Double Pedal...back to single?

[fusssion]

This may not deserve this forum but......if it's in the wrong place, please feel free to move it.

I play a double pedal to do accents and a few runs and fills on the cover band I'm in. However, .....when I do something fast that includes feet....I triplet the fill utilizing a single bass w/ toms. I'm not a great drummer by any means,...but I can triplet pretty darn fast w/ the bass and toms.

So ....my question is this:
I don't really use the pedal that much,....why not just go to a single pedal? It just seems to be taking up space more than anything else.

Thoughts?

[f4phantom2500]

Call me an idealist, but I think it's an honorable goal to play with only a single pedal. Develop technique with a single pedal to do what is possible with a single that you can't do now, and just use the single. That's what I'd do. Plus if you ever use a kit that only has a single pedal you can still play the stuff (assuming you can adapt to that pedal).

[Afrolicious]

I'm expiriencing the same right now. As my right foot becomes better I play less and less double-bass. It's still a lot of fun blasting out with two feet, but for usual playing, a single pedal and a good right foot are totally enough. Now that I transformed my 14 inch tom into a mini-bassdrum (http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23693) I only use a single pedal and especially with triplets there's lots of fun to have.
I just recorded this some hours ago.

[=J=]

I pretty much have exactly the same views on this as f4phantom. I play with a single pedal becaise to me theres something not quite right about a double IMO.

Afrolicious, at the beginning do you use constant release? Its the only way i can get any sort of speed on a roll with one pedal. I use that for rolls and heel toe for doubles/triplets. Either way it was nice!

[harryconway]

It's about style (yours) and what fits the music (if you're in a band). Last cover band I was in, the Cream and Van Halen songs we did required double-pedal.

[fusssion]

It's about style (yours) and what fits the music (if you're in a band). Last cover band I was in, the Cream and Van Halen songs we did required double-pedal.

Cream, Van Halen? Double pedal.....what tunes were you doing?

Yes...my style....exaclty...that's why I'm considering changing...

[harryconway]

Cream, Van Halen? Double pedal.....

White Room, Sunshine of your love (Cream) Somebody get me a doctor, You really got me (Van Halen or Van Halen version). Just the opening of White Room, I play a 1 up 2 down kit. So the 4th tom fill I did with the kick. Ginger was 2 up, 2 down.

[f4phantom2500]

Afrolicious, at the beginning do you use constant release? Its the only way i can get any sort of speed on a roll with one pedal. I use that for rolls and heel toe for doubles/triplets. Either way it was nice!

That part at the beginning, I woulda just done heel up, like sort of just bouncing my foot on the pedal. I am trying to work on a way to do quadruple strokes on my single, I was able to play the beat that Jojo plays in that one video, but I'm sure the technique is different. Plus I was using it on my ekit's bass trigger, which I think gives more bounce than a real head. Anyway, basically what I try to do is like a heel toe and then pull back after the toe stroke and go into a slide. I have to wear socks for this as with a shoe or barefoot gives me too much traction, and it's hard with a shoe because it's too big (I only have like running shoes though). A bit off-topic but I thought I'd comment.

[fusssion]

White Room, Sunshine of your love (Cream) Somebody get me a doctor, You really got me (Van Halen or Van Halen version). Just the opening of White Room, I play a 1 up 2 down kit. So the 4th tom fill I did with the kick. Ginger was 2 up, 2 down.

Oh...ok, I see. Makes sense....but....definately not tunes that REQUIRED double bass.

I'm going to kick this around and run to GC to see what kind of feel I like out of the singles they have there.

[Deathmetalconga]

This may not deserve this forum but......if it's in the wrong place, please feel free to move it.

I play a double pedal to do accents and a few runs and fills on the cover band I'm in. However, .....when I do something fast that includes feet....I triplet the fill utilizing a single bass w/ toms. I'm not a great drummer by any means,...but I can triplet pretty darn fast w/ the bass and toms.

So ....my question is this:
I don't really use the pedal that much,....why not just go to a single pedal? It just seems to be taking up space more than anything else.

Thoughts?

