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Ambidexterity

The ability to play any pattern comfortably while leading with any limb is a quest every drummer should go on. I myself am constantly practicing and working each time I sit behind the kit in an effort to bring my left side up to speed with my right. Although the reality remains that hard work and effort are key to developing limb independence, I have come up with a few ideas and methods that aided me.

First of all, there are things you can do in everyday life to help you create equality in your limbs. Start doing tasks with your weaker side. For example, if you are right handed/footed, then tune into a rock station in your car and tap subdivisions and backbeats along to songs with your left foot (and hand, if you like driving one-handed). If you normally open doors with your right hand, use your left instead. It seems stupid and pointless, but there's a very legitimate reason for doing all this: you strengthen the mental connection between your brain and your limbs as much as possible BEFORE you sit down to play. Real speed is not developed by getting gigantic muscles; real speed comes from improving the efficiency of the signal-sending process between your brain and limbs. Now it's true that opening doors or shaking hands with your weaker hand won't make you Buddy Rich, but it will help you grow accustomed to using either side at any time.

When it comes time to actually play, try creating a simple pattern using your comfortable side to lead. Then break it down using your weaker side to lead. It will sound awful. It will feel awful. You'll feel like you're back at square one all over again. But if you work at it, your limbs will slowly grow used to the perception change. There are plenty of technique books out there that suggest you play all sorts of sticking patterns and strange exercises; they have their place, but I believe that the best way is simply to create on your comfortable side and teach your weaker side to match. Over time it almost begins to feel as though you have created a "library" of sorts in your muscle memory, from which you become able to pull and combine a large number of ambidextrous limb patterns whenever you choose. Remember though that it is not a quick task to learn this method. Developing ambidexterity is a slow process, but when results begin to show you'll find yourself capable of playing truly fluid and fantastic rhythms.

If you'd like to try a hands-on example, head over to my section on polyrhythms and odd times. Play the examples given, using different hand and feet combinations. Try experimenting with polyrhythmic stickings; play the smaller value's beat 1s with your strong hand while holding the larger value's beats with your weaker one. Confusing? It sounds like it, but it's really not. Here's the "2 against 3" example from that section with sticking ideas.

1 2 3 4 5 6 <-- played constantly by your weak limb
1 2 1 2 1 2 <-- beats labelled 1 played by strong limb

Make sure you count out loud while doing these exercises, or you'll constantly find yourself lost in numbers. For further development, play all these exercises with just your feet, then mixing hands and feet together. Good luck!

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