I have trouble with left hand diddles. Using my right to "teach" my left has helped a lot. Like you said your strong hand is simply more coordinated. The other needs time and practice to catch up. The term "weak hand" is probably not a literal reference to hand strength but rather a performance deficiency.
I could probably do a video just on diddles with the left hand. I may do that too. But the principles are the same. Develop that left hand step by step. Make sure you can do strong singles with that hand easily first. Especially half and full strokes. Your initial diddles with that left hand should be very relaxed and sloppy. Once you can get it to double-bounce pretty easily, then start working more and more on control of the bounces. At this point work at all different tempos. When playing extremely slow you won't actually be doing diddles but really 2 single strokes. But it's important to practice all those tempos anyway. That's how you build more control.
Yes! I've been saying this for years. In the beginning, drummers said "weak" hand to mean that it was lacking in skill. That's one of the dictionary definitions of "weak". The weak hand does not lack strength!
Hi Brad , thank you for uploading your vids - do you have a vid on traditional grip double strokes - struggling to get even double strokes with left hand traditional grip - many thanks cheers
I probably should do a video just on diddles with traditional grip. Thanks for the suggestion. In the mean time here are a few key points. Develop that left hand step by step. Make sure you can do strong singles with that hand easily first. Especially half and full strokes. Your initial diddles with that left hand should be very relaxed and sloppy. Once you can get it to double-bounce pretty easily, then start working more and more on control of the bounces. At this point work at all different tempos. When playing extremely slow you won't actually be doing diddles but really 2 single strokes. But it's important to practice all those tempos anyway. That's how you build more control. The other important thing is to develop more control practice at lots of dynamic levels. Practicing loud with help you develop more power in the diddle. The other thing is fingers. Finger accents will help with that, and they are kind of the icing on the cake. Finger development will give your diddles more power and control.
I'm right handed, but I do some things (playing the drums using a matched grip and ice hockey) left-handed. No idea why. Further complicating this, I have a twin brother who is exclusively right-handed. That being the case, I've never had any "weak hand" issues.
I have always been different that way too. I write left handed. But I throw a ball right handed. When I was a child I was completely ambidextrous. I still can eat with either hand.
@@BradAllenDrumsKansasCity It's called mixed-handedness or cross-dominance. It's about as common as left-handedness and is closely associated with the person's childhood brain development.
You fix it the same way. Use the strong hand as a model. What I have always done and taught my students to do is simply do the exact same thing with both hands. For instance, when you practice double strokes with a metronome, your weak hand will absolutely be forced to keep up with your strong hand. You will only be able to play as fast as your weak hand allows you to play. Also as I pointed out in the video, while it may seem that the hand is weak, it's usually that it simply hasn't mastered the strokes as well as the strong hand. Going through the exercises I described in the video will definitely strengthen your weak hand as well. The number one test is probably full-strokes. The question is, "can you execute full-strokes correctly with your weak hand?" If not, that's the first thing to work on with the weak hand.
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Helpful. Thank you
I have trouble with left hand diddles. Using my right to "teach" my left has helped a lot. Like you said your strong hand is simply more coordinated. The other needs time and practice to catch up.
The term "weak hand" is probably not a literal reference to hand strength but rather a performance deficiency.
I could probably do a video just on diddles with the left hand. I may do that too. But the principles are the same. Develop that left hand step by step. Make sure you can do strong singles with that hand easily first. Especially half and full strokes. Your initial diddles with that left hand should be very relaxed and sloppy. Once you can get it to double-bounce pretty easily, then start working more and more on control of the bounces. At this point work at all different tempos. When playing extremely slow you won't actually be doing diddles but really 2 single strokes. But it's important to practice all those tempos anyway. That's how you build more control.
Yes! I've been saying this for years. In the beginning, drummers said "weak" hand to mean that it was lacking in skill. That's one of the dictionary definitions of "weak". The weak hand does not lack strength!
Well said😀
Excellent, Brad. I'll put your suggestions into practice and work on improving my incompetent hand's competence. Cheers.
It's always a work in progress. Keep practicing!
Thanks - I play mostly traditionel grip :D
Thank you for your feedback. I find the rudiments feel a bit more natural with traditional grip.
I play matched, but after 44 years of it, I’m trying to learn traditional. Definitely struggling with it!
It takes a lot of patience. It's definitely nice to have though.
Hi Brad , thank you for uploading your vids - do you have a vid on traditional grip double strokes - struggling to get even double strokes with left hand traditional grip - many thanks cheers
I probably should do a video just on diddles with traditional grip. Thanks for the suggestion. In the mean time here are a few key points. Develop that left hand step by step. Make sure you can do strong singles with that hand easily first. Especially half and full strokes. Your initial diddles with that left hand should be very relaxed and sloppy. Once you can get it to double-bounce pretty easily, then start working more and more on control of the bounces. At this point work at all different tempos. When playing extremely slow you won't actually be doing diddles but really 2 single strokes. But it's important to practice all those tempos anyway. That's how you build more control. The other important thing is to develop more control practice at lots of dynamic levels. Practicing loud with help you develop more power in the diddle. The other thing is fingers. Finger accents will help with that, and they are kind of the icing on the cake. Finger development will give your diddles more power and control.
Thanks Brad, that would be great , I’m working on using index finger and thumb to clamp down the second partial of the diddle
I'm right handed, but I do some things (playing the drums using a matched grip and ice hockey) left-handed. No idea why. Further complicating this, I have a twin brother who is exclusively right-handed. That being the case, I've never had any "weak hand" issues.
I have always been different that way too. I write left handed. But I throw a ball right handed. When I was a child I was completely ambidextrous. I still can eat with either hand.
@@BradAllenDrumsKansasCity It's called mixed-handedness or cross-dominance. It's about as common as left-handedness and is closely associated with the person's childhood brain development.
Great stuff Brad! …Appreciate the tips & examples, Thanks!
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful to you.
Super clear and helpful teaching! Thanks Brad
Thanks for the compliment. Have a great weekend!😀
What if it's more of a "weaker of the two" thing?
You fix it the same way. Use the strong hand as a model. What I have always done and taught my students to do is simply do the exact same thing with both hands. For instance, when you practice double strokes with a metronome, your weak hand will absolutely be forced to keep up with your strong hand. You will only be able to play as fast as your weak hand allows you to play. Also as I pointed out in the video, while it may seem that the hand is weak, it's usually that it simply hasn't mastered the strokes as well as the strong hand. Going through the exercises I described in the video will definitely strengthen your weak hand as well. The number one test is probably full-strokes. The question is, "can you execute full-strokes correctly with your weak hand?" If not, that's the first thing to work on with the weak hand.