Relearning to play- backwards.

Long ago someone mentioned seeing how off their left foot really was by playing single kick with just the left. Well, now I can attest that it really is a great exercise to help you keep in mind the need for equal footwork.

Its really cool to try to trick your brain after years of playing into not just letting your left foot lead, but be the exclusive kick foot. Anyone else do this from time to time?

Comes and goes in phases. Sometimes I'll be methodical for a stretch and then take a vacation and just freewheel for weeks. But yeah, equal hoofing counts big time.

Fo sho. I am making it a point to gradually try more and more complex things leading with the left, along with 10min of steady 16ths to a metronome 2-3 nights per week in my playing. So far the 10min cap is about 135bpm to stay steady. Lots of work do do to ensure I dont get like those people who cant play above 140 or below 190.

Very smart idea, man - something I've tried on and off through the years. Even having the tenacity to learn how to lead with a different foot or hand can pay off.

Last year, I was at an open jam with two drum sets - one was lefty. For whatever reason, I ended up double-drumming on the left hand kit to hold it together and was doing everything left hand lead. Never would've happened if I didn't occasionally have practice sessions like the one you describe above. Very cool idea that you're trying to grow the ability, chops, and endurance!

My ultimate goal is to be able to play whatever I want, from simple blues, to weird fusion stuff, to blasting death metal. But why work on practicing to just one of them, when I can work on them all?

I dont want to be one of these kids I hear at GC who can sit down and play a hat/snare/kick blast at 210bpm, and change it up by playing a hat/snare/blast at 205bpm and call that the boundaries of my abilities. I want to be able to blast at 220+, and then turn around and toss out some latin grooves with brushes, then jam to some Symphony X or Strapping Young Lad without breaking a sweat.

Thats what I call some goals.

I like your idea, and do it all the time. The weird thing for me is that I'm use to hearing the left kick on the up beat, so it gets confusing feel wise. You may want to look into GK's Master side and slave side when developing your left foot, because it can decrease the tendency of galloping/flaming when trying to play double kicks.

Heh...thread title reminds me of something we used to do back in some day or other. Not our invention, of course, but interesting to attempt and fun to pull off:

Take the main, recurring expression/passage/riff of a given original song, and learn to play it backwards. Record it. Run tape backwards.

Now you have forward-rhythm/note-order, backward-effect play of the main, recurring expression/passage/riff to use as an intro, coda, reprise, change-up...whatever.

Uh, you wanna be a rock drummer? lol. Derek Roddy comes to mind. Tries all kinds of stuff, and just passes for Metal Guy. Many have learned the patterns and general fit of many "styles". Few can actually play. There's a lot of depth and refinement that goes - has to go - into the basics - and 4 way drills at that before you'll be able to groove at anything, let alone everything.

Sounds like you've got the Mike Mangini bug.

And that is NOT a bad bug to have!

Your negative advice is starting to get confusing, Im not even sure what you said there. But yes, the world is lucky to have people like Roddy around who just plays everything he feels like, and tells people to get over the images they have about what a "this kind or that kind" of drummer has to sound like.

My dad used to say, "practice to everything, and you will get better at anything", or something along those lines.

Yeah but it's music. You can jock your way through a lot of drumming and make no music whatsoever.

I used to flip around the whole set to lefty and kept it there for 2 weeks..I think that was a big help for me. I havent done that in years. But it really 'wakes up' your left side of your body for sure.

I think having lofty goals is fine. The concentration should be on facility-only exercises until your limbs can do the things you want them to do.

What I think 1001 is saying is, there is a music part of this. To go from blues to fusion to blast beats is all fine and good, but to me there is a responsibility to play each of those styles authentically, which can take time. To say, "this is my latin beat....this is my blues beat.....this is my blast beat....etc" is kind of lame - no depth. That's why I like to avocate learning facility-only-independence-only-technique-only exercises to get your limbs in shape. Then its up to you to emerse yourself in the music...whatever style you like...and get inside it. We are talking a higher level of drumming here. Some guys just STOP after practicing and practicing chops...but have no musical sense whatsoever.....again, it's hard to teach taste to a musician, thats up to you and how much homework you want to take on. For a lot of guys it's hard to tame the chops once they have learned them. I also think playing with real musicians can help with taste as well, but thats another subject.... learning facility is great, but be very careful, they are not a toy. You can really hurt people (or their ears).

Yes yes, all that.

Fair enough, but Im not going through a Blues book, then a metal book, then a country book and saying yay Im all those things.

