When I read the question, I tried out the different forms. I actually was unable to to the index outward drumming. I don't know if this is due to the length of my fingernails or my lack of coordination.

Actually, when I am bored, I tap fingers on alternate hands. Right pinky, left pinky, right index, left index....reverse!

> > Everyone I've ever seen has started with the pinky and moved to the index.
> >
> > Interesting.
> >
> > -Rifty
>
> This is odd to me. And I was actually surprised by the poll answers after I'd voted.
>
> For me natural drumming is going from index to pinky. It just flows for me and if I'm going to "drum" that's the way it would go. So this is how I voted.
>
> But if I'm in a meeting or something and trying to make a point to someone about being bored out of my skull I'll drum from pinky to index because that's what I've seen in movies and on t.v. to mean "bored".
>
> Unless I'm overthinking it and skewing the results as someone else mentioned in this thread...
>
> - famous