Left handed drummer looking for help!

[Morte et Dabo]

Hi guys, I'm a left handed drummer and have played with my kit set in the right handed way for a very long time now, and I've recently just got back into drums and have no started taking it seriously and have tried covers of songs and such. I have quite an amount of experience on the drums but when it comes to hitting anything on the right side with my right hand like a crash for a drum beat, I can do a normal rock beat, and when I try ad any extra snares, any insane double bass, I stuff up and it annoys me amazingly, considering I can do anything when I'm playing the hi-hat with my left hand.


What I'm asking is, do I try teach my self to play right handed? Or is it allowed to move JUST the cymbals around to the left side to make it easier, (and it does). This annoys the hell outta me and I don't want to convert my kit to a left handed way, because I'm not used to that. :(


Any help is greatly appreciated.


Thanks heaps.





Rupert.

[toddy]

you have an advantage. learn to play open handed. leave everything as it is and get rid of the insane double bass for a while.
put a ride on each side, hats on each side if you can afford to. symmetry.

if you can't play properly when using your left hand on the hi-hat then it's time to only play the hi-hat with your left hand. left on the ride. right on the ride. feet on the ride. whatever.

And out of darkness came the hands that reach thro' nature, moulding men.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

[tkav1980]

Give turning your set around a try. I'm left handed and it works great for me.

[Ami]

Hi Rupert,

Don't worry about what is "allowed", just set the kit up with the cymbals and drums wherever they are most comfortable for you.

Also, when introducing "any extra snares, any insane double bass" is difficult, you could try looping the difficult parts at a very slow tempo. Make a slow groove out of the new bit, and soon it will be easy.

Check out Billy Cobham, The innovator when it comes to left hand lead on a (mostly) right handed setup.

Have fun!
:-)

Ami

[rock fan]

ok im left handed and kick a ball with my left foot.On the drums i play left hand on hi hat right hand on snare right foot on bass drum pedal( open handed ) .You want to watch an awesome open handed drummer look up Carter Beauford or Phil Gould .You want to look at different kit set ups look at Ian Paice another legend to a lot of drummers( Deep Purple drummer if you didnt know).Everthing is allowed in drumming there isnt a set of rules that everybody follows.Set your kit up the way that is comfortable for you .Play the drums to sound good not look good .Drummings about ability not comestic posing stuff y6hats my opinion anyway

[instroverb]

I done a lot of research into which way to play. I'm left handed and set up that way. I tried right handed and was able to bang out some beats but lacked finesse. Left handed came more natural and I progressed much more rapidly and and was able to swing more easilly, The only disadvantage to playing on left handed set up is that you can't sit in at a gig. Many famous players played left handed set ups: Stan Levy, Mike Gibbons, Ian Paice, Phill Collins, Doug Wray, Charles Connor, Fito de la Parra, T. S. Monk, Buddy Harman, and more.

[instroverb]

Oh and, how could I forget: Daniel Glass and Slim Jim Phantom!

[bobdadruma]

As a lefty who plays a righty kit cross handed because that is what works best for me,
I suggest that you do what works best for you.
If open hand playing on a righty kit is the answer then that is what you should do.
There is no correct answer for this question.
You have to find your way.

[Stitch Kaboodle]

As a lefty who started out the same way on a right handed set up, I have to say I was pleased when I switched to a standard lefty setup (mirrored right hand setup).