Should I play left or right handed

[VirtualSamana]

I am a lefty. I have already fooled around on a recently aquired drum kit and set it up left handed. I have been playing for a few months lefty and dig it. The problem is when I am not playing my kit. The majority of the people in this world are right handed and set their kit up that way as well. Am I at a real disadvantage playing lefty. Do other left handed drummers play right handed and just get used to it?

Would love to hear from everyone especially lefties.

 

[stonepiano]

how's about this. when I was twelve, I was an established lefty in all aspects of life. my guitar teacher, the wise lady that she was, decided I needed to learn to play right handed. I objected at first but, after seeing how it wasn't brain surgery either way, I stuck with it. The good part is, fourteen years later, I can play nearly anyone's guitar on the spot. The sad part is I still can't play a lick left handed. I want to be special again!@!!

Ok, now here's where I get to how this applies to you. I took drum lessons from my band's drummer so we could do rotation jams (I know, so nineties...) and, again, the world forced me to learn right handed because the drummer didn't want to switch everything around for me. This time, knowing it wasn't so scary, I jumped in and can play basic two four beats fine.

The moral of the story; it's worth the sacrifice to learn to play right handed. It will give your playing different handicaps than most drummers but might afford you interesting strengths most righties can't achieve. Good anecdote; Everyone has to play piano with the low keys on the left. We can't change that. Well, George Gershwin was a lefty and wrote some of the most revered, interesting pieces in modern American music precisely because he HAD to approach the instrument differently. he had bass notes in his left hand where most people clunked out chords and his stupid hand was supposed to be doing all the nifty melodic runs. All he did was revolutionize Jazz and influence just about everyone we listen to in this country today.

Okay, if that's not the pep talk of all time, I don't know what I can tell you. Sally forth, my fellow lefty and innovate!

Stone

 

[theletterq]

I'm a lefty but play both guitar and drums right handed (golf too but that's another story entirely). I started this way simply because I didn't know any better. I had no guidance when I began and just started playing the way I saw the majority of drummers play.

Guitar came about by picking up other people's guitars and it just grew from there.

Try both ways and see what is most comfortable for you. I can play left handed "ok".

 

[boose44]

I'm a natural lefty and have always played and set up left handed. Have been playing over 30 years, I just play better left handed vs. right handed.

When using other people's kits such as on jam nights at clubs, etc.. Some drummers are horrified if I ask if I can switch them around.

Usually I won't even bother to ask if it's a big kit and they are heavily miked. I know what a pain it is to get everything positioned just right.

I've learned to compensate by playing the bass drum right footed, but still use my left hand for hi-hat and ride. This means that I typically don't play as well, but them's 'da brakes.

-bruce

 

[foreverain4]

i am a righty, and i have been playing lefthanded lately. learn both dude! i opens up a whole new can of creativity and dexterity. sometimes i set up right handed, and play righthanded. sometimes i set up right handed and play open handed. likewise when i set up lefthanded. speaking of which, when i played baseball, i was a righthanded hitter, but i could switch. i could not hit as hard left handed, but i could put the ball pretty much exactly where i wanted it on the feild. same with bowling, about a year ago i started bowling left handed cause i have a bit of tendonitis in my right forarm. i now bowl a 200 pretty consistantly. i know it isnt THAT good, but compare that to 70 or 90. hahah! sorry to rant. do left handed people tend to have more accuracy?



lynn
www.therecordinghouse.com

 

[woody-34]

Hey ,

I agree completly with Lynn, I'm a lefty and have been playing for 15 years as a lefty. But over the years Ive incorporated playing right handed into my practice routine. It is an excellent way to work on 4- way independence skills and power and control of the weakside limbs. (Right hand and foot.) Try it and youll be amazed the next time you sit in on a backwards righthanded kit!!!!!!!

Best of luck

Dave