Who are the greatest left-handed drummers? Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, Ian Paice, Stewart Copeland, and Travis Barker lead the list. Collins and Paice play mirrored kits. Starr, Copeland, and Barker are lefties on right-handed kits.
These drummers shaped the rhythmic foundations of rock, pop, punk, and jazz fusion across decades of music history.
Ten drummers, each one either naturally left-handed or leading with the left hand, all worth listening to with the kit in mind. Many names on other lists of left-handed drummers do not hold up, so the ones we could not confirm are listed separately further down.
Here are the 10 greatest left-handed drummers of all time.
- Ringo Starr: As the drummer for The Beatles, Ringo Starr needs no introduction. He is left-handed and plays a right-handed kit, which he has said is the reason for his unusual fills. His laid-back style has inspired countless musicians.
- Phil Collins: This drummer, singer, and songwriter has won multiple Grammy Awards and sold over 150 million records worldwide with Genesis and as a solo artist. He is left-handed and plays a mirrored left-handed kit.
- Ian Paice: The only member of Deep Purple to appear in every lineup since 1968, Ian Paice is known for fast, smooth single-stroke rolls. He is left-handed and plays a mirrored left-handed kit.
- Stewart Copeland: As the drummer for The Police, Stewart Copeland blended punk rock, reggae, and jazz. He is left-handed and plays a right-handed kit, and has said he keeps the standard setup so he can sit in on any drum set.
- Travis Barker: Known for his speed and intricate playing, Travis Barker has played with Blink-182 and Box Car Racer and has collaborated with artists like Lil Wayne and Yelawolf. He is left-handed and plays a right-handed kit.
- Billy Cobham: This jazz fusion drummer has played with Miles Davis and Mahavishnu Orchestra, and his fast fills and intricate rhythms have influenced countless drummers. He is right-handed but pioneered open-handed playing, with his left hand on the hi-hat and ride cymbal.
- Simon Phillips: With a career spanning over 50 years, Simon Phillips has played with Toto, The Who, and Judas Priest. He is right-handed but taught himself as a teenager to lead with his left hand, and has played open-handed ever since.
- Carter Beauford: As the drummer for the Dave Matthews Band, Carter Beauford is known for fast fills and complex rhythms. He leads with his left hand, open-handed, on a right-handed kit.
- Dominic Howard: As the drummer for Muse, Dominic Howard has driven one of the biggest live rock bands of the last two decades. He plays a mirrored left-handed kit.
- Sheila E.: Primarily known as a percussionist, Sheila E. has also made her mark as a drummer, playing with artists like Prince, Ringo Starr, and Beyoncé. She learned by mirroring her father and leads with her left hand on instruments set up right-handed.
There you have it: the 10 greatest left-handed drummers of all time. Whether you're a lefty looking for inspiration or just a fan of great drumming, these players are worth hearing with the kit layout in mind.
Drummers often wrongly listed as left-handed
These drummers appear on many lists of left-handed drummers, including an earlier version of this page. We could not confirm any of them.
- Dave Grohl: Grohl plays a right-handed kit and a right-handed guitar, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Charlie Watts: Watts played a right-handed kit with a traditional jazz grip, and we found no reliable source saying he was left-handed.
- Don Henley: Henley plays a right-handed kit, and the claim that he is left-handed is unconfirmed.
- Danny Carey: Carey plays a conventionally arranged kit, and the claim that he is left-handed is unconfirmed.
- Josh Dun: Wikipedia's list of left-handed musicians describes Dun as right-handed and says he frequently plays open-handed.
- Matt Cameron: Cameron plays a right-handed kit and has used open-handed playing on some Soundgarden songs, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Ginger Baker: Baker played a right-handed double bass drum kit, and we found no reliable source saying he was left-handed.
- Larry Mullen Jr.: Mullen plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Bill Berry: Berry played a right-handed kit with R.E.M., and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Mickey Hart: Hart plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Nick Mason: Mason plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Roger Taylor: Taylor plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Bill Ward: Ward plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Simon Kirke: Kirke plays a right-handed kit, and we found no reliable source saying he is left-handed.
- Lefty Morganfield: Some lists name a drummer called Lefty Morganfield as a son of Muddy Waters, but we could not find any record that this drummer exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ringo Starr left-handed?
Yes. Ringo Starr is left-handed but plays a drum kit arranged for a right-hander. Leading fills with his left hand on a right-handed kit is a large part of what gives his drumming its distinctive feel.
Is Danny Carey left-handed?
Danny Carey of Tool appears on many lists of left-handed drummers, but the claim is unconfirmed. He plays a conventionally arranged kit with the hi-hat under his left foot, and we have not found an on-record statement from Carey about which hand he writes with.
Is Josh Dun left-handed?
Probably not. Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots is often named on lists of left-handed drummers, but Wikipedia's list of left-handed musicians describes him as right-handed and notes that he frequently plays open-handed, leading with his left hand on the hi-hat.
Is Phil Collins left-handed?
Yes. Phil Collins is left-handed and plays a fully mirrored left-handed drum kit, with the hi-hat on his right and the ride cymbal on his left.
