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Dutchess_III's avatar

How do drummers manage 4 different rhythms within their own one body?

Asked by Dutchess_III (46828points) July 24th, 2018

Inspired by this video.
Left hand is doing one thing, right hand another, left foot doing yet a 3rd thing and same with the right foot. How do they DO that? I can barely pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. Does the process rewire their brain somehow? How does it affect their lives otherwise when they aren’t playing? Do they see the world differently somehow?

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6 Answers

ragingloli's avatar

Practice.
Pianists are the same.

rebbel's avatar

Car drivers are the same too (basically (at least the stick shift drivers)).
Your right foot handles the accelerator, and the brake, your left the clutch.
Your hands control the steer, but also sometimes one hand changes radio stations, handles the indicator, fights a wasp, all the while keeping the other hand on the wheel.
This all in unison.
So, in a way you are already a starting drummer (if you drive cars).
Just add rhythm.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Good analogy. I used to drive a stick.

kritiper's avatar

That’s what makes drummers so special. Not everybody can do it. It’s like being a really good bassist, too. (Not omitting the talent it takes to be a good guitarist, or any other really good musician.)

Dutchess_III's avatar

It does seem quite a bit more complicated than driving a stick.

Caravanfan's avatar

I play stringed instruments, and my left hand and right hand are doing two different things. Often my leg is tapping along the rhythm. So that’s three limbs. It’s not too much of a stretch to do a 4th limb. The stick shift analogy is great.

My teacher uses the “tapping head and rubbing belly” example all the time when I’m struggling to learn something new.

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