Ive been playing drums in one way or another since '96, and Ive spent significant time playing with bands in several various styles. Im not here to win 1001s or anyone elses approval in labeling, I do stand by the statement that I can be a rock & metal & blues & fusion & opera player all I want, cause I have played that music and more. I go to open mics where one second theres some classic rock guys, the next theres some dude with a sax, and after him theres an old lady with a banjo. I dont sit there and play the same for each of them, I have learned through experience (not lessons or rudiment books) how to adjust and flow with the style that is presented.

I do not believe someone has to commit themselves to one preference to be any good at it, or even among the best. In fact, I think people that get such tunnel vision about their "genre" or technique to themselves a giant disservice musically.

Maybe we are arguing the same point here, cant really tell. I think I could say that the Earth orbits the sun and 1001 would find an argument to make.

Maybe we are arguing the same point here, cant really tell. I think I could say that the Earth orbits the sun and 1001 would find an argument to make.

Skynet comprehends.

Fair enough, but Im not going through a Blues book, then a metal book, then a country book and saying yay Im all those things. Ive been playing drums in one way or another since '96, and Ive spent significant time playing with bands in several various styles. Im not here to win 1001s or anyone elses approval in labeling, I do stand by the statement that I can be a rock & metal & blues & fusion & opera player all I want, cause I have played that music and more. I go to open mics where one second theres some classic rock guys, the next theres some dude with a sax, and after him theres an old lady with a banjo. I dont sit there and play the same for each of them, I have learned through experience (not lessons or rudiment books) how to adjust and flow with the style that is presented. I do not believe someone has to commit themselves to one preference to be any good at it, or even among the best. In fact, I think people that get such tunnel vision about their "genre" or technique to themselves a giant disservice musically. Maybe we are arguing the same point here, cant really tell. I think I could say that the Earth orbits the sun and 1001 would find an argument to make.

I getcha. I wasn't trying to argue...just discussing. I feel like I do simular..use my ears and experience to play music...any music (more or less...Im definitely not a master at...well not much)

Merlin likes me 'cuz I pick on um.

Merlin, let me ask you the Golden Question.

You've played for a long time. Have you ever played GOOD?

lawl ... yuk yuk etc ...

Yeah you can hack your way through all kinds of pay. Most of nowadays gigs are like that. So variety does count. But you always quantify your fantasies with a tinge of , da bestest, hottsest, and shudder, _actually_accomplished_ , exponent of modern drumming ... Of course you're gonna get the actual standards from me. And it don't end at me neither.

Merlin likes me 'cuz I pick on um. Merlin, let me ask you the Golden Question. You've played for a long time. Have you ever played GOOD? lawl ... yuk yuk etc ... Yeah you can hack your way through all kinds of pay. Most of nowadays gigs are like that. So variety does count. But you always quantify your fantasies with a tinge of , da bestest, hottsest, and shudder, _actually_accomplished_ , exponent of modern drumming ... Of course you're gonna get the actual standards from me. And it don't end at me neither.

I have no idea what that last paragraph is about. It does end with you brother, cause youre the only one talking about whatever it is.

I have no fantasies, hence I went to college and have a career in healthcare. I also dont talk to people about their abilities without showing my own. So like was said before, put up or shut up.

But yeah, I do like you, except when you make nonsensical arguments. Unlike some people who will remain named MX , I dont get all touchy, and am glad that you dont either.

Playing dumm is dumm. And you do have fantasies about being a good player. One of the prime criteria is playing good. And requisite to that is being able to recognize good. bla bla.

My playing has nothing to do with the merits of my posts. And community and all, posting your work gratis is retarded. If it's good, you get copped. Worse if retards don't get it, duh.... so essentially you having trouble with my input is your problem. Forge ahead if you like.

Uno problemo, senor ~ you forgot that some of us like to post things simply because... we want to share.

Alllow me to phrase that in your native tongue: 1000111010110001110101100011

1010110001110101100011101011000111010110001110101

Uno problemo, senor ~ you forgot that some of us like to post things simply because... we want to share. Alllow me to phrase that in your native tongue: 1000111010110001110101100011 1010110001110101100011101011000111010110001110101

Not a problem. I enjoy the well turned clip as well as anyone. I also have no need to play my abilities as ammo - not that they'd have any impact on the tatooded rock crowd lol - a good enough reason as is. Not that I don't wish to share music, drum foruns aren't the place is all.

I share ideas. ( HOLY FORUM BATMAN!!1!!! ) To those offended, glad you got sprayed. Maybe some day you learn thinking?

Add green gingham to list ...

Is that the name of the pattern on her dress? `Cause yeah, that's awful.

12 bit gingham or 8 bit plaid. Can't tell. Green's kinda soothing actually. Nice tablecloth.

Now prissy bitch is another story.

Dug your post on Backstage.