Introduction and a query...

Drumforthelolz

Junior Member
Hi, I'm Drumforthelolz (first name Luke) and I aspire to be a drummer soon.

My school has drumming classes, and I'm currently on the wait list, I signed up mid- year after having a mess around on my cousins drum kit, loved every second. Got some pretty basic knowledge of the individual parts after research.

Anyway, the thing is, I follow (or try to) follow in Rick Allen's footsteps (lost arm in car crash, played for Def Leppard even after the crash JUST FINE although he had a totally redesigned drum kit.) I still have both arms, yet one is less functional but I still have basic use and can use both on the drums. But the same goes for my legs. I wonder if this shall affect my drumming to a point where I can only play basic rhythms?

Thanks,
Luke
 
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Hey Luke,

Welcome to the forum, and to the world of drumming!

I was a big Def Leppard fan back in the day, and I remember when Rick Allen lost his arm in the car crash (dates me, I know). Anyhow, at the time DL was at the top of the charts and had a huge following after Pyromania, and waited 4 years to release their next album with their one-armed drummer.

It all worked out fine for them, and my point is that if you work hard and have patience, you can achieve anything. You will obviously learn differently that someone with 100% use of all their limbs, but make that motivate you instead of limit you. I practice one handed, both left and right handed, all the time, and I also like to practice playing lefty (I normally play right). My guess is that you will get very creative with your "good' arm and leg, and figure out different ways to accomplish what you are attempting. I would suggest getting a starter kit to practice at home while you are waiting for school.

Whatever you do, just have fun :-/
 
Hi Luke-

Welcome to Drummerworld, and don't let anything stop you from following your aspirations.

In short, having less functional limbs (or even missing limbs completely as in Rick Allen's case) will give you some disadvantages when playing drums. But it can also create a world of advantages and can allow you to focus on two of the most important aspects of drumming: keeping good time and creating a good feel.

A few years ago I had most of my right hand severed off by heavy machinery. Thanks to an amazing doctor who re-attached it and years of rehab I still have my right hand and it has pretty functional use, though it has left me permanently disabled. Since drumming had been my biggest passion since I was 4 years old, I used drumming as motivation to do all the physical therapy and rehab necessary to get my hand working again.

While recovering I spent 11 months practicing with one hand and two legs and it allowed me to change my focus and approach to drums. Now since you are new to drums, it may take some time to grasp the importance of some of the following concepts, but more than anything I want to encourage you to pursue drumming despite disabilities because: A) Drumming is great therapy for anyone, and B) As you well know, we learn to adapt to our situations and often these adaptations open wonderful, new creative doors.

The main thing that a drummer can focus on - even a drummer who only has a left foot and no other limbs - is keeping good time. Yes, with one arm less-functional than the other it will be harder to play complex beats and mind blowing fills. But you can still develop a rock solid sense of time, and that is what will make people want to play with you more than anything. Instead of spending time practicing complicated chops, spend your time practicing playing to a metronome - even if it is with just one limb - and really listening and internalizing the flow of time. Yes, you can play beats with just one hand. And you can also make a room full of people dance by just playing one simple note on the snare drum (the "backbeat") at the perfect time just two times per measure.

Another thing I have done is developed my well-functioning limbs to compensate for my poorly functioning right hand. Most drummers have a right hand that can play faster and more complex patterns than their other limbs. I made it my goal to try to get my left hand and two legs to play the speeds and patterns that my right hand once played. It has opened many new doors.

I embraced the "less is more approach" and found that playing less notes at the perfect time, and therefore allowing more space for the other instruments to play, was a simple and easy way to make the song as a whole sound as good as it can be. My disability has also opened up the world of linear drumming (a concept that you may not know as a beginner), and this approach to drumming has helped me create a style that is more personal than any style I had in the decades before I was injured.

A member of this forum also has a great website: handidrummed.com

I don't know if it would benefit you, but the only reason I'm able to play with two drumsticks/two hands is because of a drumming glove I found on the internet: drumglovemusic.com

Luke, please send me a Private Message with any other questions you may have, and if you send me your email I will send you an partial article I have written on drumming with 3 limbs or less.

I have more I could share but that's too much 6-fingered typing for me right now ;) -Alex
 
Super super great post Dibalo Jonze. Luke, a very big welcome to the forum. There's a few guys on here with various physical challenges, I'm one of them (and probably one of the lucky ones). I have a spinal tumor that causes disfunction in my legs, & sometimes pain in my arms. I cannot predict what the affect will be, or when. That's difficult to manage, but it hasn't stopped me. Most other players who see my gigs don't even know what I'm going through.

I won't repeat the quite superb advise given in the previous two posts, but I will highlight the key elements of having fun and adapting your playing style according to your abilities. As you can probably tell from my username, I believe passionately in the skills or reserve, timing, dynamic, performance & feel. These are the skills that set apart the good pro players from everyone else, and the very same skills that aren't affected by your physical challenges.

It's great to have you here with us. Good luck, KIS.
 
Hey guys, sorry for the late post, but I'm now in a new school year and got on lessons just today. I could play fine, the teacher adjusted the pads to a slightly more accessable angle. I could use both hands and legs fine. Thanks for the help guys!

-Luke
 
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