Play Double Bass Drums
Everyone knows playing the double bass drum sounds and looks cool, but how hard is it?
Steps
- Exercise daily - you don't want to pull a muscle do you? Make sure that you stretch before playing (One recommends doing 3 sets of 25 Do-Calf-Raises 30 seconds prior to playing).
- Learn how to perform both the heel up and heel down techniques.
- The heel down technique is simple, yet most drummers find it more difficult than heel up. Put both of your feet on the foot pedals so that they completely cover them. Then, just play a rhythm by following one beat after the other. Do not raise your foot off the pedal, you want your foot to stay in contact with the foot board so you will have better control of the entire motion of each hit. You may feel muscle strain in the front of your calf, that means that you are using the correct muscles, but don't overdo it!
- The heel up technique - place your feet onto the pedal the same way as in Heel down technique, but lift your heel off the pedal. The ball of your foot should always stay in contact with the foot board so that you maintain control of the entire movement of each hit. Kick one beat after the other. Make sure that you rest the beater of the pedal on the bass drum between hits so that your muscles have a chance to relax. Instead of feeling muscle strain in your calf, you may feel it in the front of your thigh (quadriceps). Again, don't overdo it!
- Once you've figured out which way you like to play double bass "Heel-up or Heel-down" play 16th notes alternating right-left-right-left and gradually get faster (wait until you can play perfect 16th notes before increasing your speed!). Try the reverse: left-right-left-right. Try different patterns and repeat each many times. There is a book called "Stick Control" that has many different pattern suggestions.
- Go on the Internet and find out the 25 Rudiments of drumming. Such as: Single stroke rolls, Double stroke rolls, Paradiddles, Flams, Flamacue, Flamadiddle, and many more.
- Once you have the 16th notes down work on 32nd notes then 64ths then rolls.
- Afterwards get a piece of music that you play in concert band and play the snare part on your feet.
- Once you have completed this and you sound like a god at rolling on the bass then you must decide what type of music you would like to learn using the 25 rudiments of drumming and implementing them into your feet.
- An essential thing that is often overlooked is tempo and consistent timing. Use a metronome and start slow (60 or 70 bpm). Then slowly build up. Make sure your timing is 100% accurate.
- Do not be surprised if you see no results after a month; there will probably be none. It takes much longer than that. Measure your progress every two months or so.
Tips
- Don't try to play fast speeds when you first start!! This will result in unclean double bass. Start off slowly and slowly build up speed.
- Don't get frustrated; with time, you'll be playing brilliantly.
- Consider wearing ankle weights while practising. This will help build muscle quicker and improve your control.
- Practice every day. When you wake up in the morning, do an exercise on the drums.
- If you're still saving up for a double pedal, a good way to build strength in the proper areas is to go for bike rides, but pushing yourself to your limit each ride. Once again, don't overdo it! Only do this exercise every other day.
- When you're comfortable on a tempo. Raise the tempo just s little. Then play 16th notes for two minutes (right-left-right-left-right-left) then once you feel that is comfortable and easy raise the metronome and start the process again. Also know that faster speeds above 170 Bpm are going to transition to your ankles. Rather than you're calf's and legs.
- The spring on the pedal should be tight, because it will bounce off the bass drum, having more control.
Warnings
- To avoid calf strains, do stretches before playing. Any stretches or exercises that would be beneficial to an athlete will also work for the drums.
Things You'll Need
- Drum kit
- 2nd Bass Drum or Double Pedal
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