Where the lefties/southpaws at???

[Zapruder1337]

Im prolly gonna regret this post, oh well.....
IM A LEFTY who plays with their drum kit setup left handed. I honestly dont get why it's such a big deal? Ppl string guitars upside down to play lefty, and teachers they get lessons from dont make em play righty.
You know you'd think someone your paying for lessons who preaches being ambidextrous on the kit regardless wouldn't throw a hussy fit cuz you play lefty. Your the teacher, your supposed to be making the student get/feel comfortable with playing drums. I just dont get all fuzz about it honestly.

 

[Squirrel Man]

I think @Elvis is a southpaw

 

[shuffle]

Im a lefty.
I have to reverse everything.
Im self taught.
I even used a mirror to view progress.
Ive hosted a jam for 9 yrs,never a problem.
I dont see it as a fault ever.
Ask Collins or Morgansteen,etc.

 

[bpaluzzi]

I haven't ever seen other people having a problem with someone playing left-handed, but it can definitely make life more difficult for the drummer themself. Any place that you're sharing drums becomes much more of an issue. Jam sessions are basically ruled out, kit share at gigs becomes an issue. And that's not including any of the issues with teaching materials, videos, etc. that are all geared towards righties.

I strongly encourage all of my students to try a right-handed kit, for those reasons. If they're adamant that they want to stay left handed, I'd let them, but I've never had that happen. I think the fact that I am left handed, but have always played on a right handed kit helps convince them.

 

[SteveParadis]

I haven't ever seen other people having a problem with someone playing left-handed, but it can definitely make life more difficult for the drummer themself. Any place that you're sharing drums becomes much more of an issue. Jam sessions are basically ruled out, kit share at gigs becomes an issue. And that's not including any of the issues with teaching materials, videos, etc. that are all geared towards righties.

I strongly encourage all of my students to try a right-handed kit, for those reasons. If they're adamant that they want to stay left handed, I'd let them, but I've never had that happen. I think the fact that I am left handed, but have always played on a right handed kit helps convince them.

I just started playing drums last year. I’m left-handed and play right handed kit.Never really felt a problem. However I am just at the beginner stage. I try to practice my rudiments and a page or two out of Stick Control every day. My right hand is weaker but I’m working on that with exercises. My right foot is weaker but improving. I just think it’s not that big a deal if you keep doing basic exercises daily. Just my opinion, and like Sergeant Schultz, I know nothing!

 

[ian.thomas]

I'm lefty, but play right. When I got my first set back in 7th grade I set it up left, but then when I got to 9th/high school there was only one set in jazz band for a few drummers. And since I was the freshman, I learned to play right. Sometimes I'll set my drums up left, but I suck playing left now (actually I suck playing right too).

 

[AtlantaDrumGuy]

I’m a lefty, but I learned on a right handed kit (like Ringo did). Didn’t know any better when I started. So I play the right handed setup.

 

[drawtheline55]

I am a lefty, but am right handed, also left footed, weird I know.

 

[JDA]

Just signed up... Lefthanded drummer here...

Greetings everyone! I stumbled on this forum and realized that it is one of the better ones I have seen. I am primarily a horn player, guitarist, keyboardist, and can play drums as well. What's odd is all my gear is naturally righthanded, but yet when I play drums, I play Lefty, like Phil...

www.drumforum.org

 

[Sambo84]

Lefty here and play a lefty configuration. I just learned that way but for a long time kind of regretted that I hadn't just learned to play a 'righty' config, since at the end of the day we use both hands and both feet. Yes it presents the familiar challenges of sharing equipment but actually I am sometimes glad my lefty kit at home keeps random beaters from jumping on the kit xD I've kind of just developed the ability to reverse notation in reading material , although that 4-Way Coordination book can be kind of challenging to interpret. Mostly have come to terms with playing lefty and not looking back!

 

[Downbeat]

Lefty, lefty here. I've never seen it as a problem. In fact, it comes in handy sometimes when "that guy" wants to sit in.

 

[kdgrissom]

Lefty, but learned and play righty. (Bonus! =traditional grip always felt normal)

 

[BennyK]

I'm a righty in most things , but complete lefty on the drums - hihat on the right side , left foot on the bass drum, etc .

 

[John DeChristopher]

Lefty here too. I’m self taught and started off playing righty, but switched to a lefty set up about six months in. Wish I’d stayed righty. I sat in on Rick Marotta’s kit a couple of weeks ago and didn’t embarrass myself too much - played the bass drum with my right foot and open handed on the hi hat and snare. It’s a right handed world.

 

[ButchA]

I just signed up earlier... I'm a lefty (but righty on other instruments).

I made an Introduction type of posting on the main general forum.

 

[repete]

I write with my left hand. That's about all it's good for -

 

[IBitePrettyHard]

I haven't ever seen other people having a problem with someone playing left-handed, but it can definitely make life more difficult for the drummer themself. Any place that you're sharing drums becomes much more of an issue. Jam sessions are basically ruled out, kit share at gigs becomes an issue. And that's not including any of the issues with teaching materials, videos, etc. that are all geared towards righties.

I strongly encourage all of my students to try a right-handed kit, for those reasons. If they're adamant that they want to stay left handed, I'd let them, but I've never had that happen. I think the fact that I am left handed, but have always played on a right handed kit helps convince them.

I'm left-handed as well and I've always played righty, and I'm so glad I do. I've been in hundreds of situations playing with other drummers where it would've been inconvenient at best, or impossible at worst to play left-handed!

Funny enough, as a result of playing right-handed, my right hand is actually faster than my left hand.

 

[owr]

Present an unapologetic

 

[owr]

I'll add that there is being left handed, and also left footed. I'm both and was that way long before I ever sat at a drum kit. Folks sometimes forget about that when they suggest one should just play open handed on a righty kit.

 

[distantplanet]

Lefty with a right-handed setup here.
Do we have ambidextrous players in the group?