Keeping time with the other hand?

[ARCHxANGEL]

So I've been playing drums for a little over 18 years now. More than half my life as it would be. I'm right handed so I was taught to play as such. But recently I decided to teach myself the opposite. So when I'm home practicing I'll keep time with my left hand,snare on the right. It has opened up a few new doors I didn't think about. I find I'm able to attack certain fills that felt or seemed weird before. Anyone else ever try anything like this?

[Olddrumgeek]

At one time I used the book - techniques for the modern drummer by Jim Chappin, - I'm not sure it might be called modern jazz drumming. Doing the swing ride patterns leading with left on ride snare with right. I later did the Gary Chester new bread book, I don't know if you read though? However along the way I just tended to go back to doing it the regular way. It's a highly recommended thing to learn and do though. Didn't Billy Cohbam lead with his left? When you hear his big long crushing fills I suppose it comes from that. Yes keep it up it does open up new doors.

[Olddrumgeek]

I 'should' be the best drummer in the world by now!. Well I have to show some modesty.

[ARCHxANGEL]

hehe. I haven't read those yet but I will certainly look into them. Always on the look out for new things to add to the tool box.

[Olddrumgeek]

I would realy recommend it.The Jim Chaplin book is all jazz and swing and the new breed is more contemporary ' modern'. It's hard work that new breed but well worth the effort. It also realy teaches you to concentrate, and how to hear and be aware of what each limb is doing separately and as a whole.

[ARCHxANGEL]

Sounds similar ( somewhat ) to the Thomas Lang DVD I picked up a few years back. It's Creative Coordination & Advanced Foot Technique. I truthfully haven't gotten past the first dvd in the set yet. I swear the ****her along into drumming I have gotten, the harder it has become. Man I love drums!


Side note - It was blocking the word F A R T H E R from typing out. I know some bad F words, but that's not one,lol

[salty 1322]

Hi, Jay!
I have been drumming for over fifty years and am constantly learning. Although I am almost computer illiterate, I still take lessons online and constantly strive to improve my techniques. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! I like your attitude, sir!
Brian

[thomasehirshiii]

Don Famularo refers to this as open handed handed technique. He has a couple good books on the topic. The weaker side, Open handed playing Vol 1 & 2.

[ARCHxANGEL]

I'm also slightly tempted to set-up a lefty kit for myself. This way I also get used to cross sticking left handed, and learn to lead lefty for fills and such. What sparked this whole left handed craze of mine is a newer band called Ghost. They are classified as metal, but honestly these guys play a little of everything. The members are still unknown publicly. But the drummer threw me all off. He plays lead with both hands, depending on the part of the song. Sometimes he'll play open handed, but then he'll cross and doesn't skip a note. I'd never seen a guy before be so fluid and masterful with both hands. I cannot tell which his natural is, which indicates to me that at this point both are.

Salty_1322 I've been doing the same online. I'll check things out on Youtube, as well as other sites. Recently also took a lesson from Glen Sobel. He was in the area on tour, and one of the local studios put on a clinic and a few drum lessons. Great guy, great time. Fist thing he did was inspect my sticks, he liked what he saw. And to me, that's a little thing, but one that impacts everything.

[geckobeats]

These books are great. And I am a fan of Chapins book and the new breed book you mentioned. But you can trust your mind as well. And in doing so maybe make greater strides quicker because the learning is internal.
What do I mean? I mean just translate all that knowledge of playing "righty" that you can now do voluntarily into playing open. Stick on that metronome and start playing our shared basic grooves, the pop beats, jazz time with comping and the latinesque grooves. You'll be flying in no time.
If you've had lessons or have drum books you've kept through your learning over the years just re-configure them.
I've found I have a different feel going that way.
Ever tried the 16th note disco/funk grooves (rlrlrlrlr) starting with the left? I find them amazing. You free up the right hand so it can wander around the kit, or play the ride with it.

Just a thought.

That's not to say ignore the rigour of those aforementioned books. It's just you don't need a book to tell you now play left on ride.