I am struggling with my hands...watch the video....your help please!

[vdrumforGod]

I have really struggled with my rolls for a while. I took lessons for almost 3 years when I first started 9 years ago and then stopped for 3 years and started again 3 years ago.My left hand really sucks and that is because over the last 3 years I had really failed to give it the attention like what the right hand recieved. (I guess this is what happens when you are not disciplined when you start to play in practicing with all limbs equally) Especially since I am right handed and all the motor skills and coordination had already been developed over the years. I have been working with my left hand seperately like crazy for a long time. I have been using the instruction from JoJo Mayers movie and the tips have been great. I know my left hand is not as developed as my right so my rolls flam when I get to certain speeds. My doubles are choked but they have all gotten better. One thing that I have been really looking at when I see others play is that their hands seem to go more effortlessly around the toms, whereas my hands seem to have to really work to get around. I was hoping you great drummers could give me some critique on what you see. Am I trying to "muscle" it too much? Or maybe not using the fingers enough? or not taking advantage of the rebound enough? I will see folks that hold the stick almost at the end and get great fluidity on rolls around the kit eventhough they may not have the stick postioned in the best "fulcrum" spot. So please all you trained eyes out their I need your help. Thanks

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21770&d=1224980224

[t_henson]

a couple books that may help that i would recommend are "stick control for the snare drummer" by george lawrence stone. i also like "contemporary drumset techniques" by rick latham. i would definitely start with stick control first. also, if you have a good instructor, he should be able to critique your technique.

[Doramuboy]

I'm no expert but my thoughts are you may be trying to work the sticks too much instead of letting them work for you. I would suggest slowing it right down to 60bpm and practicing single stroke rolls / double stroke rolls with a metronome on the snare only.

Gradually increase the tempo and remember to stay relaxed all the time. Increase the tempo at 5bpm increments and keep the same good form. Once you are comfortable with that, start to work you way around the toms.

I hope this helps!

[sbslawrence]

You look pretty darn good in the video but here's a nit pick: I notice that the pinky of your left hand comes off the stick when you play with your fingers on the single stroke rolls. Try working single stroke rolls with each finger on the left hand individually, including the pinky, and see if you can get all your fingers working together.

[vdrumforGod]

Thanks for the advice. I have the stick control book and again, I am one who struggles with discipline, but I will go back to it. I also just orderd "The Weaker side", by Dom Famularo which covers training the weaker sides of our bodies. Thanks again,

Brian

[Fat Rich]

Maybe also check out Dom's stuff on the Free Stroke, see if you can get more bounce off the heads (if you're not aready!)

He also switched to playing open and put his ride above his hi hat. Maybe you could try practicing a few things with your left hand on the hi hat, right hand on the snare. If that makes your left arm get tired really quickly then there's some room for improvement there.

I'm not necessarily suggesting you change to playing open all the time, but just to build accuracy, strength and stamina in your left hand.

Having said all that, I'd be well pleased to be able to play as well as you

[vdrumforGod]

I will take your advice.....and thanks for the kind words.

Brian

[2112]

Watched the vid..

O.k... a little background so you know where I'm coming from. I am a firm firm believer in rudimental drumming as a foundation. This is they way I learned and the way I instruct.

That being said. Heres a couple of good things I noticed.

1) Nice speed, and good singles.
2) Your pretty fluid around the kit, very good.

Now to the items to work on.

1) Start working on "the grid"... this is basically sets of four notes (or three notes if your working triplet based patterns).

With a metronome on about 60bpm, play four sixteenth notes (four notes) per beat. Play this consistently. For several minutes. When its clean, move the speed up 20 bpm and continue. CONCENTRATE on being even. Try to sound like a machine gun, perfectly even. Keep moving the speed up until you start to get uneven... then move back down one level and lock that in before moving on.

Spend about 5 minutes on this... then move on to accenting the first note of each group of four. Then the second note, then the third, then the fourth...

Then the first two... second two... etc.
then 1st and third...
When accenting notes, make sure you use the same heights for the low notes and the same for the high notes. Low notes about 1-2 inches off the head, and high around 3-4 inches.

Literally every time you play - do this with a metronome.

THEN
Work the grid using groups of three. same deal... this will help your triplet base feel (Swing and 6/8 feel).

Notice I didn't talk about rolls yet? Exactly. You can't roll until you are even.

Once you are even and playing well with a metronome, start working rolls as follows:

1) DOUBLES ONLY AT FIRST! I noticed a lot of triples in your playing.... leave them alone for now. The timing is different, and you need to have a solid feel before you can do triple stroke rolls.

2) Work the grid again... this time instead of accenting notes, double them. Same as before. This will work your doubles, 5 stroke rolls, etc. eventually, you will do groups with 4 single strokes and then 4 doubles.

Most importantly... METRONOME METRONOME METRONOME. Use it until you can subdivide the beat in your head. You need to feel the pulse ALL THE TIME!

You have a great start going, but the biggest thing I see is consistency..

[John.b]

Hi Brian, Im not an expert or anything but feel I must just point out something.

Ive never had a lesson in my life but it was the excepted fact in my day that you keep the kick going during a fill (atleast on each beat) cause it helped to keep the time and tended to even out the rolls. It also made re-entry sound better.

I think your powering through the 16ths too much. Keeping the kick going may even this out.

By the way, I think you've got a good left hand.

OK so I'm an old git, and well past my sell-by date, but I know talent when I see it.

[vdrumforGod]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I am copying down your suggestion 2112 and going to work on it. God Bless

[vdrumforGod]

Accenting?

Watched the vid..


Spend about 5 minutes on this... then move on to accenting the first note of each group of four. Then the second note, then the third, then the fourth...

Then the first two... second two... etc.
then 1st and third...
When accenting notes, make sure you use the same heights for the low notes and the same for the high notes. Low notes about 1-2 inches off the head, and high around 3-4 inches.

Literally every time you play - do this with a metronome.

What is the purpose of adding the accenting in the goupings? Is it supposed to get your hands comfortable for when transitioning to different drums in the middle of a roll?

Thanks

[2112]

Multiple purposes...

First, just throwing accents in can be a neat technique. Lots and lots of guys use this all over the kit. It improves your dynamics and control.

Also, and I neglected to mention this, you can start taking the accented note and moving it to different drums. Keep the base pattern on the snare, and move the accent to different toms. It helps with fluidity around the kit.

Lastly, It leads you into working with Flams.... but thats another topic.

[Blades]

It's interesting that you are having issues with your singles. I've fought this a long time as well and I'm finally beginning to overcome it.

Why it's intersting is that watching from your video, you have the "threes" on each hand really fast and they look pretty comfortable. If you could approach your singles with the same technique, you would have me beat by a long run. Rather than 3 right, 3 left, try to just offset the two from one another by one stroke instead. It's no faster than what you are playing now with your threes, so you're capabilities are already there, just merged together like fingers or gears. Does that make sense?

HTH