Are there advantages to learning to play with a right hand set up as well as a left handed set up?
Gavin Says:
There could be some interest from a practice point of view.
Assuming that you're right handed/right footed and would play the left handed kit with your right hand on the hi hat. I tried for some time to play left hand lead on the hi hat (on my regular right handed kit - like Billy Cobham/Simon Phillips) - and although it made me feel different (and some new ideas came through) when I recorded myself - the time didn't feel as good as if I played the hi hat/ride with my right hand (so I gave up on it). However if you're interested in experimenting - I think having the hi hat on the right side (or in front of you) via a remote cable hi hat could be an interesting thing.
I did sometimes play with a closed hi hat where my first floor tom would traditionally be - and I got a nice open feeling from it - plus it made me think differently. I can see little sense in playing a truly left handed kit where I would cross my left hand over my right to play the hi hat. It just wouldn't sound and feel as good as a right handed kit.