry, back to biz. I'm a lefty. For me, everything is left handed except playing sports "below the waist"...I mean swinging a golf club and hockey stick which I do right handed.

Now to drumming...started several years ago, and did so with a righty set-up. My first (and since long gone) teacher, suggested I switch around to a lefty set-up, as I didn't seem to have much ooomph with my kick. Now (meaning starting last night), I have switched everything back to a righty set-up....

My hands honestly don't pose an issue here; I played open handed and crossed with the lefty set up. The feeeeeet is where I will have some work. Last night, I positively laid into the ol' hihat pedal on "1"!! And I had that kick rockin' back and forth on 2 & 4. Amusing.

Seriously, I really want to make a go of switching back to a righty set up; I see long term gain, albeit with some short term pain. Any suggestions, thoughts, etc would be appreciated. Moral support is appreciated too, even from right handers.

KevlarMittens

04-24-2006, 02:35 AM

Im lefthanded but i play right, and my lead foot is my left foot

Bernhard

04-24-2006, 09:12 AM

Drums are an instrument for both hands and feets - in modern drumming anyway.

And it asks for much training, learning and practicing over many years.

So why thinking one hand is more important (not true anymore!!) and give your so called better hand the lead and change the whole set in the opposite way?

Yes I know, there are lefthander guitars, but did you ever see a lefthand piano?

Don't underestimate the fact of sitting in with a band - these are the great moments of drummers live - and often decisive. For sure no time for changing everything - if you are not Phil Collins or Ian Paice.

Bernhard

mek55

04-25-2006, 03:43 AM

Left, Right,Left,right,right,left,right,left,.........no w I'm confused.
Play what you got.

flO

04-25-2006, 09:30 AM

Im right handed in everything I do and play a right handed set up, but for some reason I feel more comfortable leading with my left hand(although I can lead with my right nearly as well). I just started practicing playing open handed and im progressing pretty quick.

3003player

04-26-2006, 10:02 PM

I'm ambidextrous (which literally means "both right"). I throw darts with both hands, but I write with my left, golf with my right, etc. I play a left-handed setup, though. It's strange, but I never really thought twice about which way to go on the kit. I've never really tried, but I suppose I could at least play some simple stuff right-handed.

3003player

04-26-2006, 10:11 PM

And it looks SO STRANGE. Always when I'm watching a Video of Phil Collins or Ian Paice, I put a mirror beside the TV and look through the mirror - then it works for me.....

Bernhard

That mirror thing is an interesting idea. Being a left-handed player, I've always just sort of looked at right-handed drummers as a mirror image, more or less.

Sessionsets1319

04-27-2006, 12:26 AM

Any Left handers play a right handed set but lead with there Left hand? Just wondering
my friend at school fits ur description perfectly. he thinks he is alot better then he is though.

mok890

05-02-2006, 07:45 PM

Any Left handers play a right handed set but lead with there Left hand? Just wondering
I do but i find my self sometimes playing with my right

Jazz_Drummer

05-04-2006, 05:06 PM

I'm a lefty and I played a righty set up for more than six years. Half a year ago I changed my set up to play it the left way. After a few weeks I began to feel comfortable behind my kit. And I think I'm faster in learning new grooves now. I'm happy with my decide to change because my playing has become more precise since I have changed.

matt986

05-06-2006, 06:27 AM

Being self taught I never had any idea about proper technique. I started playing open, with my left hand leading and rocking out on my hi hat and playing on a righty config. eventually, i adapted my set. Most of my "power" hits and cymbals, as well as the ones I ride on most, are on the left. This includes my hats, ride, a crash and my china. On the right side I still have a few crashes because leading with the left hand on rolls makes it easier to come off of toms and accent on a crash on the right side.

One difficulty I have is playing ride patterns on my toms. I have two floor toms and it's difficult to do tom patterns because i'm not as strong with nmy right hand. I'm working on that, but for the time being I cross stick to ride on toms, kind of like how a righty does on his hi hat. ...whatever works I guess...