I agree. There are a lot of people who have double pedals and could just as easily get by with a single.

I played with only a single pedal for 23 years and developed very good single pedal skills. I found double pedals clumsy and disorienting, so I got a Duallist last year for the few times when I need double-beater capability. My excellent single-pedal skills have been taken to a new level, but I don't have to lug around the whole double pedal contraption. Plus, I have a bass pedal, a variable pitch drum pedal, a hihat pedal and a foot percussion pedal. Where on Earth would I even put a double pedal??

www.terrasonus.com

[harryconway]

Being I spent the better part of the 80's lugging around 2 kick drums, hauling around a double-pedal is a breeze. Right now, however, I own 2 single Yamaha Flying Dragons. So I'm in a re-inventive style stage as well. So as far as my 26x14 Luddy, it's all single kick and my roots of growing up with more groove a-la Bonham, Paice and Kirke.

[harryconway]

Plus, I have a bass pedal, a variable pitch drum pedal, a hihat pedal and a foot percussion pedal. Where on Earth would I even put a double pedal??

www.terrasonus.com
When real estate enters the picture, indeed. You got more goin' on the floor than most. In many ways, certainly, you are a visionary. Kudos. But like you admit, you have a Dualist, which is a double-pedal, it's just in the witness protection program so it looks like a single.

[rendezvous_drummer]

HOT FOR TEACHER!!! The intro is bass and there's no way in hell, unless you're extremely talented like Jojo Mayer, that you could do that bass intro with one pedal.

[Tama Player]

HOT FOR TEACHER!!! The intro is bass and there's no way in hell, unless you're extremely talented like Jojo Mayer, that you could do that bass intro with one pedal.

Hehe, "Girl you really got me now...." Im gonna have that stuck in my head all day! Now where is my slayer CD...........

Peace
AGR

[Deathmetalconga]

you have a Dualist, which is a double-pedal, it's just in the witness protection program so it looks like a single.

HAHAHA!

www.terrasonus.com

[secondXheartbeat]

I like double-pedal.


Sue me.

[fusssion]

I like double-pedal.


Sue me.


no reason to post then I guess, right? [do we have a 'eye rolling' smiley face icon]

[gcarlet]

It's about style (yours) and what fits the music (if you're in a band).

Yes...my style....exaclty...that's why I'm considering changing...

Same with me. I have people ask me ever-so-often why I don't get a double pedal. I have no need for it, though, in what I play. I do admit, it is fun to play on one, but for my day-in-day-out playing, I wouldn't really use it. Everything I want to do bass drum wise, I can do on a single.

[Paradigm_Cal]

I may be a bit biased towards using a double pedal because of the genre of music I find myself playing the most, but IMO you should consider keeping it in your set-up.

Alot of drummers that I know are really depandant on having a bass pedal under their left foot, but it seems you don't use it all that much, mabye keeping that healthy balance will expand your playing possibilities without overshadowing your hi-hat.

If you dont need it, then you dont need it. Do Consider it though. :)

[mind_drummer]

HOT FOR TEACHER!!! The intro is bass and there's no way in hell, unless you're extremely talented like Jojo Mayer, that you could do that bass intro with one pedal.

You never heard my friend doing his four strokes rolls using one single foot movement ! You close your eyes and you could swear he's using a double pedal ;-)

[jstorey4]

I recently had the same dilema and got rid of the double pedal. It forces you to fully develop the single pedal and you always maintain control of the hi-hat. Plus you don't have to compromise the location of your hats. All in all, it has made me a better drummer. We're not a metal band so I never have to do fast 16th's or anything. With some practice, you can master the doubles and triplets and you're not really at a disadvantage for most music. I may eventually bring it back if what my band is doing calls for it, but for now the single is where it's at.

[d.c.drummer]

i used to use a double pedal but when i went to get a new one i got a single. to me it was a waste of money and sapce for the .5 times a song i would use it. now my my right foot is pretty well developed. Im no pro so i saw no use for it in my playing. If you can play a gig with out even touching the left pedal (which often happened to me) its not worth it. From time to time it can add a little something, but for the sporatic use you describe, a good right foot should get the job done.