traditional left hand roll

[Funky Crêpe]

i have jojo mayer's dvd on hand technique, and i have watched many a time, but dad gum......i still can't get that left hand roll down, it's just so hard!! does anyone on the forum (who can do it!) have any advise??.....and the man makes it look so easy!


Ps: I apologize for my use of the term "dad gum".......I just had to use it some time.

[Funky Crêpe]

nobody has mastered it yet?? ah, so it's not just me ;)

[blasterbeat]

I feel your frustration. My left limb is my weaker one naturally plus as an added bonus I am unable to bend the top knuckle of my lefthand index finger and only partially bend the middle knuckle of same finger due to a childhood injury. Therefore, it is nigh impossible for me to cradle the stick between those two knuckles which in turn affects the fulcrum of the stick in that hand. Any left handed technique for me is a bit of a chore.

If it wasn't for that index finger I would be shredding on a guitar as well as getting my groove on drums. Sorry for not being able to give any advice, it just sucks always feeling like the only member of the left hand handicap club. LOL.

[MCS]

It's the same old advice I'm afraid. Start REALLY slow and build it up from there.

I started with 16th notes at 40 bpm, which allowed me to really understand what was happening with the motion and then gradually speed it up over the preceeding months. At first I had very little control of the stick, but over time it all started to come together. There's no secret or short cut to this stuff, it's just a lot of repetition and patience.

Jojo isn't anymore 'gifted' than anyone else, he has just spent a lot of time and effort working on this to get it to the level he has. At the end of the day, it's a skill like any other and with enough time and patience you'll get it mastered! Stick with it :o)

[donv]

i have jojo mayer's dvd on hand technique, and i have watched many a time, but dad gum......i still can't get that left hand roll down, it's just so hard!! does anyone on the forum (who can do it!) have any advise??.....and the man makes it look so easy!


Ps: I apologize for my use of the term "dad gum".......I just had to use it some time.

Trying to get where JoJo's at is unfair. Actually it's just unfair that he can do the things that does. That "flipping" he does with palm up, palm down I've practiced god knows how much, and I've gotten almost nowhere compared to him. As for his Buddy Rich fingering stroke, I've gotten closer to what he does by adding a bit of an upstroke to the technique. Do what he does, but also from the elbow add a slight up and down motion. It may take a bit to get the proper feel but it added a lot to my potential with the technique. I also do this with the right hand. For whatever reason, I have a hard time using my thumb as he suggests, and this elbow movement has worked as a partial substitute.

I hope how I wrote this makes sense to you. I only have an old video recorder--the huge, heavy one that takes a VHS tape so I can't youtube an example for you. Or if I can, I don't know how.

EDIT: For the record, my suggestions are NOT meant to be substitutes for putting the time in to learn what JoJo show's us. There just shortcuts to be able to use a sense of what he demonstrates and are by no means meant to be an either-or.

[JimmyK]

it takes a loooooot of daggum time thousands of people have watched that video, but you gotta practice the crap out of it. I mean, that's years man. Once you can pinpoint what he's doing though, that's the key, because then the practice will be worthwhile! Hope that helps at all

Jimmy

[Fiery]

I feel your frustration. My left limb is my weaker one naturally plus as an added bonus I am unable to bend the top knuckle of my lefthand index finger and only partially bend the middle knuckle of same finger due to a childhood injury. Therefore, it is nigh impossible for me to cradle the stick between those two knuckles which in turn affects the fulcrum of the stick in that hand. Any left handed technique for me is a bit of a chore.

If it wasn't for that index finger I would be shredding on a guitar as well as getting my groove on drums. Sorry for not being able to give any advice, it just sucks always feeling like the only member of the left hand handicap club. LOL.
A guy I know has no index finger on his right hand and no index or middle finger on his left hand, but boy, can he ever groove. And let's do not forget Django Reinhardt.
Don't let your slight handicap hold you down. work your way around it.

[Funky Crêpe]

thanks for the replies.....the really annoying thing about this whole technique is the fact that i am NOT really weaker on my left hand, it's relativly equal. And i have practiced it quite a bit, but just can't do it.
I'm of course going to keep trying though, i can do his push pull thing, but just not the roll. I just set up this thread to see if there were any tips ye had......shortcuts really! i guess theres none with this particular technique, just hard work.