Flexing Creativity

I think just about everyone has heard of Ringo Starr. You may know a lot of things about him. I don’t purport to know a great deal about him, but I know some stuff and have my own thoughts about this incredible man. For many people, he is their favorite Beatle. I think, in many ways, he was John, Paul and George’s favorite Beatle. Everyone loves Ringo.

Did you know Ringo is left-handed? Growing up, like many left-handed kids, he was forced to write right-handed. His first kit was a right-handed drum kit. He was in love with drumming, so he learned to adapt and be creative. He is a lefty playing like a righty. He was one of the first to hold the sticks in a “matched” style rather than the traditional manner. This adaptation helped him to create his unique style and sound. It has been described in many ways: shuffling, swinging, etc., and Ringo even refers to his “funny little fills.” Drumming Magazine talks about Ringo here.

Having to adapt and be creative causes you to grow some muscles others may not have. You are forced to think outside of the box. You use all of your senses, stretching them in ways to get information, solutions and outcomes. You grow skills others may not have. You may not think anything of it; it is second nature to you. However, others notice. You become unique and you can go to unique, undiscovered places.

Ringo is a soft-hearted guy, displaying genuine depth and real sensitivity. I think it made him a better drummer. All of the Beatles were emotional, sensitive artists. They were all tuned in to each other, and Ringo was no different. He would quickly tune in to “the writers,” as he called the other three, during rehearsals. The instinct to adapt and be creative served him and the others incredibly well when making music. His emotional personality helped him to “feel” what the others were communicating. It was his nature to work out new, evocative ways of drumming; to build a beat that flowed with and supported the sounds bursting from the other three. Often inspiring and lifting them all ever higher. It was never about him. It was about the song and the joy of getting there. It was about simply hanging out with his best friends, having fun, doing what they all loved.