''Limb independence'' is a term commonly used by
drummers to describe the coordination ability that is necessary for the physical multitasking of advanced drumming. Drummers use four limbs when they play. For example, the left foot on the
hi-hat
A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Hi-hats consist o ...
(sometimes on another bass drum if double bass drums are used), the right foot on the
bass drum
The bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The instrument is typically cylindrical, with the drum's diameter much greater than the drum's depth, with a struck head at both ends of the cylinder. Th ...
, and the two hands on other
cymbal
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...
s and drums on the
drum kit. Limb independence allows them to play different rhythms, without having to consciously focus on each one individually. This is especially important in
jazz and
Latin based drumming. It is also one of the more difficult parts of learning the drums, since it is harder to process.
Percussion performance techniques
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