I recently started playing drums again after a quick 30 year break. My timing is still intact but I seem to have lost my ability to seperate my right foot from my right hand. Any attempt at doubles or other syncopated foot licks on the bass results in my right hand locking up or more often simply duplicating what my right foot is doing - which sucks.

I used to play double bass and had what I thought at the time was Bonham-like footwork (right). My idea of great drumming was loud, droning fills and solos whereas now I would like to actually play drums with a little finesse.

Anyone have some practice tips, good instructional DVD ideas, etc. suggestions to develop independence?  I know I have it in me, but I'm getting into a rut and want to move in the right direction.

Thanks

Been there, done that, along with a few other retreads on this forum.

There are a lot of books out there, but if you have done it before, you can do it again. Basically, you need to slow down and back up. Work on really simple beats and work on your foot by it self.  You need to re train those muscles that you haven'e used  for years.  However: you will be amazed at the speed with which things come back.

Start really slow, just playing quarter notes on the hat or ride with your right, 2 & 4 with the left.

1. While playing straight time, work in "&1" with the bass, then switch to  "&3", then both.

2. Play "1&" as above, then "3&", then both.

3. Play "1& - &3".

4. By this point, you should be able to come up with your own patterns

Keep it slow, and do not waver from the straight time on the hat and left hand. Speed up as it becomes more comfortable.

If you've been reading the posts of the past few days, you may find yourself eleigible for the geezer club. Welcome aboard.

Roger

Thanks for the welcome and the help.

I just have to get comfortable again with the fundamentals and stop trying to impress myself with speed. Each day when I sit down behind the kit on the very small, rock hard throne (I don't remember them being this painful! )some old skill dislodges and I get encouraged.

I can still play along with Albert King (basic blues for those unfamiliar) and keep time with SRV shuffles, but it's when I try to get creative with my feet and be "entertaining" is when the wheels fall of.

Roger's right - stick to the basics until it's second nature again. I would like a DVD to help with some independence excercises and maybe some grooves to practice.

Thanks again!

It's working. I've used a metronome - a free one on the internet that I feed the audio through my stereo from my PC - as well as playing along with CD's,  and I get more relaxed and accurate every day.

It's odd that some of my old chops and riffs have come back automatically out of nowhere. I'll be playing some repetitious practice groove and all of a sudden I start syncopating and getting creative. It's very encouraging.

You are correct though that my impatience sometimes gets the best of me and always leads to frustration. When I slow down, things seem to happen intuitively. Speed will come naturally with practice, I know.

Thanks.

10 yr layoff here too.... yet another retread...

played a lot of rudiments...  hands then feet...

I'm not much to play along with a cd...

regardless of how easy it seems...  I think it develops bad habits.

now...  after year to get back in shape.. (don't rush)

I'm back in the saddle errrrrrr, throne again

I have seen overly "busy" drummers who rely on the drummer on the cd for the main drumming...  not always...  but these were always th guys, that whenever you saw them.. they were playing to cd's.  I wouldn't say it alone were a bad practice technique, but I wouldn't make it my only.