Colonel Bat Guano

05-08-2006, 05:36 AM

I'm lefty and have been playing my kit exclusively lefty for 23 years. Sitting in with another band is a pretty rare occurrence for me anyway. And if it's not O.K. with the other drummer to flip the hats, snare and floor tom around (leaving the mounted toms alone) then I guess I'm just S.O.L.... I can live with not participating in a jam session once in a while.

If my band is going to play somewhere with a house kit, or I'm forced to share a kit, I make absolutely sure it's O.K. to move it around before I agree to play the show. If I can't, then I'll end up playing a crappy show and I'll just live with it. Or we just won't play the show.

Life's too short and my practice time is too limited to change the way I play to accommidate people who can't make simple concessions. "It takes all kinds" and people should understand that...

seattlesouthpaw

05-17-2006, 06:13 AM

I have been playing drums with a left handed set up for 20 years. I cannot stand anyone telling me I should learn to play right handed! Many years ago at my first recording session I was forced to play right handed. There are so many great left handed musicians -Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix and Phil Collins to name a few legends. If you are a natural lefty and reading this emal thread, stay true to your God given talent and play the drums the right way - that would be left handed in your case! Don't let your band mates or drum teacher tell you any different! Lefty's bring something different to the mix and that is what sets us apart from the rest.

torben

08-16-2006, 01:19 AM

Any Left handers play a right handed set but lead with there Left hand? Just wondering

It depends...

I play a right handed kit, generally lead right handed... except when playing beats involving lots of accenting, when i lead left-handed...

That should confuse ya'!

aboylikedave

08-10-2007, 08:01 PM

Great thread. I'm a lefty who changed back and forth for years before settling on a righty set up. I think there is a brain aspect to all this as well as a stregth one. Strength wise I am completely left dominant, do everything with my left, I cannot use the kick pedal with my right foot for sh*t I have no power and to be honest it realy holds me back.

HOWEVER, brainwise I just feel so much coordinated and able to groove when playing right handed and have done so since my first lesson when I tried both out. Playing left I have speed and power and raw thud but don't seem to have space in my head to improvise fills etc. when playing left. Playing right just feels more relaxed for me.

I can work on stength, its just a pain that months of RF bass pedal practice gets me to where my LF is naturally.

And a final thought, when I play left, I regularly feel a bit nauseous. Its really noticeable. How weird is that?????

I'm seriously thinking of volunteering for some psychology students dissertation to do a project on l/r sides of the brain and drumming. There's some guy in the US who is a specialist on it, I even emailed him but he never replied!

aydee

08-10-2007, 08:33 PM

hello my bretheren! so happy to see this thread!

....... So how many time have you NOT sat in on a set because you didnt want to flip the hi-hat, twist like a gymnast to reach the ride cymbal, and had your fills sounding funny and backwards not to mention being wrong footed on the kick pedal.....and not want to come across as a total spaz.

I love being a lefty about everything I do, ......................except play drums...

may i sit in on yours? : )

p.s. I'll let you borrow my golf set?

Deathmetalconga

08-10-2007, 10:53 PM

I have always played open, left hand on hats and ride, right hand on snare. To me, there is no "left-handed" or "right-handed" way to play drums. I view it as more "crossed arms" and "open arms." People either play with hands uncrossed all the time, or they cross their hands when playing hats (everyone really wants to play open as much as they can, as even "righties" will put their ride on the right). Some people with ambidextrous setups play either hand ride, hats and snare, but they are still uncrossed.

I am right handed and I like having my right hand on the snare. The snare is the heart of the drum set and I like having my dominant hand there.

No one crosses their hands to play any other musical instruments, type, write, eat, use tools, drive or ride a bike. To me, people who cross their hands are the real ones playing left-handed, as lefties sometimes have to cross their arms to fit into the right-dominant world.