So ... I was playing my madal a bit.  Its a two sided cylindrical drum ... relative of the tabla.   One side covers bass, the other treble.  

So with it in my lap, bass side on the left, treble on the right I play a bit.   Then I flip it around and play essentially the same pattern.   And I got to thinking.

On handdrums, do I lead with a tone (bass or treble)? Or do I lead with a hand?

I tend to lead with the bass, and in my right hand.   On my congas I tend to focus both hands on the larger, and accent on the higher.    With my right hand handling most bass work.   On dumbek I tend to keep my left hand on the edge, and lead again with my right, and again with the bass.   I play frame drums in much the same way.   With the aforementioned madal theres the option due to the design.   So by putting the treble side under my right hand it forces a bit of a change in my playing.  

So ... my question to you ... do you tend to lead with a particular hand?  Or a particular sound?  Or both?

My left hand is still a week spot. As Bart suggests, I've focused on getting it up to par, but alas, that seems a long way off.
As for leading, or which hand is "home", I simply set up the way I've been taught. Sometimes the smaller drum between my legs, sometimes the larger - angling off to either the right or left. Sometimes the One is left hand, sometimes the